SURGERY PERSONAL STATEMENT

        The role a surgeon plays in the lives of their patients absolutely epitomizes why I chose to pursue a career in medicine and perfectly represents how I would like to be defined as a physician. The surgeon is everything for his patient: a personal detective, a healer, a confidant and friend. They are able to guide their patients through the full gamut of disease, from presentation through convalescence; taking complete responsibility for their care. A surgeon is able to diagnose disease, provide the necessary therapeutic modalities to cure definitively, and to see the results of their work immediately. During an elective rotation in pediatric surgery, I was able to witness on a daily basis the wonderful opportunity a surgeon has to positively impact the lives of those he treats. From the infant with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis who was able to resume feeding mere hours following his pyloromyotomy to the obtunded teenager with acute appendicitis that was able to return to her daily activities just days following her appendectomy, the patients I encountered served a testament to the true healing power a surgeon attains through their training and has help to reaffirm my commitment to the field. The potential to help others and the capability to see the impact of my work reflected through my patients will be a sustaining force in my years to come.  I realized my ambition to enter a discipline that would allow me the ability to make an immediate impact on the lives of my future patients.

       During my 3rd year clinical rotations I quickly discovered that a career in primary care was not for me. While each field provided unique patient care opportunities, none seemed to generate the level of intrigue I had experienced during my ER experience; and after my 3rd year general surgery clerkship, I knew without reservation that I wanted to devote my remaining professional career to this discipline.

The role a surgeon plays in the lives of their patients absolutely epitomizes why I chose to pursue a career in medicine and perfectly represents how I would like to be defined as a physician. The surgeon is everything for his patient: a personal detective, a healer, a confidant and friend. They are able to guide their patients through the full gamut of disease, from presentation through convalescence; taking complete responsibility for their care. A surgeon is able to diagnose disease, provide the necessary therapeutic modalities to cure definitively, and to see the results of their work immediately. During an elective rotation in pediatric surgery, I was able to witness on a daily basis the wonderful opportunity a surgeon has to positively impact the lives of those he treats. From the infant with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis who was able to resume feeding mere hours following his pyloromyotomy to the obtunded teenager with acute appendicitis that was able to return to her daily activities just days following her appendectomy, the patients I encountered served a testament to the true healing power a surgeon attains through their training and has help to reaffirm my commitment to the field. The potential to help others and the capability to see the impact of my work reflected through my patients will be a sustaining force in my years to come. 

       Equally appealing is the nature of a surgeon’s work. I consider myself a person of action and feel one of the most attractive features of general surgery is the hands-on application knowledge that plays a part of a surgeon’s daily life. As a medical student, I had the spent an elective month in the University of Tennessee Trauma Intensive Care Unit,a Level I trauma center with one of the highest patient volumes in the nation. While there, I was intrigued by the challenges associated with managing the multiple physiological and psychological problems inherent in critically ill patients. In addition to clinical patient care responsibilities, I learned a number of bedside procedures. I found it exhilarating to be able to use my hands to perform concrete, physical work to the benefit of my patients. However, as proud as I was at my newly acquired clinical skills, I came to the somewhat sobering realization that through my actions, I had accepted a completely new set of patient care responsibilities. Due to the invasiveness of the procedures I was now performing, for the first time in my medical career, my actions had the potential to do as much harm as good.  This realization has since inspired me to approach my duties in the hospital in a much more serious manner and has subsequently made me more aware of the potential ramifications of my actions. The time I spent in the TICU marked a period of tremendous growth both professionally and personally and gave me a much clearer understanding of the immense responsibility a surgeon has to his patients. Through my surgical rotations, I learned that I possess the work ethic, mental resolve, and diligence necessary to succeed in a fast paced, pressured environment and have

acquired a wealth of clinical experience that should ease my transition from medical student to surgical intern.

       Surgery also appeals to me as it is a continuously evolving field predicated on the advancements made through clinical research. Clinical research plays a vital role in the enhancement of patient care and I have strived to remain involved in research endeavors throughout my education.  During my senior year in College, I participated in a project designed to develop a line of monoclonal antibodies used at St. Children’s Research Hospital. Intrigued by the challenges and complexities associated with basic science research, I chose to continue my efforts by accepting a position in the Department of Critical Care Medicine. Over the course of the next year, I worked on a translational research project designed to study the role of the enzyme, Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1), during episodes of acute sepsis. I thoroughly enjoy the intellectual challenges of laboratory and clinical research and realize its potential to improve patient care. I feel that my work thus far has enhanced my critical thinking and problem solving skills, which will make me better prepared to tackle the complex problems encountered in surgical patients. Surgery is a field rich in research opportunities and I look forward to continued involvement in research in both residency and beyond. 

       My future plans include completion of a comprehensive general surgery residency program and subsequently pursuing a career in an academic setting. While I am currently planning on a career as a general surgeon, Pediatric Surgery and Trauma/Critical Care are two areas I would like to further explore. An ideal program would be one that is dedicated to resident education, both clinically and didactically, and one that will allow me the opportunity to further explore areas of clinical research. I also seek a program that serves a diverse patient population to ensure a well-rounded learning experience, one that affords its residents autonomy in decision making, but also one where the attending staff is readily accessible to guide and teach. I will bring a strong will, a desire to both learn and teach, and a good natured team-oriented attitude. My experiences throughout medical school and in both clinical and research settings have shown me that the surgery demands intelligence, integrity, compassion, and commitment.  My personal attributes will enable me to make positive contributions to both my program and the field of surgery.