"The good doctor treats the disease; the great doctor treats the patient with the disease.

” That was my
main motto during the clinical rotations at my medical school. My curiosity about medicine started as a
child when I used to accompany my grandmother to the hospital to see her doctor. I was so amazed to
see the trust she had built in him; she admired him, complimented him, saying he listened to her
problems and had this ability to simplify the situation and make her feel better, even in her distress.
Since then, I have wondered if I could ever be like him. It became clear as I started my clinical rotation in
Internal Medicine and gained insights into the indispensable patient-physician relationship. A doctor can
not only treat and manage a patient's disease but also understand and appreciate them as human
beings. I want to be a doctor who sees and treats patients holistically.

As a third-year medical student, I was drawn toward Internal Medicine as I began my clinical rotation. It
was amazing to learn about the diversity and complexity of cases in medicine, how every single patient
was a medical puzzle, and that it took the concerted and deep collaboration of an entire team of
healthcare providers to come to a suitable consensus on patient management. During my internship, I
experienced the intricate thought process involved in treating patients with multiple comorbidities and
the energy and compassion needed for patient care rather than just the disease process. I had very
inspiring attending physicians and residents who served as my mentors. They taught me the essence of
evidence-based medicine and compassionate patient care. It was very inspiring to see patients on the
verge of dying recover after spending a few days in the ICU. When we no longer had any curative
interventions to offer patients, I learned that acknowledging the patient's suffering and being present
for them in their most vulnerable time can ease their pain. These lessons and the satisfaction of
managing complex cases with a dedicated team have merged my interest in internal medicine.

The most rewarding aspect of my rotation was interacting with patients on a deeper level so that I could
connect to their stories and know who they were. For example, this 55-year-old man presenting with
the features of acute liver failure landed in the ICU as he was trying to cut down on the expenses to self-
cure his diabetes by using some herbal extract instead of insulin. Knowing this about the patient made
me provide treatment alternatives that were effective but low cost and reduced the economic burden to
some extent. My curiosity and patience in learning about the patient's background helped me to
strengthen my patient relationships, develop critical thinking and treat the patient better.

As a front-line member of the COVID management team at Rangeli district hospital and Koshi zonal
hospital, I help deliver treatment in isolation units, fever clinics, and the intensive care unit. Lack of
adequate human resources and personal protective equipment, lack of sleep, long working hours, stress,
separation from friends and family, fear of contracting COVID, and witnessing the untimely loss of life
were very challenging to overcome. However, these have instilled in me a spirit of teamwork, resilience,
time management skills, communication, and the capacity to use limited resources efficiently.
These characteristics form the foundation of who I am and helped me feel ready to embark on the new
road toward my Internal Medicine residency.

I also enjoy teaching. During my internship, I often taught my junior students about different cases with
bedside manners and physical examinations. Likewise, while serving as a medical officer in the district
hospital, I enjoyed tutoring the community health workers for better mother and child health care in
rural areas. I believe it helps to communicate my skills and experience and builds up my curiosity to
learn more and more and contribute to the community for effective health care.

I am keen to join a residency program that will empower me to continue developing my medical skills
and personal character, as well as strengthen patient-physician relationships to the fullest. The Internal
Medicine residency program at your institution……. is alluring, including its outstanding academic
reputation, protected academic days, work-life balance, the chance to engage in research, the clinical
curriculum, and fellowship opportunities. This program is appropriate for me because of the firm
foundation of Internal Medicine expertise and the possibility of developing the skills necessary for
lifetime learning through academic experiences and research.

My career goals include engaging in active clinical practice and medical education. I look forward to
conducting Internal Medicine research to keep up with the recent advancement in diagnostic
capabilities and treatment of medical conditions. I will devote myself to the journey of a better health
care system with profound patient-physician relationships and a strong desire to become a doctor who
treats patients holistically.