Too often, the power of a smile, a kind word, or a listening ear is underestimated.

Undoubtedly, such things are extraordinarily influential. In relation to medical care, they strengthen the bond between physicians and patients, providing a vital sense of reassurance and comfort for said patients. When reflecting on what it was that initially drew me to pursue a career in medicine, I realized that as well as my inherent fascination with the inner workings of the human body, the care given to me by my own primary care doctor was a telling influence. He understood the importance of interpersonal skills in his work which allowed a trusting relationship to develop between us. As I patient, I greatly appreciated said relationship and it certainly contributed to my initial interest in medicine. If I were to become a doctor, I would hope to maintain such relationships with my patients while providing them with professional and efficient medical care. In undertaking a residency in internal medicine, I intend to garner a deeper academic understanding of my chosen profession as well as gaining further experience of medical care. Upon completing said residency, I would hope to serve my community as a primary care doctor. The importance of the aforementioned interpersonal skills is also evident in that a doctor must act not only as a practitioner of medicine, but also as an adviser to his/her patients. It is also vital to ensure that patients are well-informed about the necessity to maintain a balanced diet as well as an active lifestyle. During my internal medicine rotation at (hospital), I witnessed the amputation of a diabetic patients foot. (add a sentence about why the foot needed to be amputated). This strongly affirmed my belief that we as physicians must utilize our role to encourage patients to involve themselves in the management of their own ailments. Thus, we can better avoid such drastic complications moving forward. Another factor which drew me to the field of internal medicine was undoubtedly the everchanging nature of medical work. Medicine consistently provides new and intriguing challenges. This was particularly evident during my clerkship at (give hospital) in that I encountered a wide variety of cases. My experiences ranged from aiding with the treatment of a patient suffering from borderline-hypertension in the outpatient clinic to performing chest compressions in the intensive care unit. Throughout my undergraduate study at (give college), I endeavoured to gain experience of the varied aspects of medicine, volunteering at events such as the International AIDS Conference, held in Toronto during the summer of 2006. I also volunteered at an event held by the Canadian Cancer Society during the summer of 2008. My participation in said events allowed me to explore my interest in medicine as a whole. My passion for the many facets of medical care has certainly not subsided to this day as I continue to further my academic knowledge. However, due to my interest in providing long-term care, the facet which interests me most is undoubtedly internal medicine. It is, therefore, the obvious choice for my specialty. (I think you need more on how internal medicine became your speciality of choice rather than how youre interested in many aspects of medicine)