Both my sister and I were chronic pain patients. It was a long journey to figure out what the cause was, but once we did we were able to resolve it, and neither of us are in pain anymore (yay!). My sister had the problem for about 5 years, I had it for about 2.
I'm trying to use this to answer the "how your life experiences prompted growth and/or how they'll shape your career as a physician" prompts, emphasizing the following:
1) I've seen/experienced chronic conditions over long periods of time, which has helped me empathize with the hidden battles my future patients may be fighting and how it can shape every aspect of your life.
2) When we were being treated I gave a ton of credit to our physician who stuck with us for years and figured it out. Once I started shadowing in college I understood just how much of a team sport medicine is, and that the techs, nurses, fellows were just as essential to our case being resolved.
I've received a lot of conflicting advice on whether I should center the essay around my experiences as a family member with my sister as the patient, or discuss my own experiences. I've been told that using my own experiences shows a more direct source of growth, others have said that it's unsympathetic and I would be better off talking only about my sister. I feel that I could get my point across either way, but am really confused on the most compelling route to take.
I'm trying to use this to answer the "how your life experiences prompted growth and/or how they'll shape your career as a physician" prompts, emphasizing the following:
1) I've seen/experienced chronic conditions over long periods of time, which has helped me empathize with the hidden battles my future patients may be fighting and how it can shape every aspect of your life.
2) When we were being treated I gave a ton of credit to our physician who stuck with us for years and figured it out. Once I started shadowing in college I understood just how much of a team sport medicine is, and that the techs, nurses, fellows were just as essential to our case being resolved.
I've received a lot of conflicting advice on whether I should center the essay around my experiences as a family member with my sister as the patient, or discuss my own experiences. I've been told that using my own experiences shows a more direct source of growth, others have said that it's unsympathetic and I would be better off talking only about my sister. I feel that I could get my point across either way, but am really confused on the most compelling route to take.
