essay on medicine in english

What is medicine? Why it’s so important to answer this question

Executive Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Director, African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science, University of Johannesburg

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What is medicine? We recognise it in all societies past and present. But the nature of medicine differs so greatly from place to place and time to time that it’s difficult to offer a single answer. So what is it that we see in common between a traditional healer’s throwing of bones and the cardiologist’s incisions?

One of the answers that often seems to be implicit in what we say and think about medicine is a curative thesis : medicine’s goal is to cure the sick. Curing the sick is the core medical competence, whose exercise is medicine’s core business.

But if the curative thesis is true, then most medicine throughout history – as well as much contemporary medicine – isn’t medicine at all. Much medicine was and is ineffective, or at best partially effective. The curative thesis leads to a dismissive attitude towards the past efforts upon which any current medicine is built, as well as failing to promote profitable collaboration between traditions.

A second idea is an inquiry thesis about medicine: although the goal of medicine is to cure, its core business is something quite different. It’s this thesis I explore in my latest article .

That “something” has to do with inquiring into the nature and causes of health and disease. The idea is that we don’t necessarily expect someone to be able to cure us. We will accept that they are a medical expert if they can show an understanding of our ailment, often by issuing an accurate prognosis. Perhaps they won’t have a complete understanding, but they should somehow be engaged with the larger project of inquiry into the nature and causes of health and disease.

The inquiry thesis offers a way to understand the history of medicine that makes it more than a tale of quackery and gullibility. It also provides a way to understand medical traditions that practised outside the West, or in the West in defiance of the mainstream. They may offer or at least engage with a project of obtaining; a kind of understanding that Western medicine cannot.

The inquiry model of medicine lays the ground for fruitful and respectful discussions between medical traditions that doesn’t descend into an untenable relativism about what works.

Towards understanding

The curative thesis faces a difficulty that I believe it cannot overcome.

We do not define an activity by its goal alone, unless it has at least some success in that respect. A blacksmith cannot be defined as one who makes horseshoes if he simply throws lumps of hot metal onto his anvil and hammers them randomly – occasionally producing something horseshoe-like, but more often producing a mess.

Yet, taking a historical perspective, something of this kind has been true of medicine for much of its history, before it developed a serious curative arsenal. Historian of medicine Roy Porter has remarked that

the prominence of medicine has lain only in small measure in its ability to make the sick well. This was always true, and remains so today.

What, then, could be the business of medicine – the thing in which we recognise expertise, even when we accept that there is no cure to be had?

This is where the inquiry model enters the picture. I propose that the business of medicine is understanding the nature and causes of health and disease, for the purpose of cure.

The core of the argument is simple: what could medical persons be good at doing, that relates to the goal of cure without achieving it? The most likely candidate is understanding. Understanding is something that we can gain without corresponding curative success.

Tackling objections

As with the curative thesis, there are several objections to the inquiry model. First, it is obvious that many doctors either don’t (fully) understand what they treat or, if they do, don’t (successfully) communicate this understanding to the patient. Who, then, understands? In what sense is the doctor’s competence understanding?

The answer is that understanding isn’t a binary. You can partially understand something. You can be one the road to understanding it better, by inquiring into it. Hence the inquiry model of medicine. The idea is not that medicine is a sack full of answers, but rather that it is an ongoing effort to find answers.

Another objection is that so-called understanding is often bogus, and that medicine is as unsuccessful in this regard as in cure. This fails to account for the historical record, which – at least for Western medicine –- is precisely a case of understanding without curative success.

And, just as false scientific theories have contributed to developing scientific understanding , so false medical theories have provided a foundation for what we now accept.

Medicine is an ancient and complex social phenomenon, variously seen as art, science and witchcraft. These visions share the goal of curing disease. But it is too crude to think medicine as only the business of curing, since in that case, few doctors would be in business.

The distinctive feature of medicine is that it tries to cure by obtaining some understanding of the nature and causes of health and disease: by inquiry, in short. This understanding of medicine permits a much healthier dialogue between proponents of different traditions, and enables a non-defensive perspective on areas where we remain sadly lacking in curative ability.

This is an edited, shortened version of an article that first appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, ‘The inquiry model of medicine’ , accompanied by a podcast available on the article’s page and also here .

• Medical history

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Writing a Medicine Essay: Guide, Types, Tips, and Topics

A medical essay is a written paper that is focused on a medical topic. It is mostly an essay written by medical students. Your instructor may assign this type of paper to gauge your understanding of a particular health issue. While it might seem simple, writing these essays is challenging, especially for first-timers. This is because they require scientific accuracy, clear undressing of the given topic, and clinical insights. In the essay, you are required to demonstrate your knowledge and skills of the various medical concepts and their application in the real world. This means that every claim and argument you make must be supported with scientific evidence.

If you are wondering how to write a medical essay, we will provide you with all the tips and steps you need to write a high-quality essay.

Different Types of Medical Essays

There are many types of medical essays you will come across in school that vary based on the purpose, subject matter, and formatting style. These are:

Argumentative Essays

These types of medical essays take a stance on medical issues and require the support of well-researched, accurate, and current information. An argumentative essay is usually assigned as a capstone project in your final years and requires lengthy and detailed research to establish your position on a topic.

When writing an argumentative medical essay, your goal should be to convince the readers to agree with your point of view by presenting a strong argument. Some of the topics you may cover include the impact of technology, the effectiveness of particular medical treatments, etc.

Compare and Contrast Essays

These types of essays deal with two or more subjects in a particular category of the medical field and compare their similarities and contrast their differences. Your instructor will assign a compare and contrast essay to challenge your analytical and comparative skills and see whether you can make meaningful arguments about a given topic.

Compare and contrast essays rely on factual analysis, so you must support all your arguments with sufficient scientific evidence. Additionally, it would be best if you used special transition words and phrases such as in comparison, by contrast, likewise, similarly, the same as, both, also, etc.

Expository Essays

Expository means intended to explain. This type of medical essay aims to explain a particular medical topic clearly and consciously. Expository essays require you to investigate a particular topic, evaluate the available evidence, expound on the claims, and explain a focused idea clearly.

Use accurate and current information from reliable sources when writing expository essays to ensure you provide well-structured, logical, and clear arguments.

Descriptive Medical Essays

This type of literature helps in communicating a particular information, for instance, a specific medical condition, treatment, theory or procedure, in a descriptive manner. Descriptive essays provide a comprehensive and effective description in a way that readers will feel like they are experiencing the subject firsthand.

To write descriptive essays, you must use words and phrases that pique curiosity to bring your narrative to life. Ensure you also integrate thoughts, feelings, smells, tastes and sounds into your essay.

Overall, descriptive medical essays help to provide an objective portrayal of a medical subject to help readers better and understand the complex topics in the medical world.

Overall, no matter which type of essay you are writing, there should be a clear and logical flow of information from one part of an essay to another.

Outline of a Medical Essay

Are you asking what are the parts of a medical essay?—the answer is simple. An essay on medicine must include the following parts: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.

Introduction

An introduction of a medical essay introduces your topic and provides some background information about the subject being discussed.

It also includes the reason for writing the essay and provides brief points of what you will cover in the body of the paper. An introduction should also include your thesis statement which offers a concise summary of your essay and state the claim you will be making in your paper.

Your introduction should be concise and quickly hook the readers to ensure they read the rest of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

The body section of your medical essay is where you delve into the main claim of your paper. It could have two supporting paragraphs or five. There is no limit to how many numbers of paragraphs you can write unless your professor provides a specific number.

When supporting your thesis statement with multiple sources, the best thing to do is to have only one paragraph per idea and source cited. For instance, if you are writing an argumentative medical essay, one paragraph should provide a single aspect of your arguments supported by credible evidence.

The conclusion of your medical essay should provide a summary of what you have discussed in the body of your paper. It contains three sections:

• A restatement of your thesis statement without using the exact wording.
• General conclusions and state why your essay is essential.
• The final part brings everything together clearly and concisely to show readers you have understood the topic under discussion.

Avoid bringing in any new information in the conclusion section of your paper. The goal here is to provide readers with a closure.

Use the following format to organize your essay:

1. Introduction

• Background information
• Thesis statement

2. Body Paragraphs

1. First point

• Introduction statement.
• Supporting evidence (facts, statistics, etc).
• Conclusion statement transitioning to the next paragraph.

2. Second point

• Supporting evidence (facts, statistics, etc.).

3. Third point

3. Conclusion

• Restatement of the thesis statement.
• General conclusion.
• Closing statement.

This is just a basic outline you can follow when writing your medical essay. Depending on the type of essay you are writing, you may need to include some information.

Steps for Writing a Great Medical Essay

Follow these steps when writing your medical essay. Remember, there are no right or wrong ways to write an essay. It can be a messy process as long as you ensure that there is a good flow of information.

Read the Assignment Prompt

Writing a high-quality health and medicine essay requires that you first understand your instructors' expectations. Therefore, begin by reading the prompt given, which will have all the information about the rules, guidelines and instructions that you must follow.

How well you write an essay can differentiate a high-quality medical essay from a low-quality paper. Your instructor will expect you incorporate relevant scientific evidence in your essay and demonstrate an understanding of it to show that you possess the right knowledge about the medical field.

Your instructor will also want to see whether you can accurately dissect the chosen topic into different components and explain it well to the readers.

So, by reading and understanding what is expected, you can clearly articulate your facts and express your ideas.

Chose a Great Medical Essay Topic

To write a great medical essay topic, you must choose an interesting topic that will be easy to write about. There are various interesting topics for medical essays that you can choose from, which range from various subjects in medicine.

Choose a topic that you are familiar with or one you will be able to write about. There are various interesting topics for a medical essay which you can choose from for your paper.

In addition to choosing an interesting topic, ensure you keep the following in mind:

• The topic of your choice should be relevant to the assignments.
• Think about the scope of the paper. Will you be writing about a specific medical topic or discussing medicine in general?

Once you have chosen a topic, research to locate information about it, begin by writing down what you already know about the topic, and then use that to develop probing questions such as why, what if, etc.

Identify keywords that are related to your topic, as they will help in locating specific information. At this point, it’s important to do background research about the topic to ensure that there is enough to write about it. Doing this will help you achieve a basic understanding of the chosen topic before delving deeper, which means you can formulate the topic and broaden or narrow it.

Conduct Research

Doing thorough research lays the foundation for a high-quality essay, as you will have sufficient information to take a critical approach to the chosen topic. So, go through the different types of scientific literature, such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, to find scientific articles. These resources are credible and will give you the information needed to write a high-quality essay.

Remember, a medical essay seeks to understand your understanding of scientific knowledge and evidence acquired both in theory and practice. So, to be able to demonstrate this knowledge, you must have relevant, accurate information from a variety of credible sources.

Please note that there are two types of research you can conduct depending on the topic. Primary and secondary research. Primary research is where you collect information firsthand through methods such as interviews, questionaries etc. Secondary research, on the other hand, is where you obtain information from information collected by other researchers, such as books, journals, etc. This is the most common form of research because it saves you time, money, and energy, unlike primary research.

Create an Outline

Like other types of essays, your medical essay should have an outline that organizes your thoughts and ideas before writing. Your outline should tell readers what your essay will cover and ensure you prevent a clear and well-structured argument. In other words, your outline is a roadmap. When you get stuck during the writing process, it will help you get right back on track.

As mentioned, your medical essay outline has three main parts: Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Some of the tips that can help you create a good outline for your essay on medicine.

• Begin by first writing several ideas that you intend to include in your essay on medicine. Think of these ideas as the skeleton of your paper.

Begin Drafting

Now that you have prepared adequately for the topic at hand, you can start writing. Start by writing your introduction, which begins with a hook to capture the reader's attention, followed by some background information about the topic, and then a thesis presentation.

However, if you want to capture all ideas and ensure you write an engaging introduction, write it after. There is no right or wrong way to do this, as long as your introduction achieves its intended purpose.

When writing the body paragraphs, ensure you support your ideas with accurate information from reliable sources. Include both in-text citations and a reference list or bibliographic section at the end of the paper.

For every piece of evidence you provide, ensure you expound on it and connect it to your ideas under the paragraph and to the overall argument. Do this by explaining, interpreting and expanding on your evidence. If you are providing a counterargument, debunk the evidence provided.

Ensure you have included as much information as possible to ensure the readers get a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Revise and Edit Your Draft

Revising refers to looking at the essay from a fresh perspective. It is an ongoing process involving reviewing the arguments, evidence and presentations. Learning how to revise an essay will ensure that your essay meets all the criteria for medical paper writing and that it has addressed all the necessary points. Based on the revisions, you could alter or rewrite the ideas or arguments of your essay.

Editing, on the other hand, refers to improving the appearance of your essay by correcting grammar, spelling and function errors. The goal is to make your essay as clear and effective as possible.

When revising and editing, pretend to be one of your readers. Ask yourself whether you are satisfied with what you are reading.

Read your medical essay out loud to pick out any problems with unity and coherence. As you read, check for clarity and a good flow of your ideas. Check for areas that are confusing and redundant and ensure you correct them.

Medical Essay Topics

Here is a list of medical essay topics you can borrow to write your essay.

Argumentative Medical Essay Topics

• Is universal healthcare a fundamental right or a financial burden?
• The Gender Bias in Medical Research and Treatment: How It Affects Women’s Health
• Should people be compelled to donate their organs after death?
• Are Vaccines necessary for public health or an infringement on personal freedoms?
• Is medical marijuana a viable treatment option or a gateway drug?
• How can society break the barriers to seeking mental health treatment?
• Is obesity a result of personal choices or environmental factors?
• What can be done to combat this growing threat of antibiotic resistance
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) foods: Are they safe?
• Euthanasia: Is it compassionate or a violation of human dignity?
• Alternative medicine vs. conventional medicine: Which is more effective in overall health?
• Is low-fat better than low-carb?
• Negative Effects of Total Isolation on Physical and Mental Health.
• Mental Health Benefits Associated with Physical Activity.

Expository Medical Essay Topics

• Risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients receiving red blood cell transfusion.
• What causes HIV/AIDS stereotypes?
• Challenges of precision medicine
• What are the ethics of genetics testing?
• The need for government intervention in negotiating drug prices
• Addressing health disparities among the African community.
• Mental health stigma is the barrier to seeking treatment.
• Implications of fast food joints.
• Role of education in promoting healthy eating habits among teenagers.
• Use of stem cells for cancer treatment.
• Incorporating alternative medicine into modern medicine.
• Controversy in the American healthcare system.

Descriptive Medical Essay Topics

• The importance of preventative medicine in maintaining good health.
• Importance of genetics in influencing the development of diseases.
• The impact of lifestyle choices on overall health and well-being.
• What's the link between mental health and physical health?
• The benefits of integrative medicine in treating chronic health conditions.
• The role of proper nutrition in preventing and treating illnesses.
• The effects of stress on the body and strategies for managing stress.
• The use of technology in healthcare delivery and an improving patient outcome.
• What are the challenges of healthcare access for low-income populations?
• Ethical considerations in end-of-life care and decision making.
• Benefits and drawbacks of health technology.

Compare and Contrast Medical Essays

• Western medicine vs traditional Chinese medicine.
• Conventional medicine vs. Alternative medicine.
• A holistic approach to health and wellness compared to allopathic medicine.
• Examine the benefits and drawbacks of prescription medications versus natural remedies for chronic health conditions.
• Preventive medicine vs. Reactive medicine.
• Health insurance: public vs. private.
• Generic drugs vs. brand name drugs.
• Assisted living vs. nursing homes.
• Telemedicine vs. in-person appointments.
• Change in lifestyle vs mental health medication.
• UK vs Us: Mental health treatment.
• Hospital patient care vs at-home patient care.

Tips for Writing a Good Medical Essay

Vary the length of the sentences.

Long sentences can be monotonous and lull readers to sleep. It is important to mix your essay with short sentences to make the readers feel like they are reading natural speech. This will persuade readers to stay invested in your essay's message.

Use Active Voice

The active voice is more direct and makes your health and medical essay easier to read, especially if you are writing about a complex topic. It creates a stronger and more direct tone that captures and maintains the reader's interest, which is important, especially when trying to convince readers about a particular topic.

Use Vivid Verbs

Use vivid verbs instead of weak verbs, which will just clutter your essay and make it difficult for readers to understand the messages. Vivid verbs help paint a clear picture of the topic, thus making your arguments more persuasive.

Final Word on Writing Medical Essays

It could be an essay about healthcare policy, the pathophysiology of a certain disorder (autism, genetic disorders, or chronic disorders), medical processes, or healthcare issues. Once you are assigned to write an essay on medicine topics, you need to take the steps we have outlined above. Go through the pre-writing, writing, and post-writing steps above and see for yourself your capabilities.

Remember, a great medical essay involves following a clear structure and incorporating clear arguments supported by information from reliable sources. By following the above steps and tips, you can write a great medical essay that communicates your ideas and provides insights into complex subjects in medicine.

If you are stuck and need a professional writer to handle your paper, you can trust our medicine writers. These astute writers are experienced in research writing and have a background in medicine. Sign up, place an order, and get everything done within the shortest turnaround time.

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10 Successful Medical School Essays

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-- Accepted to: Harvard Medical School GPA: 4.0 MCAT: 522

Sponsored by A ccepted.com : Great stats don’t assure acceptance to elite medical schools. The personal statement, most meaningful activities, activity descriptions, secondaries and interviews can determine acceptance or rejection. Since 1994, Accepted.com has guided medical applicants just like you to present compelling medical school applications. Get Accepted !

I started writing in 8th grade when a friend showed me her poetry about self-discovery and finding a voice. I was captivated by the way she used language to bring her experiences to life. We began writing together in our free time, trying to better understand ourselves by putting a pen to paper and attempting to paint a picture with words. I felt my style shift over time as I grappled with challenges that seemed to defy language. My poems became unstructured narratives, where I would use stories of events happening around me to convey my thoughts and emotions. In one of my earliest pieces, I wrote about a local boy’s suicide to try to better understand my visceral response. I discussed my frustration with the teenage social hierarchy, reflecting upon my social interactions while exploring the harms of peer pressure.

In college, as I continued to experiment with this narrative form, I discovered medical narratives. I have read everything from Manheimer’s Bellevue to Gawande’s Checklist and from Nuland’s observations about the way we die, to Kalanithi’s struggle with his own decline. I even experimented with this approach recently, writing a piece about my grandfather’s emphysema. Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love. I have augmented these narrative excursions with a clinical bioethics internship. In working with an interdisciplinary team of ethics consultants, I have learned by doing by participating in care team meetings, synthesizing discussions and paths forward in patient charts, and contributing to an ongoing legislative debate addressing the challenges of end of life care. I have also seen the ways ineffective intra-team communication and inter-personal conflicts of beliefs can compromise patient care.

Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love.

By assessing these difficult situations from all relevant perspectives and working to integrate the knowledge I’ve gained from exploring narratives, I have begun to reflect upon the impact the humanities can have on medical care. In a world that has become increasingly data driven, where patients can so easily devolve into lists of numbers and be forced into algorithmic boxes in search of an exact diagnosis, my synergistic narrative and bioethical backgrounds have taught me the importance of considering the many dimensions of the human condition. I am driven to become a physician who deeply considers a patient’s goal of care and goals of life. I want to learn to build and lead patient care teams that are oriented toward fulfilling these goals, creating an environment where family and clinician conflict can be addressed efficiently and respectfully. Above all, I look forward to using these approaches to keep the person beneath my patients in focus at each stage of my medical training, as I begin the task of translating complex basic science into excellent clinical care.

In her essay for medical school, Morgan pitches herself as a future physician with an interdisciplinary approach, given her appreciation of how the humanities can enable her to better understand her patients. Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient’s humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

This narrative distinguishes Morgan as a candidate for medical school effectively, as she provides specific examples of how her passions intersect with medicine. She first discusses how she used poetry to process her emotional response to a local boy’s suicide and ties in concern about teenage mental health. Then, she discusses more philosophical questions she encountered through reading medical narratives, which demonstrates her direct interest in applying writing and the humanities to medicine. By making the connection from this larger theme to her own reflections on her grandfather, Morgan provides a personal insight that will give an admissions officer a window into her character. This demonstrates her empathy for her future patients and commitment to their care.

Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient's humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

Furthermore, it is important to note that Morgan’s essay does not repeat anything in-depth that would otherwise be on her resume. She makes a reference to her work in care team meetings through a clinical bioethics internship, but does not focus on this because there are other places on her application where this internship can be discussed. Instead, she offers a more reflection-based perspective on the internship that goes more in-depth than a resume or CV could. This enables her to explain the reasons for interdisciplinary approach to medicine with tangible examples that range from personal to professional experiences — an approach that presents her as a well-rounded candidate for medical school.

Disclaimer: With exception of the removal of identifying details, essays are reproduced as originally submitted in applications; any errors in submissions are maintained to preserve the integrity of the piece. The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this article.

-- Accepted To: A medical school in New Jersey with a 3% acceptance rate. GPA: 3.80 MCAT: 502 and 504

Sponsored by E fiie Consulting Group : “ EFIIE ” boasts 100% match rate for all premedical and predental registered students. Not all students are accepted unto their pre-health student roster. Considered the most elite in the industry and assists from start to end – premed to residency. EFIIE is a one-stop-full-service education firm.

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The tribulations I've overcome in my life have manifested in the compassion, curiosity, and courage that is embedded in my personality. Even a horrific mishap in my life has not changed my core beliefs and has only added fuel to my intense desire to become a doctor. My extensive service at an animal hospital, a harrowing personal experience, and volunteering as an EMT have increased my appreciation and admiration for the medical field.

At thirteen, I accompanied my father to the Park Home Animal Hospital with our eleven-year-old dog, Brendan. He was experiencing severe pain due to an osteosarcoma, which ultimately led to the difficult decision to put him to sleep. That experience brought to light many questions regarding the idea of what constitutes a "quality of life" for an animal and what importance "dignity" plays to an animal and how that differs from owner to owner and pet to pet. Noting my curiosity and my relative maturity in the matter, the owner of the animal hospital invited me to shadow the professional staff. Ten years later, I am still part of the team, having made the transition from volunteer to veterinarian technician. Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

As my appreciation for medical professionals continued to grow, a horrible accident created an indelible moment in my life. It was a warm summer day as I jumped onto a small boat captained by my grandfather. He was on his way to refill the boat's gas tank at the local marina, and as he pulled into the dock, I proceeded to make a dire mistake. As the line was thrown from the dock, I attempted to cleat the bowline prematurely, and some of the most intense pain I've ever felt in my life ensued.

Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

"Call 911!" I screamed, half-dazed as I witnessed blood gushing out of my open wounds, splashing onto the white fiberglass deck of the boat, forming a small puddle beneath my feet. I was instructed to raise my hand to reduce the bleeding, while someone wrapped an icy towel around the wound. The EMTs arrived shortly after and quickly drove me to an open field a short distance away, where a helicopter seemed to instantaneously appear.

The medevac landed on the roof of Stony Brook Hospital before I was expeditiously wheeled into the operating room for a seven-hour surgery to reattach my severed fingers. The distal phalanges of my 3rd and 4th fingers on my left hand had been torn off by the rope tightening on the cleat. I distinctly remember the chill from the cold metal table, the bright lights of the OR, and multiple doctors and nurses scurrying around. The skill and knowledge required to execute multiple skin graft surgeries were impressive and eye-opening. My shortened fingers often raise questions by others; however, they do not impair my self-confidence or physical abilities. The positive outcome of this trial was the realization of my intense desire to become a medical professional.

Despite being the patient, I was extremely impressed with the dedication, competence, and cohesiveness of the medical team. I felt proud to be a critical member of such a skilled group. To this day, I still cannot explain the dichotomy of experiencing being the patient, and concurrently one on the professional team, committed to saving the patient. Certainly, this experience was a defining part of my life and one of the key contributors to why I became an EMT and a volunteer member of the Sample Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The startling ring of the pager, whether it is to respond to an inebriated alcoholic who is emotionally distraught or to help bring breath to a pulseless person who has been pulled from the family swimming pool, I am committed to EMS. All of these events engender the same call to action and must be reacted to with the same seriousness, intensity, and magnanimity. It may be some routine matter or a dire emergency; this is a role filled with uncertainty and ambiguity, but that is how I choose to spend my days. My motives to become a physician are deeply seeded. They permeate my personality and emanate from my desire to respond to the needs of others. Through a traumatic personal event and my experiences as both a professional and volunteer, I have witnessed firsthand the power to heal the wounded and offer hope. Each person defines success in different ways. To know even one life has been improved by my actions affords me immense gratification and meaning. That is success to me and why I want to be a doctor.

This review is provided by EFIIE Consulting Group’s Pre-Health Senior Consultant Jude Chan

This student was a joy to work with — she was also the lowest MCAT profile I ever accepted onto my roster. At 504 on the second attempt (502 on her first) it would seem impossible and unlikely to most that she would be accepted into an allopathic medical school. Even for an osteopathic medical school this score could be too low. Additionally, the student’s GPA was considered competitive at 3.80, but it was from a lower ranked, less known college, so naturally most advisors would tell this student to go on and complete a master’s or postbaccalaureate program to show that she could manage upper level science classes. Further, she needed to retake the MCAT a third time.

However, I saw many other facets to this student’s history and life that spoke volumes about the type of student she was, and this was the positioning strategy I used for her file. Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA. Although many students have greater MCAT scores than 504 and higher GPAs than 3.80, I have helped students with lower scores and still maintained our 100% match rate. You are competing with thousands of candidates. Not every student out there requires our services and we are actually grateful that we can focus on a limited amount out of the tens of thousands that do. We are also here for the students who wish to focus on learning well the organic chemistry courses and physics courses and who want to focus on their research and shadowing opportunities rather than waste time deciphering the next step in this complex process. We tailor a pathway for each student dependent on their health care career goals, and our partnerships with non-profit organizations, hospitals, physicians and research labs allow our students to focus on what matters most — the building up of their basic science knowledge and their exposure to patients and patient care.

Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA.

Even students who believe that their struggle somehow disqualifies them from their dream career in health care can be redeemed if they are willing to work for it, just like this student with 502 and 504 MCAT scores. After our first consult, I saw a way to position her to still be accepted into an MD school in the US — I would not have recommended she register to our roster if I did not believe we could make a difference. Our rosters have a waitlist each semester, and it is in our best interest to be transparent with our students and protect our 100% record — something I consider a win-win. It is unethical to ever guarantee acceptance in admissions as we simply do not control these decisions. However, we respect it, play by the rules, and help our students stay one step ahead by creating an applicant profile that would be hard for the schools to ignore.

This may be the doctor I go to one day. Or the nurse or dentist my children or my grandchildren goes to one day. That is why it is much more than gaining acceptance — it is about properly matching the student to the best options for their education. Gaining an acceptance and being incapable of getting through the next 4 or 8 years (for my MD/PhD-MSTP students) is nonsensical.

-- Accepted To: Imperial College London UCAT Score: 2740 BMAT Score: 3.9, 5.4, 3.5A

My motivation to study Medicine stems from wishing to be a cog in the remarkable machine that is universal healthcare: a system which I saw first-hand when observing surgery in both the UK and Sri Lanka. Despite the differences in sanitation and technology, the universality of compassion became evident. When volunteering at OSCE training days, I spoke to many medical students, who emphasised the importance of a genuine interest in the sciences when studying Medicine. As such, I have kept myself informed of promising developments, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy. After learning about the role of HeLa cells in the development of the polio vaccine in Biology, I read 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' to find out more. Furthermore, I read that surface protein CD4 can be added to HeLa cells, allowing them to be infected with HIV, opening the possibility of these cells being used in HIV research to produce more life-changing drugs, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP). Following my BioGrad laboratory experience in HIV testing, and time collating data for research into inflammatory markers in lung cancer, I am also interested in pursuing a career in medical research. However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude. As the surgeon explained that the cancer had metastasised to her liver, I watched him empathetically tailor his language for the patient - he avoided medical jargon and instead gave her time to come to terms with this. I have been developing my communication skills by volunteering weekly at care homes for 3 years, which has improved my ability to read body language and structure conversations to engage with the residents, most of whom have dementia.

However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude.

Jude’s essay provides a very matter-of-fact account of their experience as a pre-medical student. However, they deepen this narrative by merging two distinct cultures through some common ground: a universality of compassion. Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

From their OSCE training days to their school’s Science society, Jude connects their analytical perspective — learning about HeLa cells — to something that is relatable and human, such as a poor farmer’s notable contribution to science. This approach provides a gateway into their moral compass without having to explicitly state it, highlighting their fervent desire to learn how to interact and communicate with others when in a position of authority.

Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

Jude’s closing paragraph reminds the reader of the similarities between two countries like the UK and Sri Lanka, and the importance of having a universal healthcare system that centers around the just and “world-class” treatment of patients. Overall, this essay showcases Jude’s personal initiative to continue to learn more and do better for the people they serve.

While the essay could have benefited from better transitions to weave Jude’s experiences into a personal story, its strong grounding in Jude’s motivation makes for a compelling application essay.

-- Accepted to: Weill Cornell Medical College GPA: 3.98 MCAT: 521

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Following the physician’s unexpected request, we waited outside, anxiously waiting to hear the latest update on my father’s condition. It was early on in my father’s cancer progression – a change that had shaken our entire way of life overnight. During those 18 months, while my mother spent countless nights at the hospital, I took on the responsibility of caring for my brother. My social life became of minimal concern, and the majority of my studying for upcoming 12th- grade exams was done at the hospital. We were allowed back into the room as the physician walked out, and my parents updated us on the situation. Though we were a tight-knit family and my father wanted us to be present throughout his treatment, what this physician did was give my father a choice. Without making assumptions about who my father wanted in the room, he empowered him to make that choice independently in private. It was this respect directed towards my father, the subsequent efforts at caring for him, and the personal relationship of understanding they formed, that made the largest impact on him. Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

It was during this period that I became curious about the human body, as we began to learn physiology in more depth at school. In previous years, the problem-based approach I could take while learning math and chemistry were primarily what sparked my interest. However, I became intrigued by how molecular interactions translated into large-scale organ function, and how these organ systems integrated together to generate the extraordinary physiological functions we tend to under-appreciate. I began my undergraduate studies with the goal of pursuing these interests, whilst leaning towards a career in medicine. While I was surprised to find that there were upwards of 40 programs within the life sciences that I could pursue, it broadened my perspective and challenged me to explore my options within science and healthcare. I chose to study pathobiology and explore my interests through hospital volunteering and research at the end of my first year.

Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

While conducting research at St. Michael’s Hospital, I began to understand methods of data collection and analysis, and the thought process of scientific inquiry. I became acquainted with the scientific literature, and the experience transformed how I thought about the concepts I was learning in lecture. However, what stood out to me that summer was the time spent shadowing my supervisor in the neurosurgery clinic. It was where I began to fully understand what life would be like as a physician, and where the career began to truly appeal to me. What appealed to me most was the patient-oriented collaboration and discussions between my supervisor and his fellow; the physician-patient relationship that went far beyond diagnoses and treatments; and the problem solving that I experienced first-hand while being questioned on disease cases.

The day spent shadowing in the clinic was also the first time I developed a relationship with a patient. We were instructed to administer the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test to patients as they awaited the neurosurgeon. My task was to convey the instructions as clearly as possible and score each section. I did this as best I could, adapting my explanation to each patient, and paying close attention to their responses to ensure I was understood. The last patient was a challenging case, given a language barrier combined with his severe hydrocephalus. It was an emotional time for his family, seeing their father/husband struggle to complete simple tasks and subsequently give up. I encouraged him to continue trying. But I also knew my words would not remedy the condition underlying his struggles. All I could do was make attempts at lightening the atmosphere as I got to know him and his family better. Hours later, as I saw his remarkable improvement following a lumbar puncture, and the joy on his and his family’s faces at his renewed ability to walk independently, I got a glimpse of how rewarding it would be to have the ability and privilege to care for such patients. By this point, I knew I wanted to commit to a life in medicine. Two years of weekly hospital volunteering have allowed me to make a small difference in patients’ lives by keeping them company through difficult times, and listening to their concerns while striving to help in the limited way that I could. I want to have the ability to provide care and treatment on a daily basis as a physician. Moreover, my hope is that the breadth of medicine will provide me with the opportunity to make an impact on a larger scale. Whilst attending conferences on neuroscience and surgical technology, I became aware of the potential to make a difference through healthcare, and I look forward to developing the skills necessary to do so through a Master’s in Global Health. Whether through research, health innovation, or public health, I hope not only to care for patients with the same compassion with which physicians cared for my father, but to add to the daily impact I can have by tackling large-scale issues in health.

Taylor’s essay offers both a straightforward, in-depth narrative and a deep analysis of his experiences, which effectively reveals his passion and willingness to learn in the medical field. The anecdote of Taylor’s father gives the reader insight into an original instance of learning through experience and clearly articulates Taylor’s motivations for becoming a compassionate and respectful physician.

Taylor strikes an impeccable balance between discussing his accomplishments and his character. All of his life experiences — and the difficult challenges he overcame — introduce the reader to an important aspect of Taylor’s personality: his compassion, care for his family, and power of observation in reflecting on the decisions his father’s doctor makes. His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael’s Hospital is indicative of Taylor’s curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship. Moreover, he shows how his volunteer work enabled him to see how medicine goes “beyond diagnoses and treatments” — an observation that also speaks to his compassion.

His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael's Hospital is indicative of Taylor's curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship.

Finally, Taylor also tells the reader about his ambition and purpose, which is important when thinking about applying to medical school. He discusses his hope of tackling larger scale problems through any means possible in medicine. This notion of using self interest to better the world is imperative to a successful college essay, and it is nicely done here.

-- Accepted to: Washington University

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Running has always been one of my greatest passions whether it be with friends or alone with my thoughts. My dad has always been my biggest role model and was the first to introduce me to the world of running. We entered races around the country, and one day he invited me on a run that changed my life forever. The St. Jude Run is an annual event that raises millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. My dad has led or our local team for as long as I can remember, and I had the privilege to join when I was 16. From the first step I knew this was the environment for me – people from all walks of life united with one goal of ending childhood cancer. I had an interest in medicine before the run, and with these experiences I began to consider oncology as a career. When this came up in conversations, I would invariably be faced with the question “Do you really think you could get used to working with dying kids?” My 16-year-old self responded with something noble but naïve like “It’s important work, so I’ll have to handle it”. I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

As I transitioned into college my plans for oncology were alive and well. I began working in a biochemistry lab researching new anti-cancer drugs. It was a small start, but I was overjoyed to be a part of the process. I applied to work at a number of places for the summer, but the Pediatric Oncology Education program (POE) at St. Jude was my goal. One afternoon, I had just returned from class and there it was: an email listed as ‘POE Offer’. I was ecstatic and accepted the offer immediately. Finally, I could get a glimpse at what my future holds. My future PI, Dr. Q, specialized in solid tumor translational research and I couldn’t wait to get started.

I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

Summer finally came, I moved to Memphis, and I was welcomed by the X lab. I loved translational research because the results are just around the corner from helping patients. We began a pre-clinical trial of a new chemotherapy regimen and the results were looking terrific. I was also able to accompany Dr. Q whenever she saw patients in the solid tumor division. Things started simple with rounds each morning before focusing on the higher risk cases. I was fortunate enough to get to know some of the patients quite well, and I could sometimes help them pass the time with a game or two on a slow afternoon between treatments. These experiences shined a very human light on a field I had previously seen only through a microscope in a lab.

I arrived one morning as usual, but Dr. Q pulled me aside before rounds. She said one of the patients we had been seeing passed away in the night. I held my composure in the moment, but I felt as though an anvil was crushing down on me. It was tragic but I knew loss was part of the job, so I told myself to push forward. A few days later, I had mostly come to terms with what happened, but then the anvil came crashing back down with the passing of another patient. I could scarcely hold back the tears this time. That moment, it didn’t matter how many miraculous successes were happening a few doors down. Nothing overshadowed the loss, and there was no way I could ‘get used to it’ as my younger self had hoped.

I was still carrying the weight of what had happened and it was showing, so I asked Dr. Q for help. How do you keep smiling each day? How do you get used to it? The questions in my head went on. What I heard next changed my perspective forever. She said you keep smiling because no matter what happened, you’re still hope for the next patient. It’s not about getting used to it. You never get used to it and you shouldn’t. Beating cancer takes lifetimes, and you can’t look passed a life’s worth of hardships. I realized that moving passed the loss of patients would never suffice, but I need to move forward with them. Through the successes and shortcomings, we constantly make progress. I like to imagine that in all our future endeavors, it is the hands of those who have gone before us that guide the way. That is why I want to attend medical school and become a physician. We may never end the sting of loss, but physicians are the bridge between the past and the future. No where else is there the chance to learn from tragedy and use that to shape a better future. If I can learn something from one loss, keep moving forward, and use that knowledge to help even a single person – save one life, bring a moment of joy, avoid a moment of pain—then that is how I want to spend my life.

The change wasn’t overnight. The next loss still brought pain, but I took solace in moving forward so that we might learn something to give hope to a future patient. I returned to campus in a new lab doing cancer research, and my passion for medicine continues to flourish. I still think about all the people I encountered at St. Jude, especially those we lost. It might be a stretch, but during the long hours at the lab bench I still picture their hands moving through mine each step of the way. I could never have foreseen where the first steps of the St. Jude Run would bring me. I’m not sure where the road to becoming a physician may lead, but with helping hands guiding the way, I won’t be running it alone.

This essay, a description of the applicant’s intellectual challenges, displays the hardships of tending to cancer patients as a milestone of experience and realization of what it takes to be a physician. The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional. In this way, the applicant gives the reader some insight into the applicant’s mindset, and their ability to think beyond the surface for ways to become better at what they do.

However, the essay fails to zero in on the applicant’s character, instead elaborating on life events that weakly illustrate the applicant’s growth as a physician. The writer’s mantra (“keep moving forward”) is feebly projected, and seems unoriginal due to the lack of a personalized connection between the experience at St. Jude and how that led to the applicant’s growth and mindset changes.

The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional.

The writer, by only focusing on grief brought from patient deaths at St. Jude, misses out on the opportunity to further describe his or her experience at the hospital and portray an original, well-rounded image of his or her strengths, weaknesses, and work ethic.

The applicant ends the essay by attempting to highlight the things they learned at St. Jude, but fails to organize the ideas into a cohesive, comprehensible section. These ideas are also too abstract, and are vague indicators of the applicant’s character that are difficult to grasp.

-- Accepted to: New York University School of Medicine

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“Is this the movie you were talking about Alice?” I said as I showed her the movie poster on my iPhone. “Oh my God, I haven’t seen that poster in over 70 years,” she said with her arms trembling in front of her. Immediately, I sat up straight and started to question further. We were talking for about 40 minutes, and the most exciting thing she brought up in that time was the new flavor of pudding she had for lunch. All of sudden, she’s back in 1940 talking about what it was like to see this movie after school for only 5¢ a ticket! After an engaging discussion about life in the 40’s, I knew I had to indulge her. Armed with a plethora of movie streaming sights, I went to work scouring the web. No luck. The movie, “My Son My Son,” was apparently not in high demand amongst torrenting teens. I had to entreat my older brother for his Amazon Prime account to get a working stream. However, breaking up the monotony and isolation felt at the nursing home with a simple movie was worth the pandering.

While I was glad to help a resident have some fun, I was partly motivated by how much Alice reminded me of my own grandfather. In accordance with custom, my grandfather was to stay in our house once my grandmother passed away. More specifically, he stayed in my room and my bed. Just like grandma’s passing, my sudden roommate was a rough transition. In 8th grade at the time, I considered myself to be a generally good guy. Maybe even good enough to be a doctor one day. I volunteered at the hospital, shadowed regularly, and had a genuine interest for science. However, my interest in medicine was mostly restricted to academia. To be honest, I never had a sustained exposure to the palliative side of medicine until the arrival of my new roommate.

The two years I slept on that creaky wooden bed with him was the first time my metal was tested. Sharing that room, I was the one to take care of him. I was the one to rub ointment on his back, to feed him when I came back from school, and to empty out his spittoon when it got full. It was far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time. With 75 years separating us, and senile dementia setting in, he would often forget who I was or where he was. Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve. Assured by my Syrian Orthodox faith, I even prayed about it; asking God for comfort and firmness on my end. Over time, I grew slow to speak and eager to listen as he started to ramble more and more about bits and pieces of the past. If I was lucky, I would be able to stich together a narrative that may or may have not been true. In any case, my patience started to bud beyond my age group.

Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve.

Although I grew more patient with his disease, my curiosity never really quelled. Conversely, it developed further alongside my rapidly growing interest in the clinical side of medicine. Naturally, I became drawn to a neurology lab in college where I got to study pathologies ranging from atrophy associated with schizophrenia, and necrotic lesions post stroke. However, unlike my intro biology courses, my work at the neurology lab was rooted beyond the academics. Instead, I found myself driven by real people who could potentially benefit from our research. In particular, my shadowing experience with Dr. Dominger in the Veteran’s home made the patient more relevant in our research as I got to encounter geriatric patients with age related diseases, such as Alzhimer’s and Parkinson’s. Furthermore, I had the privilege of of talking to the families of a few of these patients to get an idea of the impact that these diseases had on the family structure. For me, the scut work in the lab meant a lot more with these families in mind than the tritium tracer we were using in the lab.

Despite my achievements in the lab and the classroom, my time with my grandfather still holds a special place in my life story. The more I think about him, the more confident I am in my decision to pursue a career where caring for people is just as important, if not more important, than excelling at academics. Although it was a lot of work, the years spent with him was critical in expanding my horizons both in my personal life and in the context of medicine. While I grew to be more patient around others, I also grew to appreciate medicine beyond the science. This more holistic understanding of medicine had a synergistic effect in my work as I gained a purpose behind the extra hours in the lab, sleepless nights in the library, and longer hours volunteering. I had a reason for what I was doing that may one day help me have long conversations with my own grandchildren about the price of popcorn in the 2000’s.

The most important thing to highlight in Avery’s essay is how he is able to create a duality between his interest in not only the clinical, more academic-based side of medicine, but also the field’s personal side.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather. These two experiences build up the “synergistic” relationship between caring for people and studying the science behind medicine. In this way, he is able to clearly state his passions for medicine and explain his exact motives for entering the field. Furthermore, in his discussion of her grandfather, he effectively employs imagery (“rub ointment on his back,” “feed him when I came back from school,” etc.) to describe the actual work that he does, calling it initially as “far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time.” By first mentioning his initial impression, then transitioning into how he grew to appreciate the experience, Avery is able to demonstrate a strength of character, sense of enormous responsibility and capability, and open-minded attitude.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather.

Later in the essay, Avery is also able to relate his time caring for his grandfather to his work with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, showcasing the social impact of his work, as the reader is likely already familiar with the biological impact of the work. This takes Avery’s essay full circle, bringing it back to how a discussion with an elderly patient about the movies reminds him of why he chose to pursue medicine.

That said, the essay does feel rushed near the end, as the writer was likely trying to remain within the word count. There could be a more developed transition before Avery introduces the last sentence about “conversations with my own grandchildren,” especially as a strong essay ending is always recommended.

-- Accepted To: Saint Louis University Medical School Direct Admission Medical Program

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The tension in the office was tangible. The entire team sat silently sifting through papers as Dr. L introduced Adam, a 60-year-old morbidly obese man recently admitted for a large open wound along his chest. As Dr. L reviewed the details of the case, his prognosis became even bleaker: hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, hyperlipidemia; the list went on and on. As the humdrum of the side-conversations came to a halt, and the shuffle of papers softened, the reality of Adam’s situation became apparent. Adam had a few months to live at best, a few days at worst. To make matters worse, Adam’s insurance would not cover his treatment costs. With no job, family, or friends, he was dying poor and alone.

I followed Dr. L out of the conference room, unsure what would happen next. “Well,” she muttered hesitantly, “We need to make sure that Adam is on the same page as us.” It’s one thing to hear bad news, and another to hear it utterly alone. Dr. L frantically reviewed all of Adam’s paperwork desperately looking for someone to console him, someone to be at his side. As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy. That empathy is exactly what I saw in Dr. L as she went out of her way to comfort a patient she met hardly 20 minutes prior.

Since high school, I’ve been fascinated by technology’s potential to improve healthcare. As a volunteer in [the] Student Ambassador program, I was fortunate enough to watch an open-heart surgery. Intrigued by the confluence of technology and medicine, I chose to study biomedical engineering. At [school], I wanted to help expand this interface, so I became involved with research through Dr. P’s lab by studying the applications of electrospun scaffolds for dermal wound healing. While still in the preliminary stages of research, I learned about the Disability Service Club (DSC) and decided to try something new by volunteering at a bowling outing.

As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy.

The DSC promotes awareness of cognitive disabilities in the community and seeks to alleviate difficulties for the disabled. During one outing, I collaborated with Arc, a local organization with a similar mission. Walking in, I was told that my role was to support the participants by providing encouragement. I decided to help a relatively quiet group of individuals assisted by only one volunteer, Mary. Mary informed me that many individuals with whom I was working were diagnosed with ASD. Suddenly, she started cheering, as one of the members of the group bowled a strike. The group went wild. Everyone was dancing, singing, and rejoicing. Then I noticed one gentleman sitting at our table, solemn-faced. I tried to start a conversation with him, but he remained unresponsive. I sat with him for the rest of the game, trying my hardest to think of questions that would elicit more than a monosyllabic response, but to no avail. As the game ended, I stood up to say bye when he mumbled, “Thanks for talking.” Then he quickly turned his head away. I walked away beaming. Although I was unable to draw out a smile or even sustain a conversation, at the end of the day, the fact that this gentleman appreciated my mere effort completely overshadowed the awkwardness of our time together. Later that day, I realized that as much as I enjoyed the thrill of research and its applications, helping other people was what I was most passionate about.

When it finally came time to tell Adam about his deteriorating condition, I was not sure how he would react. Dr. L gently greeted him and slowly let reality take its toll. He stoically turned towards Dr. L and groaned, “I don’t really care. Just leave me alone.” Dr. L gave him a concerned nod and gradually left the room. We walked to the next room where we met with a pastor from Adam’s church.

“Adam’s always been like that,” remarked the pastor, “he’s never been one to express emotion.” We sat with his pastor for over an hour discussing how we could console Adam. It turned out that Adam was part of a motorcycle club, but recently quit because of his health. So, Dr. L arranged for motorcycle pictures and other small bike trinkets to be brought to his room as a reminder of better times.

Dr. L’s simple gesture reminded me of why I want to pursue medicine. There is something sacred, empowering, about providing support when people need it the most; whether it be simple as starting a conversation, or providing support during the most trying of times. My time spent conducting research kindled my interest in the science of medicine, and my service as a volunteer allowed me to realize how much I valued human interaction. Science and technology form the foundation of medicine, but to me, empathy is the essence. It is my combined interest in science and service that inspires me to pursue medicine. It is that combined interest that makes me aspire to be a physician.

Parker’s essay focuses on one central narrative with a governing theme of compassionate and attentive care for patients, which is the key motivator for her application to medical school. Parker’s story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field. This effectively demonstrates to the reader what kind of doctor Parker wants to be in the future.

Parker’s narrative has a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it easy for the reader to follow. She intersperses the main narrative about Adam with experiences she has with other patients and reflects upon her values as she contemplates pursuing medicine as a career. Her anecdote about bowling with the patients diagnosed with ASD is another instance where she uses a story to tell the reader why she values helping people through medicine and attentive patient care, especially as she focuses on the impact her work made on one man at the event.

Parker's story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field.

All throughout the essay, the writing is engaging and Parker incorporates excellent imagery, which goes well with her varied sentence structure. The essay is also strong because it comes back full circle at its conclusion, tying the overall narrative back to the story of Dr. L and Adam, which speaks to Parker’s motives for going to medical school.

-- Accepted To: Emory School of Medicine

Growing up, I enjoyed visiting my grandparents. My grandfather was an established doctor, helping the sick and elderly in rural Taiwan until two weeks before he died at 91 years old. His clinic was located on the first floor of the residency with an exam room, treatment room, X-ray room, and small pharmacy. Curious about his work, I would follow him to see his patients. Grandpa often asked me if I want to be a doctor just like him. I always smiled, but was more interested in how to beat the latest Pokémon game. I was in 8th grade when my grandfather passed away. I flew back to Taiwan to attend his funeral. It was a gloomy day and the only street in the small village became a mourning place for the villagers. Flowers filled the streets and people came to pay their respects. An old man told me a story: 60 years ago, a village woman was in a difficult labor. My grandfather rushed into the house and delivered a baby boy. That boy was the old man and he was forever grateful. Stories of grandpa saving lives and bringing happiness to families were told during the ceremony. At that moment, I realized why my grandfather worked so tirelessly up until his death as a physician. He did it for the reward of knowing that he kept a family together and saved a life. The ability for a doctor to heal and bring happiness is the reason why I want to study medicine. Medical school is the first step on a lifelong journey of learning, but I feel that my journey leading up to now has taught me some things of what it means to be an effective physician.

With a newfound purpose, I began volunteering and shadowing at my local hospital. One situation stood out when I was a volunteer in the cardiac stress lab. As I attached EKG leads onto a patient, suddenly the patient collapsed and started gasping for air. His face turned pale, then slightly blue. The charge nurse triggered “Code Blue” and started CPR. A team of doctors and nurses came, rushing in with a defibrillator to treat and stabilize the patient. What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care. I want to be a leader as well as part of a team that can make a difference in a person’s life. I have refined these lessons about teamwork and leadership to my activities. In high school I was an 8 time varsity letter winner for swimming and tennis and captain of both of those teams. In college I have participated in many activities, but notably serving as assistant principle cellist in my school symphony as well as being a co-founding member of a quartet. From both my athletic experiences and my music experiences I learned what it was like to not only assert my position as a leader and to effectively communicate my views, but equally as important I learned how to compromise and listen to the opinions of others. Many physicians that I have observed show a unique blend of confidence and humility.

What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care.

College opened me up to new perspectives on what makes a complete physician. A concept that was preached in the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions in Medicine (GPPA) was that medicine is both an art and a science. The art of medicine deals with a variety of aspects including patient relationships as well as ethics. Besides my strong affinity for the sciences and mathematics, I always have had interest in history. I took courses in both German literature and history, which influenced me to take a class focusing on Nazi neuroscientists. It was the ideology of seeing the disabled and different races as test subjects rather than people that led to devastating lapses in medical ethics. The most surprising fact for me was that doctors who were respected and leaders in their field disregarded the humanity of patient and rather focused on getting results from their research. Speaking with Dr. Zeidman, the professor for this course, influenced me to start my research which deals with the ethical qualms of using data derived from unethical Nazi experimentation such as the brains derived from the adult and child euthanasia programs. Today, science is so result driven, it is important to keep in mind the ethics behind research and clinical practice. Also the development of personalized genomic medicine brings into question about potential privacy violations and on the extreme end discrimination. The study of ethics no matter the time period is paramount in the medical field. The end goal should always be to put the patient first.

Teaching experiences in college inspired me to become a physician educator if I become a doctor. Post-MCAT, I was offered a job by Next Step Test Prep as a tutor to help students one on one for the MCAT. I had a student who stated he was doing well during practice, but couldn’t get the correct answer during practice tests. Working with the student, I pointed out his lack of understanding concepts and this realization helped him and improves his MCAT score. Having the ability to educate the next generation of doctors is not only necessary, but also a rewarding experience.

My experiences volunteering and shadowing doctors in the hospital as well as my understanding of what it means to be a complete physician will make me a good candidate as a medical school student. It is my goal to provide the best care to patients and to put a smile on a family’s face just as my grandfather once had. Achieving this goal does not take a special miracle, but rather hard work, dedication, and an understanding of what it means to be an effective physician.

Through reflecting on various stages of life, Quinn expresses how they found purpose in pursuing medicine. Starting as a child more interested in Pokemon than their grandfather’s patients, Quinn exhibits personal growth through recognizing the importance of their grandfather’s work saving lives and eventually gaining the maturity to work towards this goal as part of a team.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather’s clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman’s difficult labor — which grounds Quinn’s story in their family roots. Yet, the transition from shadowing in hospitals to pursuing leadership positions in high schools is jarring, and the list of athletic and musical accomplishments reads like a laundry list of accomplishments until Quinn neatly wraps them up as evidence of leadership and teamwork skills. Similarly, the section about tutoring, while intended to demonstrate Quinn’s desire to educate future physicians, lacks the emotional resonance necessary to elevate it from another line lifted from their resume.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather's clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman's difficult labor — which grounds Quinn's story in their family roots.

The strongest point of Quinn’s essay is the focus on their unique arts and humanities background. This equips them with a unique perspective necessary to consider issues in medicine in a new light. Through detailing how history and literature coursework informed their unique research, Quinn sets their application apart from the multitude of STEM-focused narratives. Closing the essay with the desire to help others just as their grandfather had, Quinn ties the narrative back to their personal roots.

-- Accepted To: Edinburgh University UCAT Score: 2810 BMAT Score: 4.6, 4.2, 3.5A

Exposure to the medical career from an early age by my father, who would explain diseases of the human body, sparked my interest for Medicine and drove me to seek out work experience. I witnessed the contrast between use of bone saws and drills to gain access to the brain, with subsequent use of delicate instruments and microscopes in neurosurgery. The surgeon's care to remove the tumour, ensuring minimal damage to surrounding healthy brain and his commitment to achieve the best outcome for the patient was inspiring. The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Whilst shadowing a surgical team in Texas, carrying out laparoscopic bariatric procedures, I appreciated the surgeon's dedication to continual professional development and research. I was inspired to carry out an Extended Project Qualification on whether bariatric surgery should be funded by the NHS. By researching current literature beyond my school curriculum, I learnt to assess papers for bias and use reliable sources to make a conclusion on a difficult ethical situation. I know that doctors are required to carry out research and make ethical decisions and so, I want to continue developing these skills during my time at medical school.

The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Attending an Oncology multi-disciplinary team meeting showed me the importance of teamwork in medicine. I saw each team member, with specific areas of expertise, contributing to the discussion and actively listening, and together they formed a holistic plan of action for patients. During my Young Enterprise Award, I facilitated a brainstorm where everyone pitched a product idea. Each member offered a different perspective on the idea and then voted on a product to carry forward in the competition. As a result, we came runners up in the Regional Finals. Furthermore, I started developing my leadership skills, which I improved by doing Duke of Edinburgh Silver and attending a St. John Ambulance Leadership course. In one workshop, similar to the bariatric surgeon I shadowed, I communicated instructions and delegated roles to my team to successfully solve a puzzle. These experiences highlighted the crucial need for teamwork and leadership as a doctor.

Observing a GP, I identified the importance of compassion and empathy. During a consultation with a severely depressed patient, the GP came to the patient's eye level and used a calm, non-judgmental tone of voice, easing her anxieties and allowing her to disclose more information. While volunteering at a care home weekly for two years, I adapted my communication for a resident suffering with dementia who was disconnected from others. I would take her to a quiet environment, speak slowly and in a non-threatening manner, as such, she became talkative, engaged and happier. I recognised that communication and compassion allows doctors to build rapport, gain patients' trust and improve compliance. For two weeks, I shadowed a surgeon performing multiple craniotomies a day. I appreciated the challenges facing doctors including time and stress management needed to deliver high quality care. Organisation, by prioritising patients based on urgency and creating a timetable on the ward round, was key to running the theatre effectively. Similarly, I create to-do-lists and prioritise my academics and extra-curricular activities to maintain a good work-life balance: I am currently preparing for my Grade 8 in Singing, alongside my A-level exams. I also play tennis for the 1st team to relax and enable me to refocus. I wish to continue my hobbies at university, as ways to manage stress.

Through my work experiences and voluntary work, I have gained a realistic understanding of Medicine and its challenges. I have begun to display the necessary skills that I witnessed, such as empathy, leadership and teamwork. The combination of these skills with my fascination for the human body drives me to pursue a place at medical school and a career as a doctor.

This essay traces Alex's personal exploration of medicine through different stages of life, taking a fairly traditional path to the medical school application essay. From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

Alex details how experiences conducting research and working with medical teams have confirmed his interest in medicine. Although the breadth of experiences speaks to the applicant’s interest in medicine, the essay verges on being a regurgitation of the Alex's resume, which does not provide the admissions officer with any new insights or information and ultimately takes away from the essay as a whole. As such, the writing’s lack of voice or unique perspective puts the applicant at risk of sounding middle-of-the-road.

From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

The essay’s organization, however, is one of its strengths — each paragraph provides an example of personal growth through a new experience in medicine. Further, Alex demonstrates his compassion and diligence through detailed stories, which give a reader a glimpse into his values. Through recognizing important skills necessary to be a doctor, Alex demonstrates that he has the mature perspective necessary to embark upon this journey.

What this essay lacks in a unique voice, it makes up for in professionalism and organization. Alex's earnest desire to attend medical school is what makes this essay shine.

-- Accepted To: University of Toronto MCAT Scores: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems - 128, Critical Analysis and Reading Skills - 127, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems - 127, Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior - 130, Total - 512

Moment of brilliance.

Revelation.

These are all words one would use to describe their motivation by a higher calling to achieve something great. Such an experience is often cited as the reason for students to become physicians; I was not one of these students. Instead of waiting for an event like this, I chose to get involved in the activities that I found most invigorating. Slowly but surely, my interests, hobbies, and experiences inspired me to pursue medicine.

As a medical student, one must possess a solid academic foundation to facilitate an understanding of physical health and illness. Since high school, I found science courses the most appealing and tended to devote most of my time to their exploration. I also enjoyed learning about the music, food, literature, and language of other cultures through Latin and French class. I chose the Medical Sciences program because it allowed for flexibility in course selection. I have studied several scientific disciplines in depth like physiology and pathology while taking classes in sociology, psychology, and classical studies. Such a diverse academic portfolio has strengthened my ability to consider multiple viewpoints and attack problems from several angles. I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

I was motivated to travel as much as possible by learning about other cultures in school. Exposing myself to different environments offered me perspective on universal traits that render us human. I want to pursue medicine because I believe that this principle of commonality relates to medical practice in providing objective and compassionate care for all. Combined with my love for travel, this realization took me to Nepal with Volunteer Abroad (VA) to build a school for a local orphanage (4). The project’s demands required a group of us to work closely as a team to accomplish the task. Rooted in different backgrounds, we often had conflicting perspectives; even a simple task such as bricklaying could stir up an argument because each person had their own approach. However, we discussed why we came to Nepal and reached the conclusion that all we wanted was to build a place of education for the children. Our unifying goal allowed us to reach compromises and truly appreciate the value of teamwork. These skills are vital in a clinical setting, where physicians and other health care professionals need to collaborate as a multidisciplinary team to tackle patients’ physical, emotional, social, and psychological problems.

I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

The insight I gained from my Nepal excursion encouraged me to undertake and develop the role of VA campus representative (4). Unfortunately, many students are not equipped with the resources to volunteer abroad; I raised awareness about local initiatives so everyone had a chance to do their part. I tried to avoid pushing solely for international volunteerism for this reason and also because it can undermine the work of local skilled workers and foster dependency. Nevertheless, I took on this position with VA because I felt that the potential benefits were more significant than the disadvantages. Likewise, doctors must constantly weigh out the pros and cons of a situation to help a patient make the best choice. I tried to dispel fears of traveling abroad by sharing first-hand experiences so that students could make an informed decision. When people approached me regarding unfamiliar placements, I researched their questions and provided them with both answers and a sense of security. I found great fulfillment in addressing the concerns of individuals, and I believe that similar processes could prove invaluable in the practice of medicine.

As part of the Sickkids Summer Research Program, I began to appreciate the value of experimental investigation and evidence-based medicine (23). Responsible for initiating an infant nutrition study at a downtown clinic, I was required to explain the project’s implications and daily protocol to physicians, nurses and phlebotomists. I took anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of children aged 1-10 and asked parents about their and their child’s diet, television habits, physical exercise regimen, and sunlight exposure. On a few occasions, I analyzed and presented a small set of data to my superiors through oral presentations and written documents.

With continuous medical developments, physicians must participate in lifelong learning. More importantly, they can engage in research to further improve the lives of their patients. I encountered a young mother one day at the clinic struggling to complete the study’s questionnaires. After I asked her some questions, she began to open up to me as her anxiety subsided; she then told me that her child suffered from low iron. By talking with the physician and reading a few articles, I recommended a few supplements and iron-rich foods to help her child. This experience in particular helped me realize that I enjoy clinical research and strive to address the concerns of people with whom I interact.

Research is often impeded by a lack of government and private funding. My clinical placement motivated me to become more adept in budgeting, culminating in my role as founding Co-President of the UWO Commerce Club (ICCC) (9). Together, fellow club executives and I worked diligently to get the club ratified, a process that made me aware of the bureaucratic challenges facing new organizations. Although we had a small budget, we found ways of minimizing expenditure on advertising so that we were able to host more speakers who lectured about entrepreneurship and overcoming challenges. Considering the limited space available in hospitals and the rising cost of health care, physicians, too, are often forced to prioritize and manage the needs of their patients.

No one needs a grand revelation to pursue medicine. Although passion is vital, it is irrelevant whether this comes suddenly from a life-altering event or builds up progressively through experience. I enjoyed working in Nepal, managing resources, and being a part of clinical and research teams; medicine will allow me to combine all of these aspects into one wholesome career.

I know with certainty that this is the profession for me.

Jimmy opens this essay hinting that his essay will follow a well-worn path, describing the “big moment” that made him realize why he needed to become a physician. But Jimmy quickly turns the reader’s expectation on its head by stating that he did not have one of those moments. By doing this, Jimmy commands attention and has the reader waiting for an explanation. He soon provides the explanation that doubles as the “thesis” of his essay: Jimmy thinks passion can be built progressively, and Jimmy’s life progression has led him to the medical field.

Jimmy did not make the decision to pursue a career in medicine lightly. Instead he displays through anecdotes that his separate passions — helping others, exploring different walks of life, personal responsibility, and learning constantly, among others — helped Jimmy realize that being a physician was the career for him. By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously. The ability to evaluate multiple options and make an informed, well-reasoned decision is one that bodes well for Jimmy’s medical career.

While in some cases this essay does a lot of “telling,” the comprehensive and decisive walkthrough indicates what Jimmy’s idea of a doctor is. To him, a doctor is someone who is genuinely interested in his work, someone who can empathize and related to his patients, someone who can make important decisions with a clear head, and someone who is always trying to learn more. Just like his decision to work at the VA, Jimmy has broken down the “problem” (what his career should be) and reached a sound conclusion.

By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously.

Additionally, this essay communicates Jimmy’s care for others. While it is not always advisable to list one’s volunteer efforts, each activity Jimmy lists has a direct application to his essay. Further, the sheer amount of philanthropic work that Jimmy does speaks for itself: Jimmy would not have worked at VA, spent a summer with Sickkids, or founded the UWO finance club if he were not passionate about helping others through medicine. Like the VA story, the details of Jimmy’s participation in Sickkids and the UWO continue to show how he has thought about and embodied the principles that a physician needs to be successful.

Jimmy’s essay both breaks common tropes and lives up to them. By framing his “list” of activities with his passion-happens-slowly mindset, Jimmy injects purpose and interest into what could have been a boring and braggadocious essay if it were written differently. Overall, this essay lets the reader know that Jimmy is seriously dedicated to becoming a physician, and both his thoughts and his actions inspire confidence that he will give medical school his all.

The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this content.

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How to write "the change you want to see in health care" essay

By SeventyFourImages via EnvatoElements

By Urvi Gupta

There are many ways of approaching an essay such as this one. Here are some methods that we find useful, and we hope they will be helpful to you as well.

The most powerful essays are those which could not be written by anyone other than yourself. Keep this in mind as you begin your brainstorm. Finding stories which are personal and teach the reader something about you is crucial.

Pull out some pen and paper. Set a 5-minute timer on your phone. Use this time to jot down every thought that comes into mind about the ways you wish our health care system was better. Try to keep your pen to the paper and keep writing throughout the 5 minutes. 

Look over your list. Which ones stick out to you as the most compelling? Through your interactions with healthcare, have any of the challenges you brainstormed impacted you personally? Have you had any experiences where you worked towards any of these goals? Use these questions to pick 1-3 topics from your list.

Begin outlining your essay. For each of your topics, try to include answers to the following questions:

Briefly describe the topic/issue.

Why is this topic important to you specifically? How has it affected you/the people around you/the world? Give concrete examples.

How do you propose you can make it better? Again, be specific and try to draw inspiration from your own life. 

Begin writing!

Read your draft out loud to yourself or a friend/family member to look for areas that are unclear or that could be improved.

Remember that it is less important as to what you pick for the change you want to see in health care and more important that you have something compelling and personal to say about it. We want to learn about you!

The views expressed here are the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Stanford University School of Medicine. External websites are shared as a courtesy. They are not endorsed by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The most powerful essays are those which could not be written by anyone other than yourself.

Urvi Gupta, BS SASI Teaching Assistant

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Sample Medical School Essays

Applying to medical school is an exciting decision, but the application process is very competitive. This means when it comes to your application you need to ensure you’ve put your best foot forward and done everything you can to stand out from other applicants. One great way to provide additional information on why you have decided to pursue a career in medicine and why you’re qualified, is your medical school essay. Read these samples to get a good idea on how you can write your own top-notch essay.

This section contains five sample medical school essays

• Medical School Sample Essay One
• Medical School Sample Essay Two
• Medical School Sample Essay Three
• Medical School Sample Essay Four
• Medical School Sample Essay Five

Medical School Essay One

When I was twelve years old, a drunk driver hit the car my mother was driving while I was in the backseat. I have very few memories of the accident, but I do faintly recall a serious but calming face as I was gently lifted out of the car. The paramedic held my hand as we traveled to the hospital. I was in the hospital for several weeks and that same paramedic came to visit me almost every day. During my stay, I also got to know the various doctors and nurses in the hospital on a personal level. I remember feeling anxiety about my condition, but not sadness or even fear. It seemed to me that those around me, particularly my family, were more fearful of what might happen to me than I was. I don’t believe it was innocence or ignorance, but rather a trust in the abilities of my doctors. It was as if my doctors and I had a silent bond. Now that I’m older I fear death and sickness in a more intense way than I remember experiencing it as a child. My experience as a child sparked a keen interest in how we approach pediatric care, especially as it relates to our psychological and emotional support of children facing serious medical conditions. It was here that I experienced first-hand the power and compassion of medicine, not only in healing but also in bringing unlikely individuals together, such as adults and children, in uncommon yet profound ways. And it was here that I began to take seriously the possibility of becoming a pediatric surgeon.

My interest was sparked even more when, as an undergraduate, I was asked to assist in a study one of my professors was conducting on how children experience and process fear and the prospect of death. This professor was not in the medical field; rather, her background is in cultural anthropology. I was very honored to be part of this project at such an early stage of my career. During the study, we discovered that children face death in extremely different ways than adults do. We found that children facing fatal illnesses are very aware of their condition, even when it hasn’t been fully explained to them, and on the whole were willing to fight their illnesses, but were also more accepting of their potential fate than many adults facing similar diagnoses. We concluded our study by asking whether and to what extent this discovery should impact the type of care given to children in contrast to adults. I am eager to continue this sort of research as I pursue my medical career. The intersection of medicine, psychology, and socialization or culture (in this case, the social variables differentiating adults from children) is quite fascinating and is a field that is in need of better research.

Although much headway has been made in this area in the past twenty or so years, I feel there is a still a tendency in medicine to treat diseases the same way no matter who the patient is. We are slowly learning that procedures and drugs are not always universally effective. Not only must we alter our care of patients depending upon these cultural and social factors, we may also need to alter our entire emotional and psychological approach to them as well.

It is for this reason that I’m applying to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as it has one of the top programs for pediatric surgery in the country, as well as several renowned researchers delving into the social, generational, and cultural questions in which I’m interested. My approach to medicine will be multidisciplinary, which is evidenced by the fact that I’m already double-majoring in early childhood psychology and pre-med, with a minor in cultural anthropology. This is the type of extraordinary care that I received as a child—care that seemed to approach my injuries with a much larger and deeper picture than that which pure medicine cannot offer—and it is this sort of care I want to provide my future patients. I turned what might have been a debilitating event in my life—a devastating car accident—into the inspiration that has shaped my life since. I am driven and passionate. And while I know that the pediatric surgery program at Johns Hopkins will likely be the second biggest challenge I will face in my life, I know that I am up for it. I am ready to be challenged and prove to myself what I’ve been telling myself since that fateful car accident: I will be a doctor.

Tips for a Successful Medical School Essay

• If you’re applying through AMCAS, remember to keep your essay more general rather than tailored to a specific medical school, because your essay will be seen by multiple schools.
• AMCAS essays are limited to 5300 characters—not words! This includes spaces.
• Make sure the information you include in your essay doesn't conflict with the information in your other application materials.
• In general, provide additional information that isn’t found in your other application materials. Look at the essay as an opportunity to tell your story rather than a burden.
• Keep the interview in mind as you write. You will most likely be asked questions regarding your essay during the interview, so think about the experiences you want to talk about.
• When you are copying and pasting from a word processor to the AMCAS application online, formatting and font will be lost. Don’t waste your time making it look nice. Be sure to look through the essay once you’ve copied it into AMCAS and edit appropriately for any odd characters that result from pasting.
• Avoid overly controversial topics. While it is fine to take a position and back up your position with evidence, you don’t want to sound narrow-minded.
• Revise, revise, revise. Have multiple readers look at your essay and make suggestions. Go over your essay yourself many times and rewrite it several times until you feel that it communicates your message effectively and creatively.
• Make the opening sentence memorable. Admissions officers will read dozens of personal statements in a day. You must say something at the very beginning to catch their attention, encourage them to read the essay in detail, and make yourself stand out from the crowd.
• Character traits to portray in your essay include: maturity, intellect, critical thinking skills, leadership, tolerance, perseverance, and sincerity.

Medical School Essay Two

If you had told me ten years ago that I would be writing this essay and planning for yet another ten years into the future, part of me would have been surprised. I am a planner and a maker of to-do lists, and it has always been my plan to follow in the steps of my father and become a physician. This plan was derailed when I was called to active duty to serve in Iraq as part of the War on Terror.

I joined the National Guard before graduating high school and continued my service when I began college. My goal was to receive training that would be valuable for my future medical career, as I was working in the field of emergency health care. It was also a way to help me pay for college. When I was called to active duty in Iraq for my first deployment, I was forced to withdraw from school, and my deployment was subsequently extended. I spent a total of 24 months deployed overseas, where I provided in-the-field medical support to our combat troops. While the experience was invaluable not only in terms of my future medical career but also in terms of developing leadership and creative thinking skills, it put my undergraduate studies on hold for over two years. Consequently, my carefully-planned journey towards medical school and a medical career was thrown off course. Thus, while ten-year plans are valuable, I have learned from experience how easily such plans can dissolve in situations that are beyond one’s control, as well as the value of perseverance and flexibility.

Eventually, I returned to school. Despite my best efforts to graduate within two years, it took me another three years, as I suffered greatly from post-traumatic stress disorder following my time in Iraq. I considered abandoning my dream of becoming a physician altogether, since I was several years behind my peers with whom I had taken biology and chemistry classes before my deployment. Thanks to the unceasing encouragement of my academic advisor, who even stayed in contact with me when I was overseas, I gathered my strength and courage and began studying for the MCAT. To my surprise, my score was beyond satisfactory and while I am several years behind my original ten-year plan, I am now applying to Brown University’s School of Medicine.

I can describe my new ten-year plan, but I will do so with both optimism and also caution, knowing that I will inevitably face unforeseen complications and will need to adapt appropriately. One of the many insights I gained as a member of the National Guard and by serving in war-time was the incredible creativity medical specialists in the Armed Forces employ to deliver health care services to our wounded soldiers on the ground. I was part of a team that was saving lives under incredibly difficult circumstances—sometimes while under heavy fire and with only the most basic of resources. I am now interested in how I can use these skills to deliver health care in similar circumstances where basic medical infrastructure is lacking. While there is seemingly little in common between the deserts of Fallujah and rural Wyoming, where I’m currently working as a volunteer first responder in a small town located more than 60 miles from the nearest hospital, I see a lot of potential uses for the skills that I gained as a National Guardsman. As I learned from my father, who worked with Doctors Without Borders for a number of years, there is quite a bit in common between my field of knowledge from the military and working in post-conflict zones. I feel I have a unique experience from which to draw as I embark on my medical school journey, experiences that can be applied both here and abroad.

In ten years’ time, I hope to be trained in the field of emergency medicine, which, surprisingly, is a specialization that is actually lacking here in the United States as compared to similarly developed countries. I hope to conduct research in the field of health care infrastructure and work with government agencies and legislators to find creative solutions to improving access to emergency facilities in currently underserved areas of the United States, with an aim towards providing comprehensive policy reports and recommendations on how the US can once again be the world leader in health outcomes. While the problems inherent in our health care system are not one-dimensional and require a dynamic approach, one of the solutions as I see it is to think less in terms of state-of-the-art facilities and more in terms of access to primary care. Much of the care that I provide as a first responder and volunteer is extremely effective and also relatively cheap. More money is always helpful when facing a complex social and political problem, but we must think of solutions above and beyond more money and more taxes. In ten years I want to be a key player in the health care debate in this country and offering innovative solutions to delivering high quality and cost-effective health care to all our nation’s citizens, especially to those in rural and otherwise underserved areas.

Of course, my policy interests do not replace my passion for helping others and delivering emergency medicine. As a doctor, I hope to continue serving in areas of the country that, for one reason or another, are lagging behind in basic health care infrastructure. Eventually, I would also like to take my knowledge and talents abroad and serve in the Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders.

In short, I see the role of physicians in society as multifunctional: they are not only doctors who heal, they are also leaders, innovators, social scientists, and patriots. Although my path to medical school has not always been the most direct, my varied and circuitous journey has given me a set of skills and experiences that many otherwise qualified applicants lack. I have no doubt that the next ten years will be similarly unpredictable, but I can assure you that no matter what obstacles I face, my goal will remain the same. I sincerely hope to begin the next phase of my journey at Brown University. Thank you for your kind attention.

Additional Tips for a Successful Medical School Essay

• Regardless of the prompt, you should always address the question of why you want to go to medical school in your essay.
• Try to always give concrete examples rather than make general statements. If you say that you have perseverance, describe an event in your life that demonstrates perseverance.
• There should be an overall message or theme in your essay. In the example above, the theme is overcoming unexpected obstacles.
• Make sure you check and recheck for spelling and grammar!
• Unless you’re very sure you can pull it off, it is usually not a good idea to use humor or to employ the skills you learned in creative writing class in your personal statement. While you want to paint a picture, you don’t want to be too poetic or literary.
• Turn potential weaknesses into positives. As in the example above, address any potential weaknesses in your application and make them strengths, if possible. If you have low MCAT scores or something else that can’t be easily explained or turned into a positive, simply don’t mention it.

Medical School Essay Three

The roots of my desire to become a physician are, thankfully, not around the bedside of a sick family member or in a hospital, but rather on a 10-acre plot of land outside of a small town in Northwest Arkansas. I loved raising and exhibiting cattle, so every morning before the bus arrived at 7 a.m. I was in the barn feeding, checking cattle for any health issues and washing the show heifers. These early mornings and my experiences on a farm not only taught me the value of hard work, but ignited my interest in the body, albeit bovine at the time. It was by a working chute that I learned the functions of reproductive hormones as we utilized them for assisted reproduction and artificial insemination; it was by giving vaccinations to prevent infection that I learned about bacteria and the germ theory of disease; it was beside a stillborn calf before the sun had risen that I was exposed to the frailty of life.

Facing the realities of disease and death daily from an early age, I developed a strong sense of pragmatism out of necessity. There is no place for abstractions or euphemisms about life and death when treating a calf’s pneumonia in the pouring rain during winter. Witnessing the sometimes harsh realities of life on a farm did not instill within me an attitude of jaded inevitability of death. Instead, it germinated a responsibility to protect life to the best of my abilities, cure what ailments I can and alleviate as much suffering as possible while recognizing that sometimes nothing can be done.

I first approached human health at the age of nine through beef nutrition and food safety. Learning the roles of nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein and B-vitamins in the human body as well as the dangers of food-borne illness through the Beef Ambassador program shifted my interest in the body to a new species. Talking with consumers about every facet of the origins of food, I realized that the topics that most interested me were those that pertained to human health. In college, while I connected with people over samples of beef and answered their questions, I also realized that it is not enough simply to have adequate knowledge. Ultimately knowledge is of little use if it is not digestible to those who receive it. So my goal as a future clinical physician is not only to illuminate the source of an affliction and provide treatment for patients, but take care to ensure the need for understanding by both patient and family is met.

I saw this combination of care and understanding while volunteering in an emergency room, where I was also exposed to other aspects and players in the medical field. While assisting a nurse perform a bladder scan and witnessing technicians carry out an echocardiogram or CT scan, I learned the important roles that other professionals who do not wear white coats have in today’s medical field. Medicine is a team sport, and coordinating the efforts of each of these players is crucial for the successful execution of patient care. It is my goal to serve as the leader of this healthcare unit and unify a team of professionals to provide the highest quality care for patients. Perhaps most importantly my time at the VA showed me the power a smile and an open ear can have with people. On the long walk to radiology, talking with patients about their military service and families always seemed to take their mind off the reason for their visit, if only for a few minutes. This served as a reminder that we are helping people with pasts and dreams, rather than simply remedying patients’ symptoms.

Growing up in a small town, I never held aspirations of world travel when I was young. But my time abroad revealed to me the state of healthcare in developing countries and fostered a previously unknown interest in global health. During my first trip abroad to Ghana, my roommate became ill with a severe case of traveler’s diarrhea. In the rural north of the country near the Sahara, the options for healthcare were limited; he told me how our professor was forced to bribe employees to bypass long lines and even recounted how doctors took a bag of saline off the line of another patient to give to him. During a service trip to a rural community in Nicaragua, I encountered patients with preventable and easily treatable diseases that, due to poverty and lack of access, were left untreated for months or years at a time. I was discouraged by the state of healthcare in these countries and wondered what could be done to help. I plan to continue to help provide access to healthcare in rural parts of developing countries, and hopefully as a physician with an agricultural background I can approach public health and food security issues in a multifaceted and holistic manner.

My time on a cattle farm taught me how to work hard to pursue my interests, but also fueled my appetite for knowledge about the body and instilled within me a firm sense of practicality. Whether in a clinic, operating room or pursuing public and global health projects, I plan to bring this work ethic and pragmatism to all of my endeavors. My agricultural upbringing has produced a foundation of skills and values that I am confident will readily transplant into my chosen career. Farming is my early passion, but medicine is my future.

Medical School Essay Four

I am a white, cisgender, and heterosexual female who has been afforded many privileges: I was raised by parents with significant financial resources, I have traveled the world, and I received top-quality high school and college educations. I do not wish to be addressed or recognized in any special way; all I ask is to be treated with respect.

As for my geographic origin, I was born and raised in the rural state of Maine. Since graduating from college, I have been living in my home state, working and giving back to the community that has given me so much. I could not be happier here; I love the down-to-earth people, the unhurried pace of life, and the easy access to the outdoors. While I am certainly excited to move elsewhere in the country for medical school and continue to explore new places, I will always self-identify as a Mainer as being from Maine is something I take great pride in. I am proud of my family ties to the state (which date back to the 1890’s), I am proud of the state’s commitment to preserving its natural beauty, and I am particularly proud of my slight Maine accent (we don’t pronounce our r’s). From the rocky coastline and rugged ski mountains to the locally-grown food and great restaurants, it is no wonder Maine is nicknamed, "Vacationland.” Yet, Maine is so much more than just a tourist destination. The state is dotted with wonderful communities in which to live, communities like the one where I grew up.

Perhaps not surprisingly, I plan to return to Maine after residency. I want to raise a family and establish my medical practice here. We certainly could use more doctors! Even though Maine is a terrific place to live, the state is facing a significant doctor shortage. Today, we are meeting less than half of our need for primary care providers. To make matters worse, many of our physicians are close to retirement age. Yet, according to the AAMC, only 53 Maine residents matriculated into medical school last year! Undoubtedly, Maine is in need of young doctors who are committed to working long term in underserved areas. As my primary career goal is to return to my much adored home state and do my part to help fill this need, I have a vested interest in learning more about rural medicine during medical school.

I was raised in Cumberland, Maine, a coastal town of 7,000 just north of Portland. With its single stoplight and general store (where it would be unusual to visit without running into someone you know), Cumberland is the epitome of a small New England town. It truly was the perfect place to grow up. According to the most recent census, nearly a third of the town’s population is under 18 and more than 75% of households contain children, two statistics which speak to the family-centric nature of Cumberland’s community. Recently rated Maine's safest town, Cumberland is the type of place where you allow your kindergartener to bike alone to school, leave your house unlocked while at work, and bring home-cooked food to your sick neighbors and their children. Growing up in such a safe, close-knit, and supportive community instilled in me the core values of compassion, trustworthiness, and citizenship. These three values guide me every day and will continue to guide me through medical school and my career in medicine.

As a medical student and eventual physician, my compassion will guide me to become a provider who cares for more than just the physical well-being of my patients. I will also commit myself to my patients’ emotional, spiritual, and social well-being and make it a priority to take into account the unique values and beliefs of each patient. By also demonstrating my trustworthiness during every encounter, I will develop strong interpersonal relationships with those whom I serve. As a doctor once wisely said, “A patient does not care how much you know until he knows how much you care.”

My citizenship will guide me to serve my community and to encourage my classmates and colleagues to do the same. We will be taught in medical school to be healers, scientists, and educators. I believe that, in addition, as students and as physicians, we have the responsibility to use our medical knowledge, research skills, and teaching abilities to benefit more than just our patients. We must also commit ourselves to improving the health and wellness of those living in our communities by participating in public events (i.e by donating our medical services), lobbying for better access to healthcare for the underprivileged, and promoting wellness campaigns. As a medical student and eventual physician, my compassion, trustworthiness, and citizenship will drive me to improve the lives of as many individuals as I can.

Cumberland instilled in me important core values and afforded me a wonderful childhood. However, I recognize that my hometown is not perfect. For one, the population is shockingly homogenous, at least as far as demographics go. As of the 2010 census, 97.2% of the residents of Cumberland were white. Only 4.1% of residents speak a language other than English at home and even fewer were born in another country. Essentially everybody who identified with a religion identified as some denomination of Christian. My family was one of maybe five Jewish families in the town. Additionally, nearly all the town’s residents graduated from high school (98.1%), are free of disability (93.8%), and live above the poverty line (95.8%). Efforts to attract diverse families to Cumberland is one improvement that I believe would make the community a better place in which to live. Diversity in background (and in thought) is desirable in any community as living, learning, and working alongside diverse individuals helps us develop new perspectives, enhances our social development, provides us with a larger frame of reference, and improves our understanding of our place in society.

Medical School Essay Five

“How many of you received the flu vaccine this year?” I asked my Bricks 4 Kidz class, where I volunteer to teach elementary students introductory science and math principles using Lego blocks. “What’s a flu vaccine?” they asked in confusion. Surprised, I briefly explained the influenza vaccine and its purpose for protection. My connection to children and their health extends to medical offices, clinics and communities where I have gained experience and insight into medicine, confirming my goal of becoming a physician.

My motivation to pursue a career in medicine developed when my mother, who was diagnosed with Lupus, underwent a kidney transplant surgery and suffered multiple complications. I recall the fear and anxiety I felt as a child because I misunderstood her chronic disease. This prompted me to learn more about the science of medicine. In high school, I observed patients plagued with acute and chronic kidney disease while briefly exploring various fields of medicine through a Mentorship in Medicine summer program at my local hospital. In addition to shadowing nephrologists in a hospital and clinical setting, I scrubbed into the operating room, viewed the radiology department, celebrated the miracle of birth in the delivery room, and quietly observed a partial autopsy in pathology. I saw many patients confused about their diagnoses. I was impressed by the compassion of the physicians and the time they took to reassure and educate their patients.

Further experiences in medicine throughout and after college shaped a desire to practice in underserved areas. While coloring and reading with children in the patient area at a Family Health Center, I witnessed family medicine physicians diligently serve patients from low-income communities. On a medical/dental mission trip to the Philippines, I partnered with local doctors to serve and distribute medical supplies to rural schools and communities. At one impoverished village, I held a malnourished two-year old boy suffering from cerebral palsy and cardiorespiratory disease. His family could not afford to take him to the nearest pediatrician, a few hours away by car, for treatment. Overwhelmed, I cried as we left the village. Many people were suffering through pain and disease due to limited access to medicine. But this is not rare; there are many people suffering due to inadequate access/accessibility around the world, even in my hometown. One physician may not be able to change the status of underserved communities, however, one can alleviate some of the suffering.

Dr. X, my mentor and supervisor, taught me that the practice of medicine is both a science and an art. As a medical assistant in a pediatric office, I am learning about the patient-physician relationship and the meaningful connection with people that medicine provides. I interact with patients and their families daily. Newborn twins were one of the first patients I helped, and I look forward to seeing their development at successive visits. A young boy who endured a major cardiac surgery was another patient I connected with, seeing his smiling face in the office often as he transitioned from the hospital to his home. I also helped many excited, college-bound teenagers with requests for medical records in order to matriculate. This is the art of medicine – the ability to build relationships with patients and have an important and influential role in their lives, from birth to adulthood and beyond.

In addition, medicine encompasses patient-centered care, such as considering and addressing concerns. While taking patient vitals, I grew discouraged when parents refused the influenza vaccine and could not understand their choices. With my experience in scientific research, I conducted an informal yet insightful study. Over one hundred families were surveyed about their specific reasons for refusing the flu vaccine. I sought feedback on patients’ level of understanding about vaccinations and its interactions with the human immune system. Through this project, I learned the importance of understanding patient’s concerns in order to reassure them through medicine. I also learned the value of communicating with patients, such as explaining the purpose of a recommended vaccine. I hope to further this by attending medical school to become a physician focused on patient-centered care, learning from and teaching my community.

Children have been a common thread in my pursuit of medicine, from perceiving medicine through child-like eyes to interacting daily with children in a medical office. My diverse experiences in patient interaction and the practice of medicine inspire me to become a physician, a path that requires perseverance and passion. Physicians are life-long learners and teachers, educating others whether it is on vaccinations or various diseases. This vocation also requires preparation, and I eagerly look forward to continually learning and growing in medical school and beyond.

To learn more about what to expect from the study of medicine, check out our Study Medicine in the US section.

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Essay On Being a Doctor: The Best Medicine at the End of Life

Ryan gravolet.

Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas

R. Gravolet, M.D.

I will never forget her eyes, sunken and dimly lit with the dying embers of hope. She was scared, exhausted, and wildly scanning the room filled with doctors, nurses, and hospice workers, looking for reassurance and any good news we could provide about her husband. Looking for a friend to say this was all a big misunderstanding. The young woman sat and waited for the emergency medical meeting to begin, desperate to know the prognosis.

Just 3 days prior, her perfectly healthy 39-year-old husband suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to Houston Methodist Hospital in an unconscious state, precariously positioned on a thin ledge between life and death. After multiple operations, he landed in Bed 1 of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit with all eyes on him. The medical team included cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists, intensivists, and nephrologists who did everything possible to preserve life: two mechanical heart pumps, maximum doses of intravenous pressors, full ventilatory support, and continuous dialysis. But the patient was not getting better and remained in severe heart failure.

Heightening the challenge of an end-of-life discussion, the young woman spoke little English. She and her husband emigrated only months earlier from Vietnam, and they had been in the midst of their happiest days. A new baby due in 8 weeks. A new business. At a time when the photo albums would be overflowing with life's milestones, the young woman sat around a circle of strangers pleading for good news through a translator.

After introductions were made, the young woman's attention focused on the attending physician, and the meeting began. The attending spoke, “Thank you for meeting with our team today. As you know, your husband had a large heart attack, and we are doing everything we can to keep him alive. Unfortunately, his heart is failing and not showing signs of returning function.” We watched her as the translation was received.

She leaned forward expectantly, not fully certain of the news, and her expression pleaded for more information. Her voice trembled as she struggled to say, “But he can recover….”

A slight pause, and the attending continued. “I am sorry... but the chances are very low.” The room held its breath. “He is dying.”

Her gaze dropped and the last flicker of light went from her eyes. No translation was needed for the immense pain she felt or the heavy cloud of silence encasing us all. No words could break through and interrupt the moment she was coming to understand her husband would die. The veil of secrecy had been lifted, and she was now confronting the horrible truth we all knew and shared.

The question she had spent the last three days gnawing over had been answered, and she quietly sobbed. After a few minutes, she bravely collected herself and addressed the team.

Armed now with expectations and an appreciation for the grim prognosis, she spoke freely and thanked everyone profusely for helping her husband and supporting her. She thirsted for more information and trusted the team with many more questions: how this could happen; how we were certain and if he had any chance of pulling through; how much time she had left with her husband and whether she could stay with him past visitation hours.

The wall between family and medical team was demolished because of the shared understanding of prognosis, and different members of the team could answer her questions honestly and directly. The cardiologist informed her that no one could have predicted this tragic event in a healthy man this age. He thought there was less than a 5% chance of the heart surviving the week. The intensivist promised her that no one would ask her to leave her husband's side at any time. The palliative care team offered their advice for getting family assistance, ways to break the news to her own family, and alternative perspectives regarding her new baby, which could be the blessing to help mend her broken heart. She was encouraged to sit by her husband now “to say everything in your heart, to say everything that needs to be said.”

The young woman listened intently, noticeably calmer now by having more information and the near certainty of death. She signed a DNR order to avoid further suffering. She left the meeting and went to sit beside her husband, savoring the time and opportunity for closure of an episode she would undoubtedly relive for the rest of her life. She cried more, but the terror of the unknown was gone.

One of the biggest temptations in medicine is offering false hope; we often believe that good news builds trust while bad news alienates us from our patients and our very purpose of treating people. Prognosis is sometimes guarded, and the process of dying can be kept secret. But the hubris of promoting an unlikely turnaround robs patients and families of the opportunity for closure and quality moments together in the sunset moments of life.

Sadly, our patient died the day after the meeting, but I'm confident he would approve of how his wife was spoken to and treated. Providing an unambiguous prognosis allowed her to cross the threshold and begin her grieving. The young woman sat beside her husband and held his hand with understanding of the significance of their final hours together. What better medicine is there at the end of life?

Through the generosity of Charles R. Millikan, D. Min., vice president for Spiritual Care and Values Integration, an annual award competition was established at Houston Methodist Hospital among the resident staff. To enter the writing competition, residents must submit a poem or essay of 1,000 words or less on the topic, “On Being a Doctor.” A committee of seven was selected from Houston Methodist Hospital Education Institute to establish the judging criteria and select the winning entries. The following is the first-place winning entry for 2015; the second- and third-place winning entries will be published in the next two issues of this journal.

Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion?

You must join the virtual exhibition queue when you arrive. If capacity has been reached for the day, the queue will close early.

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

Medicine in the middle ages.

Sarcophagus with a Greek Physician

Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas

Processional Cross

Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket

Reliquary Pendant with Queen Margaret of Sicily Blessed by Bishop Reginald of Bath

Arm Reliquary

"Physician Preparing an Elixir", Folio from a Materia Medica of Dioscorides

'Abdullah ibn al-Fadl

The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France

Jean Pucelle

The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy

Attributed to Jean Le Noir , and Workshop

Shoe Reliquary

Manuscript Illumination with the Birth of the Virgin in an Initial G, from a Gradual

• Don Silvestro de' Gherarducci

Pilgrim's Badge of the Shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury

Pharmacy Jar with the Arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala

Apothecary jar (orciuolo)

perhaps workshop of Giunta di Tugio

Saint Fiacre

Martyrdom of Saint Agatha in an Initial D

Sano di Pietro (Ansano di Pietro di Mencio)

Pendant Capsule in the Form of a Tau Cross, with the Trinity and the Virgin and Child

Saint Anthony Abbot

Attributed to Nikolaus von Hagenau

Saints Christopher, Eustace, and Erasmus (Three Helper Saints)

Tilman Riemenschneider

The Miraculous Communion of Saint Catherine of Siena

Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia)

Sigrid Goldiner Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

January 2012

In the second century, Origen wrote, “For those who are adorned with religion use physicians as servants of God, knowing that He himself gave medical knowledge to men, just as He himself assigned both herbs and other things to grow on the earth.”

The practice of medicine in the Middle Ages was rooted in the Greek tradition . Hippocrates, considered the “father of Medicine,” described the body as made up of four humors—yellow bile, phlegm, black bile, and blood—and controlled by the four elements—fire, water, earth, and air. The body could be purged of excess by bleeding, cupping, and leeching—medical practices that continued throughout the Middle Ages.

In 65 A.D. , Dioscorides, a Greek, wrote his Materia Medica ( 13.152.6 ). This was a practical text dealing with the medicinal use of more than 600 plants. In the second century, Galen synthesized much of what has been attributed to Hippocrates. To further his understanding of bodily functions, he performed animal and even human dissections and was able to demonstrate that the arteries carried blood rather than air. Galenic theories had great longevity, prevailing in western Europe until the sixteenth century.

The Arabs were the great translators and synthesizers of medical texts. Many Greek texts were translated first into Arabic and then into Hebrew. Consequently, Arabs and Jews were renowned for the practice of medicine, and Arabic and Jewish doctors were often employed by kings (for example, James II of Aragon [died 1327]).

One cannot overestimate the importance of medicinal plants in the Middle Ages. Although the original text of Dioscorides is lost, there are many surviving copies. His texts formed the basis of much of the herbal medicine practiced until 1500. Some plants were used for specific disorders, while others were credited with curing multiple diseases. In many cases, draughts were made up of many different herbs. No monastic garden would have been complete without medicinal plants, and it was to monasteries that the sick went to obtain such herbs. Additionally, people might have gone to the local witch or to the apothecary for healing potions .

By the twelfth century, there were medical schools throughout Europe. The most famous was the school of Salerno in southern Italy , reputedly founded by a Christian, an Arab, and a Jew. A health spa as early as the second century, Salerno was surprisingly free of clerical control, even though it was very close to the famous and very powerful monastery of Monte Cassino. The medical faculty at Salerno permitted women to study there.

The medical school at Montpellier traces its roots back to the tenth century, though the university was not founded until 1289. Count Guilhem VIII of Montpellier (1157–1202) permitted anyone who had a medical license to teach there, regardless of religion or background. By 1340, the university at Montpellier included a school of anatomy .

In 1140, Roger of Sicily forbade anyone from practicing medicine without a license, indicating that doctors were clearly under some form of regulation. In the late Middle Ages, apothecary shops opened in important towns. Interestingly, these shops also sold artists’ paints and supplies, and apothecaries and artists shared a guild—the Guild of Saint Luke.

Physicians were trained in the art of diagnosis—often shown in manuscripts holding a urine flask up for inspection ( 54.1.2 , Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux , marginal illustration, fol. 143), or feeling a pulse. In fact, in the sixth century, Cassiodorus wrote that “for a skilled physician the pulsing of the veins reveals [to his fingers] the patient’s ailment just as the appearance of urine indicates it to his eyes.” Observation, palpation, feeling the pulse, and urine examination would be the tools of the doctor throughout the Middle Ages.

Surgery such as amputations, cauterization, removal of cataracts, dental extractions, and even trepanning (perforating the skull to relieve pressure on the brain) were practiced. Surgeons would have relied on opiates for anesthesia and doused wounds with wine as a form of antiseptic.

Many people would have sought out the local healer for care, or might have gone to the barber to be bled or even leeched. Midwives took care of childbirth ( 21.168 ) and childhood ailments. For the sick and dying, there were hospitals. Although many large monasteries did have hospitals attached to them—for example, Saint Bartholemew’s in London and the Hotel Dieu in Paris—and all would have had at least a small infirmary where sick and dying monks could be cared for, it is unclear just how much time the monks dedicated to care of the sick. The medicus in a monastery would have devoted himself to prayer, the laying on of hands, exorcizing of demons, and of course the dispensing of herbal medicine. The hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena was initially administered by the canons of the cathedral ( 23.166 ; 16.154.5 ). It was renowned for its efficient administration and, supported by wealthy patrons, was richly endowed with works of art ( 1975.1.2488 ; 32.100.95 ). Many communities had hospitals to care for the sick that were independent of monasteries.

Some of the most notorious illnesses of the Middle Ages were the plague (the Black Death), leprosy, and Saint Anthony’s fire. From 1346, the plague ravaged Europe, and rich and poor alike succumbed with terrifying speed ( 69.86 ). Pneumonic plague attacked the lungs and bubonic plague produced the characteristic buboes; there was no cure for either form. The only hope for those who escaped the dread disease was prayer or pilgrimage. While leprosy ( 54.1.2 , Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, Louis Feeding the Lepers , fol. 123v) was very disfiguring and therefore sufferers were feared and kept apart, in fact, leprosy has a very slow incubation period and may not have been as contagious as it was believed. Lepers were obliged to live outside a town or village and to carry a bell to warn people of their approach. Many medieval parish churches in England have leper “squints” that allowed a leper to see the Mass and even receive the sacrament without coming into contact with other parishioners.

Sufferers from St. Anthony’s fire were afflicted with burning extremities. As the disease, caused by the ingestion of tainted rye, progressed, the bright red extremities—hands, feet. and whole limbs—could become gangrenous and fall off. There were many Antonine hospitals to which patients flocked ( 1990.283a,b ). These hospitals, dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot ( 1988.159 ), gave patients a mixture called Saint Vinage. and cooling herbs such as verbena and sage were applied to soothe the burning heat. Amputations of the affected limbs were also performed.

Many people died of much less dramatic diseases. Women often died in childbirth or succumbed to postpartum infections. Children frequently did not live into adulthood. Laborers must have had multiple problems, such as accidents, osteoarthritis, and fractures. Kidney disease, dental problems, hemorrhoids, and heart disease would have been common. Battle-related injuries were frequent and often fatal.

The most important exemplar for any healer was Jesus himself. The Gospels recount that Jesus healed the blind, caused the paralyzed to walk, cast out devils from the possessed, healed a woman with an issue of blood, and even raised the dead. The healing touch was appropriated by English and French kings, and many miraculous cures were attributed to the royal laying-on of hands. In England, for example, the King’s Touch was believed to heal scrofula, a form of tuberculosis. Prayers to Christ, the Virgin, and saints were always considered the most efficacious form of help. Saint Margaret was invoked for help in childbirth ( 47.101.65 ); Saint Fiacre ( 25.120.227 ; 17.190.353 ) for relief from hemorrhoids. Pilgrimage to a shrine might also lead to miraculous healing. Often these sites and the relics they displayed were related to specific diseases and to specific saints .

Objects associated with the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket attest to the importance of Canterbury as a pilgrimage site where many sick people received miraculous cures. Becket was described as “the best physician of virtuous sick people” and the thirteenth-century windows at Canterbury provide a vivid record of miraculous cures of blindness, leprosy, drowning, madness, and the plague. At Canterbury, the saint’s blood was believed to be particularly beneficial—ampullae containing blood mixed with water were distributed at the shrine ( 2001.310 ). Canterbury seems to have been a particularly important pilgrimage destination for people suffering from bleeding disorders—perhaps because of the blood shed by Thomas at his martyrdom ( 17.190.520 ).

Pilgrims arriving at their destination would be able to touch the relics and even carry home with them secondary relics—perhaps a piece of cloth that had been applied to a reliquary, or an ampulla of liquid that had been poured over a tomb ( 17.194.2291 ). These secondary relics could then be used to heal those who were too ill to make the journey. Ultimately, the power of faith was potent medicine for the sick in the Middle Ages.

Goldiner, Sigrid. “Medicine in the Middle Ages.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/medm/hd_medm.htm (January 2012)

Further Reading

Bagnoli, Martina, et al., eds. Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe . Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2010.

Caviness, Madeline Harrison. The Early Stained Glass of Canterbury Cathedral . Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1977.

Gottfried, Robert S. The Black Death: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe . New York: The Free Press, 1983.

Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal . 2 vols. New York: Dover, 1982.

Hayum, Andrée. The Isenheim Altarpiece: God's Medicine and the Painter's Vision . Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1989.

McVaugh, Michael R. Medicine before the Plague . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Rawcliffe, Carole. Medicine & Society in Later Medieval England . Stroud, England: Alan Sutton, 1995.

Siraisi, Nancy G. Medieval & Early Renaissance Medicine . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.

Additional Essays by Sigrid Goldiner

• Goldiner, Sigrid. “ Art and Death in the Middle Ages .” (originally published October 2001, last revised February 2010)

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Artist or Maker

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English Compositions

Short Essay on Health [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In today’s lesson, I will discuss how you can write short essays on Health within different word limits. All the essays will be written here with a simplistic approach for a better understanding of all students. 

Short Essay on Health in 100 Words

Health is an important aspect of one’s life. A person is considered healthy when he or she is free from illness or injury. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera. However, all these categories are interrelated.

While low physical activity can impact overall mental health, mental stress can adversely affect heart health and poor emotional health can deteriorate one’s quality of life. Being in good health enables a person to function optimally and live their life happily.

Some of the basic rules for maintaining good health include going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, eating healthily and drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. 

Short Essay on Health in 200 Words

Health is one of the most important aspects of one’s life. One can be a billionaire but if he is not in good health, he can not enjoy the luxuries that money can buy. Thus, health is considered as the real wealth. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera.

However, all these categories are interrelated and impact each other. For example, not exercising regularly can make a person irritable and cause mental health problems, while chronic stress can lead to health diseases and diabetes. Poor emotional and psychological health can also make people withdrawn and impact their overall health. 

Being in good health enables a person to function optimally and live their life happily. When one feels healthy and is not troubled by pain or discomfort in the body, he can be more active, participate in various activities and be more present in the daily happenings. Being mentally in good health is also very important as suffering from anxiety, depression and other issues can severely deteriorate one’s quality of life.

One can easily improve his health by making some changes in his lifestyle. Some of the basic rules for maintaining good health include going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, eating healthily and drinking a lot of water. 

Short Essay on Health in 400 Words

Health is a key aspect of one’s life. A person is considered healthy when he is free from all illness and injury and can conduct his life well. One can be a billionaire but if he is not in good health, he can not enjoy the luxuries that money can buy. Thus, health is considered as the real wealth and being in good health is very important. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera.

Everyone can be healthy but good health does not come without the necessary discipline and care. Going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, avoiding junk food, eating healthily, drinking a lot of water and getting some sunlight are a few good habits that can improve one’s health. However, it cannot be achieved in a day. One needs to change their lifestyle and practice healthy habits daily. 

Sometimes, one’s external environment can also be the reason for their poor health. Living in shabby conditions, breathing in heavily polluted air, consuming unhygienic food and contaminated water can more often than not, result in bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Hence, cleanliness is an important factor if one wants to be healthy. One should also take care of their diet and include greens and other nutritious food, limit their caffeine intake, stop smoking and drinking as well as follow the basic health protocols. 

Good health is necessary if one wants to achieve their goal in life. One cannot study well or work hard when they are not feeling at ease or are suffering from pain. Adopting a healthy lifestyle makes us healthy and boosts our energy as well as immunity. Thus, good health is the key to enjoying a good life. 

In this session above, I have mentioned everything that could be necessary to write short essays on Health. Through the simple words and sentences, I hope now you have understood the entire context. If you still have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through some quick comments. If you want to read more such essays on various important topics, keep browsing our website. 

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In their own words: Medical students reflect on their journeys

Through 55-word stories, students share aspects of their medical school experiences — from meaningful patient encounters to moments of joy and heartbreak..

The growth was sudden and swift, but also so slow I didn’t even notice. Medical school will change you in ways that you don’t even notice until reflecting at the end of the four years. All I can say is, it has been the most amazing, thrilling journey, that I never hope to do again. —Megan Corn, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences

The most important thing you can learn during medical school isn’t how to answer questions; it’s how to ask questions. We’ve reached the point where AI can pass the USMLE, but while AI might have the answers, it’s useless unless it has the necessary information. Getting that information from the patient is up to you. —Jonathan Walsh, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Medical school — a musical snow globe, magical and completely enveloping. Unfortunately, life still happens on the outside; occasionally the music stops. It’s not just patients that die. The trick is figuring out how to give yourself a shake, wind yourself back up, get that snow falling and music playing again. The show must go on. —Marinos Pylarinos, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

“You will grow so much.” The once unfamiliar halls become mapped roads trodden more than a thousand times; the silent strangers ambling past now beam at a comrade in arms and exchange warm greetings; the wavering uncertainty blossoms into a calm security; the road barrels forward, teeming with new adventures. What new growths lie ahead? —Kim Tran, LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine

Overpriced lattes and overworked laptops. Low-stakes gossip between practice questions. Exchanging tales of indefensible pimping failures to remedy our humiliation with laughter. Salty margarita rims after exams we swore we failed. Medical school was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’d do it a million times again if I could do it with them. —Jillian O’Shaughnessy, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

My third laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the grumpy attending. A stapler malfunction, lots of cursing, tensions rising, he fishes for the staple. Clearing my throat, “Do you mind if I try?” Tepidly, I grab for the staple resting on the loop of bowel — success! A smile forms under his mask, “Well, I’ll be damned, good job.” —Kevin Gertner, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Of all the awards, achievements, and accolades, all the tests passed, challenges overcome, and concepts mastered, the most important event I experienced in medical school was a sick patient telling me, “Thank you for being kind.” Even at the most difficult of times, I would do it all again if that was the final reward. —De’mond Glynn, University of Kansas School of Medicine

We are sorry. You did not match to any position: 10 words that make you feel like you failed the ultimate mission. Colleagues, mentors, and faculty build you up. These are the people that fill your cup. Although the journey is different than planned, I cannot wait to impact my patients; I will still stand. —Michael Nichols, University of Kentucky College of Medicine [Nichols will complete a preliminary general surgery year before pursuing anesthesiology]

On patients as people:  

You and me, each behind a mask, but it doesn’t take more than our eyes locking to know that we are in this moment together. You pour out months of struggle in just a few minutes, we acknowledge the hardship and heartbreak. Together we pick a piece of the puzzle and start building something new. —Natalie Alteri, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix

Patient on swallow precautions, because of a recent trip to the MICU, for aspiration pneumonia. I go to examine her, lifting her sheets gingerly, to not disturb her sleep. And there, right by her mouth, is a Lindt chocolate bunny, with the head bit right off. When you’re 85, some things are worth aspirating for. —Carly Ferre, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

It was 7:30 p.m., and the other patients were in bed. Across from me sat a late-20s veteran with PTSD and anterograde amnesia. We locked eyes. “I trust you.” The words left his lips and sliced the silence, followed by a throbbing drumbeat—my heart; it knew the way and told me where to go. —Billy Nguyen, The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine 

“He’s not just a patient; he’s a person. It’s only respectful to introduce yourself even if he won’t remember any of it.” —Attending anesthesiologist on why he introduced me, a shadowing med student, after the patient had received an amnesiac. Sometimes, we focus so much on the medicine that we lose sight of the person. —Sunny Liu, Duke University School of Medicine

The helicopter’s blades slowed as it landed, transporting a man in agonizing pain from cancer. He shared of months of unacknowledged and neglected pain. Amidst treatment planning, I couldn’t help but prioritize time by his side. Ordering medications, I also ordered a listening ear and a warm embrace, ensuring he felt heard and cared for. —Kevin Reyes, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine 

My patient with opioid use disorder pats the seat next to me, inviting me to sit. She asks me, “Have you ever used substances before?” I look at her questioningly and say, “No I haven’t. Why?” My patient says, “It’s just that you talk and listen to me as if you know what it’s like.” —Mandy Perez, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

On delivering bad news:

On the darkest day of my own life, an intern and I diagnosed a woman with cancer. I lied and said I had a migraine. I got to run and curl up in a ball. I’ll never know if the intern’s life was falling apart. Maybe all three of our souls were crushed that day. —Valery Kravchuk, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

It was a rainy day. And through the skylights in the pediatric ICU I felt salty rain hitting my cheeks. A little girl was dying. Her family hugging her edematous body, that had once run, jumped, and played. There were no other options, the medical team said. As if we were talking about the rain. —Carly Ferre, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

His eyes locked hers, tears flowing down their cheeks. The world moved slowly, neither dared speak. Love so palpable, understanding so profound. Embracing him, she knew deep down. Stop aggressive measures and be at peace. He would be gone within a week. Emotions unspeakable, never to perish. What makes us alive, these moments we cherish. —Christopher Economus, Northeast Ohio Medical University

The resident quietly cries in the elevator after explaining a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer to a young patient. His father, I learned, suffered the same fate. That night, I cry for hours; for the patient, resident, both of their families. Medical school does not prepare us for grief, either over patients or ourselves. —Grace Noonan, University of Kansas School of Medicine

On what it means to become a doctor:

The first time someone thanked me for being a doctor broke my heart. I told a wife that her husband’s lung cancer was metastatic in the ED, because other doctors couldn’t fit them into their schedule for two months. She told me, “Thank you for being my doctor when no one else wanted to be.” —Alexander Chiang, California Northstate University College of Medicine

In fourth-year, I often heard, “This won’t apply to you.” While true of ventilator settings, I still held the hand of the scared mom, her baby intubated. For weeks, I did one thing: cared. The mom gave me a keychain, covered in daisies. A daily reminder, as I enter intern year, that caring always applies. —Jenna Jensen, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

In the dim glow of the night shift, as monitors beeped and patients slept, a quiet epiphany unfolded. Amidst the complexities of diagnoses and treatments, the human connection shone brightest. Each conversation and each shared moment of vulnerability reaffirmed my path. Internal Medicine became not just a specialty, but a calling to nurture my soul. —Suhail Singh Sidhu, Creighton University School of Medicine

My patients have taught me to see them beyond their disease. To pull up a chair, listen, and understand their goals. To do everything reasonable to design our plans in respect of their wishes. Sometimes the best treatment is no treatment. Success can be more than the absence of disease… but the presence of peace. —Cameron Quon, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

• Medical Education

"Medical science is making such remarkable progress that soon none of us will be well." Aldous Huxley (1894 – 1963), English writer and philosopher

• June 24, 2022
• General English
• No Comments

Home » Medicine

Latest lesson plans

This free ESL lesson plan on medicine has been designed for adults and young adults at an intermediate (B1/B2) to advanced (C1/C2) level and should last around 45 to 60 minutes for one student.

Medicine is the branch of science concerned with keeping people safe from diseases and other conditions that affect their health. Medicine can also be used to mean the medication we take to recover from these medical conditions. Of all the sciences, medicine is perhaps the branch that has had the greatest effect people’s lives around the world, yet there is still more to do to ensure everyone can enjoy these benefits equally. Likewise, medical scientists dedicate their lives to finding new cures for diseases and conditions that still affect billions around the world. In this ESL lesson plan on medicine, students will have the opportunity to discuss and express their opinions on topics such as what medicine involves, medical professions, and social issues in the field of medicine.

This lesson plan could also be used with your students to debate these issues for World Health Day , which takes place in April. For more lesson plans on international days and important holidays, see the  calendar of world days  to plan your classes for these special occasions.

For advice on how to use this English lesson plan and  other lesson plans  on this site, see the  guide for ESL teachers .

PRE-CLASS ACTIVITIES

Reading activity Before the English class, send the following article to the students and ask them to read it while making a list of any new vocabulary or phrases they find (explain any the students don’t understand in the class):

The article looks at some of the most important medical breakthroughs in history, including the development of vaccines and antibiotics, organ transplants, and more recently, the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. What do they think about the issues raised in the article? Do they agree with what was said? Can they think of any ways they might disagree with the content of the article?

Video activity To save time in class for the conversation activities, the English teacher can ask the students to watch the video below and answer the listening questions in Section 3 of the lesson plan at home. The questions for the video are styled in a way similar to an exam like the IELTS.

The video for this class is a called “How can we solve the antibiotic resistance crisis?” by TED Ed which looks at the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, how this happened, and some potential solutions.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

The focus in the class is on conversation in order to help improve students’ fluency and confidence when speaking in English as well as boosting their vocabulary.

This lesson opens with a short discussion about the article the students read before the class. Next, the students can give their opinion on the quote at the beginning of the lesson plan – what they think the quote means and if they agree with it. This is followed by an initial discussion on the topic including the main medical problems the world is facing, experience with medications, and what it would be like to be a medical professional.

After this, students will learn some vocabulary connected with medicine such as antidepressant , painkiller and superbug . This vocabulary has been chosen to boost the students’ knowledge of less common vocabulary that could be useful for preparing for English exams like IELTS or TOEFL. The vocabulary is accompanied by a cloze activity and a speaking activity to test the students’ comprehension of these words.

If the students didn’t watch the video before the class, they can watch it after the vocabulary section and answer the listening questions. Before checking the answers, ask the students to give a brief summary of the video and what they thought about the content.

Finally, there is a more in-depth conversation about political ideologies. In this speaking activity, students will talk about issues such as the issue of trust and misinformation in medicine, access to medicine, and what medicine will be like in the future.

After the class, students will write about their opinion of medicine. This could be a short paragraph or a longer piece of writing depending on what level the student is at. The writing activity is designed to allow students to practise and improve their grammar with the feedback from their teacher. For students who intend to take an international English exam such as IELTS or TOEFL, there is an alternative essay question to practise their essay-writing skills.

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• Laughter is the Best Medicine Essay

Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine

Being happy every time is the best medicine for every problem you are passing through. A cheerful day means good vibes all around. This essay on laughter is the best medicine that will let you know how keeping yourself happy could change the world around you. You follow a different way of viewing the people and understanding them. 

The term laughter means happiness to bring cheerfulness to your life. The essay on laughter is the best medicine that teaches you how happiness brings benefits to your life. 

Being happy always keeps you healthy. It is the way to bring people together and to bring positive changes in their bodies. Laughter strengthens your immune system, lessens your pain and damages the stress you feel. Those who understand the importance of laughter and a happy face always remain focused and alert. 

From day one, we have been taught to keep ourselves calm. This laughter is the best medicine essay that tells how much power a single simple person has and how it brings priceless fun to your life. If you want to strengthen your relationship with people around you, then laughter is the best healer in such cases.

Laughter is the best medicine essay for Class 6 tells us how to see life in a more realistic and less threatening light. A humorous outlook creates a psychological distance that helps in avoiding the feeling of being overwhelmed. By infusing positive feelings and nurturing emotional connections, laughter helps in strengthening our relationships. 

When people laugh with each other, it creates a positive bond. The bond acts as a robust defense against disappointments and disagreements. Laughter is the best medicine paragraph that truly states the importance of being happy in life. Whatever is the condition, place, or surroundings, a healthy laugh can help you recover from various ailments. 

In today’s busy life, people suffer from different mental health issues, which further turns to anxiety and depression. However, one can avoid all such problems by inculcating the habit of laughing. 

Laughter acts as a prevailing antidote for stress, pain, and conflict. There is nothing that works healthier to bring body and mind into balance than a good laugh. Laughter is the best medicine essay in English reveals that laughter alleviates your burden and connects you to others. It contributes towards giving positive vibes to the people who are in touch with you. 

Utilizing humor in troublesome situations can be one of the better methods of adapting to challenges and continuing ahead with life. Laughing is the best medicine essay that teaches how a simple smile or laughter completely alters the mood of the surroundings.

Paragraph Writing on Laughter is the Best Medicine

Paragraph writing on laughter is the best medicine that tells why people should include laughing in their everyday chores. It reveals that laughter is a form of expressing our emotions. It’s not about providing oral medication, but about the happiness that laughter provides. Anytime we feel low, happiness can make us feel better. It acts as one of the best remedies for all illnesses.

Endorphins are tiny neurochemicals inside our body that act as pain relievers. When you laugh, endorphins release and thus help in reducing the pain and improving mood. The laughter essay is the best medicine that reveals how laughter assists people in living more. It not only contributes towards individual well-being but also leaves a good impression in front of others.

Laughter is the best medicine essay that shows how laughter acts as the simplest medicine to reduce blood pressure. Through laughter, there are only positive effects on people’s well-being. Since laughter is completely free, one can decide to laugh regularly and can accomplish its great advantages. 

A Short Paragraph on  Laughter is the Best Medicine

Shared laughter adds vitality, joy, and resilience to relationships. Humor is a powerful way to heal disagreements and unite people during tough times. This short essay on Laughter is the best medicine that says adding more laughter into daily interactions can enhance the quality of relationships.

Laughter is the psychological, physical, and rhythmic response to some humorous activity. It is independent of any language that one speaks. By laughing, people can burn several calories and remain healthy.

Laughter is the best medicine essay that tells the ability to laugh frequently is the superlative way to overcome challenging situations. Laughing is nothing less than an exercise where people inhale oxygen. It enhances the blood in the human body and helps in boosting a person’s resistance to power against diseases. It costs nothing to laugh at but gives us countless benefits.

The  Advantages of Writing an Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine

There are many benefits of writing an essay on the topic of Laughter is the Best Medicine. Few of which are given below.

It helps the students in expressing themselves: Essay writing, in general, is very much helpful to the students in expressing themselves in a better manner. And the same is true with the topic of Laughter is the Best Medicine. It helps the students in expressing their ideas and thoughts about the laughter in a better manner.

It helps in developing imaginative thinking: As said earlier, Essay writing is a creative process and no creative process is complete without imaginative thinking. And hence the same goes for this topic as well. Because for writing a good essay you first have to think about the topic, in this case about laughter. And hence it helps you in understanding the laughter by asking a question to yourself, such as “what is laughter?” “What are the types of laughter?”

It develops the writing skill: It is obvious that writing the essay develops the writing skill. Since essay writing is a creative process, it requires a different type of writing, that is to say, it requires the students to think creatively, and after that, transform those creative thoughts into written words. Hence, writing an essay on the topic of laughter is the best medicine that helps the students in expressing themselves in a better manner. Also, it helps the students to capture their thoughts and ideas into the written form. It gives the students a chance to use the vocabulary they have already learned in their essay, and therefore it strengthens the vocabulary of the students.

Also, if you wish to have a good understanding of the essay, its types and formatting, you should follow this link .

The essay on laughter is the best medicine in English that says that laughter brings enthusiasm, happiness, and zest in our life. It makes our life look more beautiful to us. It not only releases tension from our minds but also improves moods. It acts as an ultimate weapon to resolve conflicts by creating a humorous environment in any relationship.

FAQs on Laughter is the Best Medicine Essay

1. Why should i write an essay on the topic of “laughter is the best medicine” in the english language?

English is one of the important languages, not only in India but throughout the whole world, and it is also a widely spoken language. The demand for English is only going upwards, and hence it is very much important for the students to master the English language. Also, English opens so many doors of opportunity for the students. And writing an essay in the English language helps the students in mastering the language. Because expressing yourself in the English language requires a certain level of mastery of the same.

2. Where can i find an essay on the topic of “laughter is the best medicine” in the english language?

If you are looking for an essay on the topic of Laughter is the best medicine in the English language, then you have already arrived at the right place. Because Vedantu provides the students with an essay on the topic of laughter, it is the best medicine in the English language. Vedantu provides a short essay on the given topic, as well as a rather long essay on the given topic, along with an example of the paragraph writing, and lastly, Vedantu provides these all to the students completely free of cost.

3. Why should i choose vedantu for the essay on “laughter is the best medicine”?

For writing a good essay, it is important for the students to first know the anatomy of a good essay, and Vedantu helps the students in learning the anatomy of a good essay. But only learning anatomy is not going to help you at all, you need to have good examples of the same in which you can see all the things that you have learned implemented practically. And hence the essay that Vedantu provides serves the purpose of the guide to the students.

4. How can common laughter act as a symbol of bonding?

People cannot cry or laugh in front of everyone. The one that makes you laugh is the one with whom you bond. Laughter is the best medicine essay tells that sharing laughter is an indication of bonding between people. Laughing makes us feel good. It’s the feeling that remains with us even after we stop laughing. It helps in keeping a positive view of the world even in difficult times and thus connects humans.

5. What are the health benefits as suggested by laughter is the best medicine essay?

According to the essay on laughter is the best medicine in 120 words, laughing helps in increasing immunity. It helps in relieving stress, pain, and reducing blood pressure like health problems. A healthy smile every day helps you forget all your tensions and mental stress. After the laughter, your muscles remain relaxed for up to 45 minutes. It improves the function of blood vessels, hence enhancing the blood flow. Laughing daily can also protect humans against heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.

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Laughter Is The Best Medicine Essay

The best treatment for any problem we are dealing with is to always be cheerful. An upbeat day indicates positive energy all around. We have a distinct perspective on and comprehension of the people. The definition of laughter is "pleasure" or "bringing cheer to your life." Here are a few sample essays on “Laughter Is The Best Medicine”.

100 Words Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine

The best medicine for people is laughter. The best form of rehabilitation for a person is laughter. When one laughs, their body's immunity rises, and they can better fend off other illnesses. Laughter enters a patient's body more quickly than any medication. Humour is the best therapy for those who experience despair, anxiety, etc. People join laughter clubs to make friends and laugh with them after their morning strolls in the park. This makes their bond or relationship even stronger. The doctor will also request that the patient's entire family maintain their happiness when they are in pain. We feel relieved when we laugh heartily.

200 Words Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine

Life is full of ups and downs. We've all faced difficulties and sorrows, but we've all overcome them. The best way to deal with any discomfort is to grin. It has long been known that the best way to deal with suffering, tension, and conflict is to laugh. Here are a few reasons as to why laughter is called the best medicine.

A good chuckle is the fastest way to improve someone's mental and physical well-being.

By lightening your load and enabling you to connect with others, humour also helps you concentrate.

Consequently, laughter can transform a person's mind and physique.

Your brain functions appropriately when you are joyful, and your facial expression adjusts correspondingly.

A person's immune system performs better and is strengthened to fend off diseases when they laugh their hearts out.

Laughter aids in lowering stress hormones, engages your muscles, and boosts blood flow throughout the body.

Additionally, it shields the person from grave dangers to their lives.

So, laughter is a beautiful experience and a necessary component of the human body's work. It assists in lowering stress hormones, activating muscles, and improving blood flow throughout the body. One is also shielded from any unforeseen health issues by having healthy arteries. Therefore, laughing is an enjoyable experience and a required component of human body function.

500 Words Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine

Laughter is the best medicine is a saying that we frequently hear from our parents, family, teachers, and fitness professionals. This is because laughter has several benefits for our mood and health. According to studies, a kindergarten youngster laughs approximately 300 times per day, compared to adults who, on average, only laugh seventeen times per day. Being goofy and laughing aloud is acceptable since you will feel incredibly joyful and delighted. This medication does wonders in the treatment of several ailments. Your physical, emotional, and general well-being will benefit from it. Many illnesses, including feelings of melancholy, fear, and anxiety, can be treated with laughter.

How Laughter Helps Us

You feel better when you laugh. And even when the laughter stops, you continue to feel good. Humour helps you maintain a bright, upbeat view through challenging circumstances, setbacks, and loss. Laughter gives you the bravery and strength to look for new meanings and sources of optimism, providing more than simply a reprieve from misery and pain. Even in the most trying circumstances, a grin or even a simple laugh can work wonders for your mood. And, indeed, laughter spreads quickly; even the sound of it can make you smile and participate in the fun.

Benefits Of Laughter

Some of the benefits of laughter can be listed as:-

Boosts immunity.

It helps in relaxing our muscles.

It helps in lowering the stress hormone.

Decreases tension as well as anxiety.

Lowers blood pressure.

It helps in fighting depression.

It also improves teamwork.

It strengthens our relationships.

Beauty Of Laughter

Nothing eases tension and a disagreement more quickly than a good chuckle. Putting things in perspective by finding the humour in them will help you move past conflicts without harbouring resentment or animosity. The act of sharing laughter with others makes people happier. Social interaction improves our mood and lessens the sense of isolation. The harm caused by stress and despair can be repaired by socialising and spreading joy. Since depression is a serious illness, it must be treated as soon as possible. Laughter can undoubtedly aid in the fight against serious illnesses like depression.

There is no harm in laughing thus, we should always take advantage of every opportunity to do so or just chuckle, even if it is for no apparent reason. Even if modern life is hectic and demanding, it is not wise to neglect our health. We all need to join laughter yoga clubs to enjoy the advantages of laughter and improve our general health, which is the true definition of wealth. It lessens daily tension and gives us energy for our daily tasks.

My Experience With Yoga Teacher

A person's mood can quickly become upbeat when they laugh, and it is difficult to be unhappy when you are laughing. My yoga teacher claims that if we consistently practise grinning, laughing, and laughing aloud for a while, we will never experience depression. Therefore, she made me realise that it serves as a treatment for depression and a preventative measure against it. She also said that humour is the sixth sense that is crucial for survival and shouldn't be undervalued at all. My teacher’s advice still echoes through my thoughts and helped me realise how important laughter is for us.

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May 28, 2024

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Research highlights urgent need to tackle health challenges for migrants in Europe

by University of Bergen

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe has launched, on May 28, a new series of seven papers presented alongside the World Health Organization European Assembly.

One of the papers is led by the University of Bergen. In the paper titled, "Capacity building in migration and health in higher education : lessons from five European countries" Esperanza Diaz and colleagues from other four European countries, illustrate good examples in higher education, identify gaps in the further advancement of capacity building and summarize key recommendations for the advancement of capacity building in migration and health.

According to the authors, to be able to deliver equitable care, European health services need to build capacity at high education level to be able to improve the care for migrants. Here are their recommendations that should be also implemented in Norway:

• Create spaces to share concrete teaching experiences that can be adapted and replicated
• Promote diversity-sensitive communication skills programs for trainers and teachers
• Integrate training on migration and health within the broader framework of social determinants of health
• Develop participatory and intersectional approaches that focus on improving attitudes and skills
• Capacity building should be both top-down (leadership) as well as bottom-up (involving teachers and students ).
• Advocate for curricula development to reflect and include diversity-sensitive approaches in content and implementation
• Medical and continuous education accreditations should include new standards for diversity-sensitive health care
• Prioritize student assessments and course evaluations instead of seeing them as optional
• Promote mandatory diversity -related competences in both undergraduate and specialized training
• Co-create and maintain dialogue with key stakeholders, different members of the health care team and migrants

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Laughter is the Best Medicine Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on laughter is the best medicine.

One of the best feelings in the world that also brings so much of cheer to life is laughter. It really is one of the best medicines in the world. Also, whether it’s a smile or just a slight giggle, laughter completely alters the atmosphere and mood of the surroundings. Furthermore, it makes you feel good and everyone around you will also feel positive vibes. The laughter is the best medicine essay teaches you the important benefits of inculcating laughter in day to day life. 

Laughter acts as a powerful antidote for pain, stress, and conflict. There is nothing that works faster in order to bring back mind and body into balance than a good laugh. Also, humor lightens your burden, connects you to others and keep you focused. Thus, laughter has so much power to renew and heal one’s mind and body. Also, the ability to laugh frequently is the best way to surmount the problems. Furthermore, it supports your emotional as well as physical health. Additionally, laughter also enhances your relationships. 

A good hearty laugh everyday relieves a person from stress and physical tension . Thus, even the muscles are relaxed after good laughter of 45 minutes. Laughter increases the immune cells in your body and decreases the stress hormones. Also, it fights the infection-fighting antibodies. So, it helps in improving a person’s resistance to power against the diseases. Laughter increases the blood in your body and also the functioning of blood vessels. Thus, it can help in protecting a person against a heart attack. 

Additionally, laughter helps you feel good. The good feeling that you actually get during laughter remains with you even when you stop laughing. Thus, laughter helps you with a positive view in difficult times. A slight smile or a laugh can do a world of good for you.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Laughing Regularly

Improves cardiovascular health.

Laughing is a good workout for your cardio. Especially for people that are not very active throughout the day can laugh several times. Also, you will burn calories and remain healthy by laughing. Laughing is an exercise where you inhale oxygen and this stimulates the heart. 

Releases Endorphins

There are tiny neurochemicals in our body in the form of endorphins that acts as a pain reliever. So, when you laugh, it releases the endorphins. Thus, it can help in reducing the pain and thereby enhances your mood. 

Lowers Blood Pressure

One of the simplest medicine to reduce your blood pressure is laughter. Besides, there are no side effects of laughter. There are only positive effects on one’s well being through laughter. Thus, it becomes important to have a daily dose of laughter to control your blood pressure. 

Reduces Stress

Laughter helps in reducing the level of stress hormones in one’s body. Thus, it will ultimately reduce the anxiety and stress that can negatively impact your body. Also, reduction in stress will lead to higher immune performance.

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EMTALA: the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act

This essay about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) discusses the law’s impact on the U.S. healthcare system since its enactment in 1986. EMTALA was introduced to prevent hospitals from refusing emergency care based on a patient’s ability to pay, ensuring that anyone with an emergency condition receives treatment. The essay explores how EMTALA requires hospitals to conduct medical screenings and, if necessary, stabilize the patient or safely transfer them to a facility that can provide adequate care. It also examines the challenges hospitals face in complying with the law, including increased operational costs and the subjective nature of what constitutes a stable condition. Additionally, the essay considers broader implications for healthcare policy and suggests that future reforms should continue to adapt EMTALA to changes in healthcare delivery, aiming to uphold equitable treatment for all patients in emergency situations.

How it works

In the annals of the U.S. healthcare system, the year 1986 stands as a watershed moment marked by the advent of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal statute that wrought a paradigm shift in the management of emergency medical services. EMTALA, colloquially known as the “anti-dumping” law, materialized in response to widespread societal apprehensions regarding the ethical dimensions of emergency healthcare delivery. Preceding the enactment of EMTALA, hospitals were at liberty to refuse treatment or redirect uninsured or underfunded patients to alternative facilities—a phenomenon commonly termed “patient dumping.

” The legislative mandate of EMTALA was to guarantee that individuals afflicted with emergent medical conditions could access preliminary medical interventions, irrespective of their financial means or insurance coverage.

EMTALA decrees that hospitals harboring emergency departments and accepting remuneration from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation (CME) for any individual soliciting medical attention to discern the presence of an emergent medical condition (EMC). Upon validation of an EMC, the hospital is legally compelled to either stabilize the condition or orchestrate a safe transfer of the patient to a facility equipped to address the exigency, ensuring the receiving entity has consented to accommodate and treat the patient.

The ramifications of EMTALA are multifaceted, exerting profound repercussions upon healthcare providers and patients alike. It heralds a pivotal departure towards an all-encompassing ethos of emergency care, underscored by the ethical imperative to afford uniform treatment to all patients during emergent circumstances. Nevertheless, the operationalization of EMTALA has not been devoid of obstacles. Adherence necessitates hospitals to delineate explicit protocols, spanning the conduct of CMEs to the facilitation of patient transfers. The adequacy of staff training in these protocols assumes paramount significance, not merely to abide by legal stipulations but to safeguard patient welfare and optimize the quality of care.

For patients, EMTALA serves as a safety valve, concurrently heightening public consciousness regarding the entitlements of individuals seeking emergency medical assistance. It guarantees that no individual in a precarious medical state is rebuffed at the threshold of a hospital. From a public health vantage point, EMTALA constitutes a seminal milestone in ensuring that the provision of emergency care prioritizes clinical exigency over pecuniary considerations.

Notwithstanding its merits, EMTALA has precipitated augmented strains upon hospital resources. Emergency departments are obligated to extend care to all individuals irrespective of their financial solvency, engendering elevated operational outlays and impinging upon the fiscal viability of these institutions. Moreover, inasmuch as EMTALA mandates care exclusively up to the juncture of stabilization, it remains mute vis-à-vis broader concerns pertaining to protracted medical interventions, potentially exposing patients to vulnerabilities post-discharge from emergency settings.

Moreover, the determination of what constitutes a “stable” condition harbors a subjective veneer and varies amongst healthcare practitioners, occasioning potential disparities in the administration of care. Hospitals often err on the side of conservatism, a praxis conducive to patient welfare albeit inflating healthcare expenditure. Furthermore, whilst the legislation has evinced efficacy in curbing patient dumping, vestiges of the phenomenon endure owing to enforcement quandaries. Hospitals may subtly prompt voluntary patient transfers or curtail the delivery of requisite care if they perceive financial remuneration as insufficient.

EMTALA converges with broader deliberations within healthcare policy, particularly encompassing dialogues pertaining to healthcare financing and insurance reform. As hospitals absorb the financial onus of emergency care for the uninsured populace, the financial onus upon the healthcare infrastructure burgeons, prompting entreaties for comprehensive remedies that amalgamate emergency care funding with overarching healthcare policy initiatives.

Prospecting forward, the continual evolution of EMTALA is indispensable. It necessitates acclimatization to shifts in healthcare dispensation paradigms, including the ascendancy of urgent care facilities, telemedicine, and other innovations furnishing alternatives to traditional emergency department settings. As the healthcare milieu burgeons in complexity, concomitant adaptations in regulations are imperative to warrant fair and impartial treatment of all patients.

In summation, EMTALA assumes an indispensable mantle within the U.S. healthcare spectrum, epitomizing a societal pledge to the axiom that emergency care ought to be accessible to all. It underscores the ethical imperatives intrinsic to medicine—specifically, that fiscal capacity should not subsume the caliber of care dispensed during emergencies. Notwithstanding, the statute is bereft of panacea and fails to address all conundrums attendant to emergency healthcare provisioning. Apt policy revisions and an unwavering commitment to equitable healthcare ethos are indispensable to ensure that EMTALA can fulfill its envisaged potential within the contemporary healthcare milieu. As the journey unfolds, the insights gleaned from the implementation of EMTALA are poised to indelibly shape future healthcare reforms, with the overarching aspiration of forging a more equitable and responsive healthcare edifice.

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EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. (2024, May 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/emtala-the-emergency-medical-treatment-and-active-labor-act/

"EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act." PapersOwl.com , 28 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/emtala-the-emergency-medical-treatment-and-active-labor-act/

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"EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act," PapersOwl.com , 28-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/emtala-the-emergency-medical-treatment-and-active-labor-act/. [Accessed: 29-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/emtala-the-emergency-medical-treatment-and-active-labor-act/ [Accessed: 29-May-2024]

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• 21 May 2024

First ‘bilingual’ brain-reading device decodes Spanish and English words

• Amanda Heidt 0

Amanda Heidt is a freelance journalist in southeastern Utah.

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Medical imaging shows brain activity during speech production (artificially coloured). Credit: Zephyr/SPL

For the first time, a brain implant has helped a bilingual person who is unable to articulate words to communicate in both of his languages. An artificial-intelligence (AI) system coupled to the brain implant decodes, in real time, what the individual is trying to say in either Spanish or English.

The findings 1 , published on 20 May in Nature Biomedical Engineering , provide insights into how our brains process language , and could one day lead to long-lasting devices capable of restoring multilingual speech to people who can’t communicate verbally.

“This new study is an important contribution for the emerging field of speech-restoration neuroprostheses,” says Sergey Stavisky, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, who was not involved in the study. Even though the study included only one participant and more work remains to be done, “there’s every reason to think that this strategy will work with higher accuracy in the future when combined with other recent advances”, Stavisky says.

Speech-restoring implant

The person at the heart of the study, who goes by the nickname Pancho, had a stroke at age 20 that paralysed much of his body. As a result, he can moan and grunt but cannot speak clearly. In his thirties, Pancho partnered with Edward Chang, a neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, to investigate the stroke’s lasting effects on his brain. In a groundbreaking study published in 2021 2 , Chang’s team surgically implanted electrodes on Pancho’s cortex to record neural activity, which was translated into words on a screen.

Pancho’s first sentence — ‘My family is outside’ — was interpreted in English. But Pancho is a native Spanish speaker who learnt English only after his stroke. It’s Spanish that still evokes in him feelings of familiarity and belonging. “What languages someone speaks are actually very linked to their identity,” Chang says. “And so our long-term goal has never been just about replacing words, but about restoring connection for people.”

Brain-reading device is best yet at decoding ‘internal speech’

To achieve this goal, the team developed an AI system to decipher Pancho’s bilingual speech. This effort, led by Chang’s PhD student Alexander Silva, involved training the system as Pancho tried to say nearly 200 words. His efforts to form each word created a distinct neural pattern that was recorded by the electrodes.

The authors then applied their AI system, which has a Spanish module and an English one, to phrases as Pancho tried to say them aloud. For the first word in a phrase, the Spanish module chooses the Spanish word that matches the neural pattern best. The English component does the same, but chooses from the English vocabulary instead. For example, the English module might choose ‘she’ as the most likely first word in a phrase and assess its probability of being correct to be 70%, whereas the Spanish one might choose ‘estar’ (to be) and measure its probability of being correct at 40%.

Word for word

From there, both modules attempt to build a phrase. They each choose the second word based on not only the neural-pattern match but also whether it is likely to follow the first one. So ‘I am’ would get a higher probability score than ‘I not’. The final output produces two sentences — one in English and one in Spanish — but the display screen that Pancho faces shows only the version with the highest total probability score.

The modules were able to distinguish between English and Spanish on the basis of the first word with 88% accuracy and they decoded the correct sentence with an accuracy of 75%. Pancho could eventually have candid, unscripted conversations with the research team. “After the first time we did one of these sentences, there were a few minutes where we were just smiling,” Silva says.

Two languages, one brain area

The findings revealed unexpected aspects of language processing in the brain. Some previous experiments using non-invasive tools have suggested that different languages activate distinct parts of the brain 3 . But the authors’ examination of the signals recorded directly in the cortex found that “a lot of the activity for both Spanish and English was actually from the same area”, Silva says.

Furthermore, Pancho’s neurological responses didn’t seem to differ much from those of children who grew up bilingual, even though he was in his thirties when he learnt English — in contrast to the results of previous studies. Together, these findings suggest to Silva that different languages share at least some neurological features, and that they might be generalizable to other people.

Kenji Kansaku, a neurophysiologist at Dokkyo Medical University in Mibu, Japan, who was not involved in the study, says that in addition to adding participants, a next step will be to study languages “with very different articulatory properties” to English, such as Mandarin or Japanese. This, Silva says, is something he’s already looking into, along with ‘code switching’, or the shifting from one language to another in a single sentence. “Ideally, we’d like to give people the ability to communicate as naturally as possible.”

Nature 629 , 981 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01451-4

Silva, A. B. et al. Nature Biomed. Eng . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01207-5 (2024).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Moses, D. A. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 385 , 217–227 (2021).

Kim, K. H. S., Relkin, N. R., Lee, K.-M. & Hirsch, J. Nature 388 , 171–174 (1997).

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Postdoc in Biomechanical Engineering (m/f/d)

The Muskuloskelettales Universitätszentrum München (MUM) on the Campus Großhadern invites applications for the department Orthopädie

Munich (Stadt), Bayern (DE)

PWG-LMU Klinikum

Assistant, Associate or Full Professor

The McLaughlin Research Institute and Touro University – Montana campus invite applications for open rank faculty positions.

McLaughlin Research Institute

Postdoctoral Associate- Neuroscience

Houston, Texas (US)

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

Call for applications- junior and senior scientists

The BORDEAUX INSTITUTE OF ONCOLOGY (BRIC U1312, https://www.bricbordeaux.com/) is seeking to recruit new junior and senior researchers

Bordeaux (Ville), Gironde (FR)

INSERM - U1312 BRIC

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