An ambition to further my knowledge of human physiology combined with a passion for helping others led me to medicine. Upon entering into medical school, I broadly envisioned a doctor as someone who was able to make direct patient interventions as well as continue inpatient care throughout a hospital stay. General surgery quickly proved to be the closest match to this and piqued my interest very early on in medical school. While working through my core year of rotations, I found the surgical aspects driving my motivation and self-learning more than any other specialty. Advanced rotations and sub-internship experience where I had extensive hands on training resolved any doubt that general surgery is the right match for me. The integration of technical skills while operating and general medical knowledge is what really captures me. It allows one to get a full taste of medicine and remain remarkably sharp in both areas.
I have built experience in the field of general surgery by taking advantage of the resources at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, especially spending a month as a sub-intern on the burn trauma unit. With few remaining burn units in the U.S. this was a valuable experience. Gaining
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Observing surgery at several locations has allowed me to lock in my desire to practice general surgery and appreciate how each medical center functions with their surgeons. Universal to all great medical centers are teamwork and communication. Having successfully worked outside of the field of medicine in the grocery business and as a research assistant, which are often a rotating door for employees, allows me to feel confident working with any given team to collaborate and fix complex issues. Healthcare involves many different groups of people to care for patients, and my skills in this area will help me excel in your residency