One Saturday morning, I sat in a compact examination room of the Haven Free Clinic nearby Yale’s sprawling campus volunteering my services as a nutrition counselor. Jorge, my patient, was in his early fifties and a new immigrant from Latin America. Like many of my patients, he suffered from hypertension and weight issues His taciturn disposition belied the flux and uncertainty that many of my patients faced as new immigrants from Latin America. As a first generation American born to Ghanaian parents, I probed on how my experiences could help me make sense of Jorge’s life. I noticed that Jorge had a Pumas keychain from the Mexican soccer league. Upon asking him how the team was doing, his face lit up as he told me their stats and his soccer …show more content…
One of my main goals as a medical student is to learn how the human body communicates within itself and the world while maintaining the narratives told through our senses, our emotions, our thoughts, and our actions. At Haven, I could help Jorge by sharing my interpretation of what my body was trying to tell me, but I didn't have the knowledge or the medical vocabulary to translate the body's own, unique language. This expanding language is practiced through medicine. At TTUHSC SOM, not only do I want to learn how to understand how to comprehend the complex and fascinating language of medicine, but my goal is also to provide effective health care through a thorough understanding of human behavior and share these ideas and stories through creative …show more content…
Stories, like people, are dynamic entities to interact with, and they play a role in bringing patients and physicians to terms with the realities of the healthcare and its evolving role in society. For example, I was able to reach Jorge effectively at Haven Free Clinic because I found an authentic connection to his own personal narrative.
I embrace the search for the effective, mutual beneficial relationships within medicine that aims to improve the lives of patients and fellow physicians to uncover the body’s complexities that are not always apparent through pure medical intervention. It’s not an endeavor that can be done with haste. Only with deliberate focus and care can I learn how to hone a person’s tale to their own telling and maintain their wellbeing. I look forward to the
They serve as pillars of wisdom and guidance while exhibiting communication adroitness with care teams and patients to engineer top-notch medical care. To maintain high standards, effective medical professionals are constantly taking in new information through continuing education, placing providers at the pinnacle of knowledge. Moreover, physicians require affective aptitude as they must convey empathy during patient interactions. All these attributes draw me to seek the personal challenge and resulting responsibilities that are demanded. I desire to become an important contribution to society in a field I am passionate
They diligently studied and worked their way through college, medical school, residency, and fellowship programs. Frequently, I enjoyed their anecdotes about their experiences at the hospital, ranging from their interactions with patients to their diagnoses of rare pathologies. More recently, I had the privilege of shadowing them at the Cultural Cup Clinic, a free clinic for the underserved. There, I witnessed some remarkable interactions between patients and physicians. What most captured my attention was the altruism of the physicians, who would go to extraordinary lengths to provide the best possible care for their patients.
CCOM’s strong values and mission of the promotion of the practice of osteopathic medicine would provide me with the knowledge of the science of healthcare. But as we all know, knowledge is only part of what it takes to be a successful physician. I believe I can fill this gap because of my understanding of the art of healthcare. Knowing how to work with colleagues and patients is something that all physicians will be faced with. I believe being able to do this effectively has the ability to set you apart as a physician. Obstacles I've overcome in my life have laced me with compassion and a deep understanding of people and life's ups and downs. Being relatable when working with a diverse population of people is something that comes from experience
Contrary to the belief that medicine should be solely clinical in order to preserve professionalism, narrative medicine is rapidly growing in the medical world and opposes clinical medicine by incorporating feelings and connections. Narrative medicine is the idea that doctors should be empathetic and must learn their patient’s story to build bonds that assist in curing the patient of illness, while supporting them mentally and emotionally. Rita Charon, a distinguished physician and professor at Columbia University, states “narrative medicine proposes an ideal of care and provides the conceptual and practical mean to strive toward that idea” (Charon). Medicine is often a difficult puzzle to solve, but being a genuine, caring human being is not. In his heart gripping book, The Measure of Our Days, Jerome Groopman explores the patient physician relationship giving insightful knowledge on the decision making in diagnosis and in treatment of different patients, but more importantly being a benevolent person. One consistent piece in Groopman’s puzzle of medicine is compassion, as he promotes it in every aspect of his career because it helps the victims of illness and disease understand their ailments, accept their fate, all the while building trust with their physicians. In Groopman’s retelling of his and his patient’s intertwined quest for cures and treatments, he exhibits the necessity of narrative medicine’s transgression into medicine for both physicians and patients.
As the daughter of a healthcare professional, medicine was a constant throughout my life; however, my understanding and motivation to pursue this career came from my experiences. As I explored medicine by shadowing various physicians, I realized that developing trusting relationships with patients was the first vital aspect of medicine. Whether traveling to rural Honduras on a medical brigade, volunteering at a clinic for the uninsured, or serving as a camp counselor for children with IBD, I realized everyone wanted to be cared for by a doctor whom they could trust to provide quality care. This trust begins with listening to health problems and the patient’s social issues to put the symptoms in the proper perspective. Establishing this patient
This role does not only allow me to shadow doctors while they engage with patients, providing an opportunity to gain invaluable information and advises. This role requires most of my attention towards patients’ needs, which helps to establish a professional relationship and understand what they expect a doctor to be: caring and sensitive but decisive. As English is not my first language, my bilingual skills give me a chance to help some patients through being a translator. It is not the dream job anyone imagines, hours of sleepless shifts, tremendous responsibility with no room for errors as dealing with fragile lives and not products. This only further strengthens my decision to pursue medicine. What I most admire is how empathetic a doctor can be yet unaffected during a critical situation. It is more than just a skill; it is a talent.
Throughout my experience as a surgical patient, I always noticed three things my medical team never failed to perform: inform, educate, and care for me. Through my frequent visits to the hospital I began to notice that these ideals were essential in every successful physician-patient relationship. As I progressed in my career as a student, I came to realize that the academic and extracurricular activities I was involved in were helping me perform those very qualities.
A career in medicine is not only a career in treating illness, but also a career in education and research. During the next year I plan to continue working with Dr. Alexander Morden in his medical practice as I have for the past year. Working with Dr. Morden has taught me more about the medical profession than any other experience that I have had. Through observation of physician patient interactions and performing my functional duties as a medical secretary, I am constantly exposed to new medical terminologies,treatment regimes, pharmacology, and most importantly, patients. I have also been introduced to the importance of medical billing, coding, and practice management. I intend to enhance my role at the office by training to become a medical
As a writer, I can offer a unique perspective. For example, when I plan stories, I must consider several factors such as culture and personality traits to design how the characters I create will realistically respond to various situations. These holistic thinking skills that I have developed over time coincide well with a physician’s treatment of the whole person. As a physician and writer, grasping this understanding of people’s psychological and social dimensions is critical to best care for them. In summary, interpreting medicine as an art of transforming empathy and science into healing is an outlook that I can contribute at GW.
Pre-Med majors play a quintessential role in today’s society and in every community. In fact, society relies on doctors to help heal the sick. Without doctors, every community would struggle to find safe and effective treatment for their health concerns. As a Pre-Med student with a future career in medicine, I will have the opportunity to be a servant to other people. In fact, one of my passions is to help people overcome unhealthy habits and guide injured patients through recovery. In lieu of this, I believe that doctors have the capacity to change society for the better. Not only are doctors entrusted with helping patients heal, they give advice on how to live a healthier and happier life. Hopefully, the healthy lifestyle advice that doctors should give to their patients will be passed on for generations. In turn, this
Many institutions can provide a plethora of resources, exposure to various hospitals, and time with medical professionals. After all, these institutions are designed explicitly to create doctors of an acceptable caliber. Few institutions, however, seek to develop the healer in the doctor. Though medicine is a highly technical field with new procedures and medicine to be studied, it is a viscerally humane exercise. At the end of the day, medical professionals, especially D.O.s, must deal with the patient’s mind, body, and soul, together. This certainly cannot be done with a sterilized, objective mindset.
The Masters of Biomedical Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine will help me enhance my professional and scientific knowledge toward my preparation into medical school. This program will allow me to immerse myself in a patient-centered service learning to further prepare me to tackle future rigorous medical obstacles in medical school and as a future physician. I’m looking forward to working with a diverse group of individuals who also have the same aspirations and values. Taking an oath to help the health of a patient you encounter in need, is a selfless act I aspire to obtain. I have the love and empathy to care for another human being which has provided me with the passion and tenacity to have empiricism this far in my medical journey
This interest was inspired by my experiences over the summer. I have been shadowing an internal medicine doctor at her private practice in Irvine, as well as a gastroenterologist at a community clinic in Irvine. These opportunities deepened my understanding of a doctor’s various responsibilities – as a compassionate healthcare provider, and as a caring educator.
We humans, you and I, were created to be well. I believe that any person’s health is best understood from the viewpoint of the Mind, Body, Spiritual, Relationship model. We look forward to working with those of you who find yourself in need of help from a traditionally trained physician who has the deepest respect for other approaches to healing and to empower you to embrace vibrant, good health and a robust sense of total
Various positions in the medical field desperately need reviving and filling, along with caring hearts to enable a new era of medicine. This permits a person to consider a great career that has numerous perks and a wonderful sense of giving back to the community. The rewards of being a part of the medical field go beyond a paycheck, and the inclination to help those who need medical attention. An opportunity to make a difference in a patient’s life comes in several forms and by various positions in the field. Amazing doctors, with great bedside manners, are always in high demand, and are crucial in selecting the correct treatment for a patient.