Ever since I was a child, I have asked the basic question, “Why do things work the way they do?” Never satisfied with the mere memorization of facts and details, I have always strived to understand the mechanism of actions. Seemingly simple facts, like water turning into ice when it is cold outside, perplexed me more than the average five year old, resulting in a constant barrage of “why” for my parents to answer.

This inquisitive nature attracted me to the sciences throughout my school years and, in particular, to chemistry during my undergraduate years at college. I spent a significant portion of my junior and senior years conducting an honors research project under the guidance of Richard Gromwell Ph.D., Chairman of the department of chemistry. My research experience taught me not only how to form a carbon-carbon bond using transition metals, but more importantly how to properly obtain, process and analyze data in order to draw conclusions and formulate theories. During my clinical rotations in medical school, I learned that these skills are not fundamental to scientific research, but they form the basis of good patient care.

My ability to effectively gather and interpret data has grown exponentially through my experiences in medicine. Every patient encounter requires me to apply my “research skills”. The necessary data must be skillfully obtained through conducting a careful history and physical exam and through analyzing the appropriate laboratory and ancillary tests. All of this information is then integrated to form a diagnosis and to derive a treatment strategy. It is this incessant problem solving process of internal medicine that I find both exciting and challenging.

This unique, and most rewarding, aspect of medicine is that each “problem” faced involves a living person, and that a successful solution often results in improving that person’s quality of life- a truly unparalleled achievement. Although two patients may share the same disease process, no two people are alike and, therefore, no two-treatment strategies can be identical either. Because an internist’s responsibility is to treat the patient, not merely the disease, medicine is a dynamic, colorful and engaging profession.

Another reason I am attracted to internal medicine is the “team sport” nature inherent to the field. A successful internist must not only relate well with patients, but also coordinate and communicate with the various “players” in the complex modern health care system. I believe my communication and “teamwork” skills are among my greatest assets. Previous work experiences (including custodian, waiter, hotel concierge and chemist) not only provided exposure to a diverse group of people, but also taught me that effectively communicating and working with others requires respect, impartially and empathy. My desire to make a meaningful contribution to humanity and to work directly with the people is the main reasons I decided to attend medical school. My recent clinical experiences have affirmed my career choice of internal medicine for the same reasons.

Ultimately, I hope to work in an academic center where I can combine teaching and research with clinical patient care. Although I find general internal medicine quite stimulating and challenging, I am intrigued by cardiopulmonary pathophysiolgy and am interested in eventually pursuing a fellowship in either cardiology or pulmonary medicine. In summary, I look forward to accepting the challenge of an internal medicine residency program that will nurture my interests in academics, provide research opportunities, and offer excellent clinical training.