ER PERSONAL STATEMENT

          Born and raised in England, I had little idea of what lay outside Britain’s borders. However, at the age of 10, my horizons were abruptly and drastically broadened when my family immigrated to Norway. Initially I was excited, envisioning myself as a female Christopher Columbus, about to explore a New World. Yet the reality of my early life in Norway was far removed from the storybook heroism I had envisioned. I discovered that it took great effort and perseverance to communicate with my peers, yet even more than the language barriers, I found the cultural divergences difficult to overcome. I felt alienated and up-rooted, longing for the familiarity of old friends. My initial exhilaration at embarking upon this foreign adventure died.

Gradually, my feelings began to change, and many months later I finally appreciated what an incredible opportunity I had been presented with. This turn my life had taken was a new challenge, complex but conquerable. I slowly became confident in my ability to blend in, and with renewed zeal I began to learn about this foreign people, their culture, history and idiosyncrasies. I opened my mind to the challenge of learning a foreign tongue and reveled in the surprises and enjoyment it offered.

            I have brought this inquisitiveness and love of people with me to the United States, together with the tools that the challenges of living in Norway provided me with: the skill to adapt, to adjust, to value and embrace the unknown. It is this thrill of discovery that has driven my academic life, from college, throughout medical school and now to the field of Emergency Medicine. This specialty attracts me with its fast pace and wide scope of problems, ranging from the acute and life threatening to the benign and routine. It is a field where the curious mind will excel, stimulated by the puzzle that the undifferentiated patient presents. And just as the medical complaints the ED physician sees are varied, the patient population they serve is colorful and ever changing. The variety of Emergency Medicine is truly unique.

My nomadic childhood has prepared me well for the unpredictable environment of the ED. Thanks to that early feeling of alienation, I am now able to quickly connect with my

patients regardless of their nationality or cultural origin. It is a skill that I have further honed in my volunteer work as a sexual abuse crisis counselor and as a fellow student advisor, where the development of trust and respect is essential to the therapeutic relationship. This ability to foster patients’ confidence has been lauded throughout my clinical rotations and was honored by my peers when I was selected for membership in the Humanism Honor Society. I believe it is a skill that facilitates the diagnostic process, but more importantly, the creation of this bond is deeply rewarding for both physician and patient. I will continue to honor human side of medicine and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship throughout my future career.

            In addition to the intellectualism of Emergency Medicine and its expansive scope of patients, I enjoy the tangible, hands-on work that the ED offers. Few other medical fields provide a forum in which the physician may routinely enjoy both the analytical process and technical procedures. I have proved dexterous and mechanically minded in my surgical rotations, and find great satisfaction in the instant gratification of suturing a laceration or reducing a dislocated joint. A career in Emergency Medicine enables me to use both my mind and my hands.

            I excel in the buzzing milieu of the ED as I am invigorated but remain calm and clearheaded in emergent situations. My seniors during my Emergency Medicine rotation have been impressed with my multitasking skills, and praised my attention to patient education and reliable follow-through. I manage patients with smooth efficiency, yet take care that each person I see feels valued and heard.

For my continuing education I seek excellence: a residency program that fosters a supportive and stimulating learning environment, with a vigorous curriculum. A program that serves a large and diverse patient population, where residents see an exciting variety of cases thanks to an urban setting. A program that continually strives to grow and improve. And importantly, I seek a residency program that honors the social aspects of medicine and is dedicated to the enrichment of its local community. Living in Norway taught me the importance of connecting with those around you, and I look forward to training with a residency program that will continue this education.