Medicine Model Personal Statement
This is a model personal statement of a succesful Oxbridge Medicine applicant.
During my time in a clubfoot clinic, my eyes were opened to the delicate nature of care for the chronically ill. A child born with neurogenic clubfoot, due to spinal bifida, had been closely analysed for 6 months and, despite anterior tibial tendon transfer, the likelihood of the child being able to walk unaided was slim.
Compassion and sincerity allowed the doctors to clarify the gravity of the issue, whilst providing emotional support for the clearly vulnerable parents. I came to learn that, even when curing the patient was no longer possible, the quality of life throughout and after treatment was paramount.
My time spent in the department consolidated my desire to study medicine; it showed me that medicine is a vocation which would allow me to apply my love for the sciences in practical situations, enabling me to do more than just watch and feel sympathy for the sick.
On an oncology unit, I observed the way that doctors used prior knowledge to deal with unorthodox side effects from treatment. Despite the expected recovery of the cells in the bone marrow, after a course of chemotherapy for a patient's liver cancer, he had begun to suffer of an exponential decrease in neutrophil count. G-CSF medication had produced little improvement and, after consent was gained, bone marrow transplant was performed. This highlighted that, regardless of the unique nature of the case, a solid foundation of knowledge grants doctors the ability to cope with deviations from traditional treatment.
On an interventional radiology unit, I learned the value of effective team work. In preparation for an angioplasty, a multidisciplinary team of doctors had a rapid debrief of the case. The anaesthetists confirmed the volume of the sedatives; the surgeons analysed the angiography of the blocked carotid artery and the nurses prepared the surgical apparatus.
The preparation was efficient and highlighted that members of a team are able to communicate most effectively when roles are coordinated appropriately, optimising a positive outcome for the patient.
Volunteering regularly at St Johns Ambulance, alongside people of varying demographics, has allowed me to foster composure and precision in using first aid techniques under pressure, when working in teams. A lecture on action potentials at the University of Cambridge inspired me to further my understanding of the topic, leading to the creation of my medical website. Here I have written blogs about areas of medicine, such as: the role of gold nano- particles and infrared sources in cancer therapy and the ethical principles that surround medicine.
Through reading, I have gained a better understanding of the complexity of medical practise and the enduring dedication required to master even a minute section of it- an aspect of medicine explored by Atul Gawande and one which fascinates me. An 8 month volunteering scheme at a local hospital and elderly home portrayed the harsh reality of the medical environment. In the gastroenterology ward, elderly patients were often not forthcoming with information due to a lack of confidence in the doctors' ability to better their state of health. Despite this, I saw how doctors appropriately utilised their interpersonal skills by sensitively communicating, allowing a strong doctor-patient relationship to form. This engendered trust towards them, allowing them to gain accurate case histories in order to make a more informed diagnosis and treatment.
At school I am deputy head boy and a science mentor and, from these roles, I believe that my ability to adapt to the needs of different individuals has matured. Currently, through rugby and cross- country running, I have found a good balance between work and relaxation, allowing me to effectively maintain a strong work ethic year round. The accumulation of my experiences have shown me that medicine is a demanding yet incredibly rewarding line of work and one which I very much desire to pursue.
