I have always been fond of doing jigsaw puzzles, which, at a
rather subtle level, parallels my desire to pursue a residency in
Family Practice. The thought processes involved in solving a
puzzle mirror those involved in diagnosing and treating patients.
One begins by connecting the border and constructing a framework.
This is much like taking a patient history and grasping the
problem at hand. Next, tests are ordered to support or refute the
initial diagnosis, as well as to provide more detailed
information. The tests serve as guides, much the way the cover of
the puzzle box serves as a guide in providing reference points
for where individual pieces fit within the puzzle. By themselves,
the pieces or tests mean nothing, but when arranged together to
form a complete picture, the results form a meaningful whole.
This especially applies to Family Practice, where not only
individual organ systems, but the entire patient or even an
entire family are the focus of treatment.
Family Practice offers exposure to a diverse range of patients
and problems, and integrates the duties of clinician, educator,
and health advocate into a single, unified role. It is to this
powerful and varied skill set that I am particularly drawn. My
desire is to gain a high level of competence in health
maintenance and disease and problem management in order to make a
difference in the lives of patients and families who might not
otherwise have access to much-needed medical care. It has always
been my dream to open a non-profit clinic for the medically
under-served in my community, and it is towards this goal that I
am striving.
I took the first step towards my goal during undergraduate
studies at the University of XXXX, where I had the good fortune
to be accepted into the XXXX volunteer program. XXXX, a
non-profit clinic in the greater XXXX area, primarily serves
uninsured and impoverished members of the community. It opened in
19XX and has since been run completely by volunteer
undergraduates, medical students, and physicians affiliated with
XXXX. I volunteered from 19XX until 19XX and during an intense
two years there, I gained valuable first-hand experience in
managing the operations of the clinic and patient care.
Volunteers wore many hats and were asked to perform a variety of
roles, as need dictated. Interpreting for non-Spanish speaking
medical students taking patient histories, performing physical
exams, and conducting lab work and analysis gave me real-world
anchors for the concepts I was learning in med school. This
direct exposure at XXXX provided me with a clear and
unadulterated view of the profession I have chosen to pursue. The
work was demanding and not very glamorous. Volunteers dropped out
of the program with perplexing regularity, and I quickly realized
that there was far more to this endeavor than my initial rather
na�ve and romanticized visions of "working for the good of
humanity." Through it all, the experiences at the clinic only
served to strengthen my resolve to pursue my dream.
I took my next step during medical school by enrolling in a
year of clinical study in XXXX. XXXX is affiliated with XXXX.
This unique experience afforded me the opportunity to learn and
practice medicine in a completely different environment. XXXX is
the only major hospital in the southeast of XXXX, and as a direct
result, I had the good fortune to be exposed to a diverse range
of medical issues. I learned first-hand the pros and cons of
socialized healthcare, and came away with a new, and
better-informed view of a healthcare system radically different
from our own system in the U.S. The lack of resources forced all
of us to become astute clinicians. For example, during the time I
served my clinicals, there were only five public MRI machines in
all of XXXX, and none in XXXX. By sheer necessity, astute
decisions and diagnoses were insisted upon. This lack of
resources was not limited to MRI machines but extended to many
aspects of medical practice. Resources taken for granted in the
U.S. were just not available in XXXX. I was therefore witness to
a variety of approaches to the practice of medicine, as well as
seeing a unique spectrum of afflictions peculiar to the primarily
rural patient population.
Looking back, I see that I have come a long way. The next
steps are gaining admission into your Family Practice program and
then taking full advantage of the excellent learning opportunity
your program affords. I feel the knowledge, skills and
perspectives I have accrued thus far will allow me to make the
most of this new stage of my journey toward becoming an astute
clinician and health advocate. Thank you for considering my
application and credentials.
