Nephrology

Lamis Aoun

Thome

NSC 102

1/26/17

Goals Assignment

I knew I was always attracted to surgery, but never knew what specialty. I have always had a distinct interest in Nephrology since I was younger, being diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome since the age of 8. For years, I have been exposed to a hospital environment full of internal medicine; whether it being an out-patient or just coming in for my routinely 3 month checkups. I built relationships with the physicians within the specialty, those of which whom I witnessed nothing but passion and dedication from. I have been inspired to go into further research on this profession, discovering nothing but captivating information.

What makes this profession a good fit for me is I fully understand the pressure and stress it takes to become a physician. It could be very time consuming and challenging, taking into account the 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and possibly 5 years of residency I would have to go through. Bearing that in mind, I think I have what it takes to handle the obstacles that may come my way. I may not have taken on the toll of what a medical student has, but I have learned how to manage my time and take on certain responsibilities through leadership positions to feel confident enough in myself to see I have what it takes to learn and accumulate more positive traits to become a doctor.  I also love working with people. In my opinion I think I have the capability to handle myself in vulnerable situations that require me to be patient and empathetic.

What I have done already to prepare myself for my chosen profession is I already have health-care-related volunteer work. Throughout high school, not only was I highly involved in Key Club, one of the largest service programs, but I also volunteered at my local hospital. I worked in two departments, the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the Out-Patient Waiting Room. During my time volunteering, I acquired many skills and familiarized myself in a hospital setting. I worked at the front desk of a waiting room, taking families back to their recovering loved ones, generated schedules, filed papers, worked with wheelchair transport, stocked medical materials, and made sure nourishment stations were up to par. Volunteering at the hospital helped me improve my social skills, interacting with patients and families, a skill that is crucial to becoming a doctor. It allowed me connect to a diverse community and build ties. It gave me comfort to know I was making an impact on the community and potentially putting a smile on a face in need of solace. Currently I am volunteering at Sparrow Hospital in the Emergency Room. I think volunteering in this new department will give me more of a “shadowing” position, being that I will be in a busier environment, one that will give me more of the opportunity to interact with patients while doing rounds and witnessing medical traumas. What I plan to do in the future to prepare for a career in this profession is to continue to involve myself volunteer work, keep grades strong, and get clinical experience. By doing so, this will increase my chances in fulfilling my goal of being a physician.