Medicine Personal Statement Examples – King’s College London (Azzra)

Stepping into the bustling catheter lab confirmed my careful consideration to pursue a career in medicine. A patient had an allergic reaction to the dye inserted, a situation which may seem frantic and alarming to an outsider, but the opposite to the doctors involved due to the communication and teamwork skills that they had. I was inspired by the nature of the team, calm and collected when managing the risk and dealing effectively with the unforeseen circumstance. This experience drew me to a career in medicine, as I saw first hand, the stimulating and problem solving nature is used constructively to treat a patient, using discussion and cooperation skills throughout each challenge.

 In order to gauge a realistic idea of life in medicine, I completed work experience and volunteering in both primary and secondary care settings. In paediatrics, I observed a team of doctors analyse the care for each patient, exercising their teamwork skills. They adapted their persona when talking to younger patients and reassured the parents, demonstrating the importance of holistic care of patients, by establishing a good doctor-patient relationship. To ensure I worked on these important qualities, I participated in a student led volunteering trip to Uganda, which allowed myself to be put into an unfamiliar situation and work with peers to teach primary school children enabling me to make connections with the students despite a verbal barrier. This was similar to a challenge I had overcome during volunteering at a neurodisability home, which initially was intimidating due to the nature of the residents’ conditions. However, through bonding using nonverbal communication in activities like cooking, I was able to maintain a lasting relationship with the residents. At a cardiac clinic,  I recognised the realities of medicine when the distress of a patient brought him to tears during the consult. The sadness of the patient highlighted to me the need to be compassionate in difficult situations, which I worked on during volunteering, knowing that even a short chat to a patient can make a difference to their day.

At a GP surgery, I had extensive exposure to the importance of communication as I observed the GPs take histories of patients, where I learnt that listening to details of a story is vital as well as ensuring that clear instructions are given. I worked on my communication skills in my role as a House Official, where I interact and work with younger peers listening to their needs and boosting team morale. I enjoy this role as it enables me to hone my public speaking and leadership qualities, essential to a career as a medical professional. 

A case of an aortic dissection I saw sparked my interest, leading me to conduct extensive research and present at my school’s MedSoc, which required me to explore outside my curriculum, furthering my analytical skills to provide information at an understandable level to 6th form students. My curiosity in science is shown through participating in the Biology Olympiad and further in medicine by attending masterclasses at the University of Cambridge.

My extracurricular activities include playing flute at grade 5 level, which improves my organisation and manual dexterity, as well as going to the gym regularly, maintaining a healthy work life balance. I also have an interest in politics, leading me to read articles from the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. In Uganda, I realised the global need for improving healthcare resources in less developed areas further cementing my passion, knowing I could use my scientific knowledge and skills in any environment. 

I believe I encompass the skills needed to be a compassionate doctor as I have a realistic perception of the challenges this career brings alongside the rewards. Working as a doctor will be constantly stimulating and ever changing which is an exciting prospect I wish to pursue, while making a difference to the lives around me.