I am a foreign-trained medical doctor with interest and clinical competence in delivering the full scope of care to patients within the Yale New Haven Hospital Internal Medicine program. My difficult childhood days in rural Ethiopia, where healthcare was scarce, have led me on the path of medicine, paving the way with great enthusiasm to redress health disparities and be involved in medical education.
Childhood memories from my birthplace in rural Ethiopia, where I grew up under the constant threat of numerous diseases such as malaria and leishmania, gave me a deep curiosity for knowledge and a passion for health care. With so many malarial attacks personally undergone, I was stimulated by the endless urge to understand and solve what caused all of this nightmare. A lack of health education in our primary school and the absence of preventive measures against everyday diseases strengthened my desire to become a doctor. Equipping communities with simple innovations and creating public health consciousness would lead to widespread positive change. This memoir serves as the framework for my drive to medicine, driving me towards a career committed mainly to enhancing accessibility, including education in underserved populations.
I pursued my academic career at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and graduated with a medical doctorate. Later, I pursued my specialization in Nuclear Medicine through a Specialty Program at Addis Ababa University and Instituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS-Fondazione, located within Ethiopia of Napoli. This specialized training gave me a specific skill set, such as knowledge of nuclear medicine imaging PET and SPECT, thus enhancing my perception of diagnostic agents.
As a General Practice Physician in Ayu Internal Medicine Specialty Clinic, I, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, treated and followed 35 patients. I worked closely with laboratory and radiology technicians to ensure optimal patient care. Eventually, as the Medical Director for Tenta Primary Hospital, I oversaw clinical practices, placed a representative of clinics in management meetings, and organized outreach to satellite health facilities.
Moving to the United States, I became an ARMA-certified medical assistant and accepted a pharmacy technician job with CVS Health. At my current job at Mass General Brigham Primary Care, I perform triage, take and record vital signs, draw lab tests, and give injections. These experiences have improved my clinical competence and equipped me to deal with the dynamics of healthcare delivery.
It is not only in clinical settings that I show my community interest but also such things as Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters. In the MAGIC program, I am a volunteer who offers emotional support and participates in monthly activities that promote relationships among participants. It has helped to strengthen the need for comprehensive patient-centered care and community involvement.
Yale New Haven Hospital’s outstanding record in patient care, medical education, and research coincides perfectly with my career objectives. The one-month period covered by the Internal Medicine program is a rare opportunity to expose myself to an environment associated with perfection. This practice will not only develop my clinical eye but also provide me with an opportunity to learn state-of-the-art medical practices (Yuan et al., 2023). A transformative learning experience is guaranteed at this hospital due to its spectacular reputation. It solidifies my commitment to health service delivery excellence and the addition of value in the field of internal medicine.
In conclusion, my life story, from rural Ethiopia to becoming an internationally trained medical doctor with many diverse clinical experiences and a strong will and commitment towards community participation, has honed me for challenges and opportunities awaiting in the future at Yale New Haven Hospital. I look forward to participating in the Internal Medicine program, working alongside outstanding professionals, and adding value to patient care.
Reference
Yuan, J., Zeng, X., Chen, Y., Lan, H., Cao, K., & Xiao, S. (2023). Narrative medicine in clinical internship teaching practice. Medical Education Online, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2023.2258000
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