Internal Medicine Personal Statement

In May of 2019, I will graduate from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology. I then plan on participating in the National Institutes of Health Postbac IRTA program, where I intend on conducting clinical research for a year. Following my time at the National Institutes of Health, I plan on matriculating into a M.D. program or a M.D.-Ph.D. program. At this time, I wish to pursue internal medicine or physical medicine and rehabilitation. I am currently volunteering as a Rehab Therapy Technician at a local hospital in Columbia, Missouri and I work closely with the attending physiatrist. I am extremely attracted to physical medicine’s emphasis on improving the patient’s overall functioning,

Internal medicine excites me because it is extremely versatile and is not limited to one organ or medical problem. My experience as a volunteer has taught me the importance of being an exceptional healthcare professional. This lesson is something that I carry with me throughout my day-to-day life. I view myself as a young physician-scientist who is constantly trying to better himself.

My passion for science began at a very young age. I grew up infatuated with how innovative science was and I still believe that science is the driving force of American society to this day. My brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during my first year of middle school. I was so young at the time and I was not aware of the implications of his disease. Out of concern for my brother, I remember my younger self-asking questions about how he could be cured. When I was told that it was an illness that he would likely suffer from for the duration of his life, I turned to Google. It was during that time that I gained a wealth of knowledge about the endocrine system and I became obsessed with the wonders of the human body. This sparked my

Padilla’s lab has continuously challenged me to think beyond technical skills, and to understand the scientific process – forming a hypothesis, creating an experimental design, and interpreting results. I have learned that being a scientist is more than being in a lab. Effective communication of your work through presentations and writing is also essential in the scientific community. Moreover, I have experienced a tremendous amount of personal and intellectual growth as a result of my involvement with undergraduate research. I have developed a strong sense of persistence, and an eye for efficiency that allows me to effectively work through various challenges I face as young scientist. Training in the Padilla lab has allowed me to recognize that I thrive in collaborative environments, and that I truly enjoy learning upper level science. I also enjoy being able to apply the information I learn in my coursework while in my research lab, which subsequently enhances my understanding of the material. There were times in the past where I didn’t think there was a space for me in research. The skill sets, techniques, and opportunities that I have gained by participating as a research assistant in Dr. Padilla’s lab have equipped me with a wealth of knowledge, and the confidence I needed to foresee research in my future. I have been blessed with the opportunity to present my research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students