PSYCHIATRY PERSONAL STATEMENT

    Early in my plastic surgery practice, I was so excited with the results that I had achieved with the rhinoplasty that I had performed on a patient that it was difficult to understand why, she was not excited at all.  In fact, not only was she disappointed, but she also gave me the impression of suffering a great deal.  It became clear to me that her problem could not be solved with surgery.  Despite all my efforts, I realized that I had not achieved the goal of improving my patient’s self-confidence, which was what had originally attracted me to the field of plastic surgery and led me to complete a plastic surgery residency in Mexico. Since plastic surgery is a diverse field that involves a wide range of patients, I was constantly exposed to those who, in addition to having physical problems, also suffered from mental, addictive, and emotional disorders such as somatoform, body image, eating, mood, anxiety, gender identity, and substance-related disorders. Over the years, I observed that surgery was not enough to solve many of my patient’s problems and, in many cases surgical intervention was not even necessary.  I became increasingly aware of the fact that plastic surgery focuses only on limited aspects of the patients’ health. Consequently, I became very interested in using a holistic approach in the assessment of my patients and I placed particular emphasis in their mental health.

While I found plastic surgery captivating, exploring other aspects of the patients’ health gave me great satisfaction—and improved my communicative skills.  I also realized that by having a more holistic view of my patients’ lives I was in a position to better serve their needs. It was particularly fascinating to see how their culture, family, and life experiences influenced their ability to cope with medical hardships. My interest in mental phenomena led me to review much of the literature in psychiatry and I was amazed to see the extraordinary amount of advances that have taken place in recent years.  Also, unlike other fields in medicine, psychiatry offers therapeutic approaches that go beyond neuropsychopharmacology, giving the physician more tools to treat their patients. It is clear to me that this is a particularly exciting time to begin training in this fast evolving field.   

Interested in developing my research skills I completed a Master’s degree in Science in Large City. Ever since, I have actively participated in research activities performing clinical trials, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and training new researchers. I found my research experience very rewarding; it gave me foresight, inquisitiveness, patience, and it was crucial in the development of my critical thinking and organizational skills. In 2001, I came to the United States as a research fellow in craniofacial surgery.  During this time, I learned very much from the outstanding physicians with whom I worked and benefited from the high academic and training standards that are followed in this country. At that point, I decided to pursue my career in academic medicine in the United States. This decision has encouraged me to change my specialty focus and to apply for a psychiatry residency. I believe that my background in research and clinical background in plastic surgery will be a valuable asset in my new endeavors and am confident that this will be the most rewarding career for me.

The practice of psychiatry is emotionally demanding and I am in a position to face this challenge. My clinical practice in a trauma hospital in Large City refined my ability to work under pressure in emergency circumstances. I developed the skills to handle stressful situations under different conditions. I believe that these experiences led me to mature emotionally and professionally. Furthermore, I have discovered strategies that I can successfully use to relax and recharge.  I practice swimming, relaxation techniques, and bibliotherapy. I also find emotional support spending time with my family and friends.

Since a person is a composite of mind, brain, body and environment, I am seeking a program that is founded upon the Bio-Psycho-Social model and which assures a balance between academic and clinical activities. My multicultural and multinational background have helped me developed high levels of creativity and enthusiasm that I am confident will allow me to make a great contribution to my program.  My maturity and clinical practice as a physician will be an asset to my training as I am focused on my goals. These future goals include being an academic psychiatrist capable of combining clinical, research and teaching activities.