Personal Statement:Medicine 14

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Medicine Personal Statement

During the summer I spent a week at the Worcester Royal Infirmary shadowing a consultant gastroenterologist's firm. The week was extremely rewarding and enjoyable. In particular I found the chance to spend time with the entire team of doctors to be very useful - I was able to see how the doctors work together for the care of the patients and how they relate to each other. I was surprised by the extent of the delegation of work, although I am confident that I would cope well with this. Taking part in ward rounds was also very interesting - especially seeing the different approaches used by each of the doctors. On two occasions during the week, a doctor had to speak to the next of kin to discuss the resuscitation status of a patient. The situation of the patients and of the next of kin were both very different; I was impressed by the tact and sensitivity with which the doctor handled both situations and the way in which he was able to adapt his style with such apparent ease. Throughout the week I experienced firsthand the pressures on the junior doctors; after ward rounds there was a constant stream of other jobs to be done. Although they found tasks like fitting Venflons to be routine, I was fascinated - perhaps this is something that will wear off given time. In addition to the week I spent at the Worcester Royal Infirmary, since February I have been waiting for a volunteer placement to become available at the hospital. I hope to work as a patient visitor and believe that this will allow me to experience Medicine from the patients' perspective

Also, in Easter 2001 I attended a Medisix sixth form conference at the University of Nottingham. I found the speaker on paediatric surgery particularly interesting. She remarked how at the beginning of her career she had reconnected two lengths of gut for the first time in a live patient - fortunately I will be able to practice the technique before having to apply it to a real patient. In June 2001 I took part in a seminar on medical ethics in Oxford. Among the speakers was Peter Garret, assistant director of Life. He was vehemently opposed to all forms of embryo research and most modern reproductive technologies

Although I agreed with him in many respects, I was alarmed by his assertion that it would be preferable for the human race to become extinct rather than use IVF to cope with rising levels of infertility

I enjoy reading and keeping up to date with current affairs; I subscribe to New Scientist and National Geographic and regularly read articles from the BMJ, although I find some of the research papers quite technical given my current level of learning. Nevertheless, I enjoy reading the letters and opinion articles

The variety of my sixth form timetable has been interesting, especially the health and disease module of Biology. I would enjoy learning and am particularly attracted to Medicine by its variety and constant change. My success in school life has been reflected in my becoming a school prefect. In year 12 I was managing director of a successful Young Enterprise (YE) company; as a group we won an award for innovation and I won a prize for outstanding individual contribution. YE was a brilliant experience - the undoubted highlight of the year was the trade fair at which we launched our custom search service, the only one of its kind in the county. Also, as a result of YE I feel that I was able to greatly improve my leadership and presentation skills. I am also currently a Flight Sergeant in the RAF section of the school CCF. The RAF has enabled me to shoot regularly and I have also been able to complete a gliding scholarship. I have also been involved in the school charities committee for a number of years. In the past I have been involved in the school magazine and drama behind the scenes. I have represented my school in the national"Top of the Bench" and regional Canning chemistry competitions on two occasions each. I have also competed in general knowledge and rugby and even, once, cross-country running. I intend to maintain a high level of involvement whilst at university and believe that I would make a valuable contribution to the student body

I have seen and experienced the pressures facing the doctors of today, from the problems of finding beds for new patients or care home places for elderly patients ready to be discharged to the struggle of keeping track of a ward round involving dozens of patients spread across several different wards. I am confident that I will be able to cope and I firmly believe that I will make a good doctor.

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