From Baking to Bedside

During my weekly baking attempts, I gather the ingredients to bake delicious brownies and cookies, and my mom joins me, sharing exhilarating stories of her career as an ICU nurse. I love to learn from her vast medical knowledge and admire how easily she connects with patients. This frequent routine of seeing my mom's joy and passion for her job encouraged me to pursue being a doctor. 

I began volunteering at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center to implement this mission. Here, I was anxious to work in a new environment but soon came to love the teamwork and collaboration within the hospital. Volunteering allowed me to be the first point of contact for patients and families. I performed many tasks, such as transporting wheelchair users, directing and guiding visitors to the patient rooms, delivering patient items, and coordinating events for Kaiser employees. Once, while I was bringing a gift to a patient's room, I observed a nurse inserting an IV in a patient. The patient was nervous about the needle, but the nurse was gentle and made him laugh. She explained the procedure and the steps she was performing, and the patient became visibly more relaxed. Seeing this nurse help a patient in such a vulnerable moment struck me. Her kindness and patience at this moment were inspiring as they taught me that my demeanor and actions can help someone else build trust with me. I was reminded of baking with my mom – it wasn't always easy when I missed a step or the dessert didn't turn out as expected, but by persevering, I could make something beautiful. I wanted to have that same effect on patients by working diligently to make them feel comfortable under my care and having them know I genuinely care for their well-being and health.

Although I was learning new skills from the nurses I worked with, I realized I was building upon these skills I learned while being Red Cross Secretary. Under this position, I helped with blood drives and assisted and comforted nervous students who were first-time donors. In preparation for the blood drive, the phlebotomists taught us how to look for any warning signs of fainting after donating blood, which proved helpful as we could recognize and assist students who may pass out. Knowing that donating blood can be a scary experience, I directed myself to converse with the donors so we could create an open and comfortable environment. Holding the hands of the donors as they donated and having conversations with them settled the nervous atmosphere. Instead, it became a place where they could focus on positively impacting their community. Watching the compassionate nurse make her patients more comfortable and being able to apply that to student donors at my school further fueled my desire to be a doctor.

As an immigrant from India, my mom is constantly upset by the unfortunate healthcare inequities she often sees patients of color endure, especially when people are unable to get the treatment they need. Recognizing the limitations of the healthcare system encourages me to be active on campus as a medical student so I can be a better advocate for others. Utilizing the resources offered at the school, I will strive for excellence and discover and create improved methods of administering patient care. 

A physician is a profession designed entirely around helping others – a trait that makes up every aspect of who I am. Through volunteering and working as Red Cross Secretary, I was able to advance the communication, professionalism, teamwork, and interpersonal skills I need to become a doctor. The relationships I developed through these experiences have enriched my compassion, kindness, and patience, allowing me to build fruitful relationships with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. My passion for medicine is continuous as I strive to impact patients' lives positively, and I'm prepared to overcome the rigors and challenges of medical school as I aim to achieve this goal.