My Journey to Becoming a Doctor: An Observership at a Community Hospital - Essay Sample

Introduction

My interest in medicine spans far much back as I can remember. My most pivotal point came when I walked into a Community Hospital for my observership in the Department of Internal Medicine. Despite being passionate about a career in medicine since childhood, I had never had an opportunity to get a first-hand experience of what doctors go through in their lines of duty. Everything I have done aligned with my end goal of becoming a medical practitioner. I had a chance of volunteering at St. Vincent Hospital, where I learned much about how the doctors can turn a tragedy into a successful life-saving story. However, during my volunteering period, I could still not figure out why the doctors had to go through all the hardship and the difficulties they endured in their line of duty. All my doubts were cleared at the end of my observership. I came to understand that being a doctor is a calling and not just a career. Thus, after getting my degree from Indiana Purdue University, it became clear to me that I was destined for a career in medicine.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The observation was an eye-opening experience. My round walks through the medicine ICU ward with the hospital team made increased my zeal to become a fully-fledged medicine practitioner and to be able to help. Listening to patients presenting cases to their attending physician was very motivating and inspiring. Getting admission and figuring out the right diagnosis was like solving a puzzle in a short time but for a noble cause to save a life. The respect, the support, and the teamwork among all healthcare professionals intrigued me the most. After my observership period, I now believe that a successful doctor must be an excellent communicator, a good observer and must pay attention to all the small details. My desire to learn medicine grew at the end of my observership period; I became more determined than ever to achieve this milestone.

Being bilingual and having the luxury of traveling every summer to Egypt, where my family lives, has sharpened my critical thinking skills and helped me face the realities of healthcare in the US and abroad. Last year I had the privilege of shadowing a family doctor in my village and learn the contrast in practicing medicine between the US and my small village in Egypt. Due to poor funding and the subsequent lack of proper equipment, patients have difficulty getting proper treatment. The medical system in the poor communities was in deep contrast to the efficient process of admission and follow-up care in the US. My experience abroad has been another pivotal motivation and inspiration to pursue my career as a doctor.

My inspiration for becoming a doctor is also drawn from my aunt, who was a victim of poor medical healthcare in our village. Ten years ago, she had undergone invasive back surgery without any prior conservative treatment. Her condition worsened, leading to her death in the last spring. It was a painful experience, which made me wish I had the capabilities of preventing her death. It is frustrating to be witness to such tragedy from something easily preventable in the 21st century. She wanted me to become a doctor, and I promised to fulfill her wish. She was called Rida, which means 'blessing,' and it truly was a blessing every moment I shared with her. I may not be able to keep my promise to her, but I hope to have the opportunity to be a part of the movement to improve healthcare to underserved communities. I have learned since my travels to Egypt that not only are there monetary barriers to medicine but also systemic disparities in health care even here in the US. It is my goal to do my utmost to serve medically underserved communities from a rich diversity of backgrounds to combat the systemic disparities in health. To be part of the ongoing movement in developing smart methods to encompass more communities is my main ambition in pursuing medicine.

My years at IUPUI have been years of development and growth for me. I have tackled difficult courses, and through hard work, I had excelled. My observer ship and volunteer hours in different hospitals and abroad paired with my time at IUPUI have shaped my personality and has motivated me to pursue a career in medicine more than ever. I feel blessed that I have the luxury of observing medicine from multiple perspectives in different countries, which will be a good foundation to build future medical knowledge. My dream is to serve underserved communities in the US and abroad to assist people in getting the proper medical treatment they deserve.