Family Medicine Residency Program: By (Name) Personal Statement Examples

Looking back, that team of doctors who saved the lives of our mother and new brother provided the trigger that embarked me on my future medical career. They showed me that there is no more noble nor rewarding profession than to practice as a physician. By virtue of diligent studies and overcoming obstacles along the way, my earlier dreams of becoming a physician subsequently became a reality.
In my homeland I completed medical school and a residency, then worked for four years in community health as an attending physician, caring for patients who lacked the means to obtain treatment in private clinics – a service increasingly needed when violence in Baghdad escalated. During that period I obtained a Master’s degree in pathology and taught at the university. However, the main focus of my efforts and my primary objective remained to provide clinical care for patients. Indeed, it became my burning ambition to come to the United States to train as a physician in family medicine.
Having arrived in the U.S., I immersed myself in the clinical environment. At the Group Health Tacoma Specialty Clinic in Tacoma, Washington, I worked with Dr. Judith Nelson, chief of medical services, and with other physicians in various specialties. I witnessed Dr. Sara Nyland, chief of family practice, perform Pap smears and minor surgical procedures. I learned about electronic medical records, obtained hands-on experience at the Seattle VA hospital and kept my history and physical exam skills sharp. Ultimately, those clinical experiences provided me with a strong foundation upon which to pursue family practice medicine here in the U.S.
Those experiences also reinforced my desire to become a family medicine physician for a number of reasons. Firstly, I like the long-term relationships that family medicine physicians develop with patients and families. I especially like the prospect of instilling in my patients the values of preventive health measures and healthy decision-making. Secondly, on a cerebral level, I’m delighted that family medicine covers a wide range of specialties: internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry and more – all of which I was exposed to as a resident in Iraq. I look forward to spending a lifetime immersed in the study and practice of these specialties. Thirdly, I enjoy working in both inpatient and outpatient environments.
For the past two years, I have been a research associate in the pediatric gastroenterology department at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center. My efforts have resulted in well-received poster presentations and noteworthy publications in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Recent research experiences have helped me better understand research methods, research design, statistics, data analysis, literature searches and medical writing. As a family medicine resident and attending physician, I hope to continue doing research.
I am confident that the knowledge and skills accrued during my years overseas and here in the U.S. will add a distinct and positive perspective to your program. I hope to have the opportunity to make the most of this next stage of my journey and become a caring and well-trained family medicine physician. I believe that my previous experience, strong work ethic and positive attitude, will make me a good and valued resident. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to participating in your program.