1. Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic MedicinePlease answer the following questions as part of you essay:A. Describe
the personal characteristics you possess and the life experiences you have had that would
contribute to your becoming an outstanding osteopathic physician. Please include
information that will enable the Admissions Committee to understand your unique
qualities.B. Describe your exposure to and understanding of Osteopathic Medicine. Content
may include your initial introduction to the profession, its history, use in medical practice
today, or any other aspects that may highlight Osteopathic Medicine’s uniqueness and
synergy with your envisioned future practice of medicine.Below are a few essays I would
like for you to incorporate into the above prompts. Also please use several internet or book
sources to learn about osteopathic medicine to incorporate into the above prompts. I do not
need any citations or quotes, and would prefer no citations or quotes at all. Just please put
the information about osteopathic medicine you learn from these sources in your own
words.Personal StatementMy interest in pursuing a career in medicine was sparked by a life
event, happening when I was age nine. My parents chose not to have their children in day-
care facilities during the pre-school years, and we were fortunate to grow up at my
grandmother’s home. She lived on the Guadalupe River, a beautiful rural setting at
McQueeney, Texas. My parents spent long hours at work each day, and thankfully, my
grandmother was willing to care for my younger brother and I. As a result of the amount of
time we spent together, my paternal grandmother was highly influential in my life. She was
a positive role model, helping to build my moral values, character and work ethic.In 2001,
my grandmother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The location of the cancer was
in the largest lung and was inoperable. The oncologist told her that the cancer was
aggressive and that she had approximately nine months to live. When my parents broke the
news to me, I was emotionally overwhelmed. I was devastated, and I could only imagine
what her feelings were. I was thinking of the leisurely days that we had enjoyed together,
the insightful talks about life we had while walking together through her flower gardens
and the effort she spent in order to provide meals that we enjoyed. I realize now that small
comforts are essential to those facing a terminal illness. My grandmother was fortunate, in
realizing her wish of remaining independent, and in being able to reside at her home
throughout her illness.She was admitted to the hospital during her final week of life, due to
fluid filling her lungs and ultimately, a systemic infection. Seeing her in the hospital bed, in
the last days of her life, I wondered if every terminally ill person and their loved ones
experienced the same progression of emotions I had. My interest in medicine began to grow
2. from this point forward. Even at the age of nine, I wanted to know more about terminal
illness, treatment and support mechanisms that would improve quality of life for the
patient, as well as for the friends and family. I was interested in learning more about
medical treatments, why some cancers could be treated, and some could not.I graduated
from Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas in three years. I was proud to finish high school
in the top two percent out of a graduating class of seven hundred in academic performance.
During my final year, I was a member of the varsity tennis team, and I worked part-time at
the family restaurant. My maternal grandmother owns a local Italian Restaurant in El Paso,
The Central Italian Kitchen, and she was very supportive of my educational goals, and
allowed flexibility in my work hours. During my three years of high school, I bussed tables,
and averaged fifteen hours per week. In high school, I enjoyed the sciences the most. While
at Franklin High School, I participated in school science fair for three years. I won medals at
Franklin, District and Regional Science Fairs during my final two years of high school.At
seventeen, I enrolled at The University of Texas at El Paso. During my freshman year, I also
moved into a small garage apartment, adjacent to my great-aunt’s house. This apartment
would allow me to stay focused on my studies, while still being close to my family. My first
year at the university was challenging; however, I finished the year with a 4.0 GPA. I
maintained my fifteen-hour per week work schedule at the restaurant, with additional
responsibilities as I had been promoted to wait staff.As a sophomore, I had the opportunity
to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio, where I recently graduated. In planning
my move to San Antonio, I was given the opportunity to live in the home of my aunt. This
move allowed me to further my independence, while still having close family ties. University
continued to challenge me; however, I remained focused and practiced good study habits. I
graduated with a BS in Biology in three years with a 3.95 GPA. While at UTSA, I volunteered
at the San Antonio Sports Foundation, and worked part-time at Abercrombie & Fitch.I am
currently a Clinical Shadow at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas under two
radiologists and two pathologists. I am a driven and hard-working individual. Diverse life
experiences have made me a strong person as well. I have been for some time, motivated to
pursue a medical career. If qualified as a candidate for Medical School acceptance in 2015, I
would continue my academic dedication and pursuit of excellence toward my aspiration of
becoming a physician.Unique ExperienceThroughout my childhood, I have had incredible
opportunities to travel to many states and foreign countries. During the twenty-one years of
my life, I have lived in seven different cities in four different states. My first international
trip was to Cancun, Mexico when I was three years old. During my elementary school years,
my family enjoyed travelling to the pacific coast of Mexico from our residence in San
Antonio, TX and also routinely visited my grandparents in El Paso, TX. During middle
school, my family moved to Lexington, KY and we would regularly travel to Texas, driving
across Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas to visit my extended family. While living in
Lexington, KY I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus,
Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. My family moved to El Paso, TX, when I was in high
school and I had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico
and Grand Cayman Island. Since high school, I have visited New York, Rose Hall, Jamaica, St.
Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Marteen.My travels exposed me to poverty like no other I had ever
3. encountered. Particularly in St. Lucia, I saw lavish resorts such as Sandals and Beaches
Resorts, and all around them was complete poverty with people walking around naked in
the streets, bare-footed women carrying fruit baskets on their heads and bone-thin people
looking like they had not eaten in weeks. As I was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Jamaica,
although I felt honored to have the opportunity to stay at such an amazing property, I
couldn’t help but wonder what the individuals employed at the resort thought of the
tourists. I feel that these travels have made me a well-rounded person who is able to relate
to different cultures and ethnic groups. Through these experiences early in life, I have seen
many other cultures and the way other people live, helping me to really appreciate what I
have and also to be more understanding and empathetic towards people; qualities which I
believe will help me become a better physician.Personal CharacteristicsPlease describe any
personal characteristics and/or important or challenging experiences you have had that will
contribute to the diversity (broadly defined) of or provide educational benefits to the
student body.Both of my parents have had established careers in health professions. My
mother and father are both pharmacists, and my father has additional training, as a
toxicologist and biochemist. Through watching my parents from an early age, I learned that
hard work, perseverance, and commitment were necessary, in order to pursue a successful
career. In talking to my parents about my interest in medicine, they were supportive, but
they emphasized that I should realize that career path in medicine would be very difficult
and demanding. They felt that if I was committed, a career in medicine would be rewarding
and worth the hard work. When I was in eighth grade, I made the decision that I wanted to
graduate high school in three years. My high school counselor had reservations about this,
and initially challenged my decision. My counselor spoke to my academic subject teachers,
and learned that I was a serious student. My counselor was told that I showed a strong work
ethic and high grades that reflected my commitment as a student. Having received
endorsements from my teachers, my high school counselor was a strong supporter in
helping me to achieve my goal of graduating high school in three years. My peers in high
school didn’t understand why I wanted to graduate early. I explained my reasoning, stating
that I planned to pursue a career in medicine and would be in school until approximately
age thirty. I wanted to get a head start on my future career.During this same time, my
parents were having marital problems. Home life was often tense and difficult. My mother
had been diagnosed, much earlier, with bi-polar disorder. Our entire family had experienced
the stress of her disorder, diagnosis, and treatment. It was a very emotional time for my
father. As a result, verbal and physical abuse were common in my home, drastically
affecting my immediate family life. During my last year in high school, my father filed for
divorce from my mother. I feel that the academic and personal challenges that I faced as a
high school student have aided in shaping me into a dedicated college student and post-
collegiate leader. Because of my experiences, I am a stronger individual.Clinical Exposure to
MedicineWhile shadowing at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas, I have been
able to tour and extensively interact with staff in almost all areas of the hospital including
the operating room, day surgery, trauma bay, emergency room, triage suites, intensive care
unit, labor and delivery, pediatric oncology unit, radiology and pathology. I have witnessed
many lung, thyroid, renal and neck mass needle biopsies in either CT or ultrasound
4. radiological suites. From the biopsies, I am learning to identify the presence of malignancies
under a compound light microscope from high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, inflammations
from the presence of neutrophils and histiocytes and benign neoplasms from the presence
of typical cells with low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios.Finally, I noted and began picking up
the caring behaviors that the physicians I am shadowing display. For example, I am saying
hello, holding open doors and elevators for all individuals I meet in the hallways. I will ask
individuals that seem lost if they need help. While in patients’ rooms I will formally
introduce myself to patients and explain that our team wants them to be as comfortable as
possible and thanking staff members when they exit the patients’ rooms. Also, when invited
to the doctors’ lounge for breakfast and lunch, I always offer to serve others over
myself.Exposure to Osteopathic MedicineWhat sparked my interest in Osteopathic Medicine
was my exposure and extensive discussion with an osteopathic OBGYN at Providence
Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Lewis-Levine who graduated from Chicago College
of Osteopathic Medicine and said that when he was first in practice he “ routinely used
bodily motion, stretching and exercise to help recovering mothers after pregnancy to get
back on their feet and recovering in a much quicker manner.” This conversation sparked
my interest in osteopathic medicine as I think it would be awesome to incorporate
manipulation of the musculoskeletal system in addition to prescribing typical
pharmaceutical drugs and allopathic services.Click here to get this paper done by our
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