A resident (or intern) will spend a lot of time writing notes and signing progress notes, operative notes, or other notes all day long. If you cannot write properly, it will make you look sloppy, unintelligent, and messy. If you are going to try to use a semi-colon at least learn how to do it properly. This is one of the most overused and poorly used pieces of punctuation. Most people seem to want to use it as if it were a comma, but it is NOT![ad#bannermain-plain]

If you are going to list a few things, use a comma!

Remember that the 2 statements on either side of the semicolon should be able to be stand alone sentences. About 90% of the semicolons we see used in essays are used WRONG.

Take a minute and read this great and easy to read piece on how to use a semicolon at The Oatmeal. It provides a simple tutorial on how to use this powerful but misunderstood little mark. Of course you could always use a semicolon like this

Improper spelling, grammar, and capitalization, will appear sloppy and unprofessional. It is a huge turn off for you to use bad “manners” in your residency personal statement.

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The post Residency Personal Statement Tip #5 – Don’t Use SemiColons if you don’t know how appeared first on Residency Personal Statement Samples -MDpersonalstatements.com.

Internal Medicine Residency Personal Statement

My strong desire to improve people’s lives led me into medicine at  the five-year M.D. program at International Medical University, one of the nation’s most prestigious medical institutions. During my last year of medical school, I completed a one-year internship at an affiliated university hospital, a serving more than 6 million people each year providing me with solid clinical training.

After working as a resident physician at The Woman and Children’s Hospital for three years I was drawn to internal medicine because I am fascinated with the complexity and varied nature of human diseases. Internal medicine offers a wide spectrum of disease pathologies which involve all organ systems. It is intellectually challenging to be able to establish extended relationships with patients, to deliver skillful care to a diverse patient population, to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and to pursue the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological events of human diseases. The practice of internal medicine also suits me well as it provides me with the opportunity to use my strong organizational skills while working through the details in managing the complexities of every case.

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To expand my knowledge base of human diseases, I went on to complete medical research training at Large International Medical University as well as US State University where I worked for six years. The structured training in conducting clinical research has broadened my educational experiences, which strengthened my belief that a good understanding of underlying pathophysiological events of human diseases will make me a better physician in clinical practice.

To maintain and build my clinical skills, after my research training I started observerships at the US State Hospitals. By working with Dr. J at the student health services, I realized that primary care physicians play an important role in preventive medicine and health promotion; they serve as an efficient first link between patients with this extensive health care system. The practice of medicine involves a systematic interpretation of available lab results and imaging data, which helps in yielding logical and cost-effective treatment plans. To become a good internist, one not only needs to master the clinical management skills utilized in all the sub-specialties of internal medicine, but also needs to know how to interact with a wide variety of other specialties. By working closely with every service in the hospital, internists can serve well as primary investigator in a team and carry out optimal patient care. In 2008, I completed medical rotations and sub-internships in internal medicine, cardiology, infectious disease, neurology and medicine consult service. These rotations have provided me with invaluable hands-on clinical training. While rotating through internal medicine, my interests were solidified.

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My hardworking personality and dedication towards achieving goals have been a source of motivation for me. I am enthusiastic, open to learning and have a good-natured team spirit. While on a rotation for medicine consult, I took on additional cases to help my senior resident because we had a higher work load than usual. In return, it helped build my confidence as I gained more independent experience in clinical practice. Additionally, I am responsible and committed to my duties as a clinician.

The formal medical rotations at the US State hospital have refined my skills as a team player, an efficient communicator, and a loyal advocate of patients. I am more determined to devote myself wholeheartedly to augmenting my clinical skills so that I can make a positive difference in patients’ lives.

I have chosen internal medicine because it is a complex field where a comprehensive plan of care for patients is essential. I aspire to join a residency program that offers well-rounded and diverse learning experiences of human diseases in multiple sub-specialties of internal medicine. I believe that residency will strengthen my competencies and offer the expertise necessary to excel in Internal Medicine. I now look forward to the challenges and the excitement of becoming a productive member of that team. My long-term goal is to become a compassionate, competent and highly reputed physician in the future who can contribute to the health care of society including the underserved population.

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Orthopedics Residency Personal Statement

“My wife wore out my hips,” the elderly man stated with a mischievous grin while his wife rolled her eyes.  Later that week I had the opportunity to assist in the first of his bilateral total hip replacements.  It was the first week of my MS-3 orthopedic surgery rotation and my first exposure to the specialty that would become my passion. Assisting in the total hip arthroplasty and the subsequent follow up with my patient, I was able to observe how a mechanically complex, physically intensive surgery was able to drastically improve a man’s quality of life and restore him to the active lifestyle he had been accustomed to.  I found orthopedic surgery to be a hands on approach to solving complex human problems that not only resulted in improved physical well being but psychological well being, as patients progressed from a slow, arthritic shuffle to a cane-free, painless, confident stride.  I witnessed patients’ joy as they returned to the sports and physical activities that gave their lives fulfillment.  Being able to play a role in this transformation, in turn gave me fulfillment, and I fell in love with orthopaedic surgery.

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I spent the rest of my 3^rd year of orthopaedic rotation learning all that I could about the field, anxious to glean every bit of information possible.  I began to participate in the orthopaedic surgery interest group, attended national conferences and volunteered in orthopaedic clinic whenever I could.  All of these efforts increased my interest in orthopedic surgery, but it was actually my commitment to my country that solidified my desire.

In 2005, soon after the start of the war, I became a commissioned officer in the Medical Corps of the United States Armed Forces.   I wanted to tailor my medical interests to pursue a surgical subspecialty that would be most useful and essential in military medicine.  Orthopedic surgery is a specialty of particular importance in the military where, unfortunately, our sailors, marines, soldiers and airmen often require reconstruction of limbs and joints from injuries sustained in the line of duty.  Armed with a passion for orthopedics and an appreciation of its utility in the military, I applied for an orthopedic internship at one of the three accredited naval medical centers.  Unfortunately, I was not granted one of the twelve internship positions available in the Armed Forces, and am currently a transitional year intern.  Not to be deterred, I elected to do an orthopedic rotation.  My excellent work ethic, diligence, skills and knowledge were recognized and I earned honors on the rotation, a mark reserved only for the top 10% of all interns rotating through orthopedics.

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My transitional year has prepared me to be an asset to my future orthopedic program.   I have enjoyed the opportunity to manage outpatient care for hand, spine, sports, total joint and foot and ankle orthopedic patients.  Through my other surgical specialty electives I have gained a better understanding of preoperative care.  My ICU rotation has prepared me for effectively handling emergent post-surgical complications, and months on internal medicine will expand my repertoire for managing patients’ co-morbidities.  These acquired skills and knowledge will enable me to be a productive member of an orthopedic surgery team.

I am excited to embark on my career in orthopaedic surgery.  I desire to participate in a program that excels in preparing graduates with surgical skills and academic knowledge, has a diverse patient population, and provides exposure to a variety of cases.  I look forward to working with fellow house staff who enjoy their work and are passionate about providing optimum patient care.  In the future I plan to use my skills to enable people to regain function in their lives to pursue their own passions.

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Opthalmology Residency Personal Statement

I peered through my living room window at the street crowded with tanks and marching soldiers. A storm of light slashed across the night’s sky’s shock waves from distant explosions shattered a deceptive silence, causing the water in a glass to quiver. The Gulf War, my earliest memory, began a long history of relocation and travel – a lifestyle that necessitated patience, constant acclimation, and emotional acumen. These are all character traits required of the ophthalmologist I intend to become. I feel privileged to have been able to visit and reside in many different parts of the world including Middle East, Australia, Another Middle East Country, North American Country, and the United States. As a child, I viewed each move as an adventure, one that positively influenced my personality. Because I could adapt to differing cultures and people, I formed friendships quickly and easily and developed a keen understanding for diverse viewpoints. I learned to embrace the notion of always maintaining an open mind. As a future ophthalmologist, it is my hope that this quality, along with the other character traits I have acquired during my journey, will contribute to my ability to be a well-rounded team player, thrive under pressure and, most important, benefit my patients through strong relationships.

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My role as a prosector during my first and second year of medical school first sparked my interest in ophthalmology and the eye. My curiosity and the natural complexity of the head and neck led me to study for days before my initial scalpel incision. I became acutely aware of the unique relationship between the eye and its surrounding structures, one that allows it almost to float, yet become altered by fine contractions of muscle fibers. As an individual who enjoys hands-on, technically detailed work on performance cars, it was no surprise that dissecting the orbital structures brought on a feeling of excitement and fulfillment. My passionate pursuit of ophthalmology began then, and the yearning to learn more carried through to my clinical years.

During my internal medicine rotation, I elected to spend as much time as possible in the ICU to improve my ability to distill and understand complicated cases involving many disease processes. I took a keen interest in observing the ocular manifestations that often accompanied the systemic diseases in these cases. As a result of my evolving interest, I secured a three-month rotation with research opportunities at US State Eye and Ear Infirmary. With each area I covered – including clinic, emergency ward, and surgery – I became more and more convinced that ophthalmology was the right specialty for me.

While in clinic, I was finally able to work with the instruments that I had read so much about in various texts. In my efforts to master the slit-lamp, I quickly picked up presentations with anterior chamber inflammation, foreign bodies, and varying types of ulcerations. I realized that it is the physical exam that directs the ophthalmologist’s diagnosis, rather than ancillary testing. While examining corneas, I came across multiple presentations of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, which increased my eagerness to begin my intended research on this disease. In the upcoming months, I will investigate the relationship of oxidative stress and aberrant extracellular matrix deposition by exposing the endothelial cells to pro-oxidants. I intend to draw upon my research background, which I developed at Large State University, to gain further insights into the pathogenesis of the disease, and ultimately I hope the research will benefit patients.

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At US State, I spent my free time in the emergency ward, occasionally working independently and aiding busy residents with the continuous influx of patients. My sense of belonging grew, making me ever more eager to embrace the field of ophthalmology. A 7-year-old girl who presented with questionable globe rupture translated into a surgery case that was also handled by the ophthalmology team. Fortunately, she was fine and is now able to have a normal childhood, an outcome in which we played a major role. Continued patient care within the field translates into better outcomes for our patients and is also part of my attraction to ophthalmology. It is incredibly fulfilling to be on hand to witness the return of a patient’s sight. One of them said, “I can see cars.” Another rejoiced, “I can finally see my husband.” Surgery was equally enthralling for me, especially microsurgery. My confidence in working with instruments and unfamiliar technology will help me acquire this facility quickly. I believe this stems from working in tight areas inside engine bays and finding ever more effective and efficient ways to manipulate tools with patience, finesse, and dexterity.

This experience afforded me insight into what ophthalmology has to offer and prepared me to pursue a residency program in the field. Now I am looking to work with a group of talented and diverse ophthalmologists and residents who care and have compassion for their patients. I would like to expand my skills and take advantage of the resources available at my institution, including research and academics. Furthermore, I am excited about the opportunity to broaden my exposure to the gamut of pathologies affecting the eye, and I am looking forward to being in a program that can provide that goal. Also, as a senior resident, I would like to be able to use the skills I have gained as a tutor and student leader during medical school to teach and help junior residents, in an effort to share the knowledge that I have gained. With my diverse background and commitment to patients and ophthalmology, I will bring an enthusiasm and unwavering curiosity to learn and be trained. My flexible, patient, and open-minded personality will help me contribute to the care of our patients. I am confident that I will be an asset to my program. 

The post Sample Ophthalmology Residency Personal Statement #2 appeared first on Residency Personal Statement Samples -MDpersonalstatements.com.

While at Large Middle East Medical College, I’ve experienced many life changing events, one of which occurred in the summer of 2007 when a bomb blast ripped through the center of Big City. Our hospital was immediately flooded with the wounded and as a 4^th year student in Internal Medicine, I was suddenly handed a huge responsibility. Along with other students I triaged the wounded in the ED, admitted them and participated closely in their care for the next few days. We worked side by side with the surgical and specialist teams to find beds and treat a large number of patients. I truly felt at home on the ward, playing my part efficiently and taking up leadership when necessary in order to provide the best patient care possible within our limited resources. I enjoyed the ample patient contact of internal medicine, and the intellectual stimulation and learning experience that every new case represented. Being a logical thinker, I thrived on the internal medicine ward where I was able to correlate clinical findings with pathophysiological processes to reach an accurate differential diagnosis, a skill that is vital to an internist.

In addition, I recognized the magnitude of effective communication with patients from diverse backgrounds. My personal experiences while immersed in different cultures have given me the understanding necessary to effectively treat patients of diverse ethnicities. Social and cultural factors have a significant impact on medical decisions made by patients and being aware of this has helped me provide better care for them. I recall a particular patient on our medicine ward that suffered from intestinal TB and was discharged on a four drug regimen. A young affianced Local Country girl of nineteen, she was ashamed because of the social stigma associated with the disease and concerned about the negative impact on her future marriage. Anticipating that she would not follow up on her own, I involved her family and enrolled her in the WHO directly observed treatment program. It was a joy to see her successfully complete therapy and get married. Furthermore, I became aware of the importance of fostering lasting physician-patient relationships, and came to appreciate how incredibly rewarding it is to play such an important role in their lives.  My interpersonal skills that allow me to be an effective communicator with culturally diverse peoples is an asset that will help me be a strong and compassionate internist.

In the pursuit of gaining valuable US clinical experience, I’ve completed a clinical elective at Large US University School of Medicine in Major City. This hands-on experience has been an invaluable teaching lesson about the healthcare system in the US. Currently, I am a clinical observer on the hospitalist service at County Medical Center. Through case discussions, hospital rounds, morning report and noon conferences I’ve learned the ways in which patient management is conducted, as well as the expected responsibilities of an intern. As an internist, I will have the unique opportunity to provide intensive, all rounded care for my patients and essentially become their advocate.

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In my spare time, I became a founding member of A Humanitarian and Development Committee, an organization in My City dedicated to raising donations for a hospital in African City. We’ve worked with sponsors and the local community to create awareness about present day African City and raised more than $20, 000 to buy medicine and medical equipment. I’ve also volunteered at the Youth Association of My City where I’ve been involved in teaching Somali youth in the inner-city about educational and social interest and providing help with homework. Furthermore, I have tutored fellow students throughout medical school, an experience that has been highly enjoyable and has led to my desire to include teaching in my career plans.

In the future, I see myself dividing my time between practice in the US and setting up a well equipped clinic in African Nation where the less fortunate have access to effective healthcare and patient education. I would also like to pursue a career in academic internal medicine educating medical students and residents. I seek a residency program that is committed to fostering an environment of continuous learning and dedicated to serving a diverse patient population.

The post Excellent Sample Internal Medicine Residency Personal Statement Example #7 appeared first on Residency Personal Statement Samples -MDpersonalstatements.com.

In an old cottage on an isolated island with one of my home care patients, with tears in her eyes she blessed me saying, “I have nothing valuable to give you, doctor, but please be blessed wherever you go.” She was an elderly widow with severe asthma and osteoarthritis who I had visited at home every week for three years on my last visit before I left the island.

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During my third year of medical school, the change from a classroom atmosphere to hands-on clinical experience on the wards motivated me in a new way. The physicians with whom I was fortunate to work inspired me.  Their patience, diligence, and dedication to their patients filled me with admiration and I learned the special importance of interpersonal skills and doctor patient interaction. I found special interest in the family practitioner’s work because one uses wide range of diagnosis tools and treatment options and offers an opportunity to connect with all age group patients.

Upon graduation, I wanted to work to help people suffering from poverty and ill health, so I joined a public health service program in an isolated island Overseas. The islanders were mostly poor farmers working all day long under glaring sunlight, cultivating huge amounts of onion and garlic. I took a huge responsibility of taking primary care of about two-thousand residents as their only physician.

I saw about forty outpatients everyday and also emergency calls day and night. Each day I encountered medical cases I didn’t know at first but it also served as a good motivator to study hard to become a better physician for my patients. I met a variety of fascinating patients who I would never have met in any other place and by spending many hours with them I won their trust. I will always remember their warm smiles and happiness when I ran into them outside of the hospital. They generously shared the vegetables they harvested themselves. I was greatly thankful for their friendliness, and was pleased to serve them for three years. My duties on the island gave me a new perspective on practicing medicine and on life in general. I’ve learned discipline and patience and it also helped me to discover my calling as a family practitioner thru providing comprehensive care. The satisfaction I gained from providing community health care and the practicality and variety of the field appealed to me.

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Following this, my yearlong employment at hospitals in Seoul provided me with more hands-on clinical experience in environments including geriatric inpatient wards and emergency departments. After that I decided I wanted to complete a formal residency in the United States was because of the opportunities available in family medicine. Being able to experience a diverse patient population under the strong healthcare system and wide ranges of culture was what attracted me the most. Hungry for US clinical experience, I completed a gastroenterology externship at Big Hospital and an Internal Medicine externship at Big Town Medical Center. The work I did during those rotations solidified my skills in taking patient histories, conducting physical examinations, and diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases. Later I completed observerships at Large Clinic State that further familiarized me with US residency programs. During this time, I attended daily rounds with residents and fellows and gained excellent exposure to how residency and fellowship works in a teaching hospital.

I believe that my clinical service in primary care overseasand my experience in several months of US hospital rotations have prepared me well for residency training. I stand ready to invest my time and energy into my residency to further complete advanced training in family medicine. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in geriatrics which I have been aiming for since my public health care service years in the island. I look forward to learning and sharing ideas with fellow residents and to benefiting from their experiences and to do all it takes to become the best family practitioner I can be.

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Residency Personal Statement Tip # 2 : Don’t Discuss Irrelevant Achievements.

Sometimes applicants have a tendency to discuss things that are completely irrelevant to the practice of medicine. Talking about winning your high school tennis title, or the chess club championship is not interesting for residency directors to be reading about. If you are going to talk about an achievement outside of medicine (which is fine), you need to then explain why you are mentioning it and how it makes you a better, stronger applicant. For example “I honed my skills in strategy, and logic by participating and winning our school’s Robotics Challenge as an undergraduate. This experience helped me by forcing me to thoroughly plan and build projects not unlike planning the steps to a surgical procedure. This ability to take complex problems and break them down into logical steps will help me as a future surgeon.” DON’T mention something just to brag or “show off.”

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“During my second year, there was an All India Medical Schools meet in which I won the Silver Medal in Ping Pong. I was the only student in that year to win a medal of all the medical schools from my state. I remember the welcome party which was arranged for me and the words which my Principal said to me, “we are proud to have a student like you in my medical school”. In the subsequent years I won several medals in various sports and games and won the title “sports achiever of the year” for two consecutive years. This boosted up my confidence that I can handle my studies along with other curricular activities” – from a real essay

Again, How does Ping Pong relate to this applicant’s suitability to becoming a resident? Is your future residency director looking for a Ping Pong Playa?!

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Everyone in medicine obviously values education a great deal. You don’t need to emphasize this or think you’re the only one in the world who values a good education. It really doesn’t matter now if your parents were tough on you or if they pushed you to excel. That is irrelevant now that you are about to be a resident.

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“I have always placed a high value on education.  As the youngest of three sisters growing up in a part of the country where girl children are still not very well received, I knew early on that I would have to work hard to prove myself and carve out a professional niche for myself in society. I have been very ambitious through out my life and it has always been one of my primary goals to make my family proud. Always a very successful student, I was particularly interested in logical subjects like science and math. Whenever I earned good grades my parents eyes would always light up with a sense of joy and pride and seeing this would further inspire me to strive harder in life.” – from a real essay

“From my childhood my parents took special interest in my studies as any responsible parents do. But I always found myself in a better position when compared to my peers in the school regarding the knowledge related to science. My parents, especially my mother used to read and listen to different science articles, understand them and explained me and my siblings and encouraged to question and I developed the thought process from the very childhood. I participated in many science exhibitions as a spectator in my school age followed by my own science projects. I also passed many National Science Talent Exams which was out of my regular school curriculum.” – from a real essay

Again, not only does this writer compare himself to other children (irrelevant), but he also talks about how the parents read them scientific articles. How is this supposed to be relevant NOW? Do yourself a favor and do not bore the reader!

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