I remember the first time I saw the human brain raw and alive. I was observing an aneurysm clipping as a second year medical student. I had studied the brain’s structural intricacies, seen hundreds of MRI images of it during my research years, and learned about its diseases; yet I was completely awestricken seeing it while still in a living person just a few feet from me. I vividly remember the moment when the aneurysm clip wrapped around the neck of the terrible outpouching of the patient’s middle cerebral artery and I remember feeling the wave of relief that spread over the room as the aneurysm’s dome instantly changed color from an angry brown to a placid white.[ad#bannermain] [Read more →]

Attending medical school in Europe at a school known for pathology, I developed an interest in studying the human body while spending hours our anatomy museum and later after introduction to histology and pathology. I became fascinated by learning the processes of the human organism on cellular level. I was also intrigued by our Pathology Professors ability to reach a quick diagnosis by looking under a microscope. Only a pathologist can give a definitive diagnosis by integrating analytical thinking and observation skills. [ad#bannermain] [Read more →]

My experiences thus far in General Surgery have been utterly inspiring. During my second year of medical school in Seoul, I completed a sub-internship in Cardiothoracic Surgery where I marveled at how quick and dramatic improvements in patients with congenital heart diseases could be. I was fascinated throughout the entire internship with the procedures and hands-on nature of the creative and dynamic field. [Read more →]

“Strangulated? Are you sure?” The surgeon’s voice rang at the other end of the line. Through the four year-old’s kicks, tears and screams, I had found a right red inguinal mass. A prompt reduction was essential. “How sure are you?” he repeatedFully aware of the weight of my answer, I heard myself say “Very” in a clear, confident voice. Later in the OR, I marveled as we methodically dissected each inflamed layer of tissue. At the first glimpse of the strangulated hernia, exhilaration and a sense of achievement filled me. [Read more →]

I decided to become an internist weeks before starting medical school when a life-changing event took place in my life. My grandfather developed severe dyspnea and was rushed to W Hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. I was amazed at how fast the doctors responded. [ad#bannermain-plain] [Read more →]

Entering medicine was a natural progression for me to fulfill my desire to care for people with passion, love, and sincerity. The care-taking role is one that I have been in since I was nineteen years old when I began working in homeless family shelters and remained for over eight years. Working with the homeless population taught me about compassion, and how to talk to, relate to, and soothe the pain of others. [ad#bannermain] [Read more →]

I have chosen neurology as my specialty based on my interests, experiences and passion. I vividly recall how frustrated my family was when my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His struggles inspired me to enter the field of neurology. My desire to become a neurologist has been intensified since working with Dr. Uchino in his outpatient neurology clinic. Dr. U introduced me to Mr Jones who suffered a severe middle cerebral ischemic stroke. [Read more →]

“Don’t worry, you’ll get it eventually,” Dr Smith assured me, as I struggled with the slit-lamp and became increasingly apologetic to the patient sitting behind it. “And once you get it, you’ll realize that there’s a whole new world at the back of the eye.” My interest in ophthalmology first begun after pre-clinical years – I was awarded a summer research project supervised by Dr Joe Smith, a medical retina specialist. Our project aimed to assess HRT II Macular Module’s suitability as a screening tool for diabetic retinopathy. [ad#bannermain] [Read more →]

My interest in psychiatry began during my practice of internal medicine as an attending physician. I encountered many patients with psychiatric conditions who tended to seek help from internists instead of mental health professionals because of the cultural stigma. [ad#bannermain-plain] [Read more →]

“Psychiatrists are only for crazy people,” was the reply I often received from patients during my attempts to refer them for mental health treatment in medical school. There is a substantial stigma in the Hispanic community regarding mental health. It is often very difficult for them to ask for help. Depression is seen as a “weakness,” and Bipolar Disorder is synonymous with being “crazy.”
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