Childhood memories, interests and impressions have long proved to have a great impact on one’s further development. When I was a little kid, I used to be fond of building Lagos, solving puzzles and doing any art that involved craftsmanship. My father used to travel on his work errands quite a lot, so he often brought me different curious puzzles for me. I was also keen on exploring the inside mechanisms of various objects around me. For example, one time I was so curious to see what was inside my cousin’s teddy bear, that I could not help but tore it open and see the inside stuffing and then stitch it back again. It was then when my family told me that I should become a surgeon. Of course, the situation was comical and anecdotal, but little did they know that their prediction would instantly turn into my biggest life goal and ambition.
I soon figured out the school subjects and literature I had to mainly focus on in order to gain a base theoretical knowledge. Researching on the profession of surgeon helped me to see all the pros and cons of my chosen path. Although this profession has its downsides, just like any other job, my determination to become a better person, self-actualize and become a great specialist significantly overshadow all the difficulties that might come with it. Having a close person who has been pursuing the same career path and can guide you through its toughest points can be extremely helpful. Luckily, I have such a person in my life. My cousin Tareg, who is a surgeon in California, University of California, Los Angeles, has always encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a surgeon. Thus, upon graduating from high school I enrolled into Dammam University Medical College with Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS, 2004).
College was a great time, as I had many friends and socialized with different people, which made me more open-minded, easy going and communicative. I was also the leader in my third-year batch, which proved that I had developed as a good manager and obtained some leader skills. These interpersonal skills made it possible for me to participate in some conferences and symposium, such as Hepto –Pancreatico Billiary and Colorectal Surgery, The 7th Saudi General Surgery Society Conference (2011), and so on. In the academic year of 2011/2012, I completed an internship in the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Dammam. Such vast theoretical and practical experience had showed me a great spectrum of the opportunities in the field of medicine, and helped me to narrow down my specialization to the department of Otolaryngology at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, where I worked until February, 2013.
I am currently a Demonstrator in Otolaryngology at King Abdulaziz University, Medical College. I feel that this particular area of expertise suits best to my reconstructive skills, and I suit best for it. I am well-versed in many aspects of medicine due to my continuous researches and having a wide variety of interests. I feel that focusing on one specific area (such as Otolaryngology, in my case) will be the most efficient way to contribute to the development of this subject as much as I possibly can. Being research-oriented, I strive for improving and advancing medical care. I am deeply convinced that my researches have a potential for a multi-faceted impact on the whole medical industry, including health care decision making and managing resources for effective treatment of patients with regard to the specificities of the community.
The UCSD CORE program is the next step in perfecting my analytical and professional skills. The program will give me a great opportunity to communicate with first-class researches of the most advanced health care system, share my ideas with peers, and establish cooperation between my home school and the US medical community. Getting a Master degree in Clinical Research will help me to fulfill my scientific goals and join the US residency program to continue my professional development and become a proficient otolaryngologist.
