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MyERAS|PersonalStatements

PEREZLARA,JOSE(14171242)
WhenIwas5yearsoldIusedtoplaywithmycousinandlikeotherchildrenwemade
recklessdecisions,decisionssuchasusingstairwayasaslidewhichledmetoan
accidentthatresultedinimpalingmyselfwithanironrebaronmyleg.Thistraumatic
incidentmademeawareofpeoplewhoIusedtohate,peoplewithwhitecoatscaring
aboutmeandmakingmefeelbetter,Doctors.Then,afewyearslater,Isawhowmy
cousinwasbroughttomygrandmothershousevomitingandwithopenbleedingwounds
underhischin,seeinghimlikethismademethinkhelphimfeelbetter,justlikethe
Doctorsdidforme.Theseincidentsmadealastingimpressiononmeandwerethebasis
ofmylifelongdreamtobecomeaDoctorofMedicine.
Iknewthatgettingintomedicalschoolwasgoingtobedifficultbutwhenthetime
finallycameallmyhardwork,perseveranceandscorespaidoffandIwasacceptedinto
theUniversityofmychoice.Sincethenmylifechange.DuringbasicclinicalscienceI
instantlyfellinlovedwiththestudyofAnatomysoIdecidedtospendalotoftimein
dissectionslaboratory,butthenIrealizedthatthemechanicsandthistypeofthinking
justwasntenoughforme.So,incomingyearsIthrewmyselfintomorecomplexsubjects
suchasphysiology,physiopathologyandpharmacology.Iloveditsomuchthatwhenmy
friendswerehavinghardtimeIhelpedthembybecominganinstructorfortheincoming
student.Unfortunately,duetolimitationsofmyUniversityIcouldntkeepworkingwith
laboratoryexperiences.
ThisloveandpassionIdevelopedduringBasicScienceforcomplexsubjectsand
comprehensivewaysofthinkingbecamethebenchmarkforeveryclinicalrotationIwas
doing.ThismakemerealizedthatIwoulddefinitelyfulfillmydreambydevotingmy
lifetoaspecialtythatoffersimmensechallenges,andwouldnotonlygiveme
intellectualstimulationeverydaybutalsoprovideopportunitytomakeadifferencein
criticalpatients,andalsooffertheopportunitytobecomeateacherforpatients,a
specialtysoimportantthatitallowsmetohelpotherspecialtieswhenthemedical
aspectisthepreponderanceissueoverall.ThisiswhatdrivesmetoInternalMedicine.
InternalMedicineformerepresentsthemostgratifyingspecialtybecauseitwillallow
metoworkwiththecomplexityofmanydiseaseswhileatthesametimeIwillbe
interactingwithpatientsinacomprehensiveway,allowingmetogetinvolvedandassess
themineverysystem,resultinginimprovementofeveryconditionofeachpatient.I
experiencedthiswhileonclinicalrotation.OneofthemostmemorablecasesIrecall
wasapatientwhocametotheEmergencyRoomwalkingandtalkingbutcomplainingof
shortnessofbreathandfever.WhentheChestXRaycamebackwesawalargepleura
effusionontherightsideandaftermakingsurethatotherlaboratoryvalueswere
stabletheattendingphysicianinstructmeandguidemetointroduceachesttubein
ordertodrainalargeamountofpus,itwasanEmpyema!Anotherdayduringanoncall
dayinInternalMedicinewewereconsultedforacaseintheEmergencyDepartment.When
Icametoassessthepatientandwhileexamininghershewentintoarespiratoryfailure
rightinfrontofme.Withguidancefromtheattendingphysician,Igottointubatethe
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MyERAS|PersonalStatements

patient.ShebecamemypatientandIfollowedherwiththeresidentunderthediagnosis
ofSepticShock.Unfortunately,shepassedawayafterfewdays.OnelastcaseIremember
wasafemalepatientwhocametotheEmergencyDepartmentoftheclinicinwhichI
workedaftergraduation.Thepatientwasdiagnosedassufferingfromsupraventricular
tachycardia.Icontactedtheoncallcardiologistandaftergivinghermedicationto
controlherheartrateshestabilized,soIkeptherunderobservationintheEDand
afterawhileshedevelopedhypotensionandbradycardia.Shewashighlysensitivetothe
medication.Soagain,Icalledthecardiologistoncallandafterreassessingand
stabilizinghershewasadmittedforfurtherstudies.Thisexperiencesopenmyeyesand
confirmthatTHISISWHATIWANT!Theseopportunitiesarenotofferedinother
specialties.
IrecognizethatthepersonwhoIwillbecomeistheresultofasetofgooddeedsand
teachingsnotonlyfrommyfamilybutalsofrommyteachers.Ibelieveinpeoplewho
wantyoutobecomeyourbest.ThatiswhyIenjoyteachingandthatiswhyIworkedso
hardtobecomeanACLSInstructorrightaftergraduation.Mygoal,therefore,isnot
onlytobeasourcetopatientsforhelp,butalsotobecomethebestteacherfor
upcominggenerations.ThispassionpromptmetomakethemostimportantdecisionIhave
evermadesincemedicalschool,comingtoUnitedStateOfAmericatogetthebest
education,andworkwithtopexpertsthatexistinthemedicalfield.Thejourneybegan
in2014whenwhilevolunteeringforbreastcancerprevention,Istartedpreparationfor
USMLEboardsandin2015ImovedtotheUStotakethetestandalsotocomplete7
monthsofclinicalrotationsindifferentteachinghospitalsanddifferentcommunities.
AfterallthislifechangingdecisionsIcouldnotbemoresatisfied.Ijustwantto
keeplearningandworkingtoearnapositionintherighthospitalwhereIcandevelop
myselfasanintegratedphysician,ahospitalthatallowsmetogrowprofessionallyand
becomeausefulpractitionertolocalcommunities.

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