Residency personal statement

ALSO INCLUDE WHAT YOU ENJOY OUTSIDE MEDICINE IN LAST PARA...LIKE FOR EG: Outside medicine, I enjoy the visual arts including drawing and painting, outdoor activities, and staying physically fit.

To get into medical school, you explained why you wanted to be a physician. Now that you're an M.D., you need to secure that critical residency interview so you can show what you've got. To that end, your personal statement should give the residency committee a taste of what you're all about, and make them want more.Easier said than done? Here are some of the critical pieces of a residency personal statement to get you started.Focus on the Specialty

Focus on Your Strengths

Focus on the Program

Tips for Better Writing

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Focus on the SpecialtyYour rotations let you sample each medical specialty. By now, you should have a clear idea which one you want to pursue. Tell the residency committee how you reached that decision. What convinced you that you wanted to know more about neurology, and that you could never see yourself setting broken bones? What is it about delivering babies that thrills you more than caring for them after they're born? Use anecdotes to illustrate your story and bring out your unique experiences and perspectives. Most importantly, where do you see yourself in the future? Make your choice unambiguous and your commitment undeniable.Focus on Your StrengthsYou've gained valuable technical skills and exposure to clinical practice, but so have all your classmates. Which of your unique qualities will make your #1 residency program rank you as their #1 choice? Your personal experiences, both in medical school and outside, reveal a lot more about you than your C.V. and USMLE step exams. A good way to think about this is in the context of what's needed for that specialty. Will the listening skills you developed in college debate help you as a family practitioner? Have your quick reflexes, honed through years of playing piano, prepared you for the technical dexterity you'll need in emergency medicine? Will your teamwork skills developed as captain of your soccer team improve your coordination as part of a surgical team? Select specific examples that demonstrate your strengths and make your essay come alive.Focus on the ProgramYou obviously don't want to write about your love for pediatric medicine if you're applying for a surgical residency program. What's less obvious is that you can: and should: write about the specific advantages of a research-oriented residency program in one essay and the benefits of a purely clinical experience in another. You can even write a different personal statement for every program. It sounds like a lot of extra work, but don't underestimate the bonus points you can get for this approach. Tailoring your essay to specific programs or types of programs demonstrates that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested.Tips for Better WritingNow that you have an idea what to write about, you need to know how to write it. Your tone of voice should be personable, but professional. Your story should be interesting and draw the reader into the story with specific examples, but use humor sparingly. Throughout your writing, keep your purpose in mind: you're trying to land the interview, not detail every aspect of your medical school training or research project.

HOW TO WRITE PERSONAL STATEMENT?Written by Jeff Gonzalez, MD Resident, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; MAC Governing Council, Resident and Fellow Section RepresentativeWhy is the personal statement so important? It is important because it is the only part of your application that is not based on test scores or other peoples perceptions of you. For this reason committees place a heavy emphasis on the personal statement. It is the one part of your application that you have complete control of and allows you to make a personal case for yourself. Because of these reasons, however, it is so very difficult to write.There are some basic questions that you need to address in your personal statement. These are usually divided into three paragraphs that address: 1) what got you interested in the field that you have chosen; 2) what are you looking for in a residency program; and 3) what are your expected goals in the field you have chosen. You are always free to add other commentary that is relevant to the above topics. But, make sure you discuss these 3 topics in your essay.Your personal statement should fit onto one page when it is printed from the ERAS system. You can test this prior to submitting your statement to residency programs.Some helpful suggestions in getting started:1. Go back to your medical school application essay. Some students find it useful to look at that as a basis for their residency statement. Specifically the introductory and final paragraphs. 2. Find out if your school has a writing office, which can help you with your statement.3. Use a theme to structure your essay. This helps unite all aspects of your statement. 4. Provide concrete examples that pertain to your life, goals and experiences.5. Be concise. Refrain from using a lot of unnecessary words.6. Begin your essay with an attention grabber: a quote, a story, an anecdote, or a riddle.7. Finish your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the beginning of your statement and restates the theme.8. Have your departmental program director evaluate/critique your statement. Remember they have probably seen thousands of essays and is most likely the best authority at your institution to evaluate your work.9. Dont be afraid to start from scratch if your essay is not working.10. Do write about what interests you, excites you. Your reader wants to hear a positive essay not a negative one about the profession.Mistakes to avoid in a personal statement: 1. Underestimating the importance of the personal statement.2. Underestimating the time and difficulty involved in developing the personal statement.3. Lack of flow. You read the essay and have no idea what the applicant is trying to say. They jump from one tangent to another. When reading a statement like this I would rather not read the essay at all. To prevent this error you need not one, not two, but at least three people to read your essay and give you feedback. You need to revise your essay several times. Therefore, you cannot start working on the essay one week before it is due. I recommend starting to work on your personal statement in July. Remember that most attendings will ask for a copy of your personal statement in order to write a letter of recommendation. You therefore need to start early.4. Spelling and Grammar mistakes. These can kill you. It says a lot about an applicant if they have not taken the time to carefully proof read their essay. Is this someone who pays attention to detail and will spend time taking care of patients in my hospital? No!5. Avoid clichs.6. Making the writing process a group effort. This does not work.7. Being too cute. This is not an essay for college admissions where originality/strangeness is applauded. Keep it simple to the point and address the issues I have brought up before.8. Procrastinating until the very end to begin your statement. You need to start months in advance.9. Failing to let yourself come through. This goes back to trying to make your statement too cute. You do not want to show up to an interview and have the interviewer thinking: Am I speaking to the same person that wrote this statement?10. Including topics in the statement that if asked to discuss you would not be able to answer, such as particular research points, volunteer activities, etcSample Personal StatementEarly in medical school, I suspected I would chose a field in medicine based on a long-standing fascination with the complexity and varied nature of disease processes. With an open eye, I embarked on a rigorous year of clinical clerkships. However, while rotating through medicine, my initial interests were solidified. I found the ability to connect with patients and the development of strong emotional ties all encompassing. When taking care of patients I was focusing not on one, but multiple body systems.The marriage in medicine between pathophysiology and man is best exemplified by MP. I had begun my month in hematology when I was first consulted on his case. Recently transferred from an OSH for management of the worst case of ERCP induced pancreatitis anyone had seen, his diminished platelet count of 30,000, PT of 16, and numerous schistocytes led me to believe it was disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC). As his underlying pancreatitis was controlled his DIC resolved. The following week, now as part of the infectious disease team, I was seeing him again, this time for continual spiking fevers to 103 degrees despite negative cultures and a trial of antibiotics. Since cultures of his pancreatic cysts had been negative, we went ahead and stopped all antibiotics, and waited, believing this to be a drug fever. The days passed and MP remained in the hospital, with out much change. I moved on the the liver service, which had been his primary team, and eventually left him still fighting for his life and me wondering if there was anything different that we could have done. Although fractured at time, I found the relationship which I developed with him and his family to be the most rewarding experience I have had as a medical student.During medical school I have used the opportunities afforded me to broaden my networking and educational experiences in pursuit of a more well rounded medical education. During the summer after my first year I spent a month in one of the university hospitals in Madrid, Spain, gaining insight into the differences and similarities inherent in our health care systems. I found that medicine abroad is much more holistic and spiritual when compared to our system. My goal when I returned was to share these findings with my classmates. I began acting on this interest by revitalizing the William Pepper Medical Society under the guidance of the Department Chairman, Dr. Peter Traber. My responsibilities include recruiting medicine faculty to lecture students interested in internal medicine on topics that are not covered by the traditional medical curriculum, such as medical futility and alternative medicine. For many students in their pre-clinical years, this forum serves as an introduction to the field of medicine, and hence is of enormous import in medical education at the University of Pennsylvania. Another of the intriguing challenges that I have faced at Penn includes living with nine other medical students at Nu Sigma Nu, a medical school co-op. Being able to work as a team with many diverse personalities had been a formidable task, but, one that has shown me that many times you need to step back, let go of your ego and think of the broader picture. Only then can you proceed. For the next tree years, I hope to join a program that will impart a solid foundation in the science and technical practice of medicine while maintaining a personal connection with the patients I see. Eventually I aspire to a career in academic medicine, which will allow me to increase my effectiveness as an educator and researcher. Academia allows for a continuous exchange of ideas as well as interaction among colleagues enabling me to contribute and keep up to date with new advances in medicine. The training and rigors of an academic institution will also strengthen my interests in combining clinical research with that o patient care. By partaking in such activities I will also be acting as an educator passing my insights to rising residents and medical students.As someone who has always been very goal-oriented, I am looking forward to beginning my residency. My life to date has prepared me to deal with many obstacles and also has shown me the determination, resilience, strength, and caring that are a part of my character. As I look toward my future in medicine, I believe these characteristics will enable me to succeed and be a valuable asset to the profession. My experiences have been very rewarding because I have identified with patients and admired their courage in the face of an uncertain prognosis. I anticipate that working in internal medicine will be equally rewarding and look forward with enthusiasm.

A Badly written personal statement- an evaluation::

THE RESUME"Becoming a physician has always been my vocational desire, and women's health has always intrigued me. Thus, coming into medical school, a career in obstetrics and gynecology was my goal, a longstanding goal indeed. My close friend even predicted it for my future six years ago in her high school valedictorian speech. [ Do we really care what a HS valedictorian said in a speech?] However, throughout the first two years of medical school, I kept an open mind and was coaxed into considering other avenues, which unfortunately only lead to great confusion. However, during the third year, at about 2:30am on the labor and delivery ward at Medical Center, I stepped back onto my golden road. Through my fatigue, as I awaited my chance to help bring a new life into this world, the fog lifted, and I was sure. Obstetrics and gynecology is my career desire!Because I knew I would matriculate as a premedical student, I purposefully decided to attend X University in New City USA, which has a stellar reputation for guiding the most African American students to medical school admission. At X, I got a strong start on the premedical road participating in the Biomedical Summer Program. I continued to learn and improve myself by participating in the Alpha National Premedical Honor Society, Mu National Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, and University Environmental Club. [How did any of these prepare the student for medical school, and more importantly, why are they important to a residency in Ob/Gyn?] In association with these organizations I volunteered at various events and attended numerous enrichment seminars. During summer breaks, I expanded my knowledge of and experience in medicine. In the summer of 1997, I worked with Dr. Y, MD in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at State University in medical research. I actively participated in a medical laboratory, developing important technical skills in molecular biology. The summer of 1998, I participated in the State University Premedical Enrichment Program (PREP), which includes problem based learning development, career guidance, and clinical exposure. All of these experiences during my undergraduate matriculation provided for me a solid foundation prior to medical school. [Again, you're not applying to medical school, we KNOW you should have had a solid foundation for med school! At least we hjope so! Tell us why this is important for Residency!] Upon entering medical school, my primary goals were to do well academically so that I might become an excellent, knowledgeable physician, and to give back to those organizations that have been imperative in my career development. I also wanted to continue my extra curricular commitments at church, as a leader in the young adult ministry, member of the gospel choir, and member of the praise dance team. During the first year of medical school, I served as recording secretary for the Medical Association, and participated in the Other Medical Association. During our free summer between first and second year, I took the opportunity to learn more about the connection between spirituality and medicine, and to act as a role model to high school students. First, I participated in two weeks of clinical pastoral education at Medical Center through the Spiritual Care Department, interacting with patients from another perspective of their overall wellbeing. Then, I served as a faculty advisor and operations coordinator with the National Forum on Medicine, an excellent introduction for high school students interested in medical careers. I served as a leader for this wonderful program, which was influential in my decision making when I was in high school. As academic demands increased during the second year of medical school, I focussed my extracurricular activities, becoming a leader in the charter chapter of the Medical and Dental Association at State University and fulfilling my church commitments. [Great! But again, please explain how these were helpful in your decision to pursue Ob/Gyn!] Towards the end of my second year, another opportunity for me to give back to another influential program during my premedical experience surfaced. I served on the admissions committee for the 2001 University Premedical Enrichment Program. Though time constraints changed during the third year of medical school, I continued to participate in church activities and the 2002 University PREP admissions committee. Now, as a fourth year medical student, I look forward to giving back to University medical school by volunteering as a Doctoring 4 Fellow, helping to facilitate the Doctoring 2 experience with second year medical students.A career in medicine is not simply an occupation. It is a vocation, a means of service and support to others. Through obstetrics and gynecology I will give of myself to serve to the best of my ability. Upon completing residency, I plan to complete a public health fellowship in maternal and child health, then practice medicine while giving to the community. Though medicine is a major commitment, I will also continue to make time for my other values, including spirituality, family and self. A long, hard road lies ahead. However, I have the strength and enthusiasm to endure.[ This last paragraph is very general. The student's residency choice of Ob/Gyn is only briefly alluded to twice during the entire PS, and we have a very poor sense of why this person really chose Ob/Gyn, their career interests and future goals]

GOOD ONES:----examples1] EMERGENCY MEDICINE PERSONAL STATEMENT

The wind whipped through the airplane cabin as the door opened at 13,800 feet. As I sat waiting for my turn to jump, I felt more anxious and uncertain than Id ever been in my life. Ready? the jumpmaster yelled. I didnt have time to respond. My rotation in Emergency Medicine, as a fourth year medical student, had been going well. I never imagined it would lead me to this. I had accepted an invitation to go skydiving with a couple of the residents. Suddenly, I was flipping through the sky. Only moments before, my instructor and I had discussed why I wish to become an Emergency Medicine Physician. I told him about my experiences in the field and how intense, exhilarating, and rewarding I found Emergency Medicine. His response was, Well, buddy, you are about to have one of the most exhilarating and intense experiences of your life! He was right. For fifty seconds of freefall towards the Earth, I felt pure ecstasy. After pulling the rip cord, we smoothly glided down under the parachute. Everything became serene. Sailing down from the sky, the anxiety and uncertainty had disappeared. I found myself completely at peace and gratified with my decision to jump. I feel that same sense of peace about my dive into pursing Emergency Medicine.

Emergency Medicine appeals to me as a humanistic, challenging field, offering the opportunity to provide immediate help to people in the most vital aspect of their lives: their health. The emotional rewards of helping those during their greatest times of need are intangible. Twelve years ago, I encountered this first hand as knee surgery introduced me to medicine. It was an eye opening experience to me; then, a 14-year-old kid who, before surgery, dreamed of playing professional football. As a result of the positive impression the entire experience had on me, the medical profession emerged as my newfound desire. My employment prior to and during medical school, working as an E.M.T. and a Scribe in the Emergency Department of Saint Elsewhere Regional Medical Center in Wyoming, introduced me to the field of Emergency Medicine. It was there, as well as my experiences with the Army National Guard, serving as a flight medic, that my interest blossomed. Being in the ED as a medical student has fortified my desire to enter the field.

Emergency Medicine offers me the opportunity to be at the forefront of medicine and to participate actively in making decisions right from the onset of patient care. Ive learned that the ability to immediately establish rapport and make the patient feel better is not only a part of the Emergency Medicine Physicians responsibilities, but is also one of the most satisfying aspects of the specialty. The fast pace, community involvement, and the required broad knowledge base attract me to Emergency Medicine. The Emergency Medical System comes together to help all people, including those who have nowhere else to turn. I want to be an active part of that system.

I look forward to a career in Emergency Medicine involving clinical practice, education, and research. During my own medical education, spending time in a research lab studying the response to thermal injury in a rat model, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of research. I will seek out opportunities to participate in Emergency Medicine research that will promote advancement in the field. I also feel that teaching adds a gratifying and stimulating aspect to practice that can be incorporated [into almost any situation. Having the opportunity to train residents and students is something I will weigh considerably when selecting a location to practice. I hope to be in an area that allows me to serve a diverse patient population, as well as providing an environment that supports my outside interests of mountain biking, golf, basketball, scuba diving, and skiing. Skydiving doesnt make the list just yet. These hobbies and my sense of humor allow me to keep a balance in my own life and increase my enthusiasm for practicing medicine. Im ready to jump into residency training with this enthusiasm.

Emergency Medicine will endow me with a solid education and preparation for a profession in which I am able to deal with the entire spectrum of acute illness and injury in all age groups. I wish to enter a residency program that will provide a broad-based clinical education with a diverse patient population that emphasizes education, encourages mentoring, facilitates opportunities for research, and is intimately involved in Emergency Medical Services. I will bring to my residency program a hard working, mature individual who has a clear vision of a career in Emergency Medicine. My experiences and training have reinforced my dedication to this dynamic and exhilarating field of medicine.

2] PEDIATRICS RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT

I have always known that I would work with young people. My love of working with youth began in high school as part of the Boy Scouts where I discovered that I enjoyed the camaraderie that came with being part of a team, and the responsibility and rewards of teaching new scouts. I became an Eagle Scout during my senior year of high school, and armed with my new-found confidence, I attended State University to pursue my education and stay close to home.At State University, I chose a double major in Molecular Cell Biology and Integrative Biology to study life at both the level of proteins and molecules, and at the level of ecosystems. During my undergraduate years, I continued to follow my Scouting roots, becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster and working with a small group of inner city youth. Each week, I tried to stimulate, encourage, and teach these boys who used scouting to help alleviate some stress in their difficult lives. It was a huge thrill for me to witness their enthusiasm for learning and their pride in their own accomplishments

I balanced these activities with my research at Medical Center, in which I helped evaluate the use of liposomes for encapsulating chemotherapuetic drugs and for gene transfection. Outside of the classroom and the lab, I spent time backpacking in the Sierras, trout fishing at a local reservoir, and tending to my saltwater tropical fish and corals. Toward my final years at State, I realized that medicine could unite my scientific curiosity with my passion for working with people, especially youth.

I have thoroughly enjoyed medical school at State University. In the first two years, I became fascinated by the wealth of information presented to students about the basic sciences. I especially enjoyed working with my classmates in small groups exploring new cases and teaching each other about medicine. Beyond my studies, I also eagerly sought out opportunities to work with people. After the first year of medical school, I had the good fortune to work for the National Youth Leadership Forum, a program that gives high school seniors a window into medical careers. Together, my group of 22 students and I worked through problem-based cases, discussed medical ethics, challenged public policy, and had an incredible time. I returned the following year because I absolutely loved the students! I will never forget the discussions, debates, laughter, and smiles we shared. Despite the hard and emotional work that left me exhausted, I felt immensely fulfilled.

Medical school has been equally exhilarating, both inside and outside of the classroom. I spent a year with Dr. Nice Guy pursing computer research, another love of mine. Our work involved the use of Internet access as a way to reward community preceptors and as a method of faculty development. This endeavor has culminated in several presentations and publications, and has been very fulfilling to me personally and academically. In the future I also plan to be active in utilizing computers in medicine and in the medical informatics field.

During my third year, I rediscovered my reasons for pursing a career in Pediatrics. With my studies in the basic sciences, my third year clerkships have helped me realize the true gift of being a physician. I have been given the privilege to interact with patients and their families in an intensely intimate manner. I enjoy teaching young patients and their parents about their disease and how they can conquer hardships. Also, I am excited about taking care of patients from birth to adulthood. Working with young people is rewarding because of the chance to be involved in a growing relationship with patients as they mature and learn. Pediatrics is a natural career for me because it provides me with an opportunity to work with people whose energy ignites my spirit. Pediatrics gives me the determination to think through problems, the curiosity to learn, and the energy to stay awake at three in the morning. When you love your patients it becomes easy to work hard for them.

I am looking forward to training at a program that will train me with the same enthusiasm that I will give my patients. In addition, I seek a program with a culturally and ethnically diverse patient population, and one that will treat me as part of a family. In the near future, I picture myself as an educator to patients, families, medical students, and residents. I plan to continue both teaching and community service inside and outside of medicine. Furthermore, I bring to a pediatric residency program my desire to work in a team, my experience with youth, and my tremendous enthusiasm for learning.

3] PSCHIATRY PSMy interest in the mind and human behavior started long before medical school. Early in high school, a teacher introduced me to the concept of Maslows hierarchy of needs. Intrigued by the idea I wanted to learn more about Maslows theories. I discovered the section of the library containing writings not only of Maslow, but of many other psychologists and philosophers. Eagerly, I read and pondered these novel concepts and my existential interests flourished. In college, I continued my study of the human experience as an American Studies major. Through an interdisciplinary study of the history, arts, and literature of America, I explored the elements and events that shaped our national identity. While the social sciences and humanities stimulated me creatively and intellectually, I knew I would be most fulfilled if I could use my knowledge and skills to offer meaningful service to others.

Throughout medical school, I have most enjoyed the courses that examine neuroscience and human behavior. I especially liked learning about psychopharmacology and the biological basis of addiction and other disorders. Early lectures about developmental neuroscience impressed upon me the gravity of psychological insults in infancy and childhood. During my basic science training, I had early opportunities to work with psychiatric patients. While developing my interviewing and assessment skills, I quickly realized my affinity for listening to peoples stories and learning about their cultural backgrounds. It was incredibly gratifying to see the transformation of patients impaired by their mental illness who were again functional after receiving appropriate therapy. Also, I enjoyed situations where I was able to help patients develop insight into their emotions and behaviors during the course of their treatment. I found ample opportunities for studying psychopathology throughout my clinical rotations and am intrigued by the idea that the mind strongly contributes to the development, course, and outcome of many medical conditions. Psychiatry challenges me intellectually, allows use of my creativity, and affords me an opportunity to utilize my greatest personal traits.

During my pediatrics rotation, I cared for many patients who were admitted for psychiatric concerns. I enjoy addressing the unique psychiatric conditions and social and developmental issues of children and hope pursue a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Working with children and families pushes me to be imaginative, adapt my communication skills, and analyze problems from a multidisciplinary perspective. Expanding my understanding of child development and behavior, will give me more insight into my adult patients with relevant trauma or experiences from their early lives. While I envision patient care being the focus of my medical career, I plan to include advocacy and education in my professional activities. Practitioners that care for children are in a unique position to promote programs and activities that further child well being. Abundant opportunities exist to educate the public and the medical community about the realities of mental illness and the need for resources. I see a great need and opportunity for expanding our understanding of the etiology, course, and treatment options for pediatric mental illnesses. I enjoy finding solutions and working to bring about change Eventually, my goal is to be associated with an academic medical center where I might teach, write, and continue to search for answers to many of the questions that still exist in psychiatry.

For my residency training, I hope to find a program where biological psychiatry and psychotherapy are both considered meaningful components of psychiatric training and practice. Also, I look forward to exposure to a diverse patient population and to the various subspecialties in psychiatry while at the same time fosters an atmosphere of learning and encourages resident research activities. Finally, I wish to work hard, be intellectually stimulated and challenged, and gain the proficiency I need to become an excellent clinician. I am excited to enter this fascinating profession and hope to make a meaningful contribution to my patients, to my residency program, and to the psychiatric field.

4] RADIOLOGY PSIf you plan on becoming anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.- Abraham Maslow

Growing up in Anytown, USA I seemed to be on the path to success. I was in all Honors classes, I was near the top of my class, and I was representing my school on both the tennis and basketball teams. However, I now realize that I was actually accomplishing all of this without too much conscious effort on my part. In large part, I have my parents to thank for their powerful influence, raising me in a household where academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge were always paramount. Although I achieved great academic success, I realize in retrospect that I had not at that stage learned the true meaning of hard work, of setting and achieving goals. I had not yet been truly challenged, and only by being challenged could I grow.

In late high school and early undergrad, the level of difficulty of the coursework increased dramatically. That coupled with the transition of my leaving home for the first time and being completely independent, I found myself for the first time in my life performing less than stellar. That is when I decided that I needed a change. I needed a new environment, I needed new challenges, and I needed to find myself and define my own ambitions. I came to know of an established, reputed medical school in Europe that consisted of 6 years of curriculum, both pre-med and general medicine combined. I truly felt that a change of this magnitude was exactly what I needed, and I decided to go off the beaten path. A few months later, I was halfway across the world, anxious but eager to explore the opportunities made available by my decision.

In retrospect, I can say with confidence that choosing to study medicine in EuropeTown at that point in my life was a wise decision. In my four years there, I found myself, I found my fiance, and I resurrected my dreams of becoming a physician. The science and medical curriculum for the International students was exactly what I needed to inspire me to work harder than I ever had before. It was very challenging indeed, but for the first time in my life, I was facing this challenge head on, with the tenacity and vigor that I had been seeking all along.

During my 4th year there, we started our semester long Radiology course and I was hooked. The detailed images revealing secrets undetectable otherwise, the awesome technology involved, the behind-the-scenes work of the doctors doctor were just a few of the qualities that appealed to me in ways that no other specialty ever had before. I consider myself a very intellectual person, and I truly enjoy the thinking side of medicine. That coupled with my long time fascination of the intricacies of human anatomy makes the field of Radiology the only specialty that I can imagine myself practicing. I found myself experiencing a second catharsis, and I decided then and there that I would become a Radiologist, and I have not looked back since.

Realizing then that Radiology is a very competitive field that accepts only the most highly qualified candidates, I decided that I would do all that I could to return to the United States to complete my clinical training at U.S. teaching hospitals. Although a number of U.S. Allopathic medical schools that I contacted expressed interest in me, I had unfortunately missed the deadlines for that academic year. Thus, I chose to transfer with advanced standing to University, a Caribbean medical school that allowed me to begin my clinical training right away. Im just completing my 3rd year Core rotationsas I write this, and I must say that my decision to return to the U.S was a prudent one. The slope of my learning curve is close to vertical here, and my focus remains on a Radiology residency with the intensity of a laser beam.

Although my journey has been somewhat unconventional and an uphill climb, I am thankful for it, as it has made me the man I am today. My decision to go abroad for medical school is what allowed my inner qualities of relentless drive, inexorable dedication, and unyielding discipline to manifest. I realize now that this is the only way to live to constantly strive to be the best you possibly can be at everything you do. If given the opportunity, that is exactly what I will do during my Radiology residency. I will do my absolute, very best, and those who were kind enough to believe in me and give me that opportunity will not be disappointed.

5] PS- INTERNAL MEDICINESample Personal StatementEarly in medical school, I suspected I would chose a field in medicine based on a long-standing fascination with the complexity and varied nature of disease processes. With an open eye, I embarked on a rigorous year of clinical clerkships. However, while rotating through medicine, my initial interests were solidified. I found the ability to connect with patients and the development of strong emotional ties all encompassing. When taking care of patients I was focusing not on one, but multiple body systems.The marriage in medicine between pathophysiology and man is best exemplified by MP. I had begun my month in hematology when I was first consulted on his case. Recently transferred from an OSH for management of the worst case of ERCP induced pancreatitis anyone had seen, his diminished platelet count of 30,000, PT of 16, and numerous schistocytes led me to believe it was disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC). As his underlying pancreatitis was controlled his DIC resolved. The following week, now as part of the infectious disease team, I was seeing him again, this time for continual spiking fevers to 103 degrees despite negative cultures and a trial of antibiotics. Since cultures of his pancreatic cysts had been negative, we went ahead and stopped all antibiotics, and waited, believing this to be a drug fever. The days passed and MP remained in the hospital, with out much change. I moved on the the liver service, which had been his primary team, and eventually left him still fighting for his life and me wondering if there was anything different that we could have done. Although fractured at time, I found the relationship which I developed with him and his family to be the most rewarding experience I have had as a medical student.During medical school I have used the opportunities afforded me to broaden my networking and educational experiences in pursuit of a more well rounded medical education. During the summer after my first year I spent a month in one of the university hospitals in Madrid, Spain, gaining insight into the differences and similarities inherent in our health care systems. I found that medicine abroad is much more holistic and spiritual when compared to our system. My goal when I returned was to share these findings with my classmates. I began acting on this interest by revitalizing the William Pepper Medical Society under the guidance of the Department Chairman, Dr. Peter Traber. My responsibilities include recruiting medicine faculty to lecture students interested in internal medicine on topics that are not covered by the traditional medical curriculum, such as medical futility and alternative medicine. For many students in their pre-clinical years, this forum serves as an introduction to the field of medicine, and hence is of enormous import in medical education at the University of Pennsylvania. Another of the intriguing challenges that I have faced at Penn includes living with nine other medical students at Nu Sigma Nu, a medical school co-op. Being able to work as a team with many diverse personalities had been a formidable task, but, one that has shown me that many times you need to step back, let go of your ego and think of the broader picture. Only then can you proceed. For the next tree years, I hope to join a program that will impart a solid foundation in the science and technical practice of medicine while maintaining a personal connection with the patients I see. Eventually I aspire to a career in academic medicine, which will allow me to increase my effectiveness as an educator and researcher. Academia allows for a continuous exchange of ideas as well as interaction among colleagues enabling me to contribute and keep up to date with new advances in medicine. The training and rigors of an academic institution will also strengthen my interests in combining clinical research with that o patient care. By partaking in such activities I will also be acting as an educator passing my insights to rising residents and medical students.As someone who has always been very goal-oriented, I am looking forward to beginning my residency. My life to date has prepared me to deal with many obstacles and also has shown me the determination, resilience, strength, and caring that are a part of my character. As I look toward my future in medicine, I believe these characteristics will enable me to succeed and be a valuable asset to the profession. My experiences have been very rewarding because I have identified with patients and admired their courage in the face of an uncertain prognosis. I anticipate that working in internal medicine will be equally rewarding and look forward with enthusiasm.

6] PATHOLOGY-PS...U CAN USE CONCLUSION PART FOR OTHER PROGRAMS ALSOMy interest in pathology originates in the diagnostic nature of the field. Throughout my medical education in the basic sciences and clinical medicine I have always found the diagnosis of disease to be the most fun and challenging part of medicine. This was the aspect of medicine which I enjoyed the most while seeing patients in internal medicine and pediatrics, where the problems can be very complex and the tools to help the physician in diagnosis are often inadequate. I look forward to being able to consult with other physicians to help give them and their patients a diagnosis so that they may then more effectively treat the disease. Within the field of pathology I have found that I am most interested in surgical pathology and have chosen this as my area of focus. My elective time in surgical pathology at UT-Houston was extremely stimulating and proved to me that this is the area which will fit with my interests the best. I enjoyed the balance between the fast pace of frozen section diagnosis, the investigative nature of formal sign outs of surgical cases, and the comprehensive nature of the autopsy service. pediatric pathology and neuropathology very very interesting to me and am currently planning on entering a fellowship in one of these areas at the end of my residency training. My other strong interest is in pursuing research into the mechanisms of disease from a molecular biological approach and translating those findings into tools which help physicians make diagnoses. To combine medicine with laboratory investigation I pursued a joint MD/PhD degree and have found the combination of the two to be extremely fulfilling. The program at UT-Houston has fostered my interest in the integration of clinical medicine and research by allowing me to be active in clinical medicine, within the pathology department and the sarcoma clinic of MD Anderson during my research years, as well as through regular seminars on basic and clinical research during the medical school curriculm. My desire is to directly integrate what I see clinically as a pathologist with the problems that I pursue in the laboratory and I feel that Pathology offers me a unique opportunity to do this job well. My goal in pursuing this training program is to enter into a career in academic pathology where I will have duties as a surgical pathologist, an independent researcher, and a teacher of residents and students. I have encountered many excellent role models within my school and also at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center who fulfill these roles currently and know that I would enjoy the type of balanced and varied career which this type of position would offer. My desire is to find the residency training program which will best prepare me for this type of academic postition by first offering excellent clinical resources and teaching in a setting where the residents are encouraged to be independent and take on a high level of responsibility for cases as their proficiency increases. In addition, the program must offer access to the best research labs and opportunities in the basic and clinical sciences for independent investigation during the residency training. I feel that your program is just such a program and hope that you will give me the opportunity to come and visit your program to experience it firsthand.

7] Personal Statement: Internal MedicineIn his essay on the profession of medicine, Sir William Osler writes that the medical field strives for a time, "when there should be no more unnecessary death, when sorrow and crying should be no more, and there should not be any more pain." I think it is important for every physician to keep these basic goals in mind no matter what field he/she enters. Clearly, my grasp of information, the foundation of my medical education, is only part of what will make me an effective physician. Though I have performed well academically in both my clinical and basic science years, I have learned to place a greater importance on solid communication and relationships with my patients, peers, and teachers. No amount of academic training can teach the compassion, hard work, camaraderie, and coolness under pressure which can make me an exceptional physician. While medicine continues to become increasingly complicated, I feel that the physician's most important role, that of a fierce and loyal patient advocate, remains unchanged. This is a broad responsibility which, for me, has included demanding financial help for a migrant worker, obtaining counseling and referrals for a battered woman, and simply cutting the toenails of an elderly patient. I have learned that for patients in situations such as these, having a concerned advocate is as valuable as having a scientist and clinician. The best physicians among us have achieved a balance of all these roles, and not only assess and diagnose patients, but also understand how best to provide the physical, emotional, and social interventions to achieve optimum overall health. Another crucial lesson learned through my clinical experience is that there are still great improvements to be made in the availability of health care and the implementation of preventive care. I have personally seen the importance of these issues through my experiences growing up in an area with limited health services and through my work with the Rural Health Coalition. The greatest barriers to prevention in rural areas, in fact in all underserved areas, are education and access to qualified personnel. By devoting weekend time to education, basic care, and prevention, the Rural Health Coalition is able to effectively practice quality preventive medicine and improve the health of rural communities. I feel that this organization provides a great model for future practices, and I am committed to extending my services, and health care in general, to underserved populations. Though I intend to first and foremost become a clinical physician, I also plan to participate in investigation and education throughout my career. Ask me about my ideas for research projects; I am enthusiastic about them and demand a program which can facilitate and guide my curiosity. I also enjoy teaching, and have continued to teach chemistry and natural science even during my years in medical school. The balance for which I search in my career will unite direct and honest patient care with practical discovery and education. A residency in internal medicine will provide the ideal foundation for this pursuit. I am looking for a strong academic and teaching program, one which will provide a solid background that allows me to choose between competitive fellowships and a career in general medicine. I see myself not only as a future leader in providing health care to my community, but also as a leader outside of medicine as a respected citizen, neighborhood advocate, author, and role model. I continue my journey into the field of medicine with a sense of excitement and anticipation, and with the commitment to provide earnest and open patient care. I am certainly idealistic, but as the medical profession itself continues to undergo constant evolution and change, I want to remain dedicated to remembering and practicing medicine as a humane art.

8] PERSONAL STATEMENT-INTERNAL MEDICINEFor as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer. Then why am I in medical school applying for an Internal Medicine residency, you may ask. I can only answer that I saw the error of my ways. I decided my life should be spent helping, rather than hindering, others.

When I entered undergraduate school, my goal was still to study law. As part of a required physical education course, I learned CPR. Little did I realize that less than a week later I would use it to save a child who nearly drowned in a neighbor`s swimming pool. That got me to thinking. What did I really want out of a career? The answer was to help others in need by practicing medicine. My enjoyment of medical school, especially the clinical years, has proven that to be true.

Not that I was a star in medical school. Having basically a non-science orientation throughout high school and my early years of college, I found it somewhat difficult to catch up in my pre-clinical years. My grades reflect that. Yet, in my clinical rotations, I began to shine and received excellent comments from all of my preceptors.

Why Internal Medicine? I love the idea of caring for people over the long haul. The diagnoses and treatments encompassed by Internal Medicine fascinate me, especially some of the so-called routine problems, such as hypertension and diabetes. Enough advances seem to be occurring in these areas to make them exciting.

What am I looking for in a program? Since I am single, geography is really not a barrier. My ideal program will have a strong clinical base, in both the primary care and the specialty aspects of Internal Medicine. The faculty should be readily available for on-site instruction and there should be good esprit-de-corps among the house staff. Since my goal is to get out there and practice good medicine, the bottom line is to get training that will prepare me to do this. Going to clinic will be so much better than going to court.

9] PSIM-SAMPLEI have been interested in the biological sciences for as long as I can remember. In the three summers following my junior year in high school, I was a research apprentice for the USDA, where I studied ways to genetically engineer cotton to better tolerate arid conditions. While I enjoyed this research, I knew I would prefer more medically related topics. Therefore, following my sophomore year in college, I spent the summer doing research at the UT Southwestern Medical School. I enjoyed the lab work and I looked forward to the daily conferences on current medical research topics. While in medical school, I participated in a summer research fellowship in which I studied the effect of linker protein regions in fusion proteins of cytochrome P450 and P450 reductase by expressing the genetically engineered protein in E. coli and then measuring the protein`s activity. These experiences prepared me to deal with both successes and challenges and helped me understand the time and dedication required in research. I hope to conduct clinical research in residency.

Knowing I enjoyed research, I double majored in Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology at the Texas Christian University. My favorite class was Molecular Biology. I particularly enjoyed this class because it dealt with the mechanisms of many of the cellular processes that are crucial to life. I am very adept at memorizing data, however, I prefer to learn and understand the mechanism behind the process. No matter how much these cellular and genetic mechanisms fascinated me, I was more interested in the bigger picture - medicine.

During my first year of medical school, I lectured to middle school students to stimulate their interests in medical and science careers. I enjoyed the presentations, but the best part was knowing the students listened to me and learned something from the experience. The next year, I trained my classmates to give these lectures and organized the visits to the schools. I also trained my classmates to perform physical exams as a part of a student-run skills clinic. I enjoy teaching difficult concepts and look forward to teaching more in the future.

During my medical school interviews, I went on rounds with an Internal Medicine team at UT Southwestern. The variety of patients and problems discussed in one morning`s rounds intrigued me. This fascination was strengthened in my Medicine clerkship. I enjoy Medicine because it requires an understanding of a broad spectrum of disease processes and is truly the basis for all the fields. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation of problem-solving, and I want to care for all ranges of patients and problems-from the simple outpatient clinic visits to the most complex patients in the intensive care units. Medicine embodies my childhood vision of what a doctor should be and what a doctor does.

I love Medicine and willingly arrived early and stayed late, earning a grade of honors from both attendings with whom I worked in third year and from my sub-internship and MICU attendings. Being exposed to many excellent faculty members, I was inspired not only to study hard, but also to go the extra mile and research topics in the library. Coupled with an ability to learn quickly and to manage my time efficiently, I have achieved a strong academic record.

My family is very close and has always supported my educational and career goals. My father taught me to insist on a high standard of work ethic from myself and from others. He also encouraged me to accept blame and to take responsibility. These values have guided me through my life and will be an important part of my professional career. Throughout medical school I balanced my education and clinical responsibilities with an active personal life. I have been married for two years to John, a very supportive spouse, who understands the time demands of a medical career. While, his career allows us to move anywhere in the country, we would prefer to remain in the Southwestern United States. We enjoy camping and cycling, are avid sports fans, and want to sharpen our tennis skills this fall.

I want to spend my life being challenged and I know Internal Medicine offers that better than any other specialty. I want a strong academic program that offers contact with excellent faculty members in addition to a wide range of clinical experiences. I believe that medical management is best learned with direct involvement in the decision making process, and thus I am interested in a program where housestaff have significant responsibility for patient management and treatment decisions. I will thrive in such a program and with the challenges offered by a career in Internal Medicine.

10] PS-PEDIATRICSMy family and friends were not surprised when I told them that I wanted to become a pediatrician. While my interest in becoming a physician evolved during college, my desire to work with children began many years before. As a teenager, I baby-sat and worked with children in my church. Children with special needs captured my attention. In high school, I volunteered at the Very Special Arts Festival, an annual event that provided fun and educational activities for physically and mentally handicapped children. Kari, a family friend and young girl with Down`s syndrome, taught me about perseverance and unconditional acceptance of others. Her speech was not always clear, but her winning smile and determination to accomplish a task inspired me. When I left for college I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to work with children.

At Baylor University, I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation of science courses and began to consider medicine as a career. Speaking with physicians gave me further insight into this field, and I observed different specialists while participating in a study-abroad program in London. These experiences developed my interest in medicine and prepared me for medical school. After applying to medical school, I took extra science classes to graduate with my class. My studies in psychology taught me much about human development and behavior and have helped me work with patients. I also pursued my interest in liberal arts by obtaining a minor in French. My extracurricular interests cultivated communication and time management skills that have been invaluable to me in medical school. I gained leadership experience by serving on the Student Congress and as an officer in my sorority. Working closely with faculty and administrators, I also helped organize and plan an annual leadership retreat for students.

A medical mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico, during my second year of medical school reinforced my desire to work with children. The crowded, unsanitary living conditions and limited access to health care made disease rampant. I saw many children in the clinics. Most had preventable infections, and many just wanted vitamins. The circumstances were dismal, but an experience I had one day following a particularly busy clinic encouraged me immensely. Despite my minimal knowledge of Spanish, a group of young children ranging in age from 3 to 6 taught me some of their songs and games. I can still hear their squeals of laughter as we played together, and I knew then that working to meet children`s health care needs had become one of my goals.

The field of pediatrics attracts me for many reasons. First, I simply enjoy being around children. Second, I like the vast range of childhood problems, from the most common to the most unusual. Third, the intellectual challenge of encountering such a spectrum of patients excites me. Finally, the opportunity to educate and provide anticipatory guidance to parents appeals to me.

My family`s support has helped me achieve my goals. My parents instilled a strong work ethic and love of learning in me, and they, along with my extended family, always encouraged me. Bill and I married following my second year of medical school, and I am extremely grateful to have a wonderful spouse who completely supports me. Bill, a seminary student, will complete his master`s degree this year and plans to obtain a doctorate in theology. Service is important to both of us, and we will use our respective fields to help others.

Several factors are important to me in seeking a pediatric residency. Most significantly, I desire a strong academic program that will provide a solid teaching foundation. I want to be exposed to a broad spectrum of patients in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. Since I have participated in clinical research and teaching during medical school, I would be interested in opportunities to further explore these interests. Finally, I prefer a friendly atmosphere with fellow residents who support one another and enjoy their work.

11] PS-PED

You can learn much about a person goals by knowing who he or she seeks to emulate. I have two such role models who share the quality of putting their beliefs into action. The first is Marian Wright Edelman, the founder and leader of the Children Defense Fund, who is a champion for children. She has impressed me by continuing, undaunted, to press for change in a social and political climate that is unfriendly to the concerns of children.

I met my second role model during one of the most influential clinical experiences I have had as a medical studenty junior pediatrics rotation at San Francisco General Hospital. Like Edelman, Dr. Sylvia Villarreal puts her beliefs into action. As the director of the outpatient clinic for highrisk kids, she dedicates herself to preventing her usually poor and often non-English speaking patients from falling through the cracks in a complicated medical care system. Some who work with needy populations become bitter and jaded, but a crucial lesson I learned from her is that maintaining respect and compassion for patients prevents this destructive attitude from sapping the energy such important work requires. During that rotation, I also learned a great deal from my patients, such as the 12-year old boy with Type I Diabetes, whose frustration with the limitations imposed by his illness was vented by secretly snacking on sweets. He taught me that being a good doctor entailed far more than knowing the pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis; it requires an attention to the human dimension of patients and their families. In addition to a dosage schedule of insulin, he needed me to understand the emotional and psychological ramifications of his illness. This extra step of empathy is the difference between the physician as a highly skilled technician and the physician as a compassionate ally.

My decision to be a pediatrician is a coalescence of several driving forces. Perhaps most important is my desire to be an advocate, like Edelman and Villarreal, for those who may be unable to protect their own interests. All physicians can be advocates for their patients but in pediatrics the need is more compelling because children lack the political and social clout to argue their own case. Second, there is my love of teaching on a one-to-one basis. A significant part of being a pediatrician is educating children and their parents about the preventive measures needed to negotiate the pitfalls of childhood and adolescence. I look forward to the opportunity to intervene with children before their health has been damaged by environmental and social factors, such as lead poisoning and smoking.

During my study of public health, I developed a particular concern about the alarming rates of health problems such as violence, sexually-transmitted diseases and pregnancy among teens. I recognize that working with young people who are struggling to become adults, without becoming a statistic, is inherently challenging, but I also know of the immense personal satisfaction that can come from such work. Finally, I have a long-standing interest in health policy which will mesh well with pediatrics since there is such a need for comprehensive policies regarding children and adolescents. It was abundantly clear during my rotation at San Francisco General that there are enormous social and economic costs to neglecting our children. My training in public health and as a pediatrician will give me the experience and authority to draw public attention to these costs.

I see my career as one in which clinical medicine and public health policy are constantly intermingled, because my interest in both are fed by the same fundamental desire to improve the health status of underserved populations. I can intercede on an individual scale as a practicing pediatrician and on a broader scale as a physician involved in health policy. I am excited by the prospect of combining the roles of clinician, teacher, policy-maker and advocate. Marian Wright Edelman has said that ervice is the rent we pay for living.?I hope to demonstrate my respect for her and others who have sought to improve the lives of children by incorporating those words into my life work.

2] PS-PEDMy quest to become a pediatrician began when I was a junior high school student enrolled in a class called Occupational Investigation. Choosing the proper classes in high school facilitated my entry into the college that would best prepare me for medical school.

Another early pediatric influence was my family. Being raised in close contact with a large number of my relatives exposed me at a young age to a fair number of children. I am comfortable around children and enjoy interacting with them because they have a fresh and uninhibited nature and can spread that feeling to those around them.

The basic science years of medical school had influence on my decision to enter pediatrics. My faculty advisor, Dr. Virginia Moyer, is a pediatrician and was thrilled to learn of my intended path. During the summer following my first year of medical school, Dr. Moyer introduced me to Dr. Lynette Mazur who arranged a four-week preceptorship that provided me with my first real glimpse of what it means to be a pediatrician. I thoroughly enjoyed that month. The physicians I met were all outgoing and friendly, had good rapport with their patients and parents, seemed to enjoy what they were doing, and even had time to spend with their families. This experience heightened my desire to pursue pediatrics as a medical career.

My third-year pediatric rotation reinforced my decision to follow pediatrics and also set in motion my decision to steer my fourth year in the direction of as much pediatric education as was allowed. My fourth year has been enjoyable and rewarding in being surrounded by pediatricians who are a fun, happy group of people that revel in taking care of children and interacting with caring and concerned parents. This particular area of the medical profession is upbeat and I would welcome an opportunity to make contribution to pediatrics.

I plan to go into practice after residency as a general pediatrician in a small to medium sized city and would like t join a group practice after residency as a general pediatrician in a small to medium sized city and would like to join a group practice or health maintenance organization which would allow me time to plan a family of my own.

My ability to empathize with my patients and their parents, sense of humor, self-motivation, and desire to become an excellent physician will provide me with the foundation to build an enjoyable and satisfying career in pediatrics. I hope that you will grant me the opportunity to continue my medical education and become a quality health care provider for the young people of the future.

SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT #1 (CREATIVE TYPE)NAMEIt was my senior year of college. Two of my close friends, my lab partner and his wife were about to have their first child After months of anticipation and two false alarms the day finally arrived Her membranes ruptured and she was four centimeters dilated. Nervous but excited we were led into labor room two. She and the baby were monitored continuously and she was intermittently examined throughout the day Six hours later her first stage of labor ended-she was ten centimeters dilated and ready to push.My reasons for pursuing a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology are numerous. The field offers a unique combination of primary care and a surgical subspecialty. Primary care allows for continuity of care leading to the development of trusting, long-term relationships and the delivery of comprehensive, quality care. In addition to managing patients medically it affords the opportunity for surgical intervention if necessary. Also, as an Obstetrician/ Gynecologist I would have the opportunity to care for women of all ages and be part of a dynamic field that is both intellectually challenging and rewarding.On the monitor I could see another contraction mounting. With a determined voice I said, "You can do it Naniah! Focus, breath, and p-u-s-h. We could clearly see the top of the baby's head With the next big contraction an episiotomy was cut and shortly qfler my close friends Carlos and Naniah were presentedwith their first child--a baby girl. Her cord was clamped and cut. As she let out a strong cry I was overcome with emotion; I could feel my eyes fill with tears. It was a day I would never forget.There are several reasons I believe I am a strong candidate for your residency program and well-suited for a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology. First, I am confident in my ability to take principal responsibility for management of my patients medical problems and successfully execute the daily tasks expected of me as a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Secondly, my work as a Physical Therapist Assistant taught me goals can be accomplished with persistence and determination. These capabilities will get me through difficult surgical procedures and prolonged, complicated deliveries. Thirdly, I believe I possess the mechanical ability, manual dexterity, and leadership qualities critical in a surgical subspecialty. As a teacher for autistic children and a leader of various organizations I learned skills that will enable me to set priorities, delegate responsibilities, and organize activities both in and out of the operating room. Lastly, I am a compassionate person devoted to helping and caring for others. Whether it be an Oncology patient in her final days of life, an infertile couple trying to conceive a child, or an Obstetrical patient who miscarried a desired pregnancy, I can empathize with their situation and make a difference in their lives.The fundus rose in her abdomen, the cord lengthened, and there was a gush of blood shortly followed by the delivery of the placenta. They massaged her uterus, repaired the episiotomy, and cleaned her up. Snuggled in a blanket with a little pink knitted cap, Gabrielle Marie was gently laid on her mother's chest. Naniah looked exhausted yet content with the small miracle she held in her arms.My career goals include enrolling in a residency program that will develop my clinical and technical skills, promote patient education and prevention, encourage participation in community service, and concern itself with ethical issues in medicine. Upon successfully completing residency I plan to commit myself to the underserved as part of my National Health Service Corps Scholarship. I have a special interest in helping the indigent in our community and anticipate this being a rewarding time in my life. Furthermore, being a Humanities Scholar has increased my awareness of ethical dilemmas in medicine, an interest I plan to pursue by serving on an ethical committee of a hospital. Ultimately, I hope to establish a shelter for pregnant women and teens to provide them with basic needs, prenatal care, counseling, and support. Despite my many goals I will still find time to enjoy personal interests and spend quality time with my family.Currently, Carlos is a resident in Internal Medicine, Naniah is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and Gabrielle is a kindergartner at Saint Bridget's. It's hard to believe how quickly time passes; it was only five years ago when we were gathered for the birth of their baby girl. That day strong bonds were formed and memories were created that will undoubtedly continue to last a lifetime.

SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT #2 PERSONAL STATEMENT - NAMEAfter enjoying every clinical rotation during my third year I thought it would be difficult to choose a specialty, but ultimately it was an easy decision. By the end of my third year, I suspected that Emergency Medicine was right for me. This belief was confirmed on the first day of my fourth-year Emergency Medicine elective and continued through my Pediatric Emergency Medicine elective. The variety of clinical encounters, procedures, and degrees of illness makes Emergency Medicine extremely appealing to me. Being the first physician to assess the patient's needs, provide treatment, and recommend a next step for continued treatment is both challenging and gratifying. Each new patient presents something different and each will provide a learning opportunity at all phases of my career.My past experiences have helped me develop qualities that are essential for the practice of Emergency Medicine. My hard work and motivation to learn have enabled me to develop a broad foundation of knowledge and clinical skills. My service on the Honor Court as president and as a representative, and my participation on faculty committees has fostered leadership, decision-making, and communication skills that will be valuable whether I am working with students, house officers, faculty members, or consultants. My many years of varsity soccer have helped me to strengthen my mental and physical endurance, discipline and teamwork. Developing a tuberculosis screening clinic and working with people with HIV who were addicted to drugs heightened my sensitivity and my desire to work with patients from all backgrounds. My supportive wife, parents, and brothers, and interests outside of medicine, including running, soccer, tennis, and music, provide me with a necessary balance in my life. They have also helped me develop the strength and vision necessary to accomplish my goals within and outside of my medical career.I would like to continue my education in an academic residency program which includes a varied patient population and ample opportunities to obtain the training and skills that a competent Emergency Medicine physician needs. I look forward to involvement in research opportunities so that I might contribute to the exciting and rapidly growing field of Emergency Medicine research. I will consider completing a fellowship after I have had some experience as a house officer. I intend to make teaching part of my career, as a way to continue my academic, clinical, and personal growth. My ultimate goal is to improve the practice and delivery of Emergency Medicine as a leader and teacher in the setting in which I practice.Thank you for your consideration. I look ahead to the next phase of my training with great excitement and strong commitment.

SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT #3 Personal StatementLife experience has uniquely prepared me for a residency in emergency medicine. I was born in Baton Rouge Louisiana in 1957. My father was a plumber and my mother was a Mexican immigrant who left school in third grade. My parents had great hopes for me; my mom encouraged me to go to college and my father would read books about science, such as The Origin of the Species, with me. But there was a secret at home. My mother, my siblings and I were victims of domestic abuse. Although I dreamed of being a doctor, my aspirations were limited by my chaotic home environment and by my parents' impoverishment. And so at the age of eighteen, I married and left home..As the wife of a successful businessman I relished raising my two sons. Outwardly life was idyllic. My greatest desire was to go to college, but my husband was opposed. Against his wishes, I took two classes a semester for nine years. Eventually I finished my bachelors degree in interior design, a field he found acceptable. But I was still interested in science. When my children would go to the doctor, I would come home and read about their illnesses. Attracted by the excitement and variety of emergency medicine, I eventually started volunteering in a level one trauma center. I soon became a weekend night regular at the emergency department, helping and learning when I could. Finally in 1994, 1 left my children with their father and stepmother, and entered medical school. It was the most difficult choice I have ever made.Emergency medicine has been a natural choice for me. It provides the intellectual challenge of diversity and change while requiring poise under pressure. In particular it demands concentration to deal with acute disease processes. Motherhood gives you nerves of steel. It has taught me to think quickly and remain focused under stressful conditions. It has also taught me patience and diligence, conditions of parenthood. As a working mom who was also studying pre-medicine, I developed tremendous mental and physical stamina. I learned to manage and execute multiple tasks, a skill that would be an asset in any busy emergency room. At the same time, because of my early life experiences, I do not shy away from the many complex social issues that confront the emergency physician. I will never forget the sacred trust I hold with my patients, especially those who feel powerless and who turn to the medica' professionals for help. To fulfill these social convictions, I have sought further training in recognizing and treating domestic abuse; I participated in two workshops offered by Physicians for Social Responsibility addressing this topic. In addition, I was awarded a National Medical Fellowships Substance Abuse Treatment and Research Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania as a third year medical student.After residency, I would like to practice emergency medicine in an urban medical center. Ultimately my goal is to be the best clinician possible, while serving in an academic setting. There is an enthusiasm in the teaching environment that energizes me; I would like to pass that excitement along to those that follow me. In addition, teaching requires one to broaden their knowledge base and procedural skills. Most importantly, I would also like to educate students of medicine towards issues of domestic and substance abuse, especially as it impacts the in the emergency department setting. Completing four years of medical school has been the fulfillment of a dream for me. It is through emergency medicine that I feel that I can serve best. Thank you for your consideration.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT - some tips

The personal statement can be no longer than one typed paged on the ERAS system. This usually corresponds to a document between 750 and 850 words. Ensure that your statement fits in the ERAS allotted space, because the program will eliminate all lines that exceed its length restrictions.Ensure that your statement fits in the ERAS allotted space, because the program will eliminate all lines that exceed its length restrictions. http://www.qksrv.net/click-1436689-10292996FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=EssayEdge.com Residency Application Help"http://www.qksrv.net/click-1436689-10292996The following three topics must be addressed in your statement.Why are you interested in the field of your choice?What are you looking for in a residency program?How the field aligns with your professional goals?

Your statement should be aimed at the specialty in which you are applying. For instance, many primary care fields place a huge emphasis on your community service involvement whereas more competitive specialties such as dermatology and orthopedic surgery look for research endeavors and publications. You should try to get advice from someone who has just gone through the application process, particularly if they have gone through your desired specialty.

General "Do's"Try to unite your essay with a central theme. If possible paint multiple pictures of your professional development around this theme, and link it to your field of choice. This allows the statement to flow logically. Unless you pursued another degree or participated in some significant research or community service project during your preclinical years, most of the content of your statement should address your clinical development during medical school. Most residency programs express minimal concern for your preclinical performance, presuming that you suffered no academic failures or setbacks. If your institution has grades, your transcript will speak for your preclinical performance. The only information that you should address during your preclinical years of medical school should be related to evidence of outstanding achievement, volunteerism or extra-curricular activities. You should be able to relate the latter to your current interest to pursue the field of your choice. Use interesting or unique background experiences to complement your personal statement. This will be your "anti-clone" factor that distinguishes you from every other individual applying in your field. You will need to ensure that these personal factors, triumphs, obstacles, or experiences are clearly relevant to the progression of your essay. Utilize the following advice, which applies to all admissions essays: Begin your statement with an attention-grabbing first paragraph.

Provide specific narratives or examples in order to demonstrate any personal attributes you cultivated or lessons you learned. Avoid making statements such as "I am determined and hardworking" without backing them up with solid evidence.

Keep your sentences concise and direct. Many of the physician application reviewers are busy people who cannot decipher advanced literary writing techniques.

Link your conclusion back to your introduction.

General "Don'ts"Your statement should not be an expanded version of your CV. The ERAS application allows more than ample space for you to discuss your paid work and volunteer experiences, research endeavors and publications, language fluency, hobbies and interests, and other awards and accomplishments. Only mention relevant endeavors or poignant experiences. You should avoid including any information in your essay that you could not discuss at some length at interview or that may be contradicted by other written evidence. Though this may seem facetious, some applicants will exaggerate their role in particular research projects or community service activities, but be unable to discuss them thoroughly in interviews. This can prove to be extremely detrimental to your candidacy. Also, some applicants have written things in these statements that directly contradict information written by their recommenders. Because waiving your rights to viewing letters of recommendation is the norm, you often will not know what your letter writers will say about you. Thus, only truthful information should appear in your statement. Your essay should avoid the following common indicators of poorly written or edited documents:Lack of flow

Spelling and grammatical errors

Clichs

Redundant or extraneous words

SUMMARY

Overall, the most important advice to remember when crafting your personal statement is to provide yourself with plenty of time to write it. Two or three months prior to the date you wish to submit your final applications should prove sufficient. While respecting the different perspectives of each individual you wish to comment on your drafts, you should limit your statement to only a few individuals, making sure that one or two physicians in your desired field are among them. Also, do not be afraid to scrap one draft completely, and start another thought from scratch. Finally, be true to yourself in this essay. This is your once chance to show the unique side of yourself. Do not overdue it, but do not fail to do it. Good luck with your application processSome sample personal statements Personal Statement #1[From the American Medical Association]Early in medical school, I suspected I would chose a field in medicine based on a long-standing fascination with the complexity and varied nature of disease processes. With an open eye, I embarked on a rigorous year of clinical clerkships. However, while rotating through medicine, my initial interests were solidified. I found the ability to connect with patients and the development of strong emotional ties all encompassing. When taking care of patients I was focusing not on one, but multiple body systems.

The marriage in medicine between pathophysiology and man is best exemplified by MP. I had begun my month in hematology when I was first consulted on his case. Recently transferred from an outside hospital for management of the worst case of ERCP induced pancreatitis anyone had seen, his diminished platelet count of 30,000, PT of 16, and numerous schistocytes led me to believe it was disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC). As his underlying pancreatitis was controlled his DIC resolved. The following week, now as part of the infectious disease team, I was seeing him again, this time for continual spiking fevers to 103 degrees despite negative cultures and a trial of antibiotics. Since cultures of his pancreatic cysts had been negative, we went ahead and stopped all antibiotics, and waited, believing this to be a drug fever. The days passed and MP remained in the hospital, with out much change. I moved on the the liver service, which had been his primary team, and eventually left him still fighting for his life and me wondering if there was anything different that we could have done. Although fractured at time, I found the relationship which I developed with him and his family to be the most rewarding experience I have had as a medical student.

During medical school I have used the opportunities afforded me to broaden my networking and educational experiences in pursuit of a more well rounded medical education. During the summer after my first year I spent a month in one of the university hospitals in Madrid, Spain, gaining insight into the differences and similarities inherent in our health care systems. I found that medicine abroad is much more holistic and spiritual when compared to our system. My goal when I returned was to share these findings with my classmates. I began acting on this interest by revitalizing the William Pepper Medical Society under the guidance of the Department Chairman, Dr. Peter Traber. My responsibilities include recruiting medicine faculty to lecture students interested in internal medicine on topics that are not covered by the traditional medical curriculum, such as medical futility and alternative medicine. For many students in their pre-clinical years, this forum serves as an introduction to the field of medicine, and hence is of enormous import in medical education at the University of Pennsylvania. Another of the intriguing challenges that I have faced at Penn includes living with nine other medical students at Nu Sigma Nu, a medical school co-op. Being able to work as a team with many diverse personalities had been a formidable task, but, one that has shown me that many times you need to step back, let go of your ego and think of the broader picture. Only then can you proceed. For the next tree years, I hope to join a program that will impart a solid foundation in the science and technical practice of medicine while maintaining a personal connection with the patients I see. Eventually I aspire to a career in academic medicine, which will allow me to increase my effectiveness as an educator and researcher. Academia allows for a continuous exchange of ideas as well as interaction among colleagues enabling me to contribute and keep up to date with new advances in medicine. The training and rigors of an academic institution will also strengthen my interests in combining clinical research with that o patient care. By partaking in such activities I will also be acting as an educator passing my insights to rising residents and medical students.