Personal Statement to apply for residency program in U.S.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
by Name:
Course:
Instructor:
Institution:
City and the State of Institution:
Date:

Personal Statement
The renowned, ancient philosopher Hippocrates once stated in the 4th century BC that war is the ideal school for surgeons. War not only causes death, displacement, and distress but most of the human suffering brought about by warfare has led to medical innovation. The vast number of dead and injured persons has often pushed advancements in medicine with the goal of reducing human suffering. I studied for my high school examinations using the dim light of a Lantern. My country was at war, and I could hear airplanes and missiles whenever bombs exploded. Still, my hard work paid and I managed to get high grades that made it possible to secure admission into medical school.
Even after admission into medical school, the school buildings were destroyed and this forced my classmates and myself to live in mobile homes for 3 years. Because of my resilience and desire to succeed, I completed my residency in a different country due to the war situation in my home country, Iraq. During this time, I had to adjust to a new system and a new culture while being entangled in the country’s residency requirements. I made new friends, passed the dermatology board admission test with third overall rank, and obtained certificates in the management of women’s health from USAID. I worked as a volunteer in my new adopted country, providing services to refugees in Tucson, Arizona, by accompanying newly arrived refugees to Physicians clinics and to operating rooms, in addition to providing translation and follow up services.

I also completed an observership program in immunology with a Georgetown professor, as well as a cardiology rotation residency at Inova Fairfax Hospital, in addition to helping refugees in the Middle East and providing medical health awareness in remote areas. These experiences instilled in me a sense of community service and self-fulfillment. They also encouraged me to apply for family medicine residency. My most cherished experienced was working as a clinical data manager at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The development in oncology treatment intrigued me and aroused in me a deep interest to continue my residency in internal medicine.
My motivation, resilience, commitment to patient care, and communication skills in and across teams are my best assets that I can bring to the residency program. Additionally, I am detail-oriented, results-focused, and intuitive professional. Since graduating from medical school, I kept up with the latest developments in medicine by attending workshops, seminars, observerships, obtaining a certificate in research from NIH, and working at private clinics. I believe that my exceptional skills in patient care, medical research, and medical education will make me a valuable part of the residency program. I am looking forward to a residency program that will not only allow me to achieve my goals, but one that will also present me with a broad range of exposures to help me develop my skills as a doctor and provide possibilities to move on in my training, as well.
I will bring enthusiasm, diligence, and most of all, my endless curiosity. I desire to be a leader in the area of internal medicine. To accomplish this, I plan to concentrate on three core areas, namely striving for clinical excellence, contributing to the vocation through substantive research, and giving back to the community. Thank you for your consideration.