personal statement-alcoholic father?

[rnnpmaybe]

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I've been thinking alot about my ps lately, and part of my reason for being passionate about the healthcare feild is the fact that my father is an alcoholic. I see where he is coming from with this illness, and I see the treatment he recieves from those in healthcare-abhorrent, at best. I think I could write passionately and eloquently about this and wanting to take the compassion I feel for those suffering from addiction into the practice of medicine. Would this turn off adcoms, make them think that either a-i would be unstable myself, or b-make them think i would become a countertransferring physician?

Sorry if this is an overplayed topic

 

[BlueElmo]

I've been thinking alot about my ps lately, and part of my reason for being passionate about the healthcare feild is the fact that my father is an alcoholic. I see where he is coming from with this illness, and I see the treatment he recieves from those in healthcare-abhorrent, at best. I think I could write passionately and eloquently about this and wanting to take the compassion I feel for those suffering from addiction into the practice of medicine. Would this turn off adcoms, make them think that either a-i would be unstable myself, or b-make them think i would become a countertransferring physician?

Sorry if this is an overplayed topic

Why would they think you are unstable? You are not the one that is alcoholic.

 

[rnnpmaybe]

Why would they think you are unstable? You are not the one that is alcoholic.

it is hereditary. Which is why I don't drink🙂

 

[pietachok]

I wouldn't make a sweeping statement that the topic is good or bad, b/c the content of your PS matters a lot. However, i think that if you do use this topic, you need to make a concerted effort to extend yourself *beyond* the scope of having unique sympathy for addicts...otherwise it could be interpreted that you aren't really open to all fields, and that you might be naive about what you can bring to medicine if you go down any paths like "my dad doesn't get good treatment for other issues b/c he's an alcoholic and his drs. don't take him seriously." I knew of an excellent applicant who was rejected everywhere; when our adviser asked for feedback from adcoms, one comment was that she had an immature notion of how pain free she could make all pediatric care (a response to some awful childhood medical treatment). So, just make sure you extend your lessons broadly.

 

[rnnpmaybe]

how about a theme like, "this experience, coupled with my nursing experience, has helped me to learn to look at patients as whole entities, rather than a single illness or body system"

 

[melanoleuca]

how about a theme like, "this experience, coupled with my nursing experience, has helped me to learn to look at patients as whole entities, rather than a single illness or body system"

Sweet Mother of Abraham Lincoln. I weep for today's medical school applicants that they are required to twist themselves into such ridiculous knots of bureaucratese.

 

[melanoleuca]

how about a theme like, "this experience, coupled with my nursing experience, has helped me to learn to look at patients as whole entities, rather than a single illness or body system"

I mean, after you manage to insult ever cardiologist, nephrologist, gastroenterologist, and neurologist on the admission committee what will you do for an encore?

 

[melanoleuca]

I've been thinking alot about my ps lately, and part of my reason for being passionate about the healthcare feild is the fact that my father is an alcoholic. I see where he is coming from with this illness, and I see the treatment he recieves from those in healthcare-abhorrent, at best. I think I could write passionately and eloquently about this and wanting to take the compassion I feel for those suffering from addiction into the practice of medicine. Would this turn off adcoms, make them think that either a-i would be unstable myself, or b-make them think i would become a countertransferring physician?

Sorry if this is an overplayed topic

Do work that one into your personal statement.

 

[pietachok]

Do work that one into your personal statement.

I agree but think it is still important that she communicate a broader applicability outside of addiction.

W/ regards to abhorrent care, that probably could fit with her motivations, for instance, I would urge her to really consider the impact on the medical care of those with non-addiction mental illness.

As an example, I have a friend from high school who suffers from a terrible case of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Mid-way through college, this friend became schizophrenic. She take medications and keeps her schizophrenia at bay, however she cannot get proper GYN care b/c one the drs read her list of medications or medical history, her mental illness is "outed" and they decide her pain must all be in her head. This is particularly a problem for someone who has poor insurance (as she does) and doesn't have liberty of developing a relationship with just any physician. So she is neglected by physician after physician until the pain becomes so unbearable that it does take a toll on her mental status (as it would for all of us to an extent), and she appears nearly suicidal...and then they all say "oh, see we were right...this is a mental patient not ours."

 

[cpants]

I say go for it. Your experience with your father's substance abuse could be an excellent motivator for why you get into medicine. Focus on how you'd like to use your experience to help treat patients and families with substance abuse problems. You could get into some of the societal stigma associated with this disease, and how it effected the care your father and your family received. I would try to work in some statistics on abuse and effective treatment (or lack thereof rather) in this country. Also, be sure to mention the fact that you have never touched alcohol. As you know, alcoholism is hereditary, and possible substance abuse is a huge warning sign for adcoms.