Personal Application Statement by Shaun Prakash Patel

I could smell the familiar scent of spring around the corner. This time of year was my favorite, as it signified the beginning of my high school’s tennis season. I was a sophomore and this would be my first year on the varsity team. At the end of the initial weeks of practice, I raced home in anticipation of my first match the following day.

When I returned home, I was surprised to find my mother in an unusually solemn state. Her physician had found large masses on her ovaries through an ultrasound scan, but could not confirm whether they were malignant. Instead, he had drawn some blood to test for a substance, CA-125, that could indicate if the masses were malignant. The results would not be available until the following day. My stomach sank at the news and I was held speechless. I had always thought that nothing could ever happen to my mother. The next day I went to school, but in order to be with my family as we waited for the test results, I decided to miss the tennis match. Up to that point, I had never thought that anything could take my mind off the tennis season. However, my teenage, self-centered perspective quickly changed into a realization that there are few things in life more important than health.

Since the blood test results turned out to be inconclusive, the physician ordered for a surgical procedure to remove the masses so that a pathologist could then determine if they were indeed malignant. From talking with and being around my mother, I began to understand how it felt to be a patient. As her operation approached, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, I could sense her fear and anxiety. This stressful situation was made tremendously easier by the dedication of her physicians. They carefully explained the details of the operation, answered any of our questions, and, most importantly, proved to be the strongest source of support and encouragement for our family. Eventually, we were overjoyed to learn that the masses were non-malignant ovarian cysts. This entire experience strengthened my then nascent desire to become a physician and to acquire the knowledge to appropriately diagnose and treat illnesses. Equally important, it also showed me the crucial role that physicians’ attitudes can play in medical care. Their clear communication, compassionate support, and positive determination are essential elements in helping patients and families deal with difficult situations.

With a now increased motivation for medicine, I began to get involved in a number of health related activities early on in my college career. My volunteer experience in a physical therapy clinic was particularly rewarding. I spent my time assisting patients with their movement and coordination exercises. I was struck by how these simple exercises could so significantly impact patients’ ability to regain their motor skills. Witnessing the patients’ efforts toward rehabilitation made me look at activities like walking and sitting as precious gifts that I could no longer take for granted. As I continued volunteering, caring for other people’s health became an increasingly passionate goal of mine.

While volunteering in the physical therapy clinic, I came across a few patients who were on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Until then, I was oblivious to the realities, challenges, and frustrations of these increasingly long waiting lists. I was also surprised by the low number of organ donor registrants at the University of Michigan. This realization prompted me to take action and establish the University of Michigan’s chapter of Students for Organ Donation. I served as President and within a year, we helped register over 7,000 new organ donors. Even though it was hard to exactly measure the impact of this initiative, I knew in my heart that even if only one of our new organ donors is able to match with a patient in need, it is well worth our time and efforts.

My experiences up to this point allowed me to recognize the importance of observing physicians in action in order to better understand the nature, challenges, and rewards of medical practice. As a result, I created a shadowing program for Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-medical honor society of which I was a member. As the program’s Chairman, I worked to create mechanisms to facilitate structured shadowing opportunities for the society’s members. I also took full advantage of these wonderful opportunities by shadowing nine different physicians for more than 125 total hours. These interactions expanded my knowledge of medicine as a science and provided an initial, fascinating introduction to the various specialties. Perhaps most importantly, by watching physicians and patients interact, I developed a deeper appreciation for the physician-patient relationship and the unique perspective that each party brings.

Ultimately, the combination of these experiences has solidified my resolve to become a physician. They have led me to choose this career path which I am eager and excited to pursue. I feel prepared and personally committed to embark on this journey and look forward to becoming a physician.

Read the students’ personal application statements:
Fasika Aberra
Lindsay Brown
Ronald Romero