NRMP RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT


My decision to pursue medicine was made quite early. I grew up in a town that had a population with full of health care needs. I always felt that I had to do something that would help people. The profession I was to choose would have to be diverse, unpredictable, challenging and mentally rewarding. My deep interest in biological sciences combined with the opportunity to interact with and help people affirmed my decision to become a physician. [Everyone applying for residency is going to be an MD. No reason to explain why the applicant wanted to be an MD, instead explain why the applicant chose their specialty.]

Where I trained, the influence of technology on medicine was limited and we found ourselves spending long hours interviewing and examining patients and getting to know their problems. Expensive imaging and comprehensive labs were not easily available. The logical problem-solving aspect of internal medicine seemed to reflect the manner in which I personally deal with challenges. This, in addition to the broad variety of cases drew my attention to this specialty. To me, the most rewarding aspect for internal medicine is long term patient follow-up where one can judge the effectiveness of prior counseling and continue to advocate for the patient's healthcare needs. Internal medicine offers the greatest opportunity to build this kind of bond. Thus, choosing this field seemed to do justice to my priority of pursuing not only what I found to be intellectually challenging, but also in fulfilling the role that I see myself playing as a healthcare provider.

After my graduation I joined as a senior research fellow with MM,M.D.,D.M, Professor and Chair in the Department of Neurology Medical Sciences, New Town, Some Country. Being a prestigious teaching hospital and a tertiary referral center I had been exposed to a wide variety of cases, especially that of movement disorders. The manuscript of the research project ‘Study of risk factors in adult onset of focal dystonias’ is in submission. This was my first exposure to research and I realized how inadequate researcher I was.[ This paragraph seems “stuck in," It doesn’t transition well from the previous one to this one. In addition, the conclusion to the paragraph is quite negative! An “inadequate researcher?”. Say something more positive from that experience? What did you learn?]

During my first year of my Masters in Public Heath at the University of Sun, I was a research assistant with MOJ,Ph.D Chair of Medicinal Chemistry. My research work involved radio-nucleotide enzyme studies and enzyme kinetic studies on superfund chemicals. This helped me learn and equip myself with fundamental basics of laboratory-based research. [What else did you learn, and how will this prepare you for internal medicine?]
Currently I am a research assistant in the division of addiction medicine at the University of Sun. I work with MSG MD, Chief of Addiction Medicine as a research facilitator in functional brain imaging experiments, writing medical content , and analyzing public health research data for presentations and publications. My current research project aims to study the relation between substance abuse and gambling behavior. Being on the forefront of groundbreaking science is immensely exciting.

I have been participating in clinical rotations since September in the University of Sun’s comprehensive pain evaluation clinic under the direction of anesthesiologist Dr. GG,. It has provided me the opportunity to acclimatize myself to the American outpatient clinics. Dr.G has provided me the opportunity to see, discuss, and present cases to him. [What exactly have you learned from this experience?] This allows me to discuss interesting cases and share advances with residents and students here. I am also an active participant in the medical student and resident-run free clinic at the Salvation Army in Gainesville.[Again, this sentence seems thrown in here. This needs to be tied in better to explain how this has helped in preparation for internal medicine]

The epidemiology course work and my research experience have revitalized the researcher in me and my thoughts are well tailored to combine clinical practice and research. The most important values I see in being a good physician are integrity and humility. I hope to bring to your residency program energy, enthusiasm, a strong work ethic and a constant desire to learn. I look forward to a possible residency in your esteemed institution, to obtain excellent clinical and academic training that will provide a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling career.

[ This PS does not say much about WHY the applicant wants pursue IM, only that he likes the long term followup. What is important to the applicant? How is it interesting or exciting ? What does she hope to accomplish in IM?

Also, many of the paragraphs seem disjointed. They don’t flow well. It needs to flow more naturally from a desire to pursue IM, experience in IM, research experience, then your career and residency goals.]