Can I write about this surgery shadowing experience in my med-school application?

[Paul.Mattheus]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I spent a week shadowing a surgeon. At the end of the week we were in the OR (removal of lymph nodes in a melanoma patient): an anaesthesiologist, surgeon, sterile nurse, non-sterile nurse and me (observing the procedure). The non-sterile nurse was away (I believe to get some new instruments). There were three openings on the patient and the surgeon just finished stitching up the second one. He asked me to grab the lamp (by the sides); I quickly observed that the lamp produced a focal (brightest spot) and also inferred that the surgeon needed light on the third opening he was about to stitch up. I moved the lamp and the surgeon was happy it was on the exact spot he wanted it to be. I would like to write about this experience in my med school application statement, but am not sure, as the surgeon was being a little cheeky.

Information not directly related to the question:
During the shadowing week I observed first-hand lumpectomy, removal of tumour near scapula, laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, melanoma and lymph-node removal surgery, atheroma removal, inter-laminectomy and above-knee amputation; I felt absolutely calm and focused in OR. A resident surgeon also explained to me what a sterile surgical-kit for minor operations contains, how to open it and how to suture. I was given an opportunity to practice on a cut peace of bandage cloth: after trying was asked if the stitches were really mine and told that they were very good and that I had good manual ability.

 

[deleted804629]

.

 

[deleted547339]

You shouldn't talk about any of these in an application.

 

[doc05]

I hope this is a just your odd sense of humor... because none of this actually belongs in a personal statement.

 

[deleted804629]

.

 

[Smurfette]

As others stated, none of these stories is good if it's the main focus of your PS. You're focussing on the wrong things from these shadowing experiences. Medicine is about treating patients, not about OR lights and stitches.

Moving to pre-allo as OP is pre med.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Dude talk about all of it and then talk about how you will be the next Ben Carson and how these experiences show your destiny of greatness in the OR.

In case you missed the sarcasm... Don't put any of it. Your PS will serve as comic relief to the adcom member who reads it right before they throw it in the bin. None of these experiences have anything to do with you being a doctor, and if this is what you got out of your shadowing then you did it wrong.

 

[Ismet]

I spent a week shadowing a surgeon. At the end of the week we were in the OR (removal of lymph nodes in a melanoma patient): an anaesthesiologist, surgeon, sterile nurse, non-sterile nurse and me (observing the procedure). The non-sterile nurse was away (I believe to get some new instruments). There were three openings on the patient and the surgeon just finished stitching up the second one. He asked me to grab the lamp (by the sides); I quickly observed that the lamp produced a focal (brightest spot) and also inferred that the surgeon needed light on the third opening he was about to stitch up. I moved the lamp and the surgeon was happy it was on the exact spot he wanted it to be. I would like to write about this experience in my med school application statement, but am not sure, as the surgeon was being a little cheeky.

Information not directly related to the question:
During the shadowing week I observed first-hand lumpectomy, removal of tumour near scapula, laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, melanoma and lymph-node removal surgery, atheroma removal, inter-laminectomy and above-knee amputation; I felt absolutely calm and focused in OR. A resident surgeon also explained to me what a sterile surgical-kit for minor operations contains, how to open it and how to suture. I was given an opportunity to practice on a cut peace of bandage cloth: after trying was asked if the stitches were really mine and told that they were very good and that I had good manual ability.

Please do not write about moving an OR lamp or suturing a cloth. You need to discuss why you want to be a doctor.

 

[idontwatchgreysanatomy]

This post gave me the worst second-hand embarrassment.

 

[Paul.Mattheus]

From what I know in the UK the med-school application is to demonstrate both academic ability and medical experience / interest / fit.

I have always liked surgery due to its precision and direct impact. Shadowing experience is my main medical experience. I was happy it confirmed that I do seem to have good hand-eye coordination. I was also happy that I felt perfectly good in OR, whereas some fainted or could not bear it. Helping the surgeon was really exciting, hence I wanted to write about it in some way.

Do not want to write about the usual cliché "oh I want to help people".

 

[Ismet]

From what I know in the UK the med-school application is to demonstrate both academic ability and medical experience / interest / fit.

I have always liked surgery due to its precision and direct impact. Shadowing experience is my main medical experience. I was happy it confirmed that I do seem to have good hand-eye coordination. I was also happy that I felt perfectly good in OR, whereas some fainted or could not bear it. Helping the surgeon was really exciting, hence I wanted to write about it in some way.

Do not want to write about the usual cliché "oh I want to help people".

So you want to write about moving a light? You don't need a medical degree to move a light. You also don't need a medical degree to sew things. Why do you want to be a doctor?

 

[SailorMD]

From what I know in the UK the med-school application is to demonstrate both academic ability and medical experience / interest / fit.

I have always liked surgery due to its precision and direct impact. Shadowing experience is my main medical experience. I was happy it confirmed that I do seem to have good hand-eye coordination. I was also happy that I felt perfectly good in OR, whereas some fainted or could not bear it. Helping the surgeon was really exciting, hence I wanted to write about it in some way.

Do not want to write about the usual cliché "oh I want to help people".

You are absolutely right not to write the cliché story. The purpose of a personal statement (or any statement on the app for that matter) is that it is your personal statement. I believe that it is excellent that you received a chance to shadow in the OR--most people would dream of having that.

I will be the dissenting opinion and say that you should absolutely include it--but within the larger context of why medicine. It is a solid example of one aspect that you enjoy. Now draw upon it and infer what that means for you in terms of care of the patient? Does it align with an interest area in medicine? How would that school best prepare you to be in that OR (in terms of supplemental applications). Long story short, you only have but so many words to get your point across, so use whatever you feel will make you most competitive.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

 

[libertyyne]

some one get this guy into the stat accelerated md program and surgery residency program he already has the lights and stitching down!

 

[piii]

I would probably instant reject you if your personal statement was about these three things. Probably 70% of premeds that shadowed surgeries have done these things. The point is not to be cliché, but that doesn't mean writing about helping people or more important reasons for going into medicine. The non-cliché part is your personal experiences not the overall reason. I get that it's something that really excited you, and that's cool. But if this is really the only thing that sticks out in your mind, I think it's valid to ask whether you even have enough experience to make this decision. Shadowing cannot be your only medical experience and you will not get in to a US medical school that way

 

[rolliespring]

I think you should focus on this: What did you observe in the OR that made you want to become a physician?

 

[candbgirl]

From what I know in the UK the med-school application is to demonstrate both academic ability and medical experience / interest / fit.

I have always liked surgery due to its precision and direct impact. Shadowing experience is my main medical experience. I was happy it confirmed that I do seem to have good hand-eye coordination. I was also happy that I felt perfectly good in OR, whereas some fainted or could not bear it. Helping the surgeon was really exciting, hence I wanted to write about it in some way.

Do not want to write about the usual cliché "oh I want to help people".

So are you applying to schools in the UK or USA? You have been given good advice based on US application standards. Obviously your focus during your shadowing was not where it should have been to be included in your application. You said the surgeon was being rather cheeky. What are you being when you say you "do not want to write about the usual cliche 'oh I want to help people'"? Why do you want to be a doctor?


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile app

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You are absolutely right not to write the cliché story. The purpose of a personal statement (or any statement on the app for that matter) is that it is your personal statement. I believe that it is excellent that you received a chance to shadow in the OR--most people would dream of having that.

I will be the dissenting opinion and say that you should absolutely include it--but within the larger context of why medicine. It is a solid example of one aspect that you enjoy. Now draw upon it and infer what that means for you in terms of care of the patient? Does it align with an interest area in medicine? How would that school best prepare you to be in that OR (in terms of supplemental applications). Long story short, you only have but so many words to get your point across, so use whatever you feel will make you most competitive.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile

If you are applying in the USA, do not include it. As an OR tech/first assist, I retracted a patient's heart with my hand, sutured on many patients, placed sponges inside a patient's brain, participated in codes, stapled bowel, etc. Your moving the lights and suturing on a dressing is not impressive.

And really neither is my experience, because that's all stuff a CFA or RNFA can do. None of it is why I want to be a doctor. The only experience that was technical in nature which I might be able to relate to wanting to be a doctor is the heart thing. And it wouldn't be the focus. It'd be a line.

 

[deleted804629]

I have always liked surgery due to its precision and direct impact. Shadowing experience is my main medical experience. I was happy it confirmed that I do seem to have good hand-eye coordination. I was also happy that I felt perfectly good in OR, whereas some fainted or could not bear it. Helping the surgeon was really exciting, hence I wanted to write about it in some way.

Best of luck.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Poor guy, probably hoping for a "wow! you got the light perfect??!!"

 

[libertyyne]

Poor guy, probably hoping for a "wow! you got the light perfect??!!"

The only time I want to hear boasting about stitching technique is from my tailor, cross stitching vblogs, and boar certified surgeons.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

boar certified surgeons

for my licensure i demand trial by combat vs boar

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

The only time I want to hear boasting about stitching technique is from my tailor, cross stitching vblogs, and boar certified surgeons.

Only the finest quality cuts and stitches for my suits and sandwiches.

 

[libertyyne]

for my licensure i demand trial by combat vs boar

Only the finest quality cuts and stitches for my suits and sandwiches.

I am not even going to edit.