Personal Statement

I believe the challenges of the biomedical engineering curriculum have helped to prepare me for the rigors of medical school. I can best describe my interest in engineering in terms of a vehicle my father purchased for either my younger brother or me to drive: a rusted out, barely running 1978 Toyota FJ40. FJ40’s were utilitarian four-wheel drive vehicles to begin with, and this one had all its (few) creature comforts removed; it was essentially a rusty steel tub on wheels that did not even run. Over the past 9 months, while on a very restrictive budget, we managed to rebuild it into a road-worthy vehicle. The task was not easy—we designed and fabricated a new bumper in the dead of an Iowa winter, put together a new exhaust system, and rewired the electrical system, among many, many other things. Now, the vehicle is worthy of use as an everyday driver. So far, none of the limitations we have faced, be they cost, skill, or other, have been insurmountable. Through numerous creative solutions arising from a thorough understanding of mechanics, we managed to enhance the vehicle’s drivability and safety. The tenacity and hard work poured into that vehicle are but one example of the focus with which I pursue my passions, and I hope to carry this same ethic into medical school.

In present-day medicine, with ever-diminishing reimbursements for doctors, the need for lower-cost, yet high quality care is immediate. I believe the pragmatic application of science via engineering principles is highly applicable to the practice of medicine. I chose biomedical engineering as my major because it emphasizes the importance of understanding biological systems so that quality, viable solutions can be found for the patient. Initially, I was ...

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In essence, a career as a physician would reward me with patient interaction and immediate problem solving that may be difficult to experience in a biomedical engineering career. Having shadowed physicians in an emergency room for a substantial amount of time, I feel better informed of the time-consuming nature and emotional toll of working as a physician, especially in the smaller towns and rural areas that I would like to practice. Additional clinical experiences I have had, such as listening to a patient’s COPD or palpating their swollen liver, have only reinforced this desire. The enthusiasm with which I pursue my passions, which have ranged from competitive piano to my coursework, has provided me with the ability to focus my energies on attending medical school for a future career in clinical medicine. I will be driving the FJ40 this fall.