College Admissions Essay: A Career In Medicine

In the late 1980's and early 90's, there was a television series about a man with, "an unconventional knack for problem solving." This man was able to utilize resources in his environment to solve almost any problem. In the years since the airing of the show, his uncanny ability has become the brunt of many jokes, however, these unique capabilities are something I revere. When someone first joked that I possess a similar skillset, I was mildly offended. After consideration and thought, I embraced it as a compliment. As a second year medical student in Grenada, I was seeing a patient who had suffered a broken femur. With the attending physician I devised a plan to place traction on the injury with a pillowcase filled with sand from a nearby

I have lived a life rich in experience. From working in the Alaskan salmon industry to the halls on the wards, I took a long path to medicine. Anyone who knows me will vouch for my dependability and grit. In the first 6 years of my career in insurance, I never missed a day of work. My employers and co-workers could count on me to show up, work hard, and support the team. At the same time, I was a volunteer at a community center, teaching weekly courses on basic job skills for over 5 years. This experience kept me grounded as I built great relationships with my pupils, taught job skills for a changing market, and watched them succeed in new careers. After solidifying my reputation in my workplace and community, I made the decision to walk away and pursue a career in

I kept an open mind in clerkships, but didn’t experience a specialty that motivated me quite like EM. That was until I experienced Family Medicine. As a student in family medicine I enjoyed doing minor procedures such as wound care and phlebotomy, while also having the opportunity to see patients, develop treatment plans, and practice preventative medicine. As of today, I have completed three EM rotations and six weeks of Family Medicine. I realized that my passions are better encompassed by Family Medicine, and that my love of public health is intrinsically related to the daily practice of Family