Andrew Polites

Andrew Polites

Medical Resident/Fellow

Professional Summary

Personal Statement
My first experience in medicine was a mixed one. During my undergraduate education, I was trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life, so I decided to shadow a doctor to see if the field appealed to me. My first experience rounding on patients was going perfectly fine until out of nowhere I suddenly felt lightheaded and needed to excuse myself. In my embarrassment, I realized that I was fulfilling the classic trope of the student who passes out in front of the doctor, only I had not seen anything unsettling to cause my dizziness. To this day, I am not exactly sure what happened, but I have a working theory: I was so excited that I finally knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, that the resulting surge of emotion was too much for me to handle. Whatever the cause, I left that hospital with a dream in mind, and have been on the path to achieve it since. Internal Medicine encompasses all the things I love about medicine. The longitudinal care of patients over time, the broad scope of treatment and responsibility, and the personal interaction and involvement with patients themselves. But above all, medicine allows you to the opportunity to have lasting impact on the lives of others, and when I see patients on the path towards healing, I get that feeling from all those years ago.
 
Why I Chose Cincinnati
I chose Cincinnati for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, I was sure from my interview day that this program would mold me into an excellent doctor. In talking to the program director, attendings, and residents, our conversations went so much further than surface level. I could tell that they would support me, my career ambitions, my mental health, and make my residency an excellent experience. Moreover, their curriculum and scheduling make it ideal for pursuing a fellowship which I hope to do. Lastly, the city of Cincinnati is an amazing and fun environment with lots of opportunity to lead an active life outside of the hospital.