Medicine Personal Statement #01
As a child, reading Locke’s ‘Mad Medicine’ introduced me to the variety of different illnesses and cures, sparking my interest in the scientific aspect of medicine. Pairing this with my love for biology, I researched human anatomy and how different organs are affected by diseases. I was then exposed to the NHS’ values by shadowing a GP in primary care. I am in awe of the holistic level of care required in medicine and I would love to contribute to that. Medicine is more than a vocation to me, it is a way of interacting with the world that meets the intellectual, emotional and practical challenges I seek in a career.
I helped with recruitment for BaBi East London at the Royal London Hospital, a study to improve healthcare for infants. Initially, I was nervous as many patients were not fluent in English, so it was hard to interact with them. The researcher with me tried a different approach and used analogies to adapt her communication. It was inspiring to see the friendly environment created for patients which led to higher engagement. As a prefect, I used these techniques to speak to prospective students and give insight into my school. I helped them understand complex processes by tailoring my words for each person to suit their prior knowledge. I also actively listened, making them comfortable so they were more likely to ask questions. In medicine, the skills of being adaptable and communicative are important to ensure patients feel heard in every aspect of their care.
During postnatal ward shadowing, a baby began to choke and the lead midwife quickly assigned roles to the doctors in a composed tone. It was inspiring to see her lead the team and listen to others which contributed towards a positive outcome. During my experience as the leader of a care package volunteer project, I knew to delegate roles to the team, while making sure they were listened to. When we did not receive enough funding for our resources, I noticed a drop in group morale so I made the executive decision to collect donations. It was hard but I motivated my group and asked for feedback to provide a better experience for everyone. Ultimately, the initiative I took allowed us to persevere to deliver triple our target. Leadership is vital in medicine to deliver holistic care by devising strategies to lead with consideration of their team and patient.
Doing laboratory experience attracted me to learn of the overlaps between research and medicine. I saw how researchers worked in a lab and I carried out Bradford assays and PCR tests. At first, handling the samples and adding precise amounts was hard for me and I contaminated a test. I was shown a better method and learnt from my mistake to correct my technique. To further my interest and enhance my critical thinking skills, I began the Good Clinical Practice certification. Before this, I only considered the importance of drug trials in medicine, but was surprised to learn that other research types can improve patient care so you have to be open minded and reflective. To learn more about this, I helped out at the Royal London Hospital extracting plasma from foetal cord blood to observe stem cells. Due to the controversy on the topic, ethical considerations were needed and the experience made me more aware of this. Innovation is at the heart of healthcare and research has paved the way to improve patients’ lives by always testing better methods of care, aligning with the values of the NHS.
Communication, leadership and research create the foundation for a good doctor to deliver effective care for their patients. I have honed these skills through my experiences volunteering and shadowing, facing many challenges along the way. These obstacles have only cemented my desire to pursue medicine as a career.
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This personal statement received interview invitations from University College London, Imperial, Leicester & Nottingham.