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Essay Question:
Describe a difficult time period in your life
No one wants to see a loved one depart. And I, as a physician, would learn the skills to avert situations in which families, relationships, and lives are shattered by death. One of the overwhelming reasons influencing me to enter the field of health care is that I can have a positive impact on people's lives. I can save lives. As a practitioner of medicine, I expect to be rewarded with the joy that comes in saving someone's life or, at least, improving his or her quality of life. During the summer of 1998, I sampled the satisfaction a physician feels when fulfilling his or her duties. I worked as a veterinarian's assistant during that time and experienced both the highs and lows of veterinary medicine. On the extreme high end, I assisted in performing a Caesarian section on a pregnant dachshund. This was my first time ever witnessing the miracle of birth and I felt extremely pleased that we saved the mother and her two pups from a disastrous situation. Unfortunately, not every case at the veterinarian's office had a pleasant outcome. Once, I was called upon to assist in the euthanasia of Thor, a German Shepherd stricken with lymphoma. After unsuccessful surgery to remove the plethora of cancerous growths scattered throughout his body, putting Thor to sleep was better than having him gasp for air for the rest of his life. Thor's case has added fuel to my desire to become a physician. But more importantly, I found a mission in oncology. Even before Thor though, I had a close encounter with the devastating effects of cancer. When I was in high school, my Aunt Barbara succumbed to cancer. I felt powerless because I could do nothing for her. When she passed away, I felt empty inside whenever I thought that all the holidays we spent together would never take place again. I think that when I become a physician, every life that I save will serve to subdue the feelings of weakness I felt when my aunt died. I especially hope that for every person I can save from cancer I will feel as if I have avenged the death of my Aunt Barbara from the villainous cancer that took her away from me.
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Essay Question:
Personal Statement for AMCAS
'I hope my brain doesn't start melting.' I don't recall much of what happened next, but I do remember thinking that as I watched my temperature creep past 104F. When I regained my composure, I was out of the heated chamber and in a cold shower, my sweat-drenched clothes still on and the temperature probes still dangling from my body. Slumped over, my mind slowly started to function again as a sense of satisfaction settled in. Another experiment done, another data set complete... all in all, another good day at work. I hope that by testing on myself I'll be able to take the necessary risks to make discoveries that can improve lives and push the envelope of current knowledge. Moreover, I hope that one day all of my self-testing and probing might help treat heat stroke victims, develop new cooling techniques, and save lives. After a quick cleanup and snack, I gather myself together, leave the exercise lab, and start running. Most of the time during the 3 hours of swimming, biking, and running I think about the Ironman. Just thinking about the race fills me with a sense of excitement, fear, and pride all mixed into one. I chose this race because I admire how its finishers are made, not born. I'm not a natural swim champ, a Lance Armstrong, or a Kenyan runner. I'm a guy who believes in the value of challenges and discipline, and that the easy road may not take you where you really want to go. When I finish my workout and my body's pain finally turns into relaxation, I head back to the lab to work. I enter the hospital and walk by the myriad of patients lining the hallways leading to my office. Whenever I take this route I feel an unfulfilled sadness. I see crippling pain in each person's face, posture, and gaze as they watch people pass by. They sit in their wheelchairs trapped, unable to move and live freely. It feels unfair that I can workout when so many around me can barely move. Every day I want to help these individuals and alleviate their physical suffering. As a result, every day my desire to become a doctor grows stronger. Sitting at my desk and analyzing stacks of data, afternoon transforms into night. I start thinking about the events of my day and I ask myself: why do I do all this? I pause for a few moments to reflect. I do all this because I want to better prepare myself to help people like those who shared their lives with me during my high school and undergraduate clinical experiences - people with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, leukemia, and AIDS. I do all this because I want to personally and directly improve the quality of people's lives, and because I believe there is no greater good than helping the sick become healthy. Walking through the darkness to my car, I can't help but think about journeys and destinations. The average hyperthermia experiment is 15 miles of cycling and lasts 60 minutes. The Ironman spans 140 miles and takes roughly 12 hours. The road to becoming a good physician has no set distance and can last a lifetime. However, it is the one that I am more eager to travel than any other, and it is the one I am the most prepared to work for, commit myself to, and pursue no matter what it may require.
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Essay Question:
Optional Essay
To my future patients, I am writing this letter as I apply to medical school. I want you to know who I am at this very moment, where I have come from and hope to be, and why I am dedicating my life's work to providing you with the best possible care. Every so often, my father will show me a card from one of his patients that typically opens with something like, 'Dr. X, thank you for saving my life.' But as I read further, I begin to see that they are thankful for more than just his provision of healthcare. With each card, I more fully understand the genuine appreciation for the time that he spends to hear them, to understand their fears, and to comfort them in sickness and in health. Growing up surrounded by medicine, I have witnessed the intimacy of the doctor-patient relationship as unlike that of any other profession. I dream of being able to connect with people like my father has with his patients. At each stage in my life, I have wanted to develop my interpersonal and leadership skills, skills that will be most useful to me as your physician. During my senior year in high school, the student body elected me as one of four prefects to lead the school and all of its activities. I thrive in situations that require teamwork and integrated leadership. I was always most satisfied knowing that I had harnessed the energies and directed the talents of dozens of people to derive success. Satisfaction is not always enough, though, as I realized in my experience with Chloe, the two-year-old daughter of a Resident Fellow at Stanford. After being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, Chloe was in need of a bone marrow transplant. As president of my Fraternity, I directed the efforts of our members to complete a record-breaking bone marrow typing drive. Despite typing over 600 people in two days, we were unable to find a match. A feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me. Yet Chloe is still fighting each day with a smile. Cancer hasn't changed her spirit. Learning recently that one of my mentees from Project AIYME will be attending UCLA this Fall, I recalled how our relationship began five years ago. Daniel was thirteen and more likely to join a gang than go to college. As a freshman at Stanford, I remember the challenge of fostering trust and respect between us. But somewhere between orientation day and the night of our last weekend retreat a year later, Daniel and I had moved beyond the guarded relationship of mentor and delinquent; we became close friends. Daniel taught me that active listening is paramount. I believe, in the same manner, my patients will always lead me to their diagnoses as long as I am there to hear them. A particularly vivid memory from my Outreach Coordinator position at the Asian Liver Center recalls an interaction with the Lam Family. Following an outreach event, Mrs. Lam informed me that her husband had hepatitis B. Mr. Lam was told by his physician that he was a 'healthy carrier' and that he need not worry. However, they had read that hepatitis B is known as a 'silent killer' in the Asian community. I could see confusion and anxiety in their eyes. I walked them through our health informational brochure as well as the specific precautions important to patients and families with hepatitis B. The frowns of confusion and anxiety soon became gleams of comprehension and appreciation. During a ten minute conversation, I functioned as a caregiver, a teacher and a supportive friend. While momentarily satisfied by my small contribution to their peace of mind, I felt frustrated with the limitations of what I had to offer. Again, I wanted to do so much more. My experiences thus far have inspired me to seize every opportunity, to take on new challenges and to always move forward so that I can make the largest impact on the world possible. I am a third generation Chinese-American that never wanted to go to China. I can't speak Chinese. But here I am in China, writing this letter, immersed in a new environment with an entirely different culture and language. The glamorous story is that I came here to help implement and evaluate a program that aims to vaccinate 100,000 students against hepatitis B. The not-so-glamorous story is that I left a comfortable life in California for a relatively uncomfortable one to help people that don't necessarily want to be helped. Behind all the stories, I am impassioned every day by the notion of making a tangible - and sometimes intangible - difference in the lives of many. Chloe showed me the strength of the human spirit. Daniel taught me the importance of connecting with people different from ourselves. The Lams underscored the power of family in times of need. Medicine will give me the opportunity to make a difference across generations, cultures and languages. I believe that this speaks to the essence of the practice of medicine. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life working to optimize the health and well-being of as many people who will allow me the privilege of doing so. I know that medicine is my passion and calling in life, and medical school is where I belong next. But for now, I look forward to the privilege of being your doctor. Respectfully,
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Major essay question: What is your opinion about facial transplantation? Is it an important new extension of organ donation, or has it stepped over certain ethical boundaries?
Facing the future of transplantation surgery 'Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.' - Mother Teresa People have said that life can be measured in smiles and frowns, and that if you smile at life it will smile back at you. Growing up in a Chinese household, I was frequently told a famous Chinese proverb which simply states that 'A smile will gain you ten more years of life.' Whether a smile endows a decade or is simply a mantra for healthy living, it is undeniable that we as a species place enormous importance on our ability to express ourselves. The physical expression of emotions has been a source of inspiration and influence for art, culture, society, and the interpersonal relationships which shape our daily lives. The face transplant recently performed by French surgeons is an extraordinary testament to the advancements in transplantation surgery as well as the dual physiologic and qualitative healing power of modern medicine. It is an achievement which will undoubtedly benefit both patients and science for years to come. This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the first successful human organ transplant, an astounding feat now commonly taken for granted in the medical community. Breakthroughs in organ transplantation research over the past half-century have propelled our understanding of the body's immune system by leaps and bounds, making it possible to successfully transplant organs such as the bowel, heart, lung, and skin and develop life-saving immunologic therapies. Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard has now performed the first face transplant, an accomplishment deserving the highest praise and ethical consideration. Transplantation surgery as a whole remains a largely existential endeavor which puts into question our sense of self and identity. Are our personalities and lives separate and distinct from the organs and tissues that comprise us, or do they inherently determine our experience of life? In most cases, the organ transplanted is tucked beneath flesh and bone, hidden away from scrutiny which would spark regular contemplation. Now, though, the organ itself bears the expressions characteristic of rumination. After a savage dog attack mutilated her nose, lips, and chin, Isabelle Dinoire received replacement facial tissue last November from a brain dead woman whose family had given consent to the procedure. Articles heralded the procedure to the world with both acclaim and contempt. The idea of face transplantation is wrought with major medical, ethical, and moral issues. It is first important to understand the vast complexity and risks involved with face transplants. Vascular blockages in any of the hundreds of microvessels could damage or kill the graft, and powerful anti-rejection drugs that will increase the likelihood of cancer will have to be taken on a permanent routine. In addition, risks of graft rejection (10-50% over the first 5 years) could put patients in a worse medical situation then before the operation. These potential pitfalls beg the question: Does this predominantly aesthetic procedure warrant the health risks involved, not to mention the psychological issues that undoubtedly arise from looking in the mirror only to see a stranger looking back? I would argue that yes, in the case of Isabelle Dinoire the potential benefits to the patient and medical community warranted the risks. Although Ms. Dinoire's life was not in danger without the surgery, that does not mean she was without suffering. The pain associated with disfigurement and the traumatic loss of one's facial movement is not confined by functional boundaries. How can you objectively assess the value and meaning of a look of joy or sorrow on a person's face? For many, the ability to fully express ourselves is synonymous with life itself. The late Ray Charles once said 'I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me - like food or water.' Although Mr. Charles's ability to hear his music was not integral to his physical health, it was a vital part of his soul. Many critics have stated that Dr. Dubernard's decision to perform the first face transplant was rash and motivated more by fame and recognition than a physician's duty to practice beneficence or non-malfeasance. While it is true that a high-profile, risky procedure such as face transplantation carries with it media attention, the same can be said of the first kidney transplant in 1954 by Dr. Hamburger or the first liver transplant in 1963 by Dr. Thomas Starzl. Both procedures were highly publicized and considered extremely risky and potentially fatal if unsuccessful. However, both also significantly furthered our scientific understanding, making it possible to now routinely save and improve lives using these techniques. With any groundbreaking work there is a concomitant fissure in ethical viewpoints. In modern medicine, life is often objectified by risks and benefits in a series of computations, algorithms, and equations. While modern medicine accomplishes its goals, it does not give due credit to qualitative health concerns. I agree that Ms. Dinoire's situation still remains precarious and that much of the physical success of her operation will be determined in the upcoming months. I also acknowledge that her operation will carry with it a psychological component which remains to be seen. However, as a future physician I value the diversity of opinions, choices, and lifestyles which encompass the human experience. Ultimately, in the years to come I believe the success for Isabelle Dinoire and future face transplant patients will not be measurable in terms of symmetry, nerve function, or immunity. As articulated by Mother Theresa in the quote above, I believe their success will be based on their ability to use the gift they were given to benefit humanity.
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Essay Question:
Major Essay: Personal Statement: AMCAS Prompt: III. Personal Comments Consider and write your Personal Comments carefully; many admissions committees place significant weight on this section. Some questions you may wish to consider while drafting this essay are: Why have you selected the field of medicine? What motivates you to learn more about medicine? What do you want medical schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in another section of the application?
I would like to introduce you to a very special friend of mine named "Lumpy". He isn't much to look at; his head is made from a special effects silicone product alled 'Dragon Skin' and houses several balloon catheters which simulate cancerous nodes in the mouth and neck. Lumpy also lacks a body. You see, Lumpy is actually a medical device, the result of my belief that there had to be a way to detect oral cancer in people before it was too late. The idea of Lumpy was sparked after I read a rather startling statistic while waiting in the lobby of my dentist's office: 85% of the people suffering from oral cancer are diagnosed when the tumors are considered 'late-stage' and have progressed beyond the point of medical aid. The article continued on to state the mortality rate of oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, cancer of the brain, liver, kidney, or malignant melanoma. I was rather taken aback by this, knowing that oral cancer treatments are typically 80% effective when discovered early and detecting unnatural lumps in the mouth seems straightforward. After probing a bit further, I finally uncovered the root of the problem: oral cancer detection training was practically non-existent in dental schools across the country. These facts were difficult for me to fathom . . . How could a malady be so treatable, yet completely ignored? I decided to investigate the possibility of creating a cancer model; a device that would mimic various stages and types of oral tumors and could be used to train dental students and physicians in early detection methods. I took it upon myself to fabricate such an instrument, and thus Lumpy was born. In order to make Lumpy as life-like as possible, I worked with a dentist who specialized in geriatric lymph carcinoma. Shadowing the oral cancer specialist gave me the opportunity to interact with patients and exposure to many different types of tumors and diagnostic techniques. I was able to replicate each of these morphologies in Lumpy, creating the most versatile and realistic repertoire to train physicians and dental students alike. This dynamic device was computer-controlled and could inflate balloon catheters that were filled with various substances to imitate a particular tumor's feel and appearance. Although I interacted with hundreds of individual patients, when I reflect back, one unique encounter comes to mind. It was during this experience that I came to know Sid, an elderly smoker who had developed severe lymph cancer in his mouth and trachea. With very few treatment options available to him, Sid had accepted his prognosis and decided to devote his remaining time to spreading the word about oral cancer and the dangers of smoking to others. Due to the severity of his condition he was hardly able to speak, instead he communicated through gestures and facial expressions that I soon learned to interpret. In spite of this handicap, he became a stout advocate of oral cancer detection and opened his heart to hundreds of other cancer patients. It was during one of our many conversations that the topic of oral cancer detection was brought up, along with the lack of screening mechanisms and public awareness regarding the disease. Over the course of our discussion, I brought up Lumpy, describing his purpose and implementation in the near future. Sid was very supportive, and thought Lumpy was a brilliant idea. He even lent a hand to ensure that representative stage-three tumors were as realistic as possible. This process involved several iterations of comparing his tumor to the simulated one, until we both felt confident that we had created a clinically accurate model. My interaction with Sid was bittersweet. He was suffering from a disease that could have easily been treated had it been caught earlier, and yet he was happy to know that through his efforts fewer lives would be lost. Spending time with Sid reminded me that treatment is both physical and emotional. I realized that medicine isn't just about MRIs or antibiotics; rather there are many aspects that contribute to the process of healing. There are many people like Sid who will benefit from the implementation of Lumpy; their cancer may be diagnosed at an earlier stage, resulting in more encouraging prognoses and an improved quality of life. After two years of development, Lumpy is patented and visiting dental schools across the country to demonstrate several detection techniques and tumor types. The success of this project stemmed from combining several different fields, the synthesis of engineering, mathematics, anthropology, and medicine. My experience with Sid and Lumpy reinforced my belief in the therapeutic nature of the patient-doctor relationship.
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Essay Question:
Major Essay: Please describe your career goals and how your education has supported your future in medicine.
Innovation, engineering, and surgery are the concepts that best exemplify the intent of my career goals. Our understanding of functional neuroscience is just beginning and technology is finally able to contribute to healing the neurologically impaired. It was eighty years ago that the father of neurosurgery, Dr. Harvey Cushing, joined efforts with Dr. William Bovie, a physicist, to develop one of the most revolutionizing surgical instruments of our time, the monopolar cautery. Initially, the idea of a neurosurgeon and physicist operating side-by-side seems foreign and misplaced. And while it is true that a physician may independently care for a patient, the advancement of medicine requires the culmination of milestones from many distinct fields. Deep brain stimulation, implantable microelectrodes, and cortical mapping are all progeny of interdisciplinary medicine. I stand in a confluence of knowledge, poised to seize my imagination, creativity, and desire to develop the next generation of medical technology. Trained in engineering and soon medicine, I am passionately equipped with a unique perspective to assess urgent clinical needs. I fully intend to maximize my resources in achieving this goal. Since the initiation of my educational training, neuroscience has been my primary focus. As an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins, my degree in Biomedical Engineering provided me with a framework for developing new ideas, solutions, and maintaining fresh perspectives on the needs of spinal cord injury patients. I dedicated several years to working with Dr. X to examine the regenerative potential of spinal cord neurons following treatment with a hydropolymer hybrid gel. Supported by the Provost's Excellence in Research Award, I developed an algorithm to analyze the neuronal growth pattern of animals subject to spinal cord injury. This experience was enlightened by time spent with Dr. Y in his neurosurgery clinic, evaluating the status quo of implantable spinal devices. My experience in the laboratory sparked my creativity and harvested my passion for device design, translational medicine, and neurosurgery. My aspiration to impact the lives of many Americans is only partially fulfilled by my future surgical career. As a surgeon, I may only directly improve the lives of those who immediately surround me. However, as an entrepreneur, I will benefit the lives of far more people. Through device design I hope to make greater strides towards curing disease and restoring health. My history as an entrepreneur began once I obtained my fundamental engineering skill set. Driven in part by the loss of a dear classmate to oral cancer, I devised an oral carcinoma training device which is used to teach aspiring dentists and clinicians the detection techniques for early stage oral carcinoma. The translation of this device into industry was an enlightening experience, one that instilled upon me the symbiotic relationship of healthcare and industry in America. My innovative spirit expanded to neuroscience as I constructed a series of intervertebral disc repair systems using novel photopolymers. Through these efforts I interacted with neurosurgeons from Yale and Hopkins to dissect the needs of modern day degenerative disc disease. Our ideas culminated in the incorporation of WW, a company dedicated to advancing spinal technology. As co-founder and consulting engineer, I am responsible for the intellectual direction of our research goals. The experience of designing an implant to be used by thousands in the medical community opened my eyes to a career that channeled leadership and innovation to facilitate the progress of medicine. My desire to cultivate innate feelings of creativity and ingenuity is a demanding burden to place on any academic institution. Continuing my hands on engineering, participating in a flourishing entrepreneurial culture, and obtaining an outstanding medical education were all fundamental reasons for choosing X. As a medical student, I am currently utilizing state of the art imaging tools in the Clark BioDesign Center to investigate the next generation of targeted cancer therapy. The unique X curriculum engages students to continue their study in a field related to their research interests. Having completed a scholarly concentration in bioengineering with a focus in neuroscience, I refined my engineering knowledgebase and affirmed my belief in collaborative medicine. X's pioneering curriculum is a perfect match for my visions of a career as a future clinician-scientist. Over the past year, I received a number of grants and fellowships to support my investigation and creation of novel anti-cancer therapeutics. Currently funded by the American Heart Association, X University Medical Scholars Program, Genentech, and the Goodrich Foundation I am consulting with experts in the Molecular Imaging Program and operative specialists in neurosurgery to design molecular probes capable of exclusively targeting brain tumor cells. These molecular probes embody the future of cancer imaging, targeted drug delivery, and patient selection. I have prepared and published a total of eleven manuscripts, all of which highlight my dedication to a career in academic neurosurgery. Each publication, from the very technical basic science manuscripts to the insight presented in the literature reviews, demonstrates my multidimensional approach to understanding neurosurgery in practice and science. The most recent results from my therapeutic study were presented in the Select Abstract Session at the 54th Annual Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting in October 2006. My notion of medicine, its humanity, its evolving demands, and its potential to affect millions shaped my career goals. The diseases I study today may not be those I face ten years from now, however my training stwill prepare me to generate solutions for new ailments as they present. The culmination of experiences with my mentors, in the research laboratory, and with patients at their beside has confirmed my devotion to neuroscience. As an academic neurosurgeon, I anticipate a career filled with teaching, experimenting, and problem solving. Upon graduating from X, I intend to complete a residency in neurological surgery and subsequently a fellowship in neurosurgical oncology and minimally invasive spinal surgery. I envision myself as an attending physician at an academic institution where I may bestow my skills upon a younger generation of neurosurgeons as well as advance the field of neuroscience.
