Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement Example

In my first year of university, I suffered a ruptured disc in my lower back, which necessitated spinal surgery. This experience showed me the all-consuming impact ill-health can have on one’s life, and it was the devoted treatment from the multidisciplinary care team that was pivotal to my recovery. The consultant took time to answer all of my concerns, which reassured me of my future and alleviated my anxiety about whether I would ever play sport again. It was the compassionate treatment I received, alongside the ethos of scientific inquiry instilled by my degree, that reaffirmed my desire to practise medicine and do the same for others.

My extensive work experience has exposed me to a variety of medical contexts. Volunteering on Addenbrooke’s Elderly Medicine ward, working with staff from nurses to housekeepers, exemplified the necessity of teamwork to healthcare. I have improved my communication skills through regular conversations with patients, and it has been rewarding to see the positive effect this can have on their wellbeing. In a neuro-oncology clinic I witnessed the challenges doctors face, as a consultant sensitively informed a patient of their brain cancer diagnosis. The consultant’s empathetic approach, with consideration of patient autonomy, ensured the patient understood all of the treatment options and support systems available. This highlighted the doctor’s role as an empathetic and professional communicator. My role as a care worker, caring for a boy who was severely neurologically impaired due to post-surgical complications, tested my emotional resilience. I initially found this difficult as he was unable to communicate due to aphasic quadriplegia; however, I learnt that communication is far more than verbal. Learning to recognise his eye and head movements allowed me to notice if he was in distress. Working closely with his family, I could then act to reassure him, which was crucial in delivering the best possible care.