Although I declared early on that I wanted to be a doctor,
becoming one was in no way a certainty. As the youngest of three,
I grew up seeing how hard my two sisters worked as medical
students. As I became more aware of the demands of being a
physician, I faltered in my decision. My parents though
encouraged me to stick with it. I was accepted at the University
of Santo Tomas, where I earned a Bachelor of Science with a major
in Biology. Although this was a first step towards a life in
medicine, the turning point that sealed my decision to pursue
medicine was my father's diagnosis of lung cancer. I was now
hungry for medical knowledge to understand what my father was
going through and frustrated at not knowing how to search for
alternative or better treatment options. This motivated me to
study harder, and served as a means to combat the concern and
anxiety I felt at that time. The trust and faith we had in my
father's doctors also made me realize how fulfilling it must be
to provide care to patients.
In 1997, I was admitted to the same university for medical
school. Their program for medicine has always been ranked among
the top two colleges of medicine in the Philippines. Even with
the great demands of school, I joined Alpha Delta Mu, a sorority
which sponsors medical and surgical missions in several
communities, especially in underserved areas. I became one of the
more aggressive members of this sorority, working to solicit
donations of sample medicines and asking members of the sorority
who were already practicing physicians to participate in these
missions. As part of this outreach program, we also held annual
blood donations at the university hospital. These activities
strengthened my interest in primary care, and at the same time
fostered my ability to lead others as well as to function as a
team member.
Initially, I wasn't certain which field of primary care I
wanted to pursue. My interest in Pediatrics began during my third
year of medical school when I spent a few months making house
visits in the slum areas of Manila. I was assigned to one family
with three kids who were left in the care of a mother not
well-informed about proper sanitation. I remember bringing soaps
the kids could use for baths, and candies as prizes if I saw them
clean and smelling good. Some of our goals were to make sure they
were current in their immunizations and to educate the family
about properly boiled drinking water. There was a sense of
fulfillment every time I left their house.
My fondness for working with children grew as I rotated in
Pediatrics during my clerkship year. While there are frustrations
at times, the innocence and honesty of children have an enormous
appeal. My decision to pursue Pediatrics was confirmed by an
internship at St. Luke's Medical Center in Manila. After passing
the Philippine boards, I saw patients under supervision at the
clinic. Patient encounters there made me realize that in order to
provide efficient health care, one must also establish trust and
a good relationship with parents.
Time spent studying for the USMLE examinations did not weaken
my commitment. After passing the USMLE Steps 1 and 2, I was
fortunate to work with family practitioners at a clinic in
Friendswood, Texas. At first, I merely observed the doctors
interacting with patients. As I became familiar with the health
care delivery system in the United States, I was allowed to see
patients on my own, to present each case to the attending
physician, and to discuss my assessment and plan. With the
diversity of patients presenting in this clinic, seeing pediatric
patients remained the most rewarding. I saw the importance of
counseling patients as an integral part of preventive medicine.
It was an intellectually stimulating and rewarding time. My
observership at Texas Children's Hospital also made me conscious
of how advanced the technology is in this country and how
accessible it is for so many patients. It was exciting to witness
doctors from different specialties collaborating, to provide the
best care and management to patients. This dynamism in the
American hospital setting motivates people to give their
best.
Based on these personal and clinical experiences, I strongly
believe that growth and learning is a life-long process. The
doctors I worked with, from the residents to the attendings,
encouraged me to learn from them and yet, at the same time, to
freely voice my own opinions. This is an environment that
challenges but also allows professionalism to grow and flourish.
I am eager to begin residency training in Pediatrics and to
practice in this kind of setting. While encounters with patients
and their families enrich my life, I also find spending leisure
time with family and friends rejuvenating and necessary for me to
maintain the energy level necessary to do my best. With the
support of friends and family, I look forward to developing my
skills, building on my knowledge base, and discovering what I can
contribute to the field. I hope your program will give me that
opportunity.
