Why Medicine?

Career choice is often a reflection of what kind of human being one is, what are ones strengths and skills, and where can one suitably apply his/herself to effect the most positive change on the world. I have found that a career in medicine would suit, on many levels, who I am as a person. Many people answer this question by simply saying, " I want to be able to help people and save lives." While I value this proclamation, I am passionate about not only saving lives but also positively changing them. I believe that there needs to be a paradigm shift in allopathic care. This shift should be centered on the tenet of health education. The many years of medical schooling does make one qualified to save lives. However, I would like to better utilize that acquired knowledge and experience. I want to impart this knowledge to patients in a way that encourages a smoother dialogue in the doctor-patient relationship. I want to take being a doctor to another level, challenging the status quo of simply handing out prescriptions and diagnoses. A simple example would be creating a personalized health roadmap, which would encompass both the doctors input and prognosis and be sensitive to a patients lifestyle. By being more than just a doctor and more of a health partner, the quality of care can be drastically improved and we can educate the medically lay individuals of what it takes to maintain proper health. As a student of science, I have a driving passion for human biology. This passion is shown clearly through both my selection of biology classes and my academic performance. The human body and its functions offer insight into the remarkable capabilities of nature. The intricacies and nuances of human anatomy and physiology afford endless horizons for research and improvement in care. Trying to understand the human body presents new and exciting challenges every daylife is never mundane. The work I do in the research lab is inspired by the central purpose of science: the eternal quest to answer the mysteries of nature. I have developed acute lateral thinking skills as result of hours of data analysis and literature reading, striving to the bridge the gap between what is known and what questions I am still trying to answer. While engaging in this research and after taking several upper-level science classes, now more than ever, I appreciate the value of patience, perseverance and critical thinking as hallmarks of a good student and doctor.

At Riverside Health Center I interacted with the residents, comforted them encouragingly through their daily aches and pains and endearingly listened, while exercising the skills of compassion and empathy, as they recalled their riveting, yet sometimes heart-rending life-stories. One such compelling story was of a resident, who had developed early-onset Parkinsons, but still managed to care for her terminally ill husband till he passed away. Her story reminded me of my own experiences of caring for my physically ailing grandmother. It was a moving story that reaffirmed my belief that medicine is my calling. While shadowing at the Atlanta VA Eye Clinic, I was fortunate enough to be able to practice bedside manner with some of the patients, who underwent minor surgery. On a deeper level, there was a euphoric feeling that followed when the patients were relieved of a bodily infirmity and their face light up in appreciation the next time I greeted them. There is an incorporeal part of us that forms a connection with that person and that moment is priceless. Whatever career pathway one chooses, it is imperative one does not forget that the ultimate goal should be becoming the best human being we can be. I have learned through experiences in life that my skills and knowledge are best suited for a career in medicine where I can make the greatest positive impact for the people around me. Thus, I will humbly defer to one of the great individuals of history, Mahatma Gandhi, to sum up my aspirations for a career in medicine: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. !