PEDIATRIC PERSONAL STATEMENT

 Sick children are often unable to fully express their suffering, which drove me to advocate for them by choosing to become a pediatrician. I completed a residency program at OutsideUS Hospital and later subspecialized in Pediatric Clinical Nutrition at Large Hospital. Both hospitals are University based in Thailand, so the training program was similar to a US training program. My ambition to be an accomplished pediatrician never changed, which drives me to complete another Pediatric residency and fellowship for my American career. With my strong clinical, technical, research, and teaching skills, as well as international experience, I will bring my unique proficiency to Pediatrics.

My three-year residency program comprised 17 months in 3 general wards, 7 months NICU, 6 months electives, and 3 months each of PICU and other wards consultation. With hard work, I developed an outstanding aptitude for treatment in nutrition; such as marasmus and burn patients, endocrine; especially thyroid enlargement, as well as hands on bone marrow aspiration and chemotherapy experience in hematologic diseases. I particularly enjoyed the framework of NICU care, where I became familiar with resuscitation, and many technical skills, such as intubation, umbilical catheter insertion, exchange transfusions, and breast feeding. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to carry out ventilator management for Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn. Additionally I completed electives in nutrition, endocrinology, hematology child-health development, allergy, and nephrology. I also emphasized growth and development assessments, immunizations, and preventive care in all patients, especially through the outpatient and continuity clinic. Over three years I completed a thorough educational curriculum which included a full spectrum of Pediatrics and Pediatric subspecialties.

Likewise, I valued my participation in interactive conferences and lectures. I played an active role in teaching in morning report, journal club, morbidity-mortality, and case-orientation conferences. Moreoever, my training emphasized the importance of research, where I developed interests in pediatric nutritional status and behaviors associated with parental education and income.

With an outstanding aptitude in nutrition, I competed a clinical nutrition fellowship to learn how to improve the nutritional status in sick children and learned to give nutritional support in cases of Marasmus, Kwashiorkor, and in critically-ill patients. I also managed obese patients, especially with complications, such as Blount's disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Nutrition is a key aspect of primary health care. I expect my additional training will be put to good use in the U.S. where the obesity epidemic continues to grow.
My immediate goal is to join a Pediatric Residency Program at a University-based institution because I believe that my opportunity for exposure to cases would challenge me intellectually while at the same time allow me to service the community.  Afterwards, I envision myself pursuing a career in Neonatology and reesearch in areas of nutrition and noenates. With a rich background with clinical Pediatric experience I have well developed my skills and strengths and thus am well prepared to become a valuable asset to my pediatric training program. My empathy for the sick and my passion for Pediatrics motivates me to continue to practice and become a successful pediatrician in the United States of America.