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Volunteering as a Way to Improve Medical Skills Essay

Updated August 12, 2022
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Volunteering as a Way to Improve Medical Skills Essay essay

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My interest in medicine started very young when my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It was heart wrenching to watch a very self-sufficient and independent man like him slowly relying on others for help performing even the smallest of tasks. I regularly accompanied him to his doctors visits. As his health deteriorated, the frequency of his visits increased. At times, I would even skip out on playing with my best friends in order to accompany him. His neurologist was over 2 hours away and grandpa had to mostly rely on our family physician for his immediate medical needs. No matter how discouraged he went in, he always left the office feeling a little better and with a renewed sense of hope.

This positively impacted not only his physical and mental health, but that of others surrounding him as well. At that early age, I began gaining an appreciation for the magnitude of change. It was immensely gratifying to observe and paved a path towards medicine in my heart.

During medical school, my first experience with family medicine was volunteering at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter, where we worked as a group to host monthly health camps and performed numerous health checkups. I was able to advance my learning while providing much needed medical care. Later in my clinical years, I gained experience in community based office setting, where I expanded my knowledge of key diseases and disorders with the aid of an amazing mentor, Dr. Chuang. What set aside Primary Care early on was the opportunity to see a broad range of patient population, provide continuity of care and the gratification of following patients through the years as they progress.

Family Medicine gave me the opportunity to interact and understand my patients in order to carefully craft an individualized approach, instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment algorithm. The best part is always staying on my feet not knowing what walks through the door next, it is exciting, engaging and constantly challenging.

Gardening, one of my favorite hobbies has taught me patience, humility and a deeper understanding of the world. There is a sense of satisfaction in working with the soil and constantly nurturing a plant, it helps keep my ego grounded. I get a similar sense of satisfaction when I spend time caring for a patient and I am able to witness their progress. It takes time to carefully build this relationship and can be extremely fruitful if tended to. I must act diligently and respond to the information conveyed to me, be it by wilting leaves on a tomato plant or an anxious patient in need for guidance and education on their condition. Every attending I worked with varied in approach to their patients.

Over time, these observations and my interactions with patients have enabled me to develop my own style of interview, to confidently assess patients, build trust and develop plans relying on evidence based medicine. During one of my rotations, I encountered an elderly patient diagnosed with Parkinson induced psychosis. We were able to treat him with a newer medication which was not easily possible 20 years ago. To me, it is extremely rewarding to treat individuals for symptoms similar to what my grandfather encountered and it solidifies my interest in medicine.

I have faced numerous hardships at different stages of my life, however, I have been encouraged to pursue my passion for medicine. I have relied on patience and perseverance to get me through the obstacles to come out stronger and resilient, and I will continue to do so. I regret not pursuing more clinical research during medical school, and made changes to resolve that. In my time since graduation, I have pursued several research opportunities.

I am currently employed as a paid research assistant for a Las Vegas medical group(Simon Med), where my main focus involves traumatic brain injury patients. We are using volumetric measurement from neural imaging and retrospectively attempting to determine any clinical correlations. I have also taken up learning medical Spanish to expand my repertoire and become a more competitive candidate.

Involvement in the local community has always been an emphasis in my family and I serve as best I can, be it volunteering at health fairs, planting trees, or mentoring kids towards a brighter future. I would like to be part of a residency program that is deeply rooted in the local community and shares my values and goals. I strive to be a confident, competent and compassionate physician for my patients by working hard and giving my hundred percent during my residency years. I believe my willingness to be a better version of myself each day, cultural diversity and unique personal experiences have shaped me into a well-rounded candidate for your residency program.

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Volunteering as a Way to Improve Medical Skills Essay. (2022, Aug 12). Retrieved from https://sunnypapers.com/volunteering-as-a-way-to-improve-medical-skills-essay/