Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age made medicine fundamental to my wellbeing. I have been under the care of consultants who demonstrated a sympathetic attitude throughout my time under their care. My dieticians kept meticulous food diaries which imparted to me the importance of an eye for detail and displayed diligence. The way that a multidisciplinary team came together to ensure my wellbeing and to improve my health outcomes, inspired me to join a rewarding career that would allow me to be similarly altruistic.
To further my interest, I shadowed a consultant colorectal surgeon at St. George's. I witnessed daily ward rounds and handover meetings with the healthcare team, ranging from the clinical pharmacist to the consultants where they were all given tasks and reported back their findings. This emphasised the significance of individual duties on a hospital ward and the importance of working in a multidisciplinary team. I also observed colonoscopies; this involves a fibre optic camera being passed into the bowel, used to diagnose issues such as cancers or polyps. The doctor's calm, kind and measured nature was able to address patients' worries and ensure that the procedure went smoothly. This calm nature was a quality mirrored throughout the entirety of my shadowing scheme. The careful nature and steady hand of a doctor was also essential in the operating theatre, when I shadowed laparoscopic surgeries. These surgeries showed the importance of technology in modern day medicine as the cameras were new higher definition cameras allowing for the doctors to do sensitive surgeries. This led me to read an article in the BMJ where I discovered that compared to conventional surgery, the pain is less severe, there is less hospitalisation time, recovery is faster, there is less risk of infection and it scarcely leaves a visible scar. This made me realise why surgery is a preferred method, despite the very difficult nature of the procedure.
Additionally, after my experience in theatre, I became particularly interested in the field of anaesthesiology. I gained extra knowledge by reading The Telegraph article 'the secret life of an anaesthesiologist', in which an anaesthesiologist anonymously described a day in their life. I found this interesting because it demonstrated the sensitive role anesthesiologists play during operations. I found anaesthesiology links to my current chemistry studies as all drugs used with suffix -ine, such as morphine and quinine, have the same functional group, a cyclical amine. I also attended Kings College London's Medical Conference where I spent a day learning about different specialties ranging from GP, ICU and osteopathic surgery. This demonstrated to me the importance of all the various roles within medicine. On a doctor's recommendation, I read 'This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor' by Adam Kay. This is an eye-opening account of the realities which junior doctors face on a day-to-day basis, such as long hours and little support. Rather than putting me off, this prompted me to read further accounts by junior doctors on the Guardian. The struggles faced by the NHS inspired me to want to join a committed and passionate workforce that works towards improved public health.
I am a chemistry ambassador in my school, and I assist the departmental open evenings by leading experiments and helping out in KS3 lessons. This helped build my communication skills, reflecting a key quality needed to form successful patient-doctor relationships.
Following on from the exemplary treatment I have received, I desire to study medicine to benefit others.