Medicine Personal Statement #06

Medicine forces me to think because it is never straightforward. You have to grasp increasingly abstract ideas and apply them to the actual person sitting in front of you. This is what l find fascinating. It is the bringing together of science and your humanity, the abstract, the generalised and, the specific. Growing up as a young carer, I was in and out of hospital a lot and so I came across many doctors. Their attention to the details of the patients was inspiring. They were real humans using science to solve complex problems for people. I was fortunate to be able to gain work experience at a GP. The things which impressed me were the importance of communication as a way of building a relationship of trust with patients as well as ensuring the whole team worked well, and the realities of being a doctor, with some GPs staying for hours after the practice's closure. This helped me to appreciate the demands of being a doctor and has not put me off! The IoPPN Summer School I completed introduced me to psychiatry. I learnt the importance of patient-centred care, especially in this field. A patient told her story of her struggle with mental health due to her diagnosis of breast cancer, as well as immigration issues. She told us how her issue was settled due to a letter written by her oncologist. I understood the importance of compassion and empathy as a doctor and sometimes going the extra mile. I have been volunteering at a nursery since 2021, and through my time spent in this nurturing environment, I've witnessed the profound impact that attentive care and early intervention can have on a child's development. Engaging with young children and their families has heightened my ability to communicate effectively, adapt to diverse situations, and provide support in moments of vulnerability. Something I found particularly interesting was the implementation of the Reggio Emilio philosophy there, which allowed children to take control of their learning. In summer 2022, I participated in the KHP Summer School. Following an intensive week of sessions with clinicians and researchers at GSTT Hospitals, my group completed a 6-week project in which we produced Patient Information Sheets for participants in clinical trials of Cell and Gene Therapies, and presented to a panel of senior academics. Gaining an interest in this area of Regenerative Medicine, I returned the following summer to shadow the vascular surgeons developing novel pro-angiogenic Cell Therapies for patients with blocked arteries. Seeing the same patients on both ward rounds and in theatre, then joining the scientists in the lab analysis blood and muscle samples taken during the operation has given me a great appreciation of the bench-to-bedside nature of translational medicine. This sustained experience has given me an appreciation of the doctor as a scholar and has inspired me to pursue a career as an academic clinician. I've been engaged in my academic pursuits whilst nurturing a diverse set of interests: playing the piano in an orchestra and American football allows me to work in teams, which parallels the collaborative atmosphere needed in medicine. Studying French improves my social and cultural understanding - I believe this helps me in engaging with the diverse range of people I encounter while volunteering. I showed my ability to adapt to unexpected situations when I volunteered with St John Ambulance this summer. A young woman had fainted due to the heat and crowded atmosphere, and I acted quickly to find a senior member of the team to assist me to deliver first aid. My work with the ambulance has taught me to stay calm and interact assuredly with people, especially in public places. My commitment and academic ability will position me for success in medical school, and I possess the essential attributes to become a caring and knowledgeable doctor. Despite the challenge, I am keen to earn the opportunity to contribute to improving people's lives and health.