Personal statement question - healthcare reform

[KungFuPanda123]

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Should I avoid mentioning how I hope to push healthcare in this country one way or the other? (i.e. universal healthcare vs private health insurance).

I feel that most physicians feel that universal healthcare would help our society as a whole the most (especially the poorest communities), but I don't want to risk making my support for this change in healthcare known if it could potentially hurt me (e.g. adcom member is completely against universal healthcare and wants the status quo).

 

[Goro]

PS's should not be essays about the state of medicine in the US; keep it at the level of "Who am I?" and "Why Medicine?"

And if you really want to change health care in the US, run for Congress.

Should I avoid mentioning how I hope to push healthcare in this country one way or the other? (i.e. universal healthcare vs private health insurance).

I feel that most physicians feel that universal healthcare would help our society as a whole the most (especially the poorest communities), but I don't want to risk making my support for this change in healthcare known if it could potentially hurt me (e.g. adcom member is completely against universal healthcare and wants the status quo).

 

[KungFuPanda123]

PS's should not be essays about the state of medicine in the US; keep it at the level of "Who am I?" and "Why Medicine?"

And if you really want to change health care in the US, run for Congress.

I guess to clear things up - I wanted to make it evident in my PS why I wanted to be a doctor as opposed to some other health care provider like a PA/RN. A big part for me is the fact that as a doctor, you're at the center of healthcare and one of the things that go along with that is having additional training (to pursue various specialities/practice anywhere in the world to help out in other countries in relief efforts) and more power to advocate for certain underserved groups/help push policy (I don't know if I will eventually be doing that, but I would hate to have that opportunity shut in front of me because of choosing an alternate career path).

Would you say that it's not necessary to address these specifics in a personal statement for the "why medicine?" part? As in, is there any need to distinguish why I'm wanting to go to med school instead of PA/nursing school?

 

[cherubb3]

I am a RN applying to medical school this summer. I actively decided against elaborating in my PS why I don't want to be a NP because I feel like it takes away from my space to talk about my qualities that lead me to medicine. Secondly, I don't want to say anything that could be construed as unprofessional.

 

[litotes]

and more power to advocate for certain underserved groups/help push policy

I'm interested what this would look like on a day-to-day scale? When do practicing physicians influence US policy? Just curious because to me it seems like if this is your goal politics might be more productive (as Goro said)

 

[KungFuPanda123]

I am a RN applying to medical school this summer. I actively decided against elaborating in my PS why I don't want to be a NP because I feel like it takes away from my space to talk about my qualities that lead me to medicine. Secondly, I don't want to say anything that could be construed as unprofessional.

I guess that in your situation, it'd be harder to talk about why not NP, since a NP has more responsibilities/freedom to practice. In saying why not NP, you might accidentally bash that career choice and look unprofessional.

I feel like when talking about MD/DO, you can get away with more when saying why not RN/PA, since there are very good, professional reasons for why (e.g. can't really practice in many places outside the US as a PA, but with a US MD, you could practice anywhere in the world, including the neediest of places).

I'm just wondering if I'm wasting space in saying why specifically MD in my personal statement. I thought it'd be a good way of showing that I've done my research and know that MD is specifically for me, but maybe this is not totally correct?

 

[KungFuPanda123]

I'm interested what this would look like on a day-to-day scale? When do practicing physicians influence US policy? Just curious because to me it seems like if this is your goal politics might be more productive (as Goro said)

In letters from groups of doctors to various politicians about their thoughts on certain changes in healthcare, the co-signers are primarily doctors (since because they are supposedly more knowledgeable in the field, their words have more weight). Research that is analyzed by policy makers in order to figure out what/how changes should be made are done by doctors (MDs and PhDs in both medically related fields and economic/sociology fields).

Of course, on a day-to-day scale, physicians aren't going to do much to influence policy in the US. But what if there were a convention/summit, and I wanted to be a speaker there to showcase what I have learned over my years as a healthcare provider? I'd have a lot more opportunities to do this as a doctor and in a sense, I am able to push policy change by showcasing my experiences with other healthcare providers/people actually directly involved in policy.

I don't see myself going into government as a senator/representative to enact policy change. But I want to get the education/experiences needed to become indirectly involved.

 

[SpicyFalafel]

"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]I guess that in your situation, it'd be harder to talk about why not NP, since a NP has more responsibilities/freedom to practice. In saying why not NP, you might accidentally bash that career choice and look unprofessional.>>> she does not need to bring it up in her personal statement, because it will be one of the adcom questions to her .

"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]professional reasons for why (e.g. can't really practice in many places outside the US as a PA, but with a US MD, you could practice anywhere in the world, including the neediest of places).>>>> completely inaccurate, most of the European countries such as England, Germany and Netherlands have PA programs
"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]I'm just wondering if I'm wasting space in saying why specifically MD in my personal statement. I thought it'd be a good way of showing that I've done my research and know that MD is specifically for me, but maybe this is not totally correct?>>>> you should not be specific about the title more that being precise on why you want to be a Physician.

 

[ridethecliche]

I am a RN applying to medical school this summer. I actively decided against elaborating in my PS why I don't want to be a NP because I feel like it takes away from my space to talk about my qualities that lead me to medicine. Secondly, I don't want to say anything that could be construed as unprofessional.

Good call 😉

 

[Goro]

Your essay will be much better if you lose the pre-med illusion that Medicine is not a team sport.

I guess to clear things up - I wanted to make it evident in my PS why I wanted to be a doctor as opposed to some other health care provider like a PA/RN. A big part for me is the fact that as a doctor, you're at the center of healthcare



You don't need to be a doctor to do this. You're setting yourself up to have your head ripped off by any good interviewer.

and one of the things that go along with that is having additional training (to pursue various specialities/practice anywhere in the world to help out in other countries in relief efforts) and more power to advocate for certain underserved groups/help push policy (I don't know if I will eventually be doing that, but I would hate to have that opportunity shut in front of me because of choosing an alternate career path).


It's always better to say why you're running TO something, as opposed to why AWAY from something.

Would you say that it's not necessary to address these specifics in a personal statement for the "why medicine?" part? As in, is there any need to distinguish why I'm wanting to go to med school instead of PA/nursing school?

 

[allantois]

I'm interested what this would look like on a day-to-day scale? When do practicing physicians influence US policy? Just curious because to me it seems like if this is your goal politics might be more productive (as Goro said)

I think Dr. Kirch, the president of AAMC, answers the question nicely:



It's a short video, but there are very long videos of him discussing the matter of how physicians should be the ones driving the change.

 

[KungFuPanda123]

Your essay will be much better if you lose the pre-med illusion that Medicine is not a team sport.

I guess to clear things up - I wanted to make it evident in my PS why I wanted to be a doctor as opposed to some other health care provider like a PA/RN. A big part for me is the fact that as a doctor, you're at the center of healthcare



You don't need to be a doctor to do this. You're setting yourself up to have your head ripped off by any good interviewer.

and one of the things that go along with that is having additional training (to pursue various specialities/practice anywhere in the world to help out in other countries in relief efforts) and more power to advocate for certain underserved groups/help push policy (I don't know if I will eventually be doing that, but I would hate to have that opportunity shut in front of me because of choosing an alternate career path).


It's always better to say why you're running TO something, as opposed to why AWAY from something.

Would you say that it's not necessary to address these specifics in a personal statement for the "why medicine?" part? As in, is there any need to distinguish why I'm wanting to go to med school instead of PA/nursing school?

Mmmm maybe it was the phrasing that made it sound like doctors do everything. I didn't mean for it to sound that way, and I know there's no way that we can provide the care that we do without all the moving cogs in the system.

Thanks for the time you spent writing out your reply Goro - informative as always

 

[KungFuPanda123]

"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]I guess that in your situation, it'd be harder to talk about why not NP, since a NP has more responsibilities/freedom to practice. In saying why not NP, you might accidentally bash that career choice and look unprofessional.>>> she does not need to bring it up in her personal statement, because it will be one of the adcom questions to her .

"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]professional reasons for why (e.g. can't really practice in many places outside the US as a PA, but with a US MD, you could practice anywhere in the world, including the neediest of places).>>>> completely inaccurate, most of the European countries such as England, Germany and Netherlands have PA programs
"KungFuPanda123, post: 16466467, member: 660584"]I'm just wondering if I'm wasting space in saying why specifically MD in my personal statement. I thought it'd be a good way of showing that I've done my research and know that MD is specifically for me, but maybe this is not totally correct?>>>> you should not be specific about the title more that being precise on why you want to be a Physician.

With your 1st point - I agree
With your 2nd point - I don't think you can say that I am "completely inaccurate" - the fact of the matter is that PA's are not as accepted internationally as providers like NP's and MD's. I am not saying that it is at all because PA's are inferior (they're not. They're just different); it is simply because PA's are newer to the ballgame, and it's going to take time for countries to accept them more universally. According to the AAPA, the main countries outside the US that are accepting PA's are Canada, UK, Netherlands, Ghana, and South Africa; the list is constantly getting bigger. There is definitely a smaller number of countries that allow PA's to practice inside of them.
With your 3rd point - Yup, I wasn't sure if medical schools wanted to know why specifically the degree ON TOP OF why healthcare in general. Seems like it's not so important to talk about why specifically MD/DO/NP/PA/RN/etc. in the PS and leave it up for the interview.

Thanks for your post ATL.F.Doc