My mother loves telling the story of my response when my parents asked me what I wanted for my third birthday. I responded by pounding both fists against my chest and jerking violently. Eventually they realized that I wanted defibrillators, as seen on the beloved television program “Emergency.” Although impressed with the technology, even then I was attracted to the idea of helping people.
Through example and upbringing, my family instilled in me the importance of being involved n all levels of life. Their dedication to living a full life kept my grandparents participating in family and worldly matters, active and vigorous well into their eighties. My parents are also lifelong students and gives of themselves in many ways to their family and community. My father is a pediatrician. My mother has a masters degree in
Special Education and is currently a resource teacher. My sister now attends graduate school studying clinical psychology. They all emphasize education and are all concerned about the well being of all people. I have patterned my life similarly. Academically, I chose honors classes and a challenging major in
Cognitive Science. My original academic interests were in neuroscience and research. While pursuing my interests in education in neuroscience, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in the neuroscience department of the Biotech company, Amgen. I helped design and carry out research to explore the possible correlation existing between the learning and memory deficiencies of Alzheimer’s Disease and altered levels of neurochemicals. I am a co-author of two experimental reports from these studies which have been accepted for publication in the Spring of 1995. As I progressed in school and maturity, my interests evolved into the people-oriented aspects of medicine. In retrospect, this interest in people was manifested in many of my extracurricular activities. A central theme of my extracurricular activities has been helping people of all ages. During my experience as the
Valley Convalescent Hospital, I gained profound insight into the healing relationship between patient and doctor/healer. While I was there, I delivered ice-cream to patients for their afternoon snack. As soon as I brought the ice-cream into their rooms, their faces, which had previously appeared somber and withdrawn, began to glow. At first, I had believed that this response was in anticipation for the cool, sweet treat; however,
I soon realized that this response was a reaction to the company I was providing. Even a brief visit, or a cheery
“Hello” had the effect of powerful, healing medicine, transforming them, temporarily, into a vibrant, healthy state. Since then, I have had health related experience both from the perspective of a patient and that of a physician. An athletic injury resulted in an extensive and complex orthopedic surgery to my knee. The surgeon, Dr. Smith, impressed me with his combination of surgical expertise and concern for the personal needs of his patients. After I recovered, I accepted his invitation to be his extern during the summer of 1991 at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute where I got hands-on experience in orthopedic medicine. I observed surgery and participated in the office care of his patients. After learning the anatomy of the shoulder and the knee I performed diagnostic tests on patients to help determine the location and extent of their injuries.
I have also authored a pamphlet about adhesive capsulitus that is being given to the Institute’s patients with that condition. This interaction with patients in the medical setting was the crucial factor in the culmination of experiences leading to my decision for a career in medicine. As a patient myself, as the son of a pediatrician, as a hospital volunteer, and as an extern of an orthopedic surgeon, much of my active life has been involved with healthcare. Having been exposed to both the research and clinical aspects of medicine, I have decided that I prefer the clinical interaction with people, and look forward to becoming a primary care physician. I would like to help people as a physician knowledgeable about the medical and personal needs of my patients, while enjoying the intellectual and emotional rewards that such a career provides.