Medical Admission at a Government Hospital - Essay Example

Medical Admission It was seven in the morning at a government hospital in Medellin, Colombia. Dr. Isaza and I were getting prepared for the first surgery of the day. Unfortunately, it took me the longest to get ready because I kept touching things I was not supposed to touch before entering the operating room. Therefore, I had to start all over again several times washing my hands and putting on a new gown. When I finally got into the operating room, Dr. Isaza told me that this would be a routine appendectomy of a young girl named Catalina. It should take about an hour and a half to complete the surgery. The surgery went well and Dr. Isaza allowed me to put in the last stitch to close the incision. I was feeling very embarrassed because it took me the longest to scrub into surgery, so I decided that I needed to leave the surgery first to get a head start preparing for the next surgery. In addition, I wanted to grab a cup of coffee to help wake me up. I was still wearing the surgical hat and smock as I passed through the double doors of the entrance of the surgical wing. While I was passing through the doors, an older man approached me and asked if Catalina was okay. He had the look of worry and fear in his eyes. I did not know what to say because I was not a doctor. Before I could say anything, the rest of his family members, who were sitting on the chairs lining the hallway, got up and approached me. All of them with the same look of fear and concern asked me questions about Catalina. I was not sure if I should say anything, but I felt the need to say something to comfort them during what must have been the longest hour of their lives. I told them the operation went well and Catalina was going to be just fine. Their eyes and faces immediately became full of joy and happiness. They hugged me, thanked me, and the mother and grandmother even kissed me. That moment motivated me to become a physician. I had never felt anything like that before. It was at that moment when I made the final decision to serve the mankind by becoming a doctor. A month before traveling to South America to shadow my uncle for the summer, I had been volunteering at a hospital next to campus for about a year. This upscale hospital was conveniently located within walking distance from campus. I helped sterilize medical equipment. About two to three times a month I was allowed to observe surgeries from behind a window. With the passage of time, I started losing interest in going to the hospital because I was not having the patient contact that I was actually seeking. I started doubting whether I should really become a physician or not. I started thinking of other professions and that was a very hard time for me because I had never planned to adopt any other profession. My mind and soul were focused completely towards becoming a healthcare professional. However, the time was leading me to somewhere else, which I did not actually want. I started doubting my choice to become a physician because of my lack of interest in volunteering. My role at the hospital in Miami was just to sterilize the tools and to assist the doctor. Although I used to help the doctor in surgeries, shadowed various clinical rotations, and shadowed the doctor’s private practice, I was not having any sort of practical experience of surgeries. I knew that sterilizing medical equipment played a vital role in healthcare, but I found myself not wanting to go and volunteer. I felt like my lack of enthusiasm to volunteer at the hospital was a sign that medicine was not for me. I had been volunteering with various social organizations and soon realized my calling was to be around people helping them in whatever they needed helping in. I started to contemplate becoming a social worker. I talked with my family regarding the issue and told them about my plan to change my career path. I told them about my interests and plans regarding my changed choice of profession. They were surprised at my sudden change of heart, especially because they knew that I wanted to become a doctor even since childhood. My mother suggested me to visit my uncle, Dr. Isaza, who was a professor of surgery in Medellin, Colombia. She said that I might be able to experience more of the medical field, which would help me take a more informed decision about changing my major and choosing a different career path. I went to Colombia to meet my uncle. My uncle welcomed me and took care of me like a father. Dr. Isaza was the professor of surgery at one of the largest medical schools in Colombia located within a metropolitan city. He allowed me to take part in surgeries. I was able to attend medical school classes. I participated in various clinical rotations and went on rounds with my uncle as he visited his patients before and after the operations. He allowed me to follow all activities of his professional life. This went on for about two months. That summer I experienced more than I could have ever imagined. I did things that scared me, that amazed me, and that showed me what it meant to live a life of a health service provider. Two months shadowing my uncle removed all doubts I had about my decision to serve my community by becoming a doctor. I had never felt so sure about a decision in my life. I realized the meaning of becoming a doctor. Although my life has had many twists and turns that has postponed my entrance into the medical school, I never gave up and made the final decision to become a health care practitioner. Read More