Professional Summary
Personal Statement
I drift weightlessly, and my eyes land on one bright coral head. At first glance, yellow fish flit in and out of the sea fans that sway in the current. My focus narrows onto this singular coral head, and my awareness expands, revealing a rich marine network. A moray eel opens and closes its jaws from the shadows of its lair. A cleaner shrimp does its sweeping rounds on a fleshy sea anemone. A partially buried stingray burrows into the sand for more comprehensive camouflage. Scuba diving ignites a sense of curiosity for the beauty of the world around me. Each patient's presentation is like this unique ecosystem. As I embark on my journey as a future internal medicine resident, I am committed to approaching each patient's case with meticulous care and unwavering curiosity, noting their distinct needs, personal values, medical history, and cultural context. My awareness of the dynamic between culture and medicine sharpened during my rotations on the Navajo reservation, particularly concerning language. In Navajo culture, they believe words possess the power to shape outcomes. Consequently, I found myself delicately balancing the use of indirect speech to honor their culture while ensuring that my questions still gathered essential information.
Why I Chose Cincinnati
In choosing my residency placement, it was clear that returning home to Cincinnati was the natural decision for me as a Cincinnati native. The University of Cincinnati's commitment to continual learning, embodied in its growth mindset culture resonated deeply with my own personal and professional philosophy. I firmly believe that medicine is a field that demands perpetual growth and learning. UCMC's focus on cultivating a learning environment where residents are encouraged to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and persevere towards progress over perfection aligned seamlessly with my aspirations as a future physician.