Biomedical Science: Personal Statement

I first became interested in medicine when my mother was undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. I was devastated to discover the negative impact of the illness on her physical as well as her mental wellbeing. This has prompted me to learn about the disease to better understand my responsibilities as a caregiver, and the role in which healthcare plays to its treatment which has long gained my respect for the NHS. As my knowledge and empathy continued to develop, it became very evident that medicine was my correct vocation, as it uniquely integrates my scientific interests with my inherent nature to help others. Through pursuing Biomedical Science the additional time has honed my academic interests, however most crucially the experience

The experience brought to the fore that the medical profession is not as lucrative as it is portrayed to be, where doctors are regularly faced with long working hours, challenging and often stressful situations, and a healthcare system under scrutiny. Through observation, I began to understand the different roles of the NHS staff particularly on the close relationship between the nurse and the patients. This has clearly shown me the importance of being approachable, and crucially having the ability to communicate sensitive and often complex information to the patient’s level of understanding. This was also highlighted during my time volunteering at a nursing home, which showed me the importance of meeting the both emotional, as well as the physical needs. A week shadowing at ophthalmology ward brought to prominence the integration of technology into medicine, this was accentuated during observing nurses using iPods to access and collect sensitive information a testament to medicine’s evolving nature. During this time I also familiarised myself with the doctor’s routine, in particular noting the characteristics required for good practice such as; leadership, confidence, and integrity. I believe I have displayed these characteristics during my volunteering experiences, having being responsible for safeguarding and communicating patient’s concerns, and during my academic studies where I was responsible for organising group