Personal Statement

Several months ago, I posted the first few drafts of my attempt at writing a personal statement for residency. I received some excellent suggestions, and offers for help. Thank you to everyone who contributed and gave advice. I thought I'd post the PS I used for my US applications. It was positively commented on by everyone I interviewed with. One PD even commented on the Tennyson quote. Thanks again.

I want to be a Family Doc.

Holding the scalpel poised, I make my incision. This is a “lumps and bumps” clinic; routine stuff for a family doctor. But as I carefully remove a suspicious lesion, I am struck by a curious sense of completion; that my life, my skills, and my medical training led me to this moment. An early passion for medicine, a family of family doctors, a genuine interest in people, varied experiences, a love of learning, a wide range of interests, and clinical experience in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States; all these have prepared me to be an excellent family physician.

I want to do that.

A little boy sitting on a hard bench under tired ceiling fans fretfully stirring the heavy African air, I sat waiting for my latest malaria smear results. Watching my fellow patients in that dirty place, I still remember wondering what brought them to the hospital; fascinated by the elderly man with weeping ulcers on his legs and by the local snake farmer who came running in after a bite from one of his snakes. But as exciting and exotic as the snake man was, my most indelible memory of that day is of the Doctor running across the dusty courtyard reading the directions on a packet of antivenom.

I have a clear memory from that day of wanting to do what that doctor was doing. And while I have developed and explored other interests, my passion for medicine has been my constant companion.

This is my place.

Leaning on the nurse’s station in a rural Canadian Emergency Department, I am the doctor’s nephew, shadowing to explore the world of medicine. Watching my aunt guide my sister, already a medical student, in placing a suture correctly, I turn green at my first sight of minor surgery. Sitting in the hallway with my head between my legs, a silly grin spreading over my face, I can’t wait for more.

I have four rural Family Doctors in my family, and their example and encouragement has meant that my knowledge of and passion for Family Medicine is strong. I have a real sense of commitment to providing continuous care for families and becoming part of a community.

I will drink life to the lees.

My life, study, and work experience has prepared me well to be an excellent family physician. Growing up in West Africa has made me acutely aware of other perspectives and cultures, and has made me uniquely positioned to practice cross-cultural medicine. My undergraduate degrees in music and general biology trained me to think across disciplines and see the bigger picture, both from a psycho-social and artistic perspective and in terms of inter-connectedness inherent in the physical world. My extensive experience as a music and drama teacher has allowed me to hone my communication and motivational skills, both of which will be extremely valuable to me as a practicing physician. My journey as a professional operatic tenor has taught me the value of hard work, and the sense of satisfaction that comes from being a part of a team working at a world-class level. My work as a church organist and choir-master has taught me the simple joy of becoming part of a community of people, and working with them to help them live their best lives.

I am a generalist, and a global thinker. I am excited about new experiences, love learning new information and skills, and do my best to live as intensely as possible. Family Practice appeals to me because of the breadth and wide scope of practice. I enjoy seeing the big picture, and am excited about coordinating medical care for patients as part of a team of health care professionals. I am interested the possibilities that rural Family Medicine offers in working in both rural inpatient and outpatient settings, emergency departments, and obstetrics.

I want to be a Family Doc.

Working stiff

So after accepting an offer for residency in the US (Family Medicine, starting June 2011), the trip I had planned to NYC to interview was a moot point. But since I had my plane tickets already, and they were non-refundable, I went anyway. I had a wonderful week wandering around NYC, seeing shows and eating in great restaurants!

Now, I'm back in Southwestern Ontario, and started work today in my uncle's office (I was supposed to start on Monday, but was snowed in for two days). I am involved in a project to help update his EMR and transfer data from his paper charts. And seeing as he has somewhere between 2000 and 3000 patients, it's a big job. But it's a job I am qualified to do, and by pouring over several thousand charts in the course of the next few months, I expect to learn a lot. And because I expect a LOT of snow this winter, I have purchased snow tires for my little car. It's not that much of a waste, because where I'm moving for residency gets a LOT of snow too.

In other news, I am getting serious about getting back into shape. I have an incentive; I would like to wear my kilt at the New Years dinner/dance, and need to lose a few inches in order to do so. So I have three weeks to lose a couple of inches off my waist. Which will be doable, but just. So I will be sore and tired (and downing protein shakes and eating poached chicken and broccoli) for the next few weeks. Those of you on FB can expect daily whinging.

I am still somewhat surprised whenever I see correspondence labeled Dr. BB. I wonder how long it takes to get used to that.

And in other news, I passed my next Canadian licensing exam, and am in the process of applying for USMLE Step 3. I have four more exams to take before I am completely license-able in the US and Canada: USMLE 3, US FP Boards, MCCQE2, Royal College FM exams. It's kind of weird to think that, including the MCAT, I have already taken 6 big medical exams. More than halfway done!