Guys! Go easy on me… This was written a few years ago LOLOL. BUT I know there are limited resources out there for writing residency application personal statements, so without further ado…..
I noticed the little boy sitting in the corner immediately after walking into the brightly painted room. His skin was dark brown, with many scattered patches of milky white color. The boy was alone, while his peers all played a game outside in the sunshine. Sensing that he was distraught, I approached him. He sat in my lap and told me his name. Benele. Through stifled sobs, Benele told me that the other kids were afraid to play with him because of his skin. This was my first day at New Beginningz, an orphanage for infants and children with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
Something had to change. Benele had already been plagued with so much hardship during his short lifetime; he didn’t need to be isolated by the other children for his appearance as well. That night, I researched everything that I could about vitiligo. It amazed me to learn that vitiligo is a cutaneous manifestation of an internal physiology. Working to educate Benele’s peers over the next several weeks about his disease was life changing. Even though a language barrier existed with some of the children, it was inspiring to see how receptive they were. Benele’s true personality began to shine; instead of acting invisible, he became the center of attention. My passion to help build self-confidence in others, like Benele, has continuously pointed me toward a career in dermatology.
Starting in college, I began to shadow dermatologists in my free time and this allowed me to gain tremendous exposure to general dermatology. From the beginning, I was enthralled with each aspect of the field such as dermatopathology, dermatological surgery, general dermatology, and cosmetology. These experiences have continually strengthened my desire to pursue this specialty. Although I learned the physiology of medicine in my medical school classes, I learned the other, more personal side, from witnessing the impact these dermatologists had with each individual that they treated. The small things that a doctor does, like making a patient laugh or coming in on a day off, is what shapes the patient’s healthcare experience. Having numerous leadership positions throughout my undergraduate and medical school career has taught me valuable communication skills and how to work well with others. Physicians are part of a large team, all working towards one goal. Therefore, being able to communicate on a personal, yet professional level with patients and coworkers is key, not just in dermatology, but for all specialties. The commitment doctors have to their patients is remarkable and my dream of being able to form my own professional relationships has finally come true.
During medical school, I always seemed to enjoy both medicine and surgery, and to me, dermatology is a perfect combination of the two. It will allow me to practice procedure based medicine in an outpatient setting, yet still be able to see challenging cases that require critical thinking. This is something I believe is not found with any other medical specialty. The continuity of care found in dermatology is extremely important to me. Being able to witness patients get better quickly is very rewarding. During my third year, I was given the opportunity to rotate with a Moh’s surgeon. Although to many people skin cancer excisions are seemingly minor procedures, I see the opportunity to save someone’s life. I will never forget diagnosing my first case of melanoma on a middle-aged woman’s thigh. Although the patient had come into the office for a completely different skin concern, I spotted it almost instantly. I had felt no greater sense of accomplishment during my clerkships than I had at this moment. Being able to treat a skin cancer in an elderly patient one minute and help build self confidence in a teenager with acne the next, is what keeps me inspired and continually draws me to the field of dermatology.
As is evident throughout my experiences, I am a well-rounded student who is capable of excelling in a dermatology residency. Being able to maintain a high level of involvement in extracurricular activities and exceed academically in medical school, while still having time to explore my wide array of interests and hobbies, proves that I am able to handle the high stress environment of a residency program. I am proud to call myself a D.O. and believe that attending an osteopathic medical school has given me the knowledge and confidence to succeed in any dermatology program. I am a goal-oriented person with great ambition and determination. I achieve anything that I set my mind to, and because my goal is to become an excellent dermatologist, I know that I will succeed.
I hope this helps you get some information for your personal statement!
Xo,
Gab
