Hello I am in the process of applying for family residency, and I want to express my sincere interest in the field of family medicine, what inspired me and why I believe I should be match in the program. I would also like mention some of the up and downs.
Why Family Medicine? It all started 28 years ago when Dr. Inyang became a part of my family. My first memory of medical practice; was shaped by our family physician, Dr. Inyang. I remembered each clinic and a home visit, even though it was not for my care. He knew all of us by name in addition to our health status. I always admired and been inspired by his work ethic.
Years later, after I had left home for medical school and begun living in the school dormitories, I fell ill. I decided to seek medical attention at the university clinic. I was pleasantly surprised to meet the same family physician whom I had admired so much. To my great surprise, he remembered my name, my family members, as well as the fact that I had begun medical school. I felt connected to him and relaxed enough to reveal all details of my health. In addition to my illness, we talked about my social life, medical school, and much more.
I was very gratified that I was treated holistically beyond my presenting
complaint. These encounters inspired my interest in Family Medicine. Over the years in medical school, I did not fixate on any particular specialty because I enjoyed learning about all disease entities and the associated clinical skills necessary to diagnose them in patients, irrespective of age, race, or gender. For this reason, I found Family Medicine to be a good fit for my interests.
During my clinical rotations in urban and rural hospitals, I learned that Family Medicine addresses the etiology and management of diseases and relates them to the patient’s fears and imagination of illness, degree of health, and expectations of treatment outcomes. While making home
visits with two other colleagues on my rural rotation, I met a blind seventy-year-old man cared for by a little boy about fourteen years of age. The man had not had any health contact for years and depended on traditional herbs more readily available in most villages in southern Nigeria.
I performed a general health check to view his living environment and arrange an appointment for him in the community hospital. I was also able to connect him with auxiliary healthcare workers and social workers
who would go to his home weekly and provide the necessary assistance. Building trust with this man and improving his health and living conditions was one of the most fulfilling moments in my rural rotation. At that point, I knew I wanted to care for patients as whole individuals irrespective of their age,
sex, socioeconomic class, or health condition.
I love the variety and the flexibility that the specialty of Family Medicine brings. I have been able to hone my communication skills with patients and colleagues during my primary healthcare experiences in different rural health centers back home in Nigeria, including the care of incarcerated inmates. I used my time as a volunteer physician at the prison to establish rapport and trust between inmates and other health care professionals and foster continuity of care. Also, I have used my experience as a pharmacy technician in the United States to build trust with patients who come in to fill their
prescriptions.
With my love for humanity and fostering good health, not just as the absence of disease but as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, I am convinced that training in Family Medicine will give me a chance to promote humanity in medicine in addition to gaining a sound foundation in the knowledge and skills required to be a good and well-rounded doctor. I would love the opportunity to train in a program with a patient population of diverse cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds with excellent
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hope this letter finds you well. My name is Ejiofor Achalu. I graduated from the University of Uyo College of Health Science in Nigeria in 2013, and have been a United States citizen since 2015. I am applying for residency in the 2021-2022 application cycle, and I am writing to express my interest in your Family Medicine Residency Program.
I have a strong interest in working with an underserved population. My specific areas of interest are Rural Medicine and Women’s Health/Obstetrics. My long-standing interest in Women’s Health and Obstetrics originates from my firsthand observation of how women of certain backgrounds may experience an unequal healthcare system.
I have seen this happen both in Nigeria as well as in the United States, and I hope to help bridge the gaps in health inequalities to bring about some form of health equity to women and individuals who live in areas that struggle with access to medicine.
After earning my medical degree in 2013, I worked in Nigeria as a General Physician for two years prior to moving to the United States. I started out as a pharmacy technician working at CVS, while volunteering at Boston Medical Center. I subsequently had the opportunity to be part of a clinical research team working on a project investigating “placenta immune defense against ZiKa Virus” under Dr. Wendy Kuohung in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston Medical Center. I worked as a lead research associate while actively observing clinical rotations in several other fields of medicine. I truly enjoyed my work there, and cherish the experience that I gained in that position.
I subsequently had the opportunity to serve as a medical extern at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey under the supervision of Dr. Adeoti, an Internist and GI Surgeon. In this role, I was able to obtain patient histories, practice my physical exam, develop differential diagnoses and treatment plans, and perform some clinical procedures under Dr. Adeoti’s supervision.
These hands-on clinical experiences and observations helped me build a basic, foundational knowledge of the US healthcare system, while keeping me motivated to continue my journey towards becoming a licensed physician in the US. I think the exposure to the various protocols, guidelines, and standards of care both here and in Nigeria have helped provide me with a view of how medicine is practiced globally. I plan to use these experiences to help me take a pragmatic approach when delivering healthcare to my patients in my own future practice.
I am very hardworking, resilient, and a great team player. I form productive professional relationships easily and have learned how to navigate the most complex team dynamics through my experiences as an intern in Nigeria and the various roles I have played as a team member here in the United States. I have overcome a variety of challenges so far, including the loss of my older brother at age 21, and adapting to a new life, culture, and continent while preparing for my medical boards. I have endured all of these things while caring for my elderly father who has been struggling with multiple illnesses. Despite these hurdles, I remain passionate about pursuing a career as a physician.
I have learned from some setbacks that I have encountered along the way; for example, during my preparations for the USMLE Step 2 CK/CS exams, I was working three jobs to help support my family in Nigeria. I was not aware that I could seek help for my particular challenges, and attempted to plough through the experience. I completed both CK and CS on my second attempt, and am happy to say that I passed both Step 1 and Step 3 on my first attempts. Following my challenges with Step 2, one of my objectives has been to spend time advising my mentees on how to approach these exams, with the hope that they do not struggle or make the same mistakes that I did.
I am writing to you today to ask for an opportunity to continue my path under the guidance of the residency program that you lead. I have read through your program’s website and would be honored to train with your accomplished residents and attendings. As I stated above, my goal is to gain the knowledge and skillset to care for women in underserved/underrepresented populations in a way that is complete and compassionate.
I believe I can learn how to do that at your program, and it would be a great privilege to contribute to the continuation of your program’s vibrant culture. I will always work hard to be an outstanding resident, representative, and a true ambassador of your program during my time with you and beyond the completion of my training.
Thank you so much for your kind consideration
I
