Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal statement
Derek is a nine-year-old Navajo Indian boy living on the reservations near Continental Divide, New Mexico. He suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, his father battles with poor health due to substance abuse, and his mothers whereabouts are unknown. Our team, working through an international organization called Del Cordero went in to provide comfort and hope for him and others in similar situations. My role with Derek was seemingly trivial. We would hunt for bullet casing on the hillsides, construct happy faces using the limitless supply of rocks and boulders, or simply talk as he rattled off outrageous stories in which he was always the hero in his fantastic world. Yet five weeks later, seeing the tears welling in Dereks eyes as I said my last goodbye was an awakening experience that finally proved to me that the true treasures in life lie in the relationships we foster with the people around us. My eyes were opened to the sheltered life I had lived growing up in the comforts of 'suburbia', and I saw the extravagancy and lavishness of running water and carpeted floors that I took for granted at home. Having crossed cultures and become a Navajo for the summer I was itching to stretch my potential in all possible directions. I joined the California Mens Crew team with no prior experience, and found myself the only walk-on member on a team of twenty-two. Though initially we had nothing in common, every stream of sweat, stinging blister, and grunt of exertion unified us as a team. With the breaths of the teammates heavy in the brisk estuary air, we were not nine, but a single entity slicing through the motionless bay. In a sport in which regattas are won or lost depending on the sustained focus of all nine men, by the seasons end, I couldnt help but feel a sense of triumph and camaraderie at being a part of this nationally renowned team. While the mission trip to New Mexico and participation in intercollegiate sports are examples characteristic of my first two years as an undergraduate, the third year called for a reexamination of myself and a refocusing of my energy to magnify my talents and aspirations. Doing empirical research with Dr. Daniel Koshland Jr., one of the pioneers of enzymology, has opened my mind to a world where skepticism reigns and discovering the key to one pathway leads to tens of other pathways waiting to be explored. More than just the various techniques I acquired during my years in the lab, I cherished the intense intellectual atmosphere and the incessant challenge and struggle to be up to date on the latest discoveries in my field of protein engineering. Funded by the Haas Scholars Program and the Presidents Undergraduate Fellowship, I am excited at the possibility of collaborating with Dr. Sharon Doyle, a post-doctorate in the lab, to publish my work on altering substrate specificity by directed evolution in the future. At the same time that my fascination with scientific research was expanding, my junior and senior years afforded me the rare opportunity to directly see the life of a doctor without the stereotype of glamour associated with this profession. Through the Health and Medical Apprenticeship Program, I shadowed Dr. Russ Granich, the chief resident of internal medicine at Kaiser Hospital, and gained insights on the lifestyle of a hospitalist. In a different context, the following year I utilized my training as an emergency medical technician to volunteer as a medical assistant to Dr. Bob Wells giving free primary care to the homeless at the CityTeam clinic in downtown Oakland. Undoubtedly I was awed by the speed and precision with which Dr. Granich converted numerical data into diagnoses of disease, and touched by the heartfelt gratitude of Dr. Wells' patients. On the flipside, I was brought back to reality when I witnessed respected doctors bickering about short lunch breaks, and felt indignant at patients who blamed the doctors for their ailments. I confess that most of my patient encounters cannot compare to the emotional roller coasters neatly packaged into one-hour television shows like ER . On the other hand, the true gratification I find in serving and building a rapport with my patients goes far beyond anything I could ever experience vicariously. Even though the patient backgrounds, facility organization and manner of care differed drastically between the hospital and clinic, underlying both settings was a fusion of human care and camaraderie with the intellectual challenge of problem solving and diagnosis. One aspect of my undergraduate experience was shown by the power of compassion on shining light in Dereks life and the triumph of unifying as a team to win regattas. Another aspect, exemplified by my research in the Koshland lab, deepened my appreciation for the skepticism and scientific query that leads to higher learning. Both aspects have proven to be great sources of fulfillment and satisfaction for me. The fusion of this dichotomy between humanism and intellectualism that had been a clichi for so long in my life is now a truth that compels me to continue my pursuit of a career as a medical doctor.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal Statement - Why did you choose the field of medicine.
In an attempt to deviate from the tedium of comprehensive life stories, I will
recount the most important instances that led to my decision and determination
in
becoming a doctor.
It all began in Brooklyn as the evening was approaching midnight on July 3rd,
1990. An outdoor engagement party was coming to an end, when all of a sudden a
militant protester yelling, 'Free the Hostages!' from atop a building showered
us
with glass bottles which shattered upon impact to the ground. The disgruntled
fanatic had mistakenly assumed that we were Iraqi, or perhaps that we had some
connection to the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Alas, the only victim
of this cowardly assault was an innocent young boy--me. A glass shard had made
its way though my eyelid and penetrated the white of my left eye. After waiting
twenty minutes for an ambulance that never arrived, I was quickly rushed to the
nearest hospital while my family encouraged me not to blink as they sponged up
the blood from beneath my eye.
Upon reaching the first hospital, we were told that there were no doctors
available who were trained in treating such an injury. Attendants at the second
hospital claimed the same but informed us of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
in Manhattan. It was at this hospital that I received the care I needed, but
more
importantly, I felt genuine concern from the doctors and nurses. Two days later
I
had surgery to remove the glass shard. The operation, which a doctor had kindly
explained to me beforehand in detail, was mostly a success. The doctors were
able
to remove the shard with no resultant visual deficits.
This event had been my first prolonged exposure to professional medical care,
and needless to say, the experience had left a great impression on my future
ambitions. Ever since the accident I have developed an interest in medicine,
especially concerning the eyes. About a year following the surgery I met with
another ophthalmologist, Dr. Maureen Relland, MD, at her private office for a
checkup and prescription for new glasses. Afterwards, we discussed her line of
work and all the details surrounding it. She cheerfully took time out to answer
all questions I had and was clearly amazed at the interest I had taken in
ophthalmology. In all, I felt inspired to pursue this interest, and since then,
my goal has been to become an ophthalmologist.
One year later my family uprooted, and moved to Jerusalem. There we were faced
with many hardships ranging from academia, social interactions and cultural
conflicts to quality of life. Living amidst the 'Intefadah' uprising, we were
silently scrutinized by the resident inhabitants for our western ways. We lived
with my great aunt whom at the time was slowly losing her vision and needed an
extra hand around the house. Her loss of sight was attributed to a surgery gone
wrong in one eye and a detached retina in the other. By the time it was found
that a surgical cure was at hand, her vision was all but lost. All that remains
of her vision today is her ability to distinguish light from dark. Yet due to
her
last bad experience, she is unwilling to lose that last grace with another risky
operation. Seeing her in this state of despair had an immense effect on our
family, as we were helpless to help her. This experience, however, only
reaffirmed my commitment to pursue a career in ophthalmology.
Upon returning to the U.S. seven years later, I had an excellent base in the
physical sciences and mathematics, however, my English did not advance as
strongly due to the difference in language and culture. All that remained was my
senior year of high school. Despite having been told by my grade advisor that
obtaining a Regents Endorsed Diploma would be next-to impossible, I struggled,
and was able to finish all the requisite examinations in that same year, while
earning some college credits with Advanced Placement classes. This ultimately
laid down the solid framework for which I was able to start my college career.
I originally chose my major as Chemistry because I found the physical sciences
fascinating. Throughout my college career, with the participation in biochemical
research and an active role as president of the student American Chemical
Society, this interest has developed into a greater goal. Consequently, one of
my
future ambitions is to contribute to the medical society something substantial
along the lines of biochemical or biotechnical research.
My second major, which I declared after my sophomore year, is computer science.
After taking an introductory class to programming, a professor strongly
encouraged me to continue with more advanced courses, claiming that I have an
unnatural talent in computer programming. Other professors subsequently urged me
to pursue a career in computer science, citing that monetary rewards are
generous. Nonetheless I have always felt myself as too sociable and outgoing to
be sitting in front of a computer screen, without human contact, for hours on
end. Ultimately, the reason that I am drawn to computer science is that I
believe
it will invariably continue to be an elemental aspect of most evolving
disciplines- especially that of medical science.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Ophthalmology Personal Statement
I was born in South Korea to a traditional Korean family, and raised in a
largely Chinese and Indian immigrant community near San Francisco. For the past
3 years, I've enjoyed exploring the rich ethnic enclaves of New York City while
attending Mount Sinai, an institution popular to Jewish students and faculty. I
have spent my summers in the Navajo Indian reservations of New Mexico, the
underserved government colonias of South Texas, and the impoverished towns of
Matamoros, Mexico. I love volunteering my time serving the homeless and
working
with immigrant populations. Consistent with my upbringing, it is through a
global, cross-cultural perspective that I perceive a career in ophthalmology; as
a means to spread compassion and alleviate suffering rather than an end in and
of
itself.
Ophthalmology first came into my radar as a miniscule blip during my 1st year at
Mount Sinai through an ophthalmology resident doing his preliminary year in New
York City. When we initially met, I hardly knew the difference between an
ophthalmologist and an optometrist. Even so, he kindly shared stories of his
exploits in India and his desire to use ophthalmology to treat people in
underdeveloped nations. I was left with a strong impression of his commitment
to
medical outreach and international health. Soon after we began a mentoring
relationship meeting regularly, and he shared wisdom from his experiences
eventually guiding me to spend my first summer of medical school at the Summer
Medical Institute (SMI).
SMI is located in one of the most medically underserved populations in America
in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Initially, I expected SMI to be a nice
public
health service project where we performed home health screenings for the
uninsured in Texas and set up medical clinics across the border in Matamoros,
Mexico. What I experienced that summer changed my life. More than simply
uninsured, families in the colonias of Texas resided in dilapidated trailer
homes
and struggled to find a consistent means for obtaining meals. After just a
couple of hours of home health screenings, I had to take refuge from the
scorching sun in our air-conditioned 15-passenger van. I couldnt imagine how
these families could endure such conditions on a daily basis. More shocking to
me was the fact that such poverty existed in the United States.
Not surprisingly, preventable diseases run rampant. While we were able to
provide medicine and counseling to treat many medical illnesses like diabetes
and
hypertension, there was painfully little we could do for the scores of patients
with commonplace ophthalmologic diseases. Many of the adorable children that we
met with strabismus would eventually permanently lose their sight. The parents
and grandparents with cataracts would live the rest of their lives crippled with
poor vision. Over and over we regretfully referred out these patients to local
doctors fully aware that most would not be able to follow up. Frustration,
pity,
relief, and gratitude were just a few emotions that circulated my mind that
summer.
While my interests were being shaped through these impressionable encounters, it
was only after completing an intense, yet gratifying surgery clerkship that I
was
convinced that I wanted to commit to one of the surgical subspecialties. Each
time I reminisced about my summer at SMI my heart sank for the patients with eye
diseases, and I decided to look into the ophthalmology specialty further. My
decision was emphatically confirmed during my elective where I found that the
pace, culture, patients, and procedures of ophthalmology to be a perfect fit.
Especially encouraging to me was meeting excellent clinicians and academic
leaders who also had strong interests in medical outreach to the underserved.
With the dramatic impact that can be made on peoples lives with relatively
simple procedures and few tools, ophthalmology seems to be ideally suited for
medical missions in ways most specialties are not.
Service to underserved populations is the call of my heart and ophthalmology is
the instrument by which I desire to fulfill my calling. Through medical
outreach
I want to spread to others the compassion that I was first shown and have
enjoyed
so abundantly in my upbringing. Utilizing the expertise of an eye surgeon, I
want to help fight blindness, alleviate suffering and promote healing. I feel
very fortunate to have found a specialty with so many attributes consistent with
my goals and interests. The ophthalmology specialty is particularly well suited
in my endeavors to strike a balance between excellence as a physician and
devotion to service. As I begin my training in ophthalmology, I am confident
that I will further focus my career pathway, and I look forward to watching
unfold more precisely what it will mean to integrate medical outreach and
ophthalmology in my life.
