Using names in Personal Statement

[NY_Med]

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I am not so much referring too full names, locations, etc. However more so am referring too maybe a first name. I have seen arguments for both sides. making sure you are not violating HIPAA is obviously important. However I have also been told you want your personal statement to be a narrative or a story that adcoms members would enjoy reading, and including more personal information like a first name would help create a story. Any thoughts?

 

[EpilepticRat]

I just used "Mr/Ms. X". One of my friends whose PS I read used "Ms. Faye Kname" which I thought was cute

 

[LizzyM]

Use a 3-4 letter name and put it in quotes the first time you use it. Saves characters and can be adapted to ethnic names too. "Mr. Ms Mrs. X" works too if you are speaking of an older person but it would be weird to use that convention for a youngster or a peer, IMHO.

 

[jhmmd]

Also remember to change identifying details to protect pts' HIPAA rights

 

[Blueprint Med School]

All depends. If it's your mentor that's kosher. If it's a patient I would make it generic and obvious, something like "I remember connecting with a patient, "Kevin" who was in the hospital for...". Or for an elder "Mr. Jones".

I would even repeat the quotations around the name a second time, overcommunicate and underassume. It should be obvious then. After that, just use he/she or whatever applies. You also don't want to make it distracting if possible.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Rachapkis]

Simply use a capital letter, e.g., A for Andrew, B for Bill, etc. That saves on character count and protects anonymity.