example personal statements anesthesia

Sample Personal Statement: Anesthesiology

I am eager to pursue residency training in anesthesiology. After completing third-year medical school rotations, anesthesiology stands out as the specialty that aligns perfectly with my personality and future goals. Anesthesiology combines the cerebral requirements of internal medicine with the procedural skill of surgery. The excitement of performing procedures that have instantaneous effects on patient comfort and stability provides me with immense satisfaction. Furthermore, I look forward to working with a diverse patient population and unique doctor-patient interaction.

These are just a few reasons why anesthesiologists, as a group, love their specialty and have very high job satisfaction. It also explains why patients, in general, are so appreciative of the services anesthesiologists provide. It is my sincere desire to provide these valuable services in the invigorating field of anesthesiology. One of my first rotations in medical school was on trauma surgery. I vividly remember an unconscious trauma patient, MJ, who required an emergent intubation. Due in part to the patient's body habitus it was very difficult to obtain an airway. As MJ's oxygen saturation continued to drop, the room was silent and the tension was frightening. Thankfully an anesthesiologist was nearby and, after several attempts, was able to successfully intubate the patient. It was stimulating to me that the anesthesiologist was literally the patient's lifeline. Immediately following the intubation, MJ underwent surgery. Though the surgery was fascinating, it was more impressive to me that the anesthesiologist was the individual maintaining the patient's vital functions. I had already been considering anesthesiology for my career, but this experience helped solidify my decision.

Many of my experiences and values demonstrate my suitability for anesthesiology. I fully appreciate the value of teamwork, as evidenced by years of playing competitive soccer. Leadership is also essential to becoming a proficient anesthesiologist and my experiences teaching, coaching and as an elected officer in several positions attest to my ability to lead and inspire others. I am clear-headed and comfortable working in critical situations, and possess manual dexterity necessary to perform effectively. Finally and equally importantly, exceptional anesthesiologists communicate well with their patients and comfort them in times of great stress; my work as a missionary and my ability to speak Spanish exemplify my capacity to ease concerns in diverse patient populations I will contribute a passion for excellence, a solid work ethic, and an ambition to succeed to my anesthesiology residency program. My commitment to lifelong learning, as confirmed by the research project in which I participated during medical school, will enhance the quality and care provided in my residency program. With great anticipation I look forward to mastering the art of general anesthesiology and envision myself pursuing post-residency fellowship training, possibly in pediatric anesthesia or pain management. I seek a program that will assist me in achieving my professional goals.

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How to write a successful nurse anesthesia personal statement with 2 examples of successful crna personal statements.

Your Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement is a critical component of your CRNA school application. It’s your opportunity to showcase your unique experiences, motivations, and qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for a nurse anesthesia or CRNA program. Here’s how to write a good CRNA personal statement for nurse anesthesia school. You will also find CRNA school personal statement examples for you

What you'll Learn

What Are the Key Components of a Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement

While there’s no one-size-fits-all CRNA personal statement outline, a well-structured essay typically includes the following elements:

Sample Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement Outline:

I. introduction (1-2 paragraphs).

• A. Engaging opening anecdote or moment that sparked interest in nurse anesthesia
• B. Brief overview of your nursing journey and decision to pursue CRNA

II. Relevant Experience and Skills (2-3 paragraphs)

• A. ICU experience and specific skills developed
• B. Certifications and additional training
• C. Anecdote demonstrating critical thinking and performance under pressure

III. Motivation for Pursuing Nurse Anesthesia (1-2 paragraphs)

• A. Deeper reasons beyond autonomy/salary
• B. Influential mentors or patient care experiences
• C. Understanding of CRNA role and its challenges

IV. Personal Qualities and Strengths (1-2 paragraphs)

• A. Key attributes that make you well-suited for CRNA (e.g., dedication, adaptability)
• B. Examples demonstrating these qualities in your nursing practice

V. Leadership and Extracurricular Involvement (1-2 paragraphs)

• A. Relevant leadership roles or committee work
• B. Research involvement or projects
• C. Volunteer experiences, especially those serving underserved populations

VI. Program-Specific Interest (1 paragraph)

• A. Why this specific CRNA program appeals to you
• B. How the program aligns with your goals and values

VII. Short-term and Long-term Professional Goals (1 paragraph)

• A. Immediate goals for CRNA school and early career
• B. Long-term aspirations in the field

VIII. Conclusion (1 paragraph)

• A. Reaffirmation of your commitment to nurse anesthesia
• B. How you plan to contribute to the profession
• C. Strong closing statement

Let’s break down each of these elements in detail.

I. Introduction for a CRNA Personal Statement

What to include:

• A compelling opening that captures attention
• Brief overview of your nursing background
• Clear statement of your goal to become a CRNA

How Can You Begin Crafting Your Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement?

To start writing a good personal statement for CRNA school:

• Reflect on your nursing career and experiences in critical care
• List key experiences that shaped your desire to become a CRNA
• Research the specific nurse anesthesia program you’re applying to
• Outline your short-term and long-term goals in the field of nurse anesthesia
• Consider how your skills and qualities make you a good candidate

Remember, your CRNA personal statement should include your motivations and demonstrate your understanding of the CRNA role. It’s a chance to set you apart from other applicants.

How Can You Hook the Reader from the Start?

To make your statement stand out:

• Start with a compelling anecdote from your nursing experience
• Present a thought-provoking question about nurse anesthesia
• Share a pivotal moment that led to your decision to become a CRNA

Your opening should engage the reader and make them want to learn more about your journey towards becoming a future CRNA.

What Personal Experiences Should You Include in the Introduction?

In your introduction, consider including:

• A significant patient care experience from your time as a registered nurse
• An interaction with a CRNA that inspired you
• A challenging situation in the intensive care unit that solidified your career choice

These experiences can reveal much about your commitment to the profession and your suitability for CRNA school.

What Themes Should You Cover in Your Personal Statement?

Key themes to address include:

• Your journey in nursing, including completing your BSN degree
• Experiences in critical care that prepared you for anesthesia education
• Your understanding of the CRNA role and its challenges
• How you’ve demonstrated leadership in your nursing career
• Your commitment to lifelong learning and contributing to the field

Covering these themes will help create a well-crafted personal statement that resonates with the admissions committee.

Example: “The rhythmic beeping of monitors filled the air as I stood at the bedside of my critically ill patient, carefully titrating multiple IV drips. It was in this moment, during my third year as an ICU nurse, that I realized my calling to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. My journey in nursing, which began with earning my BSN from Duke in 2021, has led me to this pivotal decision to pursue a DNP in nurse anesthesia.”

II. Relevant Experience and Skills

• Specific ICU experiences
• Skills developed relevant to nurse anesthesia
• Certifications and additional training

How Do Your Experiences Shape Your Desire to Become a CRNA?

Explain how specific examples from your nursing experience have influenced your decision:

• Describe challenging cases you’ve managed in the ICU
• Discuss how working alongside CRNAs has inspired you
• Explain how your CCRN certification has deepened your knowledge
• Share experiences of advocating for patients that align with the CRNA role

What Skills and Qualities Make You a Good Candidate?

Highlight qualities such as:

• Critical thinking and decision-making skills
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities
• Dedication to patient safety and quality care
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth

Provide specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated these qualities in your nursing career.

Your experiences should demonstrate your readiness and passion for nurse anesthesia

Example: “Over the past four years in the Cardiac ICU at Banner Health, I’ve honed skills crucial for a CRNA. I’ve become proficient in managing ventilators, interpreting arterial blood gases, and administering vasoactive medications. My experience with post-operative open-heart patients has given me a deep understanding of hemodynamics. Additionally, obtaining my CCRN certification has further solidified my critical care knowledge base.”

III. Motivation for Pursuing Nurse Anesthesia

• Specific reasons for choosing nurse anesthesia
• Influential experiences or mentors
• Understanding of the CRNA role

Example: “My passion for nurse anesthesia was ignited when I assisted in an emergency intubation alongside a CRNA. Her calm demeanor and precise actions in a high-stress situation left a lasting impression. This experience, coupled with my fascination for pharmacology and physiology, solidified my desire to become a CRNA. I’m drawn to the autonomy and responsibility of the role, as well as the opportunity to be a patient advocate during their most vulnerable moments.”

IV. Personal Qualities and Strengths

• Key attributes relevant to CRNA success
• Examples demonstrating these qualities
• How these qualities will contribute to your success as a CRNA

Example: “My ability to remain calm under pressure has been repeatedly tested in the ICU. During a recent code situation, I was able to efficiently manage chest compressions, communicate clearly with the team, and anticipate the physician’s needs. This experience reinforced my capacity to think critically and act decisively in high-stress scenarios – skills I know are crucial for a CRNA.”

V. Leadership and Extracurricular Involvement

• Leadership roles or committee work
• Research involvement
• Volunteer or community service experiences

Example: “As the chair of our unit-based council, I’ve led initiatives to improve patient care, including implementing a new protocol for early mobility in ventilated patients. I’ve also participated in a research study examining the effects of music therapy on ICU delirium. These experiences have enhanced my leadership skills and deepened my understanding of evidence-based practice in critical care.”

VI. Program-Specific Interest

• Reasons for choosing this specific program
• How the program aligns with your goals
• Knowledge of the program’s unique features

Example: “Duke’s CRNA program stands out to me because of its strong emphasis on clinical simulation and its state-of-the-art anesthesia lab. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to participate in the program’s rural anesthesia rotation, as it aligns with my long-term goal of providing anesthesia care in underserved areas.”

VII. Short-term and Long-term Professional Goals

• Immediate goals for CRNA school and early career
• Long-term aspirations in nurse anesthesia
• How these goals align with the profession’s needs

Example: “My immediate goal is to excel in your rigorous DNP program, fully immersing myself in both the didactic and clinical components. Long-term, I aspire to not only practice as a CRNA but also to contribute to the field through research and education. I’m particularly interested in studying pain management techniques to address the ongoing opioid crisis.”

VIII. Conclusion

• Reaffirmation of your commitment to becoming a CRNA
• Summary of key points
• Strong closing statement

Example: “As I look towards the future, I am more certain than ever that becoming a CRNA is my calling. My experiences in critical care, coupled with my passion for patient advocacy and continuous learning, have prepared me for the challenges and rewards of this role. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the field of nurse anesthesia and to make a meaningful impact on patient care. Thank you for considering my application to join your esteemed program.”

Read more on how to write a research proposal personal statement

Tips for Making Your Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement Stand Out

Here are key tips for writing a compelling CRNA personal statement, with examples:

• Start strong: Example: “As I stood in the ICU, managing a critically ill patient’s care, I realized my desire to become a CRNA was more than a career goal—it was my calling.”
• Highlight critical care experience: Example: “With 3 years in the intensive care unit, I’ve honed skills in ventilator management, vasoactive medication titration, and rapid response to emergencies.”
• Show motivation beyond salary: Example: “My passion for nurse anesthesia stems from witnessing a CRNA’s crucial role during a complex surgery, where their expertise made a life-saving difference.”
• Demonstrate program knowledge: Example: “XYZ University’s commitment to simulation-based learning aligns perfectly with my hands-on approach to mastering anesthesia techniques.”
• Include specific examples: Example: “Leading a project to reduce ICU delirium rates by 30% demonstrated my ability to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based practice.”
• Address any weaknesses: Example: “Though my initial GPA was 3.2, I’ve since maintained a 4.0 GPA in all prerequisite courses, showcasing my academic growth and dedication.”
• Highlight leadership and service: Example: “As CCRN chapter president, I organized continuing education events, further developing my leadership skills crucial for a future CRNA.”
• Show commitment to underserved populations: Example: “Volunteering at a rural clinic solidified my goal to provide anesthesia care in underserved areas after completing my DNP.”
• Discuss short and long-term goals: Example: “Short-term, I aim to excel in the nurse anesthesia program. Long-term, I aspire to contribute to anesthesia research and educate future CRNAs.”
• Demonstrate understanding of CRNA challenges: Example: “Shadowing CRNAs has given me insight into the high-stakes decision-making and constant vigilance required in this role.”
• Showcase continual learning: Example: “Beyond my BSN and CCRN, I’ve completed additional certifications in advanced cardiac life support and pain management to prepare for CRNA education.”
• Address program’s mission: Example: “Your program’s emphasis on cultural competence resonates with my experience providing care to diverse patient populations.”
• Highlight unique experiences: Example: “As a bilingual nurse, I’ve bridged communication gaps in critical moments, a skill I’ll bring to my CRNA practice.”
• Show adaptability: Example: “Transitioning from pediatric to adult ICU demonstrated my ability to quickly adapt and excel in new clinical environments.”
• Conclude powerfully: Example: “I am committed to not just joining the field of nurse anesthesia, but to advancing it through dedicated practice, research, and mentorship of future CRNAs.”

Remember to tailor these examples to your personal experiences and the specific requirements of each CRNA program you’re applying to.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in your CRNA Personal Statement

• Don’t simply restate your resume: Your personal statement should complement, not repeat, the information in your application.
• Avoid clichés: Steer clear of overused phrases like “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse” or “I want to help people.”
• Don’t be overly dramatic: While you want to be engaging, avoid sensationalism or exaggeration.
• Steer clear of controversial topics: Unless directly relevant to your experience, avoid discussing polarizing issues.
• Don’t focus solely on the prestige or financial aspects of being a CRNA: While these can be factors, emphasize your passion for patient care and the profession itself.

Examples of Successful Nurse Anesthesia Personal Statement

Nurse anesthesia personal statement example 1.

The rhythmic beeping of monitors filled the air as I stood at the bedside of my critically ill patient, carefully titrating multiple IV drips. It was in this moment, during my third year as an ICU nurse, that I realized my calling to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. My journey in nursing, which began with earning my BSN from State University in 2018, has led me to this pivotal decision to pursue a DNP in nurse anesthesia. Over the past four years in the Cardiac ICU at City Hospital, I’ve honed skills crucial for a CRNA. I’ve become proficient in managing ventilators, interpreting arterial blood gases, and administering vasoactive medications. My experience with post-operative open-heart patients has given me a deep understanding of hemodynamics. Additionally, obtaining my CCRN certification has further solidified my critical care knowledge base. My passion for nurse anesthesia was ignited when I assisted in an emergency intubation alongside a CRNA. Her calm demeanor and precise actions in a high-stress situation left a lasting impression. This experience, coupled with my fascination for pharmacology and physiology, solidified my desire to become a CRNA. I’m drawn to the autonomy and responsibility of the role, as well as the opportunity to be a patient advocate during their most vulnerable moments. Your program’s strong emphasis on clinical simulation and state-of-the-art anesthesia lab aligns perfectly with my learning style and career goals. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to participate in the rural anesthesia rotation, as it resonates with my long-term goal of providing anesthesia care in underserved areas. As I look towards the future, I am more certain than ever that becoming a CRNA is my calling. My experiences in critical care, coupled with my passion for patient advocacy and continuous learning, have prepared me for the challenges and rewards of this role. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the field of nurse anesthesia and to make a meaningful impact on patient care.

300-word CRNA School Personal Statement Example 2

The first time I witnessed a CRNA in action, I was mesmerized. It was during a complex neurosurgery case, and I watched in awe as the CRNA masterfully balanced the patient’s anesthesia, ensuring their safety throughout the lengthy procedure. As an ICU nurse with a 4.0 GPA from my BSN program, I knew then that my path in healthcare would lead me to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. My journey in critical care began five years ago in the Neuro ICU at Regional Medical Center. Here, I’ve developed a deep understanding of neurological conditions and their impact on patient care. Managing patients with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and post-operative craniotomies has honed my ability to think critically and act swiftly in high-pressure situations. These skills, I believe, are fundamental to succeeding as a CRNA. One particular case stands out in my memory. A young trauma patient arrived with a severe head injury, requiring immediate intervention. As we prepared for emergency surgery, I worked closely with the anesthesia team, assisting in rapid sequence intubation and helping to stabilize the patient. The CRNA’s expertise and composure during this critical moment further cemented my desire to pursue this challenging yet rewarding career. Your nurse anesthesia program’s reputation for academic excellence and hands-on clinical experiences aligns perfectly with my goals. I’m particularly drawn to your program’s focus on research and evidence-based practice, as I believe these are crucial for advancing the field of nurse anesthesia. Looking ahead, I envision myself not only practicing as a CRNA but also contributing to the profession through research and education. I’m keen to explore innovative pain management techniques and to work towards improving anesthesia outcomes in underserved populations. As I embark on this next chapter of my nursing career, I am confident that my clinical experience, academic achievements, and unwavering commitment to patient care make me an ideal candidate for your program. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my passion and dedication to your esteemed nurse anesthesia program.

In Conclusion

Crafting a compelling personal statement for CRNA school is a crucial step in your journey towards becoming a nurse anesthetist. While it may seem like just a small part of the application process, your essay can greatly affect your acceptance into CRNA school.

The personal statement can already reveal much about you as a candidate, showcasing your motivations for pursuing this career path and demonstrating why you’re a well-prepared applicant. Programs ask you to write these statements because they provide insight into your character, experiences, and aspirations that grades alone cannot convey.

To stand out from the rest and accelerate your CRNA success, consider utilizing resources like discoverdnp.com. Even if you’re a beginner at writing or English is your second language, don’t let this be a deterrent to creating a well-crafted essay.

We offer proven strategies to help you articulate your journey from completing your BSN degree to your aspirations of becoming a dedicated nurse anesthetist.

Remember, each program may have different requirements, so it’s essential to write for each school individually, aligning your goals with the school’s mission. By crafting an engaging narrative that includes your motivations for pursuing a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia, you’ll present yourself as a candidate who is well-prepared and eager to contribute to the field.

How Does a Personal Statement Differ from an Application Letter?

When applying to CRNA school, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a personal statement and an application letter. Here’s a comparison:

Purpose	To showcase your motivations, experiences, and suitability for becoming a CRNA	To formally express interest in the program and highlight key qualifications
Word Count	Usually 500-1000 words	Typically 250-400 words
Content Focus	Personal journey, experiences shaping desire to become a CRNA, long-term goals	Brief overview of qualifications, why you’re applying to this specific program
Tone	More personal and narrative	More formal and direct
Role in Application	Core part of your nurse anesthesia application	Accompanies your application as an introduction

While both are important parts of the application process, your personal statement for CRNA school plays a significant role in helping the admissions committee understand who you are beyond your GPA and test scores.

What Is the Ideal Length for a CRNA Personal Statement?

While requirements may vary, aim for:

• 500-1000 words (typically 1-2 pages single-spaced)
• Concise yet comprehensive coverage of your experiences and goals
• Enough detail to engage the reader without being overly lengthy

Remember, different programs may have different prompts or word limits, so always check the specific requirements.

What Flow and Transitions Should You Use for Clarity?

To ensure your essay flows well:

• Use clear topic sentences for each paragraph
• Transition smoothly between ideas, connecting your experiences to your goals
• Ensure each paragraph builds on the previous one
• Conclude each section by linking back to your desire to become a CRNA

A well-structured essay will make your statement more engaging and easier to follow.

What Examples Can Help You Write a Strong Personal Statement?

Consider including:

• A challenging case you managed in the ICU
• An instance where you demonstrated leadership
• An experience shadowing a CRNA
• A situation where you had to think critically under pressure
• An example of how you’ve contributed to improving patient care

These specific examples will help bring your experiences to life and demonstrate your readiness for CRNA school.

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Communication Your primary method of communicating your qualifications and experiences to anesthesia residency programs is by writing a well organized and informative curriculum vitae (CV) and personal statement. These documents, in addition to your “Dean’s Letter” and letters of recommendation, will support your application.

The Curriculum Vitae The purpose of the CV is to showcase your education, skills, and experiences in a concise and articulate format. It should be an honest and accurate representation of your qualifications for anesthesiology residency training. ERAS will generate a CV for you with the information you enter. To make a separate CV in addition to the ERAS CV (ex- for individuals who will be writing your letters of recommendation), here are some basic guidelines:

• Include: Name, address, permanent address (if different), email address, and phone numbers; education: undergraduate, graduate, medical school, research experience, abstracts, publications, conference presentations, work experiences, community service and volunteer experiences; honors and achievements; professional associations; references (it is okay to state “available on request” if you prefer); and optional items (ex- foreign language ability, special skills, and other interests).
• Your CV should be a clear and concise document. Here is a template  you can use.
• Experiences are typically organized in reverse chronological order, with your current activities listed first. You can include substantial past experiences from before medical school if they will meaningfully contribute to your story.
• Work experiences
• Volunteer/community service experiences
• Research experiences
• Presentations & Publications (can include poster presentations, case studies, etc. that are currently published, awaiting publication, or submitted for publication)
• Honors & Awards (can include clinical rotation honors)
• Membership in honorary/professional societies
• Print your CV on high quality paper for a professional appearance.
• No errors in spelling or punctuation!!!
• Ask someone that knows you well about your strengths and talents.
• Read some personal statement examples. Identify styles that appeal to you and incorporate these into your personal statement.
• Think about your own special strengths, talents, qualities, interests, accomplishments, and experiences. Make a list of these. Compare the items on your list with your idea of what might make a “perfect” resident in anesthesiology. Select attributes from your personal list that resemble or support the characteristics of the “ideal” resident and incorporate these as a focus of your personal statement. DO NOT concentrate on items shared by most applicants (ex- smart and hard working). Emphasize those items that show you to be the best possible candidate for a residency training program.
• Organize your thoughts and make an outline of each paragraph. You may want to describe a meaningful experience that led you to medicine or helped you choose anesthesiology.
• Make your first paragraph attention grabbing. Its subject matter can be non-medical, as long as you connect it later in your essay. 
• Other paragraphs may describe your special skills, hobbies, or family life.
• You may want to write about your goals and what you are looking for in a training program.
• However you choose to structure your personal statement, it is important that you give a clear answer to "why anesthesiology?". Residency programs are looking for individuals who are committed to anesthesiology and demonstrate a reasonable understanding of what the field is like.
• Try to limit your personal statement to one page (on the ERAS application.)
• Consider submitting a modified or entirely different personal statement for transitional/preliminary programs.
• Consider personalizing your personal statement for your top anesthesia programs. This is often done in the final paragraph of your personal statement where you can talk about why you are interested in that program specifically and why you'd be a good fit.
• If you choose to personalize your personal statements, be sure to give your personal statements titles on ERAS (ex: Personal Statement - Program X). This will help you assign the correct statements to the correct programs. Residency programs will not see these titles. The last thing you want is a personalized personal statement going to the wrong program.
• Make your personal statement engaging!!
• Make your personal statement unique.
• Ask your faculty advisor, trusted family member or friend to review your statement. Sometimes a non-medical perspective can be helpful.
• Be sure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors!! Many medical schools have writing centers that can proofread your personal statement for you, but the ultimate responsibility falls on you.

The Dean’s Letter and Letters of Recommendation Meet with the Dean of Students to discuss your goals and review your records to ensure that your Dean’s letter will be realistic and favorable to your applications. You will have the opportunity to review your Dean’s Letter before submission. You should submit 3 to 4 letters of recommendation to each program - one department letter (if available), at least one anesthesia letter, and 1-2 letters of your choice (Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, etc.) If your school does not offer a department letter, you can choose to submit a meaningful letter from a significant experience (research, leadership, etc.) or another anesthesia letter.

For your transitional/prelim programs, you should include a medicine/surgery recommendation letter, as well as a medicine/surgery department letter (if available.)

Find letter writers that can comment on you as an individual and on your abilities. You can start collecting letters during your 3rd year. Even if a letter writer uploads your letter to ERAS, you do NOT have to submit it with your application. The writer will not know either way. It is better to have the letter on hand and choose not to use it, rather than fall short when your application is due.

What to send to your letter writers:

• Personal Statement - it does not have to be your 100% perfected final draft
• ERAS letter of recommendation request: This form has instructions for your letter writer to upload the letter to ERAS. It is recommended that you waive your right to see your letters.
• Instructions: Include a due date, usually about 4 weeks after requesting the letter. Be sure to account for unanticipated delays when selecting the due date.

Mentors In addition to writing letters of recommendation, some mentors may be willing to review your application materials (personal statement, CV, etc.) Make sure to stay in touch with your mentors and letter writers. Keep them updated throughout the application season. If you are seriously interested in a program where you are interviewing, your mentors may be able to connect you with a resident or faculty member at that institution. However, be mindful of your mentors' busy schedules and personal levels of comfort when making any requests.

Finding Program Information The best place to find information about specific programs is the department web site.

• ASA MSC Program Director Interviews
• Program Specific Virtual Open Houses
• Residency Information by State  

Last updated by: Residency Engagement

Date of last update: May 17, 2023

• Residency Personal Statement and Residency Match Articles

Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement & Match: BEAT more than 2,400 Applicants

Become an anesthesia rank day all-star with these valuable tips.

Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement & Match: BEAT more than 2,400 Applicants

Introduction

Table of Contents

Learning about Anesthesiology

Since anesthesiology is a specialty many students don’t have direct exposure to until the fourth year of medical school, it is important to learn about this specialty early in your medical education if you think it might interest you. This means trying to plan some shadowing with an anesthesiologist or within the anesthesiology department at your medical school during your first and/or second years. Some students will have a two week anesthesiology block of the surgical core rotation during the third year, however. The American Society of Anesthesiologists is a great resource for students who want to learn more about the field. However, nothing can replace actual exposure to the field and meeting a variety of anesthesiologists who work in different settings to know if the specialty is a good fit for your interests and strengths.

Anesthesiology Residency Length

What criteria are most important to match in anesthesiology.

RELATED: Beat 43,157 Match Registrants: Important ERAS Residency Personal Statement Tips

Is Anesthesiology Residency Competitive? (2020)

Anesthesiology is a residency that has two entry points. Some programs start in the PGY1 year while some start in the PGY2 year.

In 2020, there were a total 1,370 PGY 1 positions and 398 PGY2 positions offered. US MD seniors filled 68.3% of PGY 1 positions and 66.6% of PGY2 positions. A total of 1,201 US MD seniors matched into anesthesiology making it the fifth most popular specialty among US MD seniors.

For US seniors who chose anesthesiology as their only specialty choice, 4.8% of US MD seniors did not match and 13.6% of DO US seniors did not match.

US DO seniors filled 19.1% of PGY-1 positions and 16.3% of PGY-2 positions.

A total of 91 US IMGs and 95 non-US IMGs matched in to anesthesiology.

There were also 116 positions reserved for physicians with previous training in the 2019 match.

Allopathic US Senior Medical Students

Cumulatively, 2,004 applicants applied for 1,840 anesthesiology (PGY1 and PGY2) residency positions in 2018. Of those 2,004 applicants, 1,129 were US senior medical students. Only 45 US seniors did not match in to anesthesiology last year (four percent). Therefore, 96% of allopathic US senior anesthesiology applicants matched in anesthesiology.

This is the data for those US senior medical students who matched successfully:

• Mean number of contiguous ranks: 14.6 (444 applicants ranked 16 more more programs)
• Mean number of distinct specialties ranked: 1.3
• Mean USMLE Step 1 score: 232
• Mean USMLE Step 2 score: 244
• Mean number of research experiences: 2.9
• Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications: 4.5
• Mean number of work experiences: 3.1
• Mean number of volunteer experiences: 6.4
• Percentage who are AOA members: 10.5
• Percentage who graduated from one of the 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding: 30.6
• Percentage who have Ph.D. degree: 2.5
• Percentage who have another graduate degree: 15

Osteopathic Medical Students

Cumulatively, 2,004 applicants applied for 1,840 anesthesiology (PGY1 and PGY2) residency positions in 2018. There were 296 osteopathic applicants. Of those, 267 matched. Therefore, 90.2% of osteopathic medical student anesthesiology applicants matched in anesthesiology

The data for those osteopathic students who matched successfully:

• Mean number of contiguous ranks: 11.2
• Mean COMLEX-USA Level 1 score: 571
• Mean COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE score: 602
• Mean USMLE Step 1 score: 227
• Mean USMLE Step 2 CK score: 239
• Mean number of research experiences: 1.8
• Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications: 2.5
• Mean number of work experiences: 3.2
• Mean number of volunteer experiences: 6.2
• Percentage who have a Ph.D. degree: 0.9
• Percentage who have another graduate degree: 25

United States International Medical Student/Graduate (IMG) Data

Cumulatively, 2,004 applicants applied for 1,840 anesthesiology (PGY1 and PGY2) residency positions in 2018. There were 192 US IMGs who applied for anesthesiology. A total of 122 matched. Therefore, 63.5 percent of US IMGs anesthesiology applicants matched in anesthesiology.

Below is the data for those US IMG applicants who matched successfully:

• Mean number of contiguous ranks: 10.2
• Mean number of distinct specialties ranked: 2.0
• Mean USMLE Step 1 score: 231
• Mean USMLE Step 2 score: 237
• Mean number of research experiences: 1.5
• Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications: 2.1
• Mean number of volunteer experiences: 4.2
• Percentage who have a Ph.D. degree: 1.8
• Percentage who have another graduate degree: 21.6

Non-US International Medical Student/Graduate (IMG) Data

Cumulatively, 2,004 applicants applied for 1,840 anesthesiology (PGY1 and PGY2) residency positions in 2018. A total of 199 non-US IMGs applied and 120 matched. Therefore, a total of 60% of non-US IMGs anesthesiology applicants matched in anesthesiology.

Below is the data for those non-US IMG applicants who matched successfully:

• Mean number of contiguous ranks: 6.9
• Mean number of distinct specialties ranked: 1.9
• Mean USMLE Step 1 score: 240
• Mean number of research experiences: 2.3
• Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications: 7.0
• Mean number of work experiences: 5.4
• Mean number of volunteer experiences: 3.9
• Percentage who have a Ph.D. degree: 3.6
• Percentage who have another graduate degree: 36

Looking for the raw residency match data? Be sure you click below:

• 2018 NRMP Match Results
• Charting Outcomes in the Match 2018
• Charting Outcomes in the Match for U.S Osteopathic Medical Students and Graduates 2018
• Charting Outcomes in the Match for International Medical Graduates 2018
• 2018 NRMP Program Director Survey

Need further inspiration?

• Reddit residency personal statement
• Reditt Residency
• Reddit Residency Match 2019
• SDN Residency
• SDN Internal Medicine

Who gets an Anesthesiology Residency Interview?

Based on the 2018 Program Director’s Survey published by the NRMP, the following factors were most important in deciding who to invite for an anesthesiology residency interview:

• Any failed attempt in USMLE/COMLEX

There is no question that a USMLE/COMLEX failure is a deal breaker for many programs. However, in our experience, this is “easier” to overcome if you are a US allopathic student. The 2018 Program Director’s Survey indicated that 66% of programs rarely consider an applicant with a Step failure and 35% never consider an applicant with a Step failure.

• USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 score

It is a fact of life that your performance on Step 1 or COMLEX 1 will impact the likelihood that your application is “screened in” and that you are invited for an interview. Many programs automatically screen out applications if the Step/COMLEX 1 score falls below a certain threshold. The 2018 Program Director’s Survey indicated that 88% of programs have a “target score” they like to see applicants earn. That cut off from most programs is between 210-220. By the same token, some programs automatically grant interviews for students with scores above a certain threshold. That threshold varies but is usually between 225 – 240 depending on the program. If you don’t do as well on Step 1 as you would have liked, take Step 2 CK early and do as well as you can!  The mean Step 2 CK score for US seniors who matched was 246.

• Evidence of Professionalism and Ethics

You might ask how your professionalism and ethics might be assessed based on your written application. Program directors glean information about your personal characteristics and traits from your anesthesiology  personal statement , ERAS written application, and letters of reference. This is why it is important to compose your personal statement and ERAS work, research, and volunteer experience entries thoughtfully. It is empowering to know that the outcome of your application season is, in part, within your control at this stage of the process.

• Perceived commitment to specialty, personal prior knowledge of the applicant, grades in clerkship in desired specialty, audition elective/rotation within your department, letters of recommendation in the specialty.

Anesthesiology program directors want to understand your commitment to the specialty and that you have adequately demonstrated that interest by doing as much as possible to learn about the practice of anesthesiology and gain exposure. You can express this commitment though your anesthesiology personal statement and ERAS experience entries. Of course, if you are known and well liked by a program to which you are applying, this is a real plus which is why away electives and audition rotations can be beneficial in the residency admissions process. This is especially important if you are less competitive applicant or you hope to train in a geographically competitive area. Letters of recommendation from anesthesiologists who know you well is also of the utmost importance. Ideally, applicants should have two letters of reference written by academic anesthesiologists. Additional letters from intensivists, internists and surgeons are also valuable.

Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement

To demonstrate you possess the qualities, characteristics, background, and interest in anesthesiology that program directors are seeking, it is essential to write the strongest anesthesiology personal statement possible. You want to express why you are interested in the specialty, what you have done to purse that interest, and who you are as a person. Ensure that your personal statement has broad appeal for the wide variety of people who will use it to decide whether or not to interview you.

Read more about the  residency personal statement  and sign up for a  FREE 15 minute consultation  to find out how we can help you.

When should you apply?

The bulk of anesthesiology interviews are extended annually in October. Therefore, it is important to send your ERAS application in early!

Now, assuming you are selected for an interview, what factors influence how (and if) you are ranked?

Here’s the list:

• Interactions with faculty during interview and visit
• Interpersonal skills
• Interactions with housestaff during interview and visit
• Feedback from current residents As you can see, after the interview, it is your “interview performance,” interpersonal qualities, and how you are perceived by anyone and everyone you meet that will influence how you are ranked (and even if you are ranked) the most. This is why, no matter how strong an applicant you are, it is important to be comfortable with the interview process. It is also valuable to know yourself; are you an introvert or more of an extrovert? What types of social situations make you comfortable or uncomfortable? During residency interviews you will be meeting many new people and having numerous conversations with strangers. Be prepared! While your USMLE/COMLEX scores, grades, letters of reference and written application will still be considered after you interview, it is how you do on your interview day itself that will most greatly influence your rank position at any program where you interview.

What if you don’t match or you feel you need personalized help?

Applicants often feel lost, confused and overwhelmed by the residency application process. This is where MedEdits can help. We have helped hundreds of applicants match successfully. Whether you need a fourth year planing strategy, help with your personal statement, interview help, or any other guidance related to the residency match, we will make sure you are positioned as well as possible to match well!

Looking for an anesthesia residency program?

Check out our state by state list below..

University of Alabama Medical Center Program

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Program

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Arizona) Program University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Program

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Program

Kaweah Delta Health Care District (KDHCD) Program

George Washington University Program

MedStar Health/Georgetown University Hospital Program

HCA West Florida GME Consortium/Oak Hill Hospital Program

Kendall Regional Medical Center Program

Larkin Community Hospital Program

Cleveland Clinic Florida Program

Medical College of Georgia Program

Advocate Health Care (Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center) Program

Indiana University School of Medicine Program

Louisiana State University (Shreveport) Program

St Elizabeth’s Medical Center Program

Tufts Medical Center Program

Maine Medical Center Program

McLaren Healthcare Corporation Program

Beaumont Health (Royal Oak) Program

University of Mississippi Medical Center Program

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine Program

Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Program

St Barnabas Medical Center Program

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Program

University of New Mexico School of Medicine Program

Sunrise Health GME Consortium Program

New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital Program

University at Buffalo Program

Nassau University Medical Center Program

Doctors Hospital/OhioHealth Program

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Program Osteopathic Recognized!

Oregon Health & Science University Program

UPMC Pinnacle Lititz Program Osteopathic Recognized!

Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital Program

University of Puerto Rico Program

Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital-Lifespan Programa

Medical University of South Carolina Program

University of Utah Program

West Virginia University Program

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Category: Anesthesiology

Personal Statements for Anesthesia Residency

• Anesthesiology

 by · Published

Example Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement #3

It felt strange coming out of the airport. The air was cold, less humid, and smelled different. I finally emerged from the labyrinth that is Dulles Airport, built on the outskirts of Washington D.C.....

Sample Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement #2

Anesthesiology provides opportunities to display specialized skills by performing a wide range of procedures while having cognitive challenges as well. After medical school I was selected for a two year anesthesiology residency program at...

Anesthesiology Residency Personal Statement #1

It is often impossible to predict where life will take you. While a senior at the University of MidWest, I never expected my life to take me to a place where I’d learn the...

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• v.14(5); 2022 Oct

Ten Steps for Writing an Exceptional Personal Statement

Danielle jones.

All authors are with Emory University School of Medicine

Danielle Jones, MD, is Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Section Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine Grady Section, and Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency

J. Richard Pittman, Jr

J. Richard Pittman Jr, MD, is Associate Professor of Medicine, and Program Director, Fourth Year Internal Medicine Sub-Internship

Kimberly D. Manning

Kimberly D. Manning, MD, FACP, FAAP, is Professor of Medicine, and Associate Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Department of Medicine

The personal statement is an important requirement for residency and fellowship applications that many applicants find daunting. Beyond the cognitive challenge of writing an essay, time limitations for busy senior residents on clinical rotations present added pressure. Objective measures such as scores and evaluations paint only a partial picture of clinical and academic performance, leaving gaps in a candidate's full portrait. 1 , 2 Applicants, seemingly similar on paper, may have striking differences in experiences and distances traveled that would not be captured without a personal narrative. 2 , 3 We recommend, therefore, reframing personal statements as the way to best highlight applicants' greatest strengths and accomplishments. A well-written personal statement may be the tipping point for a residency or fellowship interview invitation, 4 , 5 which is particularly important given the heightened competition for slots due to increased participation on virtual platforms. Data show that 74% to 78% of residency programs use personal statements in their interview selection process, and 48% to 54% use them in the final rank. 6 , 7 With our combined 50 years of experience as clerkship and residency program directors (PDs) we value the personal statement and strongly encourage our trainees to seize the opportunity to feature themselves in their words.

Our residency and medical school leadership roles position us to edit and review numerous resident and student personal statements annually. This collective experience has helped us identify patterns of struggle for trainees: trouble starting, difficulty organizing a cogent narrative, losing the “personal” in the statement, and failing to display unique or notable attributes. While a bland personal statement may not hurt an applicant, it is a missed opportunity. 4 , 8 We also have distinguished helpful personal statement elements that allow PDs to establish candidates' “fit” with their desired residency or fellowship. A recent study supports that PDs find unique applicant information from personal statements helpful to determine fit. 4 Personal statement information also helps programs curate individualized interview days (eg, pair interviewers, guide conversations, highlight desirable curricula). Through our work with learners, we developed the structured approach presented here ( Figure 1 ). Applicants can use our approach to minimize typical struggles and efficiently craft personal statements that help them stand out. Busy residents, particularly, have minimal time to complete fellowship applications. We acknowledge there is no gold standard or objective measures for effective personal statement preparation. 9 Our approach, however, combined with a practical tool ( Figure 2 ), has streamlined the process for many of our mentees. Moreover, faculty advisors and program leaders, already challenged by time constraints, can use this tool to enhance their coaching and save time, effort, and cognitive energy.

Structured Approach to Writing a Personal Statement

Ten Steps for Writing an Exceptional Personal Statement: Digital Tool

Note: Use the QR code to download the digital tool and follow the 10 steps highlighted in Figure 1.

Given word count and space limitations, deciding what to include in a personal statement can be challenging. An initial brainstorm helps applicants recall personal attributes and experiences that best underscore key strengths (Step 1). 10 Writing explicit self-affirmations is challenging, so we recommend pairing with a near peer who may offer insight. Useful prompts include:

• ▪ What 3 words best encapsulate me?
• ▪ What accomplishments make me proud?
• ▪ What should every program know about me?

Reflecting on these questions (Step 2) helps elucidate the foundations of the narrative, 10 including strengths, accomplishments, and unique elements to be included. Additionally, the preparation steps help uncover the “thread” that connects the story sequentially. While not all agree that personal or patient stories are necessary, they are commonly included. 5 One genre analysis showed that 97% of applicants to residency programs in internal medicine, family medicine, and surgery used an opening that included either a personal narrative (66%) and/or a decision to enter medicine (54%) or the specialty of choice (72%). 9 Radiology PDs ranked personal attributes as the second most important component in personal statements behind choice of specialty. 9 Further, a descriptive study of anesthesia applicants' personal statements ranked those that included elements such as discussion of a family's or friend's illness or a patient case as more original. 3 We feel that personal and patient stories often provide an interesting hook to engage readers, as well as a mechanism to highlight (1) personal characteristics, (2) journey to and/or enthusiasm for desired discipline, and (3) professional growth, all without giving the impression of being boastful. Sketching these Step 2 fundamentals prepares applicants to begin writing with intention.

Writing and Structuring

Once key elements are identified, the next steps assist with the actual writing. Utilizing information gleaned from the “Preparing” steps, start with a freewriting exercise (Step 3), an unrestricted association of ideas aimed at answering, “What experiences have cultivated my strong interest in pursuing [______]?” At this stage, ignore spelling and grammar. Just write, even if the product is the roughest, rough draft imaginable. 10 Setting a timer for 10 to 15 minutes establishes a less intimidating window to start. Freewriting generates the essential initial content that typically will require multiple revisions. 10

Next, we recommend structuring the freewriting content into suggested paragraphs (Step 4), using the following framework to configure the first draft:

• ▪ Introductory paragraph: A compelling story, experience, or something that introduces the applicant and makes the reader want to know more (the hook). If related to a patient or other person, it should underscore the writer's qualities.
• ▪ Paragraph 2: Essential details that a program must know about the applicant and their proudest accomplishments.
• ▪ Paragraph(s) 3-4: Specific strengths related to the specialty of choice and leadership experiences.
• ▪ Closing paragraph: What the applicant values in a training program and what they believe they can contribute.

Evaluate what has been written and ensure that, after the engaging hook, the body incorporates the best pieces identified during the preparation steps (Step 5). A final paragraph affords ample space for a solid conclusion to the thread. Occasionally the narrative flows better with separate strengths and leadership paragraphs for a total of 5, but we strongly recommend the final statement not exceed 1 single-spaced page to reduce cognitive load on the reader.

This part of the process involves revising the piece into a final polished personal statement. Before an early draft is shared with others, it should be evaluated for several important factors by returning to the initial questions and then asking (Step 6):

“Does this personal statement…”

• Amplify my strengths, highlight my proudest accomplishments, and emphasize what a program must know about me?
• Have a logical flow?
• Accurately attribute content and avoid plagiarism?
• Use proper grammar and avoid slang or profanity?

While not as challenging as the other steps, optimization takes time. 10 At this stage, “resting” the draft for 1 week minimum (Step 7) puts a helpful distance between the writer and their work before returning, reading, and editing. 10 Writers can edit their own work to a point, but they often benefit by enlisting a trusted peer or advisor for critiques. Hearing their draft read aloud by a peer or advisor allows the applicant to evaluate the work from another perspective while noting how well it meets the criteria from the tool (provided as online supplementary data).

A virtual or in-person meeting between applicant and mentor ultimately saves time and advances the writer to a final product more quickly than an email exchange. Sending the personal statement in advance helps facilitate the meeting. Invite the advisor to candidly comment on the tool's criteria to yield the most useful feedback (Step 8). When done effectively, edits can be made in real time with the mentor's input.

We bring closure to the process by focusing on spelling and grammar checks (Step 9). Clarity, conciseness, and the use of proper English were rated as extremely important by PDs. 3 , 9 Grammatical errors distract readers, highlight inattention to detail, and detract from the personal statement. 3 , 9 Once more, we recommend resting the draft before calling it final (Step 10). If the piece required starting over or significant rewriting based on feedback received, we also suggest seeking additional feedback on this draft, ideally from someone in the desired residency or fellowship discipline. If only minor edits (eg, flow, language) were incorporated, the personal statement can be considered complete at this time.

Writing a personal statement represents a unique opportunity for residency and fellowship applicants to amplify their ERAS application beyond the confines of its objective components. 3 Using this stepwise approach encourages each personal statement to be truly personal and streamlines the process for applicants and reviewers alike. All stakeholders benefit: applicants, regardless of their scores and academic metrics, can arm themselves with powerful means for self-advocacy; PDs gain a clearer idea of individual applicants, allowing them to augment the selection process and curate the individual interview day; and faculty mentors can offer concrete direction to every mentee seeking their help.

• Residency Application

Residency Personal Statement Examples from Matched Residents

Use these residency personal statement examples as a reference as you are working on  preparing you residency applications . The following are printed with permission from our own past successful students who worked with us as part of our  residency application review  programs. If you are having trouble getting started, you are not alone. Many students find that the personal statement can be one of the most challenging components of the  ERAS  or  CaRMS  residency applications. However, your personal statement can make or break your application. Get started on the right track by following the guidelines outlined for you below reviewing the emergency medicine residency personal statement example , pediatrics personal statement example , cardiology personal statement example, and more..  

This blog will outline what types of things to include in your residency personal statement. It will also give you 10 examples of personal statements from 10 different specialties written by actual students who matched into those fields. Reviewing personal statement examples is also good essay writing practice if you decide to write a residency letter of intent . Many of the same principles you apply to the personal statement can be applied to other application materials as well, so consider this review comprehensive. Believe it or not, personal statements also entail a great deal of self-reflection, which means they also function as a great review for residency interview questions , like the “tell me about yourself” residency interview question .

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 39 min read

Residency personal statement example #1: family medicine.

During the pre-clerkship years of study in medical school, I enjoyed learning about the many specialties within medicine and actively considered pursuing several of them. I was drawn to the complex pharmacology of the drugs used by anesthesiologists, the acuity of care faced by emergency medicine physicians and the complicated medical issues of patients cared for by internal medicine specialists. I also found myself interested in psychiatrists’ thorough history-taking and the technical skills in performing procedures exhibited by surgeons. It started becoming clear to me that I was interested in many different areas of medicine. I began realizing that I wanted a career that combined the many things I enjoyed in different specialties. A family physician has the flexibility to practice all of these facets of medicine. As clerkship drew nearer, I knew I wanted to gain more clinical experience in family medicine to see if it would be a good fit for me.

My clinical experiences in family medicine were fantastic. I worked with family physicians and family medicine residents not only during my core family medicine rotation and family medicine electives, but also during my psychiatry, surgery, anesthesiology, and pediatrics rotations. These clinical experiences confirmed my belief that family medicine is a diverse and exciting specialty; family physicians, while maintaining a broad base of medical knowledge, can tailor their practices to the needs of their communities and to their own interests and areas of expertise. During my family medicine rotation and electives, I also found myself greatly enjoying my encounters with patients. I enjoy hearing patients’ stories and sorting through their many medical and psychosocial issues. I am also naturally a fastidious person. Being a thorough history-taker and a meticulous recorder of details helps me in formulating a complete story about a patient. My joy in interacting with patients and my attention to detail allow me to appreciate patients as people, not just as disorders or diseases. I am both interested in learning about and have a certain affinity for, family medicine clinical experiences; pursuing a career in this specialty is an obvious choice for me.

The versatility and diversity of family practice initially drew my interest but the wonderful encounters I had with family physicians solidified my desire to pursue a career in this specialty. These family physicians have not only been skilled and knowledgeable clinicians but also, variously, dedicated teachers, researchers, and administrators. They were committed to improving their clinical skills by attending continuing education lectures and courses. They practiced patient-centered care and were knowledgeable about community resources that may help their patients. They worked cooperatively with other health-care professionals to improve patient care. Importantly, these physicians have also been friendly and approachable towards both learners and patients. The family physicians I have worked with also strive toward a healthy work-life balance; all of them seemed to have many interests and hobbies outside of their professions. These clinicians demonstrated to me what being a family physician involves: practicing both the science and art of medicine, advocating for patients, guiding patients through the health-care system, being committed to improving clinical knowledge and, importantly, maintaining one’s own health and happiness.

Being sure of the specialty I want to pursue is the first step in my career. There are many learning opportunities ahead. [Name of the program]’s family medicine residency program is attractive in so many ways: the protected academic days, the opportunity to participate in research and, most importantly, the clinical curriculum, all appeal to me. I believe the solid foundation of family medicine experience, as well as the exposure to other specialties, alongside the opportunities to build the skills necessary for life-long learning through the academic experiences and research, make this an ideal program for me. On a personal note, I grew up in [hometown] and did my undergraduate studies at [name of university]; I would be thrilled to return to my hometown and a university already familiar to me. My career goals after finishing my residency include having a community-based, urban family practice and being actively involved in teaching residents and medical students. I am also open to being involved in research and administration. Career goals, however, may change as I progress through my training. I am excited to begin the next stage of medical training and begin my residency in family medicine!

1. Emphasis on why the applicant wants to enter that specific specialty

This family medicine personal statement example does a great job of explaining why the applicant wants to enter that specific specialty. Their interest is clearly stated and the decision to enter the field is well explained. The author does an excellent job of talking up the specialty and stating what they like about the field based on their clinical experience. For your residency personal statement, you want to highlight any influential moment you had during these experiences. If you had a certain “aha” moment, you might mention this. If demonstrating this commitment is difficult for you, you can always find a reputable ERAS application review service .

2. Intentions are clear

Clearly stating your intentions and using the program's name makes your statement personal and stand out. It shows that you pay attention to details and that your goals and passion align with what the program offers. Use strong, precise language when you are writing. You only have about 800 words, so state your intentions and keep your story clear.

3. Personal connection is established

This particular applicant has a personal connection to the city in which the residency would take place. This won’t be true for every applicant, but if it is, be sure to make room to mention it as long as it fits with your personal narrative. In this example, the applicant also ties this in with one of their goals: having a community-based, urban family practice. In your personal statement, you should merge these elements together for a more cohesive essay.

What to Include in Your Personal Statement

Most residency programs, whether through  ERAS  (US-based) or  CaRMS  (Canada-based) require applicants to submit a personal statement or letter. Some programs will include specific instructions for what they wish you to talk about, while others will not give you a topic. When you’re doing your research for residency programs you want to apply for, you should also take a look at the selection criteria. Each school will have its own rubric that they use to evaluate candidates, so it’s a good idea to review these before you start working on your personal statement. Here is an example of some information stated by McMaster University regarding their residency selection criteria:

“Programs may consider a range of criteria in making their selection decisions for interviews including but not limited to: Medical School Performance Report (MSPR), scores on standardized tests, interest in and aptitude for the discipline, reference letter, experience in research or other scholarly activities, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities.”

ERAS, as well as most CaRMS programs, ask that your statement be within a one-page limit, about 750-850 words. Please check the specific program requirements through the ERAS or CaRMS websites.

The experiences in your  residency CV  can be used to help you indicate why you are applying to a particular program and how you came to that decision.

1. Introduction

Typically, your residency personal statement will have three to five paragraphs, which you will use to divide the introduction, body, and conclusion. The personal statement is a formal essay, so you must adhere to the proper structure. The introduction is for you to capture the attention of the reader; for this, you will need a strong hook or opening statement. Feel free to get creative with this. The remainder of your introduction should focus on what drew you to the specialty and how your background experiences informed your decision to apply to the school and program. Your introduction should also contain a thesis statement that allows you to connect your personal background with your suitability for the program, school, and a career in medicine (in this exact specialty).

2. Body (or middle)

The body of the essay is for you to expand on a few critical experiences that made you the excellent, qualified candidate you are today. A good strategy for the body paragraph(s) is to talk about relevant clinical rotation experiences; so for example, if you’re applying to a psychiatry residency, you can talk about a specific patient experience that solidified your decision to pursue this specialty, or an experience that sticks out in your memory. This will be similar to your answer to the interesting case residency interview question . Your goal should be to use these experiences to address your specific interests, goals, and what makes you a good fit for the program. Do some research into the program format, the patient population you will be working with, and the clinical environment. This will help you connect your experiences with what the school/program offers.

3. Conclusion

You might be thinking that once you’ve written a strong introduction and body, the conclusion will be simple. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. You need to use the space in your conclusion to tie everything together and show enthusiasm for the program and for your future career. You can revisit a few key points here to highlight them once again and to relate them to what you’re hoping to gain from the forthcoming training experience. Show passion, determination, and consistency throughout your letter and tie up any loose ends in the conclusion. Some applicants will use this part of the letter to mention a specific goal they want to achieve in residency, such as working with specific faculty members or research plans. You may also mention aspirations to complete a fellowship or what you want your future practice to look like.

Here's why "show, don't tell" is the most important tip for any personal statement:

Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Brainstorm Ideas

• What makes you right for this specialty?
• What experiences drew you to this specialty?
• What appeals to you about this specific program?
• Do you have any experiences working in the city of the program you’re applying to?
• How will your residency training help you achieve your goals?
• What are some of your personal strengths that will allow you to contribute to the program?
• What evidence do you have that you possess those strengths?
• Do you have any research/publications that align with the research the school is doing?
• Do you have any gaps in your medical education or evaluations that you would like to address?
• What’s something you think the program director should know that isn’t obvious from your application materials?

  Growing up the first-born daughter of a hard-working Saskatchewan cattle farmer and hairdresser, medicine was never a consideration. In a small town, I could easily see how too much free time got many of my peers in trouble. From grade 8-12 I devoted myself to sports, playing high school, club and provincial beach volleyball, weeknights and weekends year round. Despite my small stature and lack of innate abilities, with determination and persistence, I overcame these obstacles. At the end of my grade 11 year, I received an athletic scholarship and chose to pursue business administration and athletics.

After the first six months, it became apparent that I was not going to attain my full potential in education at [university name}. Despite my parent’s reservations, I left and enrolled at a [university name] for the next semester. This university was much more challenging as I was now balancing my educational and financial responsibilities by working evenings and weekends managing a number of part-time jobs. With little direction as to what degree I wanted to pursue, I happened to enroll in anatomy and physiology. This was the first time I became really excited about my future prospects and began actively considering a career in medicine.

The first time I applied to medicine, I was rejected. Despite my initial devastation, in hindsight, it was a great opportunity for myself to reflect on my own motivations for medicine and work as a laboratory technician at a potash mine in my hometown. I gained additional life experience, spent time with my family and was able to help financially support my husband’s pursuit of education after he had so selflessly supported me for many years.

My first exposure to anesthesia was in my first year of medical school with [Dr. name here] as my mentor in clinical reasoning. I was again, intrigued by the anatomy and physiology with the interlacing of pharmacology. I remained open to all specialties, however, after summer early exposures, research, and clerkship it became clear to me that anesthesia is where I felt the most fulfilled and motivated.

In a way, anesthesia was reminiscent of the competitive volleyball I had played years prior. I was again a part of a team in the operating room with a common goal. Similarly, our countless years of education and practice had brought us together to achieve it. In volleyball, my role was the setter, which to many is considered a lackluster position as we rarely attack the ball and score points with power. However, as a setter, my role is to set the pace, strategize and dictate the game from my team’s perspective. There is a long sequence of crucial events before a “kill” in volleyball and I strategized my teammate's individual strengths in both offense and defense to win. Anesthesia gives me the same opportunities to strategize anesthetics, balance individual patient’s comorbidities and anatomy all while maintaining a calm demeanor and level head through unexpected circumstances. In volleyball, I never shied away from tense games or difficult situations, instead I trusted in my own abilities and training despite uncharted territory. Lastly, I didn't need to actually score the point in order to understand my role and contributions to my team.

As an athlete, I understand the importance of practice and repetition which allow us to fail, but most importantly, to learn. I believe that the curriculum at this program will provide me with a well-respected education, which strongly reflects my learning style. I also admire the mandatory communication block in the curriculum because I believe an emphasis on clear and concise communication, is essential as an anesthetist.

Throughout the course of the next 5-10 years, I anticipate that both my husband and I will complete the next chapter in our educational pursuits. We both agree that [program name here] has the potential to nurture the next chapter in both our private and professional lives if given the opportunity.

What Makes This Sample Effective?

1. the theme is personal and consistent.

In this anesthesiology residency personal statement example , the author of this passage carries the theme of athletics throughout the statement. Having a theme can unify your personal statement and give it direction. This is a good example of a way to use a theme to tie together different ideas. Having a good theme is also something you should keep in mind when you’re answering anesthesiology residency interview questions , as program directors want to see that this particular specialty choice wasn’t simply drawn out of a hat; rather, your emphasis on a theme can demonstrate that your choice was intentional and the right fit.

2. The tone is positive throughout

Also, take note of how the author explained the transition to different schools without speaking negatively of the institutions. In your own personal statement, feel free to use the names of the universities you attended. They have been redacted here for anonymity. This statement has parts where you could customize it. Use the name of the program when possible or the name of the town. Taking time to add this into your statement shows the program that you pay attention to detail while personalizing it to each program.

3. Lessons learned apply to medicine

The writer of this personal statement relies on analogy to connect their experience to their interest in anesthesiology: “I understand the importance of practice and repetition which allow us to fail, but most importantly, to learn.” This analogy works so well because it shows why the applicant is suited to the program and specialty, it reveals an important aspect of their personality with evidence, and it sets expectations for how they want to contribute to the field. In your essay, you can use a similar strategy by tying together a major life theme or event with what you learned and how that applies to your medical training.

I was six years old when my father read to me the first chapter of “How Things Work.” The first chapter covered doors and specifically, the mechanics in a doorknob. What lay hidden and confined in the door panel was this complex system that produced a simple action. I credit this experience as the onset of my scientific curiosity and eventually my passion for complex systems found in medicine. Intensivists vigilantly maintain homeostasis within the human body, a complex system in and of itself, a concept I recognize as personally fascinating and enticing. I find myself especially drawn to the field of critical care and intensive care medicine. My dreams to become an intensivist would be highly complimented by a residency in surgery.

In critical care, each patient in the ICU is usually in a general state of shock. From the initial state of shock, the patient can be further complicated with comorbidities and chronic diseases that may require further intensive medical intervention so that they may recover from a recent surgery or traumatic event. This dynamic nature of the ICU is not available in every unit of the hospital and the high level of acuity does not suit everyone. I, however, enjoy the high energy of the enthralling, engaging and exciting environment offered by the ICU. I am personally energized and awakened by managing patients with surgically-altered physiology coupled with comorbidities. There is an overwhelming satisfaction when a patient following a bilateral lung transplant gets up from his bed and walks through the unit after days of being bedridden, or the moment we can discontinue the lines we had the patient on and finally talk to them after two weeks of intubation and sedation. Being in the ICU also encompasses the emotional seesaw of going from a successful patient case to a room in which a family has just decided that comfort care is the best way to proceed, which gives me chills just to type and verbalize.

The work of an intensivist is not only limited to the patient, but also the emotional well-being of the patient’s family as well. My involvement in the ICU has taught me that sometimes it is necessary to talk to a patient’s family, to explain to them simply that the postoperative expectations that they had had, may not be met. Communication is key in this field, both with the patients and the physicians of the OR. Communication prevents perioperative complications, establishes a willingness to follow directions and relays professionalism. It is important for an intensivist to have an excellent understanding of surgical procedures, so that they may explain to the patient what to expect as well as ease the nerves of the patient preoperatively. A surgical residency would facilitate this understanding and undoubtedly prove to be useful in my future training.

Studying medicine in Europe has taught me volumes about myself, how driven, motivated and open-minded I can be. To move so far away from home and yet be so familiar with the language, I feel blessed to be able to say that I’ve had a high level of exposure to diversity in my life. The mentality in [insert country name here] is if you don’t see the doctor, you are not sick. This common thought has to lead to an outstanding environment to study medicine and to see end-stage, textbook presentations of various pathologies and their management. Studying medicine in two languages has in itself taught me that medicine is a language and that the way a patient presents, conveys themselves, and the findings of the physical examination, all represent the syntax of the diagnosis. This awareness has reminded me that patient care, relief of patient suffering and illness, transcends the grammatical rules of the patient’s native tongue. My clinical experience in [insert country here] will aid me in providing thoughtful care to my future patients.

All things considered, I am ready to leave my home of the last four years and come back to the United States, to enter the next stage of my life and career. I am ready to work harder than ever, to prove myself to my future residency program and most importantly, learn so that I may be a suitable candidate for a future fellowship program in critical care. My experiences abroad have constantly pushed me to new horizons and encouraged responsibilities that I don’t believe I would otherwise have. I’ve developed a new level of human connection through my work in the ICU, the OR and my travels throughout Europe. These experiences will aid me in working with a diverse patient population and a diverse team of physicians. I hope [the program name here] can give me the variety and the background in surgery that I will need to succeed.

1. Atypical experiences are justified

This surgery personal statement example has to do double duty for the admissions committee. It has to explain why surgery, what this student can offer, and why this student is passionate about the field while simultaneously explaining why the applicant chose medical school abroad. If you are applying to a country where you did not attend medical school there, you have to explain why you studied abroad. This often poses a challenge for students. Be honest and positive about your experience. This student did an excellent job of explaining why it was such a good fit for their personality while highlighting the advantages of this experience.

Focus on the characteristics you gained from your experience abroad. Explain how your experience will translate into success in your residency. There are many things to be gained from having spent time outside of your home country. Talk about the skills you developed from living abroad. Unique details like those will set you apart when you are writing your statement.

2. Makes unique experiences an advantage

This applicant studied abroad in Europe. The way they talk about it is key: they explain how the experience was a challenge that they learned from. Most programs and schools are looking for medical school graduates who can contribute to their vision of diversity. If you have experience travelling abroad, this is a good chance for you to explain how this enriched your perspective and professional capabilities. Some of the skills that this applicant discusses are assets for a career in medicine: speaking two languages, exposure to diverse people and methods, and the ability to work with a large patient and physician population from different backgrounds. If you endeavor to explain some of your diverse experiences, be sure to make it clear what you gained and how you can apply it to your residency training.

3. The writer’s voice and style are unique

To get matched to the program and school of your choice, you will need to stand out from the crowd. To do this effectively in your personal statement, give your writing a unique style and allow your personality to shine through. In this example, the writer achieves this in the first paragraph in the “hook” in which they describe when their father used to read “How Things Work”; this life event left a lasting impression, and the writer links this to why a residency in surgery would benefit their goal of becoming an intensivist. With a first draft, it’s okay to experiment with word choice and content. Make sure you include all the necessary elements and formatting requirements, but try your best to put the “personal” in personal statement. Note that this is a general surgery example; if you were applying for plastic surgery or neurosurgery, you should read plastic surgery residency personal statement examples or neurosurgery personal statement examples for a slightly varied essay strategy.

Writing a residency personal statement? Here are the top books for residency applicants:

Residency Personal Statement Examples #4: Emergency Medicine

One of the most surprising things that I learned through my emergency medicine (EM) electives is that working in an emergency department is like leading a horse. I grew up on a farm in the [name of city], and working with animals was very much a part of my childhood. When walking a horse, one must be prepared for anything should the animal become spooked. It can startle at any moment and one must react quickly and calmly to redirect the thousand-pound creature. Similarly, in EM, one never knows when the department is going to become “spooked” by what comes through the door. EM is exciting, with a variety of patient presentations and medical procedures done on a daily basis. I enjoy dealing with the unexpected challenges that arise in caring for patients with backgrounds vastly different from my own. It would be a privilege to gain the skills as an emergency physician to provide acute life-saving care, to connect patients with resources and other healthcare professionals, and to provide comfort to patients and families in the settings of acute loss or difficult diagnoses. I feel that the [name of program] is the ideal path to reach that goal.

First, the [name of program] offers additional support and training to continue to perform research and other scholarly activities. Through my experience in quality improvement, I have learned of the value of research and how it can be applied to practical problems. For instance, while volunteering in a pool rehabilitation program for individuals with neurological disabilities, a patient who I had worked with for a year tragically suffered a fall and broke his hip leaving him significantly disabled. This led me to research inpatient falls during medical school and I initiated a quality improvement project and presented at several conferences, quality improvement rounds, and meetings with hospital stakeholders. After several years of work, I am very proud that this led to the implementation of a province-wide quality improvement initiative funded by [name of organization]. This initiative is physician-led and is aimed at reducing inpatient falls across [name of city]. This project demonstrated how rewarding research is when it can be translated into tangible initiatives and is why I am particularly interested in quality improvement research. I look forward to more dedicated time in the [name of program] to develop my research skills and to apply quality improvement to EM.

In addition to increased training in research, the [name of program] offers the opportunity to subspecialize within EM. While in medical school, I helped my single mother raise my much younger siblings and this has inspired my interest in pediatric EM. I maximized my studying through the effective use of weekly group study sessions and podcasts to allow for free weekends to return home to spend with my brother and sister. Through my experiences teaching and playing with my siblings, I have learned to deal with children in a calm and friendly manner. I used these skills to maintain positive therapeutic relationships with children during my pediatric EM rotation at [name of hospital]. For instance, I was able to cast the forearm of a frightened child by first demonstrating the procedure on her toy rabbit, and then calmly fitting a cast on her arm. I enjoy the emphasis on patient and family education as well as the focus on making the patient feel safe and cared for. I would love to explore this field further as my niche within the [name of program] in emergency medicine.

Alongside research and pediatric EM, I am also interested in teaching. Some of my fondest memories involve the evening teaching sessions during primary and secondary school spent with my grandpa, a retired teacher. My grandpa modeled effective teaching techniques, first assessing my knowledge and then expanding on it by asking questions and providing guidance when needed. Similarly, some of my best memories in medical school include the five-minute bedside teaching sessions after interesting cases that were taught in that way. Inspired by many residents and staff I have worked with, I look forward to expanding my teaching role in residency. Like my grandpa and my clinical mentors, I hope to help future students maximize their learning potential through the delivery of lectures and bedside teaching. Training within the [name of program] would allow additional time to develop the skills necessary for this, through increased exposure to mentorship, teaching role models, and opportunities to be involved in curricular development.

I would feel privileged to join the resident team in the [name of program]. I was fortunate that most of my core clerkship training including EM, as well as my fourth year EM elective, was at the [name of hospital]. What stands out the most to me most about working in the [name of hospital] is the tight-knit community feel in the setting of a high volume, high acuity ED. I value that the small program leads to a cohesive resident group and staff who are invested in their learners. Furthermore, from my rotations there, I know the ample procedural and hands-on exposure residents get from the beginning of their training. With my interest in pediatric EM, I value the longitudinal exposure to pediatrics at [name of program], with opportunities to do dedicated pediatric rotations both at [name of hospital], as well as [name of hospital]l. Finally, the [name of city] is my home; my family and friends are here, and I love the hiking, fishing, kayaking, and snowboarding that are all less than an hour away. I would be incredibly honored to have the privilege of pursuing EM in the [name of program], and look forward to serving my community.

Read some more Emergency Medicine Personal Statement Examples !

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The thought of caring for severely ill children seemed disheartening and overwhelming when I first began shadowing [name of doctor] at [name of hospital] five years ago. I was very nervous. While some of the cases were indeed difficult, my experience was starkly different. In one of our first cases, I quickly jumped in to comfort a scared child suffering from kidney disease. The mother of our patient confided in me about her son's struggles with bullying due to the disfiguring edema. I felt how much she appreciated being able to share her son’s challenges with me. Throughout my clinical experiences, I saw that caring for a pediatric patient often involves delicately navigating complex social situations and family dynamics. From that point on, I knew I had both the passion and compassion to succeed as a future pediatrician.

I am particularly keen to complete my residency at the [name of school], because I had such an immersive learning experience completing 5 years of research with [name of doctor] at [name of hospital] and at [name of hospital], not to mention [name of school]'s stellar international reputation. The incredibly high standard of excellence at [name of school], as well as [name of city] being my hometown, make the [name of school] my top choice to complete my residency. To further demonstrate the excellent education, I remember a time while shadowing at [name of hospital] in the genetics clinics where we discussed the pathophysiology of Bartter’s syndrome. The residents were having a hard time understanding this disease, but [name of doctor] explained the exact pathophysiology and downstream effects of it. The incredible intellect, mentorship and leadership [name of doctor] demonstrated has inspired me to pursue a nephrology fellowship upon completion of my residency.

During my elective rotations in [name of cities], I saw indigenous pediatric patients with a variety of ailments from hypoglycemia to cystic fibrosis. I spoke with them about the struggles of travelling long distances to obtain care. As an Inuit member of the [name of group], I have spent time reflecting on the medical needs of this much-overlooked population and hope to explore ways of reaching out to underserved populations in my future career.

I am prepared to be a leader and engaged learner in my residency program because of my participation in impactful leadership roles. I am currently the president of the [name of society], where one of my main duties is coordinating the [name of initiative], an initiative that teaches children about hospitals and healthy living. I was able to spend one-on-one time with disabled children teaching them about the heart through dance and instruments and activities to decrease fears associated with hospitals. This demonstrated the importance of promoting health care initiatives for kids and educate families and their children on how to be advocates of their own health.

As a competitive Irish dancer for sixteen years, I developed perseverance, determination, and time management that have been critical throughout my medical school training. Competing in front of judges and thousands of spectators all over the world, performing to my best ability under intense pressure was a necessity. I persevered with the challenge of competing at an international level and still maintained a very high level of academic performance while achieving my career high of second at the World Championships.

As an IMG applicant born and raised in [name of city] and educated in [name of country], I believe that my international education provides many advantages. I was exposed to diverse cultures and innovative ways of thinking from teachers from all over the globe at the [name of college] that I hope to bring back to Canada with me. Through the last 6 years, I have also had many research experiences and clinical electives in Canada that have given me insights into the intricacies of the Canadian Health Care system.

I am confident that pediatrics is the field I wish to pursue and I cannot wait to begin my residency so that I can start becoming an excellent clinician who advocates for children, as well as a scholar involved in research projects that will help advance the field. After successfully completing my pediatric residency program, I plan to pursue a pediatric fellowship. I am excited at the prospect of working and learning at the [name of school] while being an active and professional member of your residency program. I am also looking forward to developing my teaching skills and contributing to the community while also enjoying bike rides down the paths in the [name of path] and to be reunited with my [name of city] based family.

Want to see more Pediatrics Personal Statement Examples ?

“Code blue, electrophysiology laboratory” a voice announces overhead during my cardiology rotation. As the code team, we rush to the patient, an elderly man in shock. Seamlessly, we each assume our preassigned roles. I quickly review his chart and note to the team-leader that this patient had a previous EF of 10 percent and just got cardioverted. Vasopressors administered, intubation, central line secured, and the patient is stabilized and sent to our floor. During my rotations in internal medicine, I was constantly elated by my team’s ability to come together at such key moments. This gave me a sense of joy I did not find in other rotations. Moreover, I had inspiring attending physicians and residents who served as my mentors. They taught me that an internist is a medical expert committed to evidence-based medicine and perpetual learning, a compassionate physician, and an engaged community member. These lessons and the satisfaction of managing highly complex cases with a dedicated team consolidated my interest in internal medicine.

Compassion and a holistic approach to medicine remain quintessential for patient care. During my rotations, I took advantage of opportunities to learn from my patients both at the bedside and through independent reading. As a senior student, I prepared learning capsules that I presented to my team. This taught me to synthesize and communicate information efficiently. Beyond that, I took courses outside of the formal curriculum such as a point-of-care ultrasound course to improve my ultrasound procedural skills. When we no longer had any curative interventions to offer patients, I learned that acknowledging the patients’ suffering and being present for them in their most vulnerable time can ease their pain. As a resident at [name of school], I will continue my dedication to academic excellence and compassionate, patient-centered care in my efforts to care for my patients.

I have built strong ties to my community serving as president of the [name of school] Biology Student Union. Together, we enacted a complex study space and locker initiative through my role as a mentor at [name of organization]. These experiences instilled in me the values of proactivity and advocacy which I aim to bring with me to [name of school]. There, I hope to continue my community engagement as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of [name of city]. Moreover, as I learn more about [name of town]'s healthcare system, I hope to combine that knowledge with my medical education to add my perspective to health policy decision-making in the province.

In addition to its excellent academic reputation, [name of school]’s commitment to academic excellence and continuing education, as exemplified by the abundant academic teaching, drew me to the program. Moreover, given my belief that we develop to be an amalgam of characteristics and values our mentors espouse, I was delighted to learn about the mentorship opportunities available. This was a unique characteristic that motivated me to apply to [name of school]. Finally, having lived in [name of city] for the last ten years, I am looking forward to spending the next chapter of my life in a smaller, more tightly knit community of [name of city].

As I learned and modeled the different roles of an internist, I also learned a lot about myself. I learned of my thirst for knowledge, of my desire to treat as well as to heal the patient, and of my urge to be a leader in my community. These characteristics will play a defining role in my residency. I also learned of my passion for acute medicine. After my residency, I hope to further subspecialize in cardiology. As a future cardiologist, I aim to provide patient-centered care, conduct research, continue my community engagement, and act as a role model to future generation.

Get inspired with these Cardiology Personal Statement Examples !

Watch this to learn what red flags to avoid in your residency personal statement!

Residency Personal Statement Examples #7: Psychiatry

I grew up in a tight knit military family in a community struck with the stigma of mental illness. Throughout my childhood we lost friends to the complications of untreated mental illness including overdose and suicide. I knew at that point that I wanted to pursue mental illness and completed a psychology degree and then a nursing degree. In University, I volunteered in a distress service for 6 years, providing individual sessions to students on issues including suicidality, interpersonal violence and addiction. As a registered nurse, I honed my skills in mental status examinations and cared for their comorbid psychiatric illness with medical disease utilizing communication and building rapport. I saw the impact of life altering conditions and procedures on their mental health. As a medical student, I continued to explore psychiatry through City X summer studentship and appreciated the breadth of psychiatric practice. As a clerk, I completed a range of psychiatric electives, caring for patients in multiple care settings and across various socioeconomic and age ranges. I enrolled in the integrated community clerkship, in X town, a community 900 km North of X city. The socioeconomic disparities and lack of access to mental health services had a negative impact on community, with suicidality and addictions. I followed my patients across practice domains assessing their functioning, medication regimen and continued to build a collaborative relationship. This proved crucial to uncover their health status across domains and helped me identify areas to support their challenges. 

I value the ability to understand my patients from a biopsychosocial framework and addressing negative thought processes in support of their wellness. I view our duty in psychiatry is to support their strengths on a trajectory to wellness and provide guidance and resources utilizing pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. Psychiatry is a newer field of medicine, allowing for ongoing innovations in treatment and practice. This is exciting to explore novel approaches to treatments as we continue to uncover the physiological, neurological and pharmacological dimensions of mental health. It is also important to recognize the challenges of psychiatry. The history of mental illness creates access to care barriers from both a structural viewpoint with longer wait times and on a personal level due to their concern about the social and occupational implications of stigma. As our population ages, this threatens to overwhelm the current psychiatric infrastructure and will require more complex approaches due to medical comorbidities and medication contraindications. We will require ongoing research focused on medical comorbidities of neuropsychiatric illness and treatment modalities to improve quality of care. 

I am drawn to the University of X psychiatry program due to its resident focused approach. I appreciate the ongoing mentorship and supervision and the preparatory endeavors including the mock examinations. From a clinical perspective, the program has a strong psychotherapy curriculum and offers unique elective opportunities including electroconvulsive therapy. The ability to continue serving rural communities solidifies my interests in this well-known program. 

Check out these Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples !

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Residency Personal Statement Examples #8: Internal Medicine

“People are drawn to medicine in one of two ways: the humanity or the science.” My mentor, [name of doctor], staff medical oncologist at the [name of hospital], once told me this. As a volunteer during my premedical studies, I assisted him with his impromptu lunchtime clinics while others were on break and was able to catch a glimpse of his patients’ unshakable trust in him. Those moments sparked my interest in Internal Medicine. Internists are entrusted with the most complex patients in any hospital. Therefore, Internists take on the responsibility of a patient’s trust in their lowest, most disoriented moments. Accordingly, when I finally started clinical rotations, I saw it as my responsibility to fully understand each patient’s motivations and fears to advocate for their goals. One patient I had gotten to know still stands out in my mind. She was 95, witty, and self-assured but was found to have bone metastasis causing excruciating pain during her hospital stay. She knew she did not want aggressive life-prolonging treatment and declined further workup, but how could we help her? I suggested palliative radiotherapy to my team because I remember her telling me “I had a good life. I am not scared of death, but if I have to be around for a while, can’t I be more comfortable?” Therefore, my team entrusted me to talk to her and her family about a referral to Radiation Oncology. She responded to me with “I don’t think there’s anyone who knows what I’d want better than you. You’ve listened to me so much. I trust you.” I spent the next half hour explaining the rationale behind the referral to both her and her family. She received urgent Radiotherapy two weeks later. Her narcotic requirement decreased by more than half. After that moment, I envisioned that one day, I could also look into the eyes of someone at their most vulnerable moment and give them confidence to trust me and my team with their care.

Although my interest in Internal Medicine is rooted in the human connection, my attention to detail, work ethic, and natural curiosity, also makes me especially well-suited for the challenges of Internal Medicine. Indeed, beyond the human connection, Internal Medicine’s challenges of complex problem solving, and large ever-growing breadth of knowledge is also what makes each day so satisfying. When I was on the Nephrology Consult service, I was following a patient with a kidney transplant who was admitted for Line Sepsis. I noticed a mild Non-Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis and a persistent mild Hyperkalemia. I presented my findings to my staff as a possible Type 4 RTA. He complimented me on my attention to detail and warned that a Type 4 RTA in a kidney transplant patient could be a sign of rejection. We restarted his anti-rejection medication that had been held due to his infection, his electrolyte abnormalities corrected in less than two days. My attention to detail is a particular asset for Internal Medicine because more than any other specialty, the tiniest details like a mildly abnormal lab work, when pieced together in the correct way, could solve the most difficult clinical problem. That is also what makes problem-solving in Internal Medicine so satisfying. My mentors have always complimented me on my work ethic. However, I enjoy staying late for admissions and additional learning or reading hours around my patients at home because learning Internal Medicine is so interesting.

On the other hand, Internists are also tasked with the very large, working with multiple professionals and navigate system issues to keep patients healthy and out of hospital such as when [name of doctor] entrusted me with planning the discharge of a homeless patient during my Medicine CTU elective at [name of hospital]. The patient had Schizophrenia and Grave’s Disease and had been admitted to hospital multiple times that year with thyrotoxicosis due to medication non-adherence. During his admission, I had elicited the help of two homeless outreach coordinators to ensure proper follow-up. Therefore, by the time of discharge, he had a new family doctor, timely appointments with the family doctor and endocrinologist, maps with directions to each appointment, his prescription medications ready to go, as well as a new apartment application.

Ultimately, I am fortunate to be drawn to Internal Medicine for both its humanity and science. I believe that I have the qualities that will help me excel in its smallest details and its largest responsibilities. In residency, I aim to explore and learn as much Internal Medicine as possible before becoming an expert in one area so I can make an informed choice and be a well-rounded physician. Therefore, the fact that [name of city] has so many leading experts especially suits my learning goals. Indeed, during my electives in [name of city], I’ve already learned knowledge that I’ve not encountered elsewhere like the Bernese method of Buprenorphine induction. The availability of resources such as the DKA management simulation and the use of presentations of cutting-edge knowledge as part of evaluation also suits my self-directed learning style. Furthermore, my research has focused on the PMCC Gastro-Esophageal Cancer Database where we were able to discover various new details in the clinical behavior of Gastro-Esophageal cancer due to the large volume of patients are PMCC and its world-class expertise. This line of research would not work as well anywhere else in [name of country]. Indeed, our database is currently the second-largest in the world. Therefore, the second reason [name of city] is my ideal place for training is for its unique research opportunities, so I can continue to contribute to further medical knowledge. Lastly, [name of city] is the most diverse city in [name of country]. Growing up as an immigrant, I had experienced how cultural backgrounds can become a barrier to receiving good medical care. Therefore, the diverse patient population and strong allied health support in [name of city] could also allow me to hone the skills required to assist me in providing good quality care to all patients, regardless of background.

Here are more Internal Medicine Personal Statement Examples !

My first exposure to Family Medicine occurred during my time as a Medical Officer working in a small clinic in Nigeria in fulfilment of the [name of service]. There, I recognized that a career in this specialty would offer me the opportunity to not only experience the aspects I cherished most about other specialties, but fulfill my personal interests in advancing community health.

My many encounters with patients during my days in the clinic reaffirmed my view of Primary care physicians as being on the frontline of diagnosis and preventive medicine. There was the middle-aged diabetic patient who had first presented to the emergency with diabetic ketoacidosis, the hypertensive man whose initial complaint of a persistent headache prompted the discovery of his soaring blood pressure, and the adolescent with a family history of allergies who was diagnosed with asthma. These encounters highlighted that as the first point of contact, the general practitioner is not only responsible for diagnosis, but often in ensuring patients are set on the path of healthy habits to prevent disease complications. This unique opportunity to significantly advance the well-being of a patient, and by extension, the community renewed my interest in the field.

An especially appealing feature of Family Medicine is that it provides an opportunity for patient care without limitations of age, sex, disease or organ system. From treating colds and routine checkups to referral for a suspected malignancy, I enjoyed that every day in the clinic was a learning experience and no day was routine. In addition, having a diverse population of patients and cases requires an abundance of clinical knowledge and I cherish the chance to learn and expand my skills every day.

I also value that an essential part of Primary care is in the enduring relationships the practitioners develop with patients. I recall several moments during my clinical experiences when I recognized that some of the bonds formed during ongoing patient interactions had evolved into lasting friendships. Being a practice of continual care, I appreciate that this specialty provides many opportunities to follow patients through different stages of their lives ensuring a deepening of relationship and compliance with care. I was inspired during my clinical rotation here in the United States when I saw how my preceptorís long-term relationships with patients enabled their compliance and often extended to different generations within one family.

Ultimately, I am confident that my experiences have prepared me for a career in this specialty. An agreeable, attentive and compassionate nature has aided me in gaining trust as well as building meaningful interpersonal relationships which are crucial components of this field. Furthermore, my interaction with an extensive array of patients during my clinical and volunteer experiences has equipped me with the ability to communicate and relate to patients across different age groups and backgrounds. In addition, I enjoy working to coordinate patient care with colleagues and other specialties and value that the wellness of the patient is a result of hard work, dedication, and teamwork.

Thus, I hope to find a residency program dedicated to providing in-depth clinical training with a diverse patient population and an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention through patient education and community service. Moreover, I look forward to being part of a program that will encourage my pursuit of intellectual development and advancement to enable my transition into a well-rounded, competent and skilled physician committed to serving people with needs in all areas of medicine. With a career in this specialty, I know that every day will bring a new opportunity to influence health behaviors, and while there will be challenges, fulfilling them will always be satisfying.

Here I am, yet again. Last year, I also applied for a position as a dermatology resident. Though I was not selected, I return with the same diligence and perseverance, as well as additional skills and knowledge. My continued dedication to pursue a career in dermatology reminds me that no good thing comes easily and pushes me to stay motivated and work hard toward my goals. 

I am drawn to dermatology for a host of reasons, one of which is the opportunity to work with my hands. In my current residency program, I have had the opportunity to assist in various surgical procedures. I recall the subdued exhilaration I felt when removing my first lipoma and the satisfaction of observing the surgeon completed the procedure with precision and care. My excitement for surgery continued to be reinforced in the many subsequent procedures I assisted with and I look forward to honing my surgical skills further as I complete my training in dermatology. 

However, to me, “hands-on” is defined as more than just its literal meaning. The opportunity to build relationships with patients steers me more towards a career in outpatient medicine. During my dermatology outpatient rotation, I was involved in the care of a patient who presented initially complaining of a heliotrope rash and gottron’s papules. When she expressed a deep sense of shame about this rash, I became acutely aware of how patient’s external disease can influence their internal emotions. I thus responded empathetically, simultaneously validating her concerns and providing her with much-needed assurance. When she was later diagnosed with dermatomyositis secondary to underlying breast cancer, this patient requested to speak to me specifically, recalling the positive interaction we had shared before. Again, I was able to explain the diagnosis and treatment plan with patience and regard for her every concern. Developing a trusted physician-patient relationship is crucial in the field of dermatology because most patients exhibit strong internal emotions from their visually external disease. Also important is the ability to deliver difficult news and be considerate of patients’ feelings in these delicate moments. I plan to continue to use these skills during my career as a dermatologist.  

To me, dermatology is also a field that is thought-provoking and stimulating due to its constant evolution and advancements. Thus, during my internship, I committed to educating myself in the field of dermatology through multiple research projects. My research thus far has been focused on whether UV light lamps used in gel manicures increases the risk of skin cancers as well as the outcomes of using intralesional 5-fluorouracil for squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthomas. While my research was focused in the field of dermatology, I did not hesitate to take on additional projects, pursuing assignments in both breast cancer and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. I strongly believe the best doctors have a thorough understanding of the practice of medicine in totality as our ability to incorporate this knowledge in our diagnosis and treatment of our patients directly impacts their wellbeing. For these reasons, I strive to continually educate myself in not only dermatology, but other fields that might have implications on my practice. 

My ideal dermatology program would allow me to manage a variety of complex medical dermatological conditions and engage in research, both of which will continue to challenge me intellectually and push me to exercise creativity to develop innovative solutions to dermatological treatments. As someone who enjoys working with my hands and the instant gratification of the surgical approach as a treatment option, I would also value the opportunity to perform surgeries and improve my surgical skills. Furthermore, I have found that beyond medicine, the people in each program make or break an experience. Positive attitudes, expressed dedication, and mentorship are vital characteristics in any program of my interest.

I am confident my aspirations will be fulfilled in the field of dermatology, but more importantly, I know I will be a good contribution to this field and your program – my work ethic, motivation, and commitment unwavering. I am determined, impassioned, and excited to embark on this next phase of my journey. 

Check out even more Dermatology Personal Statement Examples !

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Want some more residency personal statement tips?

How To Address Areas of Concern

There are some things that are out of our control. Sometimes we have to take time off to deal with personal issues, or sometimes we have to retake tests. If you have something you feel like you need to explain in your application, the personal statement is the area to address it. If you had a leave of absence or failed an exam, you should offer a clear, unemotional explanation of the situation. Use positive language. Whatever the area of concern, try and phrase it in the most favorable light. Take accountable for what has happened, but do not place blame or make an excuse. Here are some phrases you can try and use in your personal statement.

Sometimes we have to interact with people who we don't see eye to eye with. When I worked with (you can choose to say the person's name or just use their title) I learned how to (insert a lesson here). Even though it was a challenge, I have gained skills that will better my future practice. ","label":"Unfavorable Evaluation by an Attending","title":"Unfavorable Evaluation by an Attending"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Keep in mind that these are suggestions. If you are concerned about an area of your application that might be a red flag, it may be in your best interest to address it head-on. The choice to write about them is your own individual opinion. Your personal statement should highlight the best side of you. If you think that an area of weakness might hurt your chances, it may be beneficial to take ownership of the problem and write it in a way that will show what you learned and how it made you better.

For the most part, your residency personal statement should be within a one-page limit or approximately 750-850 words. Be sure to check your specific program requirements to verify before you begin writing.

It's entirely up to you if you want to address unfavorable grades or gaps in your studies. However, if you feel something in your application will be seen as a red flag, it's best to address issues head-on instead of having admissions committees dwell on possible areas of concern.

If you're going to address a gap, just ensure that you have a clear narrative for why you took these breaks, what you did on break and what this break means for your ability to function at a very high academic level for many years to come.

If you're addressing a poor evaluation, ensure that you take responsibility for your grade, discuss what you learned and how your performance will be improved in the future - then move on. It's important that you don't play the victim and you must always reflect on what lessons you've learned moving forward.

Absolutely. While it's not necessary to discuss your personal connection to a program location, showing program directors that you have ties to their program's location can give you a competitive edge over other applicants. The reason being is that it's a way to show program directors that you are invested in practicing medicine locally.

That's not to say that you have to apply to programs that are within your home state or province, but if one of the reasons you love a particular program is because of its location in your hometown, don't be afraid to mention this. Whether you enjoy the outdoor activities in the program's location, have family and friends in the area, or even grew up in the area at some point, these can all be great aspects to mention.

Firstly, it's important to check the program's specific requirements for your statement because some programs have a specific prompt or multiple prompts that you'll need to address. If you are not given a prompt, in general, your statement needs to answer “why this specialty?” and “why this program?”. Your responses must be supported with your personal experiences and your statement should incorporate your future career goals.

No, instead you'll be preparing one personal statement for each specialty. For example, if you're applying to emergency medicine and family medicine, you'll need to prepare one statement for emergency medicine and one statement for family medicine.

As long as it's during the application season, you can edit and review your personal statement. However, keep in mind that if you edit your personal statement, there is no guarantee that programs will review the most up to date version. For this reason, it's best to only assign your personal statement to programs once you've 100% happy with the final version.

No, there is no limit on how many personal statements you can create. 

Your personal statement should have three major structural elements: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Your thesis statement will appear in your introduction in the first paragraph. The body is for you to discuss major experiences relevant to your chosen specialty, and the conclusion is generally the place to summarize and highlight some of the item you mentioned in the body or introduction.

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My “Personal Statement” for Residency (And Tips for yours!) 

My “personal statement” for residency (and tips for yours), by #lifeofamedstudent.

It’s that time of year again! The ERAS application opening date is looming and by now many of our 4th-year applicants are starting to work on or even finalize their personal statement. To many, this is one of the most challenging aspects of the application. What in the world do I write about? How do I talk about myself? Do I make it flashy or boring? What should I include?

I wrote my personal statement in August 2012. I didn’t know the answers to those questions then. I still have no idea. I don’t really know what residencies want in these things. I don’t think most of them even know what they want and it definitely varies from place to place. BUT they all do know a really good one when they see it, and  even easier a really bad one as well. Don’t be a bad one. Bad personal statements are full of grammatical errors, arrogant, attempt to be too flashy, simply repeat the CV, or are full of exaggerations/lies.

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A good personal statement should complement your CV. It should in your words be able to show your personality and your desire to go into your chosen specialty . It should give examples of the what and the why: Why do you care about patients, what do you like about your specialty. And unless you are a very good writer (I’m certainly not), it should probably be a touch boring. I decided to add a clinical scenario to add some excitement and explain my draw to anesthesia , but other than that I kept it simple. It talks about mostly why I’m interested in anesthesia, tells a little bit about my personality, and ends with what I’m looking for and what I will bring to a residency. I wrote it in a weekend, then edited it for about a week. I had my sister-in-law, with her degree in English, proofread it twice. And that’s it. My personal statement likely didn’t get placed on the top of the pile, but I felt it complimented my application and certainly didn’t hurt me.

I applied to anesthesia residency and thus also needed a transitional year/preliminary year application as well. These are separate applications and can be separate personal statements. I choose not to re-write my statement, but I did alter the end to make it more suited for those programs. That’s a fair balance I felt.

And here is my personal statement, as it was the day I submitted it in 2012.

Personal Statement for Anesthesia Residency, 2012

Before I had even applied to medical school, I had a serious interest in becoming an anesthesiologist. Like many who go into the field, my original interest was peaked by my fascination with the phenomenal bio-chemical processes that are undergone each second in the human body. Throughout my undergraduate experience and completion of a chemistry degree, my interest in these processes continued to bring forward thoughts of a career in anesthesiology. However, several defining moments during medical school locked into my mind a definite desire to pursue anesthesia.

The moment I became set on anesthesia was during my ten-day anesthesia rotation at Riley Children’s Hospital. A young patient had been put under and was suddenly not responding well. Her blood pressure was severely depressed and perfusion had become so poor that the pulse oximeter was no longer able to detect saturation or heart rate. Once the severity of the situation was realized, many in the OR became obviously anxious and frantic – but not the anesthesiologist running the case. As the surgeons stepped away from the table, the anesthesiologist, cool and calm, began directing people to various interventions. I was instructed to begin syringing in tube after tube of albumin. Running through various algorithms of treatment, the anesthesiologist was able to stabilize the patient, and slowly the tension would leave the operating room. However, my awe of the calculated job the anesthesiologist had just completed would stay with me. The very basics of critical care – the “ABCs” of lifesaving – are the very skills that anesthesiologists are taught to master, even under great pressure. This truly inspired me to want to be the best at those “ABCs” which sound so simple, yet are so intimidating to many in the medical field. The fundamentals of lifesaving paired with the “hands-on” procedural approach to medicine in anesthesia solidified my desire to pursue this career.

While a passion to thrive in critical care situations certainly makes me a good candidate for anesthesia, there are several other characteristics I discovered during my 4th-year anesthesia sub-I that I feel will make me a great anesthesiologist. Organization and order, once a simple quirk to my personality, suddenly became one of my greatest strengths in the OR. Additionally, I have never been the type of medical student to sit in the corner and watch during my clerkships. I took great pleasure in assisting the nurses in the little tasks of patient transport or preparation and OR set up, which I’m proud to say seemed to make me a popular medical student to have around with the great nursing staff I’ve worked with. Likewise, whether it be organizing the various lines, tubes, and syringes of the current case, completing the required charting, or setting up for the next case, my hands were never idle. I couldn’t believe how fast the days would go and how much I would look forward to coming back into the hospital the next morning!

While medical school can teach a student the science behind medicine, I truly believe it is a doctor’s personality and character that ultimately determines his or her success with patients. One of my greatest qualities that will make me a successful anesthesiologist is my ability to quickly connect with people. At an orientation lecture on making first impressions early in my first clinical year, a speaker discussed how in general, anesthesiologists are among the best at making great first impressions. Hearing this was like a light bulb going off! Patients always seem to fear going to sleep more than the actual surgeon’s knife. Yet, an anesthesiologist may have but just a few moments pre-op to relax and instill confidence in their patients. What a challenging but impressive skill! Since that orientation, I have prided myself on mastering how quickly I can earn a patient’s trust. Enjoying the challenge of making a great first impression in the shortest amount of time is among the most important reasons that have guided me into the specialty of anesthesiology.

My goal during this application process is to find a residency program that puts an emphasis on broad types of clinical experience, so that I may one day enter practice with the confidence to tackle any case that may come my direction. Being from a small town in southern Indiana, eventually, I would very much enjoy someday practicing in a community-based setting in a mid-sized city that would feel much like home. While impossible to know the future, I am excited about the direction the field of anesthesia can take me. With that said, I promise to bring a strong work ethic, open mind, and friendly, easy-going demeanor to all the opportunities that lie ahead of me.

For Transitional Year and Preliminary programs – replaces last paragraph with this one.

While it is true that no student grows up dreaming of being a “transitional year” doctor, I have high expectations for my intern year and believe I will be a great asset to whichever program I end up at. While I may only be there a year, I’m looking for a place that will challenge and teach me as if I were a permanent part of their program. My greatest strength for my intern year is a skill I’ve realized through a particularly reoccurring compliment received during my various medicine rotations. This is the ability to be complete but concise, and especially efficient in the way at which I present and manage my patients. While impossible to know the future, I am excited about the direction the field of medicine can take me. With that said, I promise to bring a strong work ethic, open mind, and friendly, easy-going demeanor to all the opportunities that lie ahead of me.

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Share this:.

Really amazing personal statement. All my finger’s are crossed that you match into a residency of your choice 😀

Haha thanks! But you can uncross your fingers, I should have been more clear -that is 4 years old and I’ll be graduating residency in <year ?

Or I should read more carefully 😛 Main part still stands though, really great personal statement 😀

Hi!! Great personal statement…Thanks for sharing ? ?

Yes, thank you for sharing. Great writing!

Great personal statement! Very inspiring! I’m happy you’re already graduating!

Applying to residency and looking forward You got into med school and survived step 1 and step 2, you’re done taking shit from stupid scrub tech, and residents from specialties you’re not interested in; you’ve finished your volunteer project you were only doing to look well rounded and you don’t have to care about that student interest group you were in charge of anymore. So now, you’re sitting here reading this (and your personal statement for th 100th time this week), and come to realize that you are a day away from submitting a job application to work as a motherfucking doctor. And well respected adults with impressive job titles are going to read it and take it seriously, because you are serious. You’re not a goddamn fraud. You did all of the shit you were supposed to and you worked your ass off during all of it. Ever think about that in a year our college friends wiil still be talking about how to “adult,” while we are learning to be responsible for multiple other lives? It’s weird to think that these next few months are the last time we will ever not be doctors. Just think about that.

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• Professional Development

9 Key Ways To Maximize Your Personal Statement

Your personal essay will be read along with your application so you should think about how to tell your story in a way which will complement it. You also want to maximize your essay so the admissions committee will remember you after reading it.

This is great because the reader begins to care for you before they even meet you in person. And of course the ultimate goal is for you to receive an invitation to interview for a spot in a nurse anesthesia program.

Hopefully I’ve convinced you the importance of a well written personal statement. Here are 9 ways to maximize your personal statement and impress the admissions committee. 

Read: 3 Best Ways to Show, Not Tell on Your Personal Essay

Make your story radiate

Your story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. So you need to tell your readers not only what happened, but also why your story is significant. Again, the first paragraph has to be interesting so the reader will stick around and keep reading. This is why you want to wow them right off the bat. Your story should say a lot about you and also show you are a good fit for their nurse anesthesia program. And show both the personal and professional growth over the years which has prepared you to later become a CRNA. 

Make yourself sound interesting

This just means how do you get people to listen to you? The way to accomplish this is to talk about interesting things. Sorry guys, not trying to dumb this down. But it’s possibly quite this simple. First you need to pick one key experience and talk about that. Second, take the reader on your journey to nurse anesthesia school. While you are at it, speak on your background. And be sure to include examples as you go. This is your opportunity to paint a picture of the interesting person you are and what you can bring to the profession. 

Don’t ramble

Rambling is a common problem when writing any kind of essay. When you start rambling, you lose your readers attention and possibly a chance to get an interview for program you have applied to. There are several ways to prevent yourself from rambling. Each of these ways will allow you to organize your thoughts and personal statement better. Here are the ways you can avoid rambling:

• Frame your thoughts in an organized fashion
• Don’t cram to much information into the essay
• Avoid long sentences- a period as a quick fix
• Always think what is the main point

By following these suggestions, hopefully this will keep you on point and prevent you from rambling too much. So the point is try not to ramble.

Address your weaknesses and move on

The big question is, should you even speak on your weaknesses and struggles? It depends. If the blemish is not that bad, don’t try to explain it. Addressing negative aspects should only be done if you can further showcase the positive qualities which resulted from it. Of course, each nurse anesthesia school or program is different in regards to admission criteria. So, if a school comes out and says their last incoming class average GPA was 3.7 and your GPA is 3.0 you may feel inclined to speak on it.

When writing about your weaknesses be sure you are not placing blame or making it a complete sob story. And you always want to explain how the hardship made you a better student or stronger person for their program. And if you had some bad grades early on your career but have since passed advanced courses, then that would likely speak for itself and not need to be rehashed.

Use your active voice

Active voice is defined as a sentence which has a subject that acts upon its verb. Basically, the subject always “does” the action in the sentence not the other way around. Using your active voice does a few things. First, it allows you to use fewer words, be more concise and efficient. And it also prevents grammatical errors.

By writing your personal statement in your active voice, it feels like you are talking to the reader. It also shows you are confident and assertive which what the program is looking for. An easy way to use active voice is to avoid using “I” a lot. While the difference between active and passive voice might be mostly grammatical, the impact of using active voice is powerful. Basically it is a matter of confidence.

Get feedback from multiple reliable sources

Definitely get a reliable source to read through your statement before you submit your application to get honest feedback. It is always better to have an extra set of eyes on the lookout for grammatical/ spelling errors. But no more than 2- 4 trusted people should read it because you don’t want to have so much advice you get confused or overwhelmed. Use someone who is already in nurse anesthesia or maybe someone you know well. Afterwards, ask questions like do you think my personal statement is compelling or does it sound sincere?

Use anecdotes

After reading what feels like hundreds of personal statements the ones that stand out are the most genuine and interesting. Those applicants are able to showcase their character, desire to be a CRNA, and their voice. One of the best ways to do this is by using an anecdote.

But first what is an anecdote? It is a brief and engaging story about a real person or true events. Basically, it is used to illustrate a point. These stories are powerful and can create an instant bond between you and the reader. This is what you want. This is just another way to stand out from the rest of the applicants.

An anecdote is only effective when used briefly and in a descriptive and relevant way. It is short to maintain the reader’s attention. The focus should be on the most important aspect of the story. As the reader is engaged in the statement, you want them to mentally paint a picture of what they are reading in their head.

There are two places within the personal statement where an anecdote is often found. In the beginning to “hook” the reader in to what you have to say and at any point to illustrate a story within the essay. However, to prevent confusing the reader you must transition back to your main idea.

Read: How to Create a Killer Opening on Your Personal Statement

Draw on your stories

Everyone has a story to tell, even you. The way to stand out is to become more personable. And one way to do this is by weaving in your stories while writing your personal statement. That’s how you will connect with your readers.  The best way to pull from your account of things is to jot them down into a spiral notebook. Then decide on what you care to share with the reader. When you’ve chosen a story to tell, it’s important to ask yourself what the story is about and how it can relate to your personal essay. Many of your life lessons can be expressed on paper.

Follow their prompts or questions

Remember you may feel limited by the prompts given, but just know they are all fairly open to your own interpretation. No matter what, be sure to follow the instructions which you are given. At the same time you need to show them who you are, your personality and journey to anesthesia. Use this time to show admissions committee what you are truly passionate about, which is becoming a CRNA. Following the prompts is a good thing and will allow the reader to get a full picture of who you are.

Bottom Line

These are just a few tips to maximize your personal statement so you make a great impression upon the admissions committee. Remember, this is an important component to your application. An amazing personal statement doesn’t guarantee you an interview, but it can positively or negatively impact your chances as well. This is why you should not take your personal statement lightly.

I hope this information is just what you need to get started on your personal statement. If you’re still stumped on where to start with your personal statement,  come join us at CRNA Chase Academy for more help . If your personal statement draft is complete,  we also offer personal statement reviews.  Here is the link.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2020 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

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Hi! I’m Kiki. I’m a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and PreCRNA Coach/Mentor for ICU Nurses to help them get into a CRNA program on the 1st try. 

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Describing Oneself

What anesthesiology residency applicants write in their personal statements.

Johnstone, Robert E MD

From the Department of Anesthesiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Funding: Institutional salary.

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Reprints will not be available from the author.

Address correspondence to Robert E. Johnstone, MD, West Virginia University, PO Box 9134, Department of Anesthesiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506. Address e-mail to [email protected] .

Accepted April 12, 2011

Medical students applying for anesthesiology training through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) submit 1-page personal statements in which they describe themselves and why they are applying. Having read hundreds of statements over many years, I offer some observations on what applicants commonly write about, and cite examples from recent applications. My primary goals are to identify personal statements as information troves about the specialty, to observe what attracts students into anesthesiology, and to stimulate further review of personal statements. A secondary goal is to offer applicants guidance on writing better statements. A caution is that this guidance is based on my observations, and may not apply to others involved in resident selection.

ERAS facilitates residency applications by collecting multiple documents into one file that includes grade transcripts, test scores, evaluation letters, and other information, as well as a personal statement. Most applicants use ERAS, and apply to multiple programs. They pitch themselves to residency directors and admission committee members primarily through their personal statements, hoping to gain an interview. Students recognize their statements as important, to be crafted with care, because more apply than positions available, and because some programs are very selective.

Serving on residency admission committees for nearly 20 years, I have found personal statements to be rich sources of information, worth reading, and often enjoyable. Individually, they fascinate. Collectively, they describe the backgrounds, interests, activities, talents, and goals of future anesthesiologists, what they perceived the specialty to be about, and what its leaders want to read. With this in mind, I reviewed the personal statements of the 65 applicants invited for interviews at West Virginia University during 2010, a time during which I did not participate in resident selection, yet had access to the statements. This paper reflects generally on what I have read over many years, and cites representative examples from these 2010 personal statements. The Association of American Medical Colleges, which runs ERAS, permitted this examination, and the West Virginia University IRB exempted it from detailed review. Applicants quoted in this commentary granted their permission, with a promise of confidentiality.

ERAS provides few directions for composing personal statements beyond size limits and characters allowed. The American Medical Association (AMA) website, a however, advises applicants to answer 3 questions: 1 What got you interested in anesthesiology? 2 What are you looking for in a residency program? and 3 What are your goals as an anesthesiologist? Residency guides appearing early in Google Web searches often include variants of these 3 questions, b and most applicants attempt to answer them.

This paper is organized around these 3 questions, personal information included in the statements, writing style, and writing help.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN ANESTHESIOLOGY?

Personal experiences with anesthesiologists both before medical school and during medical school clinical rotations attract many students into anesthesiology. Of the 65 statements reviewed, 10 described influential personal experiences before clinical rotations, and 18 during them. These personal experiences, often poignantly described, ranged from surgery on the parents or children of applicants to surgery on themselves. The skills and competence of anesthesiologists awed youthful observers. “At the age of thirteen, I had undergone a simple surgery to remove a cyst from my neck. My mind was filled with questions …. An anesthesiologist entered the room with a comforting smile on his face …. With his compassion, he gained my trust that I was going to be safe and comfortable under his care.”

A typical clinical experience involved active participation: “I became a part of the team during preop and postop management, placed IV lines and laryngeal mask airways, and even intubated patients in the operating room …. I enjoyed every moment.” Performing procedures was the common hook: “Through my clinical rotations I learned that I also liked working with my hands,” and “The theme that resonated through every rotation was my desire to seek out technical procedures.” Twenty-two of the 65 essays included positive statements about personally performing procedures. Several applicants often described their nascent abilities or already acquired competences with procedures, and equated performing them with helping patients, earning recognition, and achieving personal satisfaction.

Many applicants found preoperative discussions with patients important and satisfying, and described their interpersonal skills and counseling abilities as reasons they should excel as anesthesiologists. Applicants often described fear and other emotions of patients before surgery and how a compassionate anesthesiologist had relieved and comforted their patients. They found the trust that patients place in anesthesiologists as evidence of professionalism in the specialty and a worthy career.

I am interested in the short term interactions that take place prior to, during, and after the procedure that is being performed. In this short timeframe, the anesthesiologist must gain the trust of their patient and be able to provide the information needed to place them at ease. I want to have the above responsibilities and know at the end of the day that I, along with the staff, did the most within our abilities to uphold the principles of beneficence and nonmalfeasance.

Other attractions to anesthesiology included the need to make decisions rapidly, their life-or-death importance, teamwork, the operating room environment with its attention to protocols and details, breadth of the specialty, and basic science foundation.

[An] aspect that I find unique to anesthesia is the minute-to-minute changes in patients and how quickly they can go from stable to unstable. It takes quick decision making and confidence to respond to such changes and I find this art of anesthesia to be the most exciting and rewarding.

(It is) a field that requires the practitioner to be in control and totally responsible for the patient.

When I saw the anesthesia supply cart with color coded drug labels, I knew I belonged.

No applicants mentioned work hours, lifestyle, income, employment arrangements, or job security despite studies that list these as important determinants of specialty choices, 1 an acknowledgment that personal statements are as much about personal marketing as revelation, about emotional connection as well as rational argument.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM?

Applicants seemed to answer this question more from duty than from insight, often devoting 1 sentence to it. Some combined desired program attributes with their life goals. Some just restated their anesthesiology interest or personal skills. Others acknowledged their lack of sufficient experience to answer the question properly. “Although I do not know how I will choose to direct my career, I am looking forward to a residency program that is rich in resident education and clinical experience.” These answers provided little help in understanding the applicants, only their reading and writing abilities and chutzpah.

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?

Approximately half the applicants stated that they were embarking on a career, destination unknown. Many qualified their statements with “if,” “probably,” or “perhaps.” For instance, “After residency I have hopes and dreams of perhaps pursuing a fellowship in pain medicine and one day practicing in the South or Midwest.”

Many applicants just aspired to program admission, evidence of the current competitiveness of the specialty and their lack of sufficient life experiences to answer the question cogently. One wrote, “Given the opportunity to pursue this specialty I know that I can develop into a hard working and highly skilled anesthesiologist who looks forward to each day with the same excitement that was there since the beginning.”

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Most applicants enriched their statements with personal histories, usually as preambles or asides. These biographical anecdotes helped explain their backgrounds, qualities and styles, often making me want to meet them, with questions in mind. Examples:

I was born and raised in an ethnic community.

We had to start from scratch, I had to learn a new language, and my sister had her heart surgery.

I am an Italian-born, Christian, Israeli-Arab-American.

My father is a pediatric anesthesiologist.

My third year of medical school began with a Hodgkin's diagnosis.

Another favorite job was working as a front desk clerk for a small motel called Claridge Inn.

Applicants have fascinating histories, reflecting the diversity of the United States and those who wish to study here. Their anecdotes were humanizing and intriguing, and sparked more interest in meeting them than their presumed required answers to desired program attributes and career goals. Studies correlating elements of the abundant personal information with training and practice outcomes may provide further help.

WRITING STYLE

The AMA Website also advises, “Begin your essay with an attention grabber: a quote, a story, an anecdote, or a riddle.” Many students followed this advice, with results that seemed contrived, unrelated, or weird. Sample beginnings:

It was a cold winter morning, the air was dry, but the mood was bleak.

You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. Steve Jobs.

After reading numerous attempts at flashy beginnings and creative writing, I would advise applicants to try only if they have a flair for writing. Few science majors can compose an essay so gripping that it helps them, and few admissions-committee anesthesiologists have sufficient time to read and recognize them. Quotes from Mark Twain, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel Laureate), among others, were not as illuminating as simple personal statements. Beginning with bits of personal history seemed more compelling and memorable.

Last sentences are also important, commonly read during quick reviews. A positive ending usually left me feeling good, often uplifted, and positively inclined towards the applicant.

I may not know where I will be training yet, but I know with complete certainty that anesthesia is the most unique and fascinating field of medicine I have been involved with and I cannot wait.

Websites that offer advice on writing personal statements often emphasize that applicants should market themselves because of the competitive nature of the residency application process. c That applicants were selling themselves in their statements, however, was sometimes too obvious, even annoying. One egocentric applicant used the pronoun “I” 39 times in 43 sentences, making me hope that we would not work together in the same operating room for any prolonged time.

What some applicants thought might make them good candidates sometimes seemed naïve, even humorous.

I am comfortable manipulating sophisticated equipment.

I have been told by people who I work with that I am a good team player in that I help my fellow team members if I am done with my tasks.

Also humorous were overly flattering or heroic descriptions of anesthesiologists. These embellished realities, probably fantasies, entertained me more than they promoted the applicant:

“No”, He says with a firm voice, “There isn't time, we have to open her chest wound now!” Shocked, I say: “Here? Bedside?” Again he firmly answered “Yes!” That day he saved her life and I was lucky to witness it. He was the leader I long to be, the person with the right action at the right time. I saw him telling her parents what happened as the mother jumped and hugged him. That was all I needed to see, it was him who I want to be! A leader; a savior; a person who takes action.

I did find talented writing and attention-grabbing stories from applicants whom I then wanted to meet:

Help only came from the few safe houses that would provide a place to sleep, and guide us in the right direction in the morning. I recall falling off my horse three times as we tried to cross the cold, rock infested river …. With both feet blistered, my mother could no longer walk, and as I made it down with my sister, my mother lay down and rolled the entire way, determined to reach our destination.

WRITING HELP

More often than talented writing I found awkward wording, singular–plural mismatches, buzz-word nonsense, mixed metaphors, and run-on sentences.

I like to take full responsibility to simplify the most complex of situations for everyone on the team while engendering trust and establishing myself as the low maintenance intern who knows how to perform on and off the field.

Awkward writing seemed less frequent though than the number of applicants for whom English was a second language, perhaps indicating third-party help. The AMA advises, “find out if your school has a writing office, which can help you” and “have your program director evaluate/ critique your statement.” The Society for Education in Anesthesia advises medical students, “Obtain and read some previously written personal statements as examples. Identify styles that appeal to you and incorporate these when you write your own statement.” 2 Applicants can also help themselves by writing their statements as drafts, and revising them later when alert and happy.

Further advice is to be original, avoid plagiarism, and never buy an essay. Admissions committees are discovering that businesses will edit or even write application essays. They charge $49 to $525 for purchases of editing-only to “Personal Statement writing service plus CV editorial service plus Letter of Intent (all in English).” d Recent studies using software that detects similarities between resident personal statements and Web page material or previously submitted essays have found evidence of plagiarism in 2% to 5% of statements. 3 , 4 Although some of the 65 essays I reviewed contained varying styles and many had common themes, none was obviously lifted or faked. Such personal statements are likely to be screened in the future though by plagiarism-detecting software.

Personal statements in ERAS residency applications contain abundant personal information and interesting stories in which students describe themselves and their perceptions of the specialty. The writing quality varies greatly, enjoyable when good and tolerable when bad. The content helps us understand our specialty. To the extent that these essays reflect applicants and more broadly all anesthesiologists, we are diverse, enthusiastic, astute, professionally oriented, and patient-centered, and we enjoy performing procedures.

Meaningful interactions with anesthesiologists, performing procedures, the operating room environment, and the critical nature of anesthesiology attract many into the specialty. Applicants shine when writing personal statements that describe themselves, their backgrounds, important life experiences, and values, as well as why they are interested in anesthesiology. Their descriptions are best when they are simple, genuine, and positive.

ERAS could help applicants with their personal statements by providing more information and guidance, as well as appropriate examples. Program directors could help by describing how they will use the statements. Researchers could help by correlating personal statement attributes with training and practice outcomes, creating an evidence basis for advice.

DISCLOSURES

Name: Robert E. Johnstone, MD.

Contribution: This author designed and conducted the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript.

Attestation: Robert E. Johnstone approved the final manuscript.

a Gonzales J. Writing your personal statement. Website of the American Medical Association. Available at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/minority-affairs-consortium/transitioning-residency/writing-your-personal-statement.page . Accessed April 12, 2011. Cited Here

b See for instance, Residency Statement Guide, EssayEdge, at http://www.essayedge.com/medical/essayadvice/course/residency.html . Cited Here

c See for instance, http://www.medfools.com/match/personalstatements.php . Accessed April 12, 2011. Cited Here

d Welcome to Perfect Personal Statement. Available at http://www.perfectpersonal-statement.com/order.html and Atrium Learning, Residency Personal Statement Writing, http://www.atriumlearning.com/PersonalStatements.php?cat_8 . Accessed April 12, 2011. Cited Here

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• Oct 12, 2023

CRNA Personal Statement Examples

Updated: Aug 21

Introduction

This personal statement narrates the journey of a dedicated nurse from Manila, Philippines, to South Central California, highlighting the applicant's passion for nurse anesthesia and commitment to serving underserved populations. The story emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity and the applicant's determination to excel in the field of nurse anesthesia. This example serves as an inspiring guide for prospective CRNA students looking to showcase their unique backgrounds and aspirations.

Personal Statement

Background and motivation.

Born and raised in Manila, the Philippines, I am a young man and a nurse who is three-quarters Filipino and one-quarter Chinese. One of four siblings, I grew up in a tiny, humble home in one of the most impoverished slums in Manila , far from the city lights. We were happy even though fifteen people shared our house throughout my childhood. Despite losing my mother to America, I was blissfully unaware of any disadvantage of my social class. One day when I was six, I woke up to find my mother and all her things gone. A decade would pass before we would be reunited in Pasadena, California.

I came to the US when I was sixteen, a first-generation immigrant. I take immense pride in our celebration of diversity here in South Central California. I am honored to be building a career in nurse anesthesia with a particular concentration on emergency care. The underserved often have no medical care until they have an emergency; this is why I take special pride in my goal of becoming a CRNA dedicated to a lifetime of service on the front lines of care for our enormous population of undocumented residents. I recently finished my BSN at XXXU in May 2013. I treasure the opportunity to give my all to my studies when I am not on duty. I ask to be accepted to your program so I may return to doing what I most enjoy, studying to become the most effective nurse possible.

Language Skills and Cultural Competence

As with most Filipinos, I am amazingly comfortable communicating in English. I do hope, however, that my fluency in Tagalog, both writing and speaking, will be helpful in my nursing career. I want to study at XXXU’s XXXX Campus for many reasons, not the least because I live and work there . I also appreciate that your program is new, and if I am accepted, I will be part of the third graduating class. I feel profound admiration for your curriculum's breadth and depth, and I particularly appreciate your emphasis on the importance of diversity in our nursing community.

Professional Experience and Aspirations

Committed to lifelong learning, I keenly look forward to an extensive engagement with research in nursing anesthesia that I will most enjoy for many decades. I want to participate in research concerning better ways of applying anesthesia with fewer side effects and greater overall efficiency in all aspects of my field. My desire to become the finest CRNA possible is something that has been building up for several years, mainly because of several vital role models that I have had along the way, such as Dr. XXXX, an anesthesiologist, and XXXX, a CRNA, working alongside both during my military service was a special privilege.

I have extensive experience as a respiratory therapist using various ventilators and their modes. I also see my profound dedication to emergency nursing as one of the most vital aspects of my application to your distinguished program. In my current position, I deal with cardiac arrest and resuscitation daily; this has helped me learn to work well under stress.

Academic and Clinical Interests

Your program at XXXU is the ideal location for my complete immersion in clinical anesthesia.  I especially admire the structure of the second phase of your program and the organization of your c linical practicums . I particularly look forward to working under the supervision of CRNAs in my practicum and clinical rotations. I appreciate that those rotations are available throughout California so that I can gain exposure to anesthesia delivery in various contexts, from large academic institutions to rural and outpatient settings. I have served as a respiratory therapist since 2002, and I have also served as an anesthesia technician, working side-by-side with anesthesia providers, including CRNAs and anesthesiologists. Most of my duties were related to anesthesia delivery throughout the four years I was stationed at Naval Hospital XXXX. For me, this was the ultimate shadowing experience.

Future Goals and Commitment to the Community

California needs exceptionally well-trained CRNAs, especially concerning emergency services — particularly here in the Central Valley, and I seek to respond to that need. I live and work here and want to continue attending school here and practicing here after completing your distinguished program. I hope at some point to teach as well as practice Nurse Anesthesia. Your DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia will serve as an ideal platform for continuing my education at some point.

While my overall GPA for my BSN program was only 3.5, for my last three semesters, I earned a GPA of 3.9. This demonstrates how my elevated level of motivation has been increasing. I believe that I could excel in your rigorous program.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Thank you for considering my application.

This applicant is multicultural and multilingual. But he does not mention his language skills. He speaks only Tagalog (spoken in the Philippines) and English. While he is part Chinese, he does not speak Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin, and to a lesser extent Cantonese, are important for helping the underserved. If an applicant speaks a Chinese language, this should be put in the statement because of its relevance for helping the underserved. The hospital is aware of the languages that are spoken by its nurses, those who are multilingual are on call to serve as translators between patients and medical professionals. So, the languages that one can communicate in are especially important in nurse anesthesia.

Summary: Why This is a Good Personal Statement

This personal statement stands out because it:

Highlights a Unique Background: The narrative of growing up in the slums of Manila and transitioning to life in California provides a compelling backdrop.

Emphasizes Cultural Competence: The applicant's bilingual abilities and commitment to serving underserved populations highlight cultural competence and dedication.

Showcases Relevant Experience and Skills: Extensive experience as a respiratory therapist and involvement in emergency care demonstrate readiness for a CRNA role.

Articulates Academic and Professional Aspirations: The statement clearly outlines the applicant's goals for advancing in nurse anesthesia and engaging in research.

Demonstrates a Strong Commitment to Community: The focus on serving the Central Valley and the broader community underscores a commitment to improving healthcare access.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What should a CRNA personal statement highlight?

A CRNA personal statement should highlight your motivations for pursuing the role, relevant nursing experience, cultural competence, and specific skills in anesthesia or emergency care.

How can I convey a commitment to community service in my personal statement?

How important is it to discuss future goals in a personal statement?

• CRNA Diversity Statement
• CRNA Multiculturalism Statement
• CRNA Helping the Underserved

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	ANESTHESIA RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT
The Medfools Personal Statement Library is now open! These sample personal statements are here for your viewing pleasure (fully anonymous). We're hoping to add more in the future, including Pre-Med personal statements. If you've got one to add to the free library, don't forget to .
ANESTHESIA RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT Beginning my third year of medical school, I tried to maintain an open mind when evaluating which specialty was an appropriate match for both my understanding of medicine and my enthusiasm to practice this specialty as a career. Anesthesiology provides the combination of the mental challenges seen in internal medicine with the direct, hands on approach of surgery into a concoction that fuels my desire to keep learning and practice medicine. The ability to experience and interact in a variety of cases and patient populations forces one to be remain knowledgeable and current in a wide array of medicine disciplines. I believe with the diversity available in anesthesia, I have an opportunity to work in field that will test my medical knowledge and creative skills to individualize patient care. [Fantastic! Jumps right in to say which specialty the applicant is interested in, no beating around the bush!] Early in my clinical rotations, I had the opportunity to participate in the care of a middle age man, GK, admitted to the hospital for new onset diabetes mellitus and whose past medical history was significant only for schizophrenia. The attending physician was discussing with me the possible etiologies as to his high glucose level. My only other prior clinical rotation had been psychiatry; nevertheless, I felt proud offering the possibility that olanzapine may have been the cause of GK’s new onset diabetes. The feeling of providing a sensible explanation to GK’s recent events excited me to keep increasing my understanding of medicine. Being able to correlate clinical information from various fields of medicine to help explain the current situation, gave me a sense of accomplishment by utilizing all my education. As much as internal medicine stimulated me mentally, I needed a more direct involvement with patient’s care in order for me to feel a sense of accomplishment. During my surgical rotation I discovered that it was more the seriousness and critical environment surrounding the procedure that excited me rather than the surgical techniques utilized. The grave possibilities of surgical intervention were made evident to me when I first met WT who was being treated for acute cholelithiasis. After introducing myself, I sat down and comforted her while waiting for the attending. During this hour and half, I was able to gain a glimpse into the type of person she was among her friends and family. I was present during her uneventful procedure and became enchanted with this woman. Unfortunately, I had almost completely dismissed my encounter with WT had she not returned to the surgical service for a revision of her aorto-bifemoral bypass graft. I peeked my head through the curtains and she recognized me immediately and quickly introduced me to family members. She had thanked me again for comforting her during her previous surgery and asked for the same level of care with her current operation. During her procedure, WT remained relatively stable until the first of her distal anastamoses were being connected to the femoral artery when she became dramatically hypotensive. The anesthesiologist immediately requested the nurse to call in another of his colleagues as he was preparing and debating whether to deliver epinephrine. I immediately tensed up and both the attending and resident looked at the head of the bed for explanations. The crash cart seal was broken and a rush of intensity crashed into the operating room. Within seconds, the tension in the operating room began to lessen, as her blood pressure began to rise to a more comfortable level. WT eventually survived the rest of procedure and was taken to the surgical ICU. The following two days, WT remained listless, yet her family kept me informed of her status and thanked me for my concerns for their loved one. Post-operative day three, WT was rushed back to the operating room in the evening, discovered to have necrotic bowels and eventually she passed away early the following morning. [A clinical and personal example really illustrates the candidate's reasons for pursuing the anesthesia. The story is to the point, and drives home the idea of the intensity of the operating room and the personal side of anesthesia] It was through the relationship I had developed with WT and her family that helped to fortify the manner in which I wanted to practice medicine and carry out a relationship with my patients. I enjoyed the opportunity to individualize and personalize my patients rather than define them solely as an entity with an illness. I strive to gain and utilize a solid foundation of human biochemistry, disease pathophysiology, and medical pharmacology in order to assist my patients in their most critical moments of medical and surgical intervention. [Explains the lessons learned from the clinical experiences-- key to explain the relevance of any anecdotes included, and further builds on the goals of pursing anesthesia] I am enthusiastic to train at a program that will provide a setting that blends both independence and support. Through independent problem solving and decision-making will I gain a heightened level of confidence in the care that I can provide for my patients. With this confidence in skills and knowledge, I will be able to practice the art of medicine more effectively than if I approached it as a rigorous science. I plan to utilize my training in anesthesiology to comfort and care for not only my patients but also their families in situations where they have entrusted their lives and bodies to hands of other caring physicians.

How to Write a Residency Personal Statement with Examples from a Program Director

Residency programs receive thousands of applications from qualified candidates, and your personal statement provides the chance for you to show a program why they should choose you.

For Kamran M. Mirza, MD, PhD, Professor of Pathology Education at Godfrey D. Stobbe, the residency personal statement is the first piece of the application that he reads. So, it’s important to make it count. 

Use your voice to show them why you’re the perfect match for their program. It could be the thing that tips the scales in your favor.

Remember, it’s called the residency “match” for a reason. Programs aren’t just looking for the best candidates; they’re looking for the best match for their team and culture. Your personal statement is your opportunity to showcase why you belong there.

Key Takeaways:

• Invest time in your personal statement, as this can be the first piece of your application that a program director reads.
• Start with an engaging opening, use illustrative incidents to maintain the reader’s interest, and conclude by reinforcing your main points and linking back to your introduction.
• If there are any gaps, unexplained grades, or other potential red flags in your application, use your personal statement to provide context and show the lessons you have learned from these challenges. 
• Steer clear of clichés, rehashing old statements, and focusing too much on experiences before your time in medical school. Instead, emphasize current interests and future aspirations. 
• Ensure your writing is polished, free of grammatical errors, and avoid controversial topics unless they are presented thoughtfully and professionally.

What is the Purpose of a Personal Statement?

A personal statement paints a picture of you. While your ERAS application introduces your accomplishments, it doesn’t fully capture the essence of you . There’s a whole history behind why you’re on this journey to becoming a doctor, and your personal statement is where you get to tell that story. Show the program why this path matters to you.

A personal statement highlights your unique qualifications and experiences. It’s your opportunity to talk about your professional aspirations and showcase the experiences that make you stand out—whether it’s research, clinical skills, leadership, or even your ability to communicate effectively. Explain how these experiences have shaped you and how they’ll influence the way you practice in your chosen specialty.

A personal statement shows your commitment. Demonstrate how you’ve gone above and beyond the basic requirements. Make it personal. Share what you believe in, what you love about the specialty, what fascinates you, and what you find most rewarding. This is where you show the program what you will bring to the table to make an impact in the lives of the patients you will serve.

A personal statement sells you. Residency programs are going to be reading hundreds of these, so it’s crucial that yours makes an impact. Think of your motivation as the trunk of a tree, with specific incidents or work experiences branching out from there. Remember—be genuine. Don’t feel like you have to oversell yourself. Just be true to who you are, and let your passion and experiences speak for themselves. That’s what’s going to resonate the most.

How to Write a Residency Personal Statement 

The personal statement is your chance to help residency programs really understand who you are, what draws you to your desired specialty, and what sets you apart from other candidates. To make sure your personal statement is top-notch, here’s what you should include:

• Lead with a catchy opening paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read more. This is the most critical part of your personal statement, and a strong start sets the tone for the rest of your narrative.
• Recapture the reader’s attention about halfway through your statement with insight that reinforces your overall theme.
• Focus on a few illustrative incidents that have shaped your journey. Unite these incidents with a theme or thesis that ties your story together and highlights what makes you unique.
• Outline what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it. This will help you create a coherent and well-structured narrative.
• Use concrete examples of experiences that help distinguish you from others and make your story more relatable and memorable.
• Write about interests that excite you. When you share what you are passionate about, it will come through in your writing and resonate with the reader.
• End your message with a conclusion that refers back to your opening and restates your thesis. This brings your personal statement full circle and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

 Effective Residency Personal Statement Examples 

During the 2025 Match Summit event, Dr. Kamran Mirza presented several personal statements to help guide medical students through the process.

As a program director who has read many residency personal statements as part of the ERAS application process, Dr. Mirza shares some of the best residency personal statement examples.

Example #1 – The Introduction

I love dinosaurs. 

When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was learn everything I could about them – how they lived, what they ate, and what they looked like. My love of dinosaurs led me to apply to college as a paleontology major. Like any eager student, I wanted a head start in college so I decided to take a human anatomy class. My goal was to learn the names of bones. One day in class, the teacher showed us a video of total hip replacement and that was it. My entire life’s dream shifted. From that day on, I knew I wanted to be a surgeon. 

Example #2 – A Story of Family Hardship

My mother immigrated from the Philippines to Minnesota as a mail-order bride. Amidst the improved living conditions and snowy winters, she was physically abused by my father and repeatedly threatened for her life. Between episodes of abuse, she gave birth to me, her firstborn child. In the thick of her celebration and under postpartum care, her OBGYN connected her with the resources necessary to exit her dangerous situation. This was the first of many instances that would provide me insight into the immense privilege that OBGYNs have of caring for extremely vulnerable patients, such as my mother. And so, my mother left for California with her newborn infant, and if not for her OBGYN, she – and I – might not have survived. 

Example #3 – The Theme

The key to a perfect choux pastry, or any pastry for that matter, and the singular quality I’m convinced separates good surgeons from great ones are one in the same.

Mise en place is a French culinary adage meaning, “everything in its place.” In short, one’s ability to prepare is the major determinant of quality.

The best preparation, however, is informed by experience. I can tell you every ingredient, tool, and step to follow to make choux, but I can’t tell you how many eggs you’ll need. Recognizing the perfect texture comes only through practice and repetition. In these iterations one learns what could go wrong, what’s likely to go wrong, and whether those are the same. 

Example #4 – Turning Around Your Red Flag

During my senior year of undergrad, I was diagnosed with depression and got the help I needed to become the best student I could be. Through this experience, I learned the importance of advocacy for myself and others. Once I sought help for my mental health, my entire academic career changed. I use this skill now to advocate for my patients. 

For more examples, be sure to watch Dr. Mirza’s entire presentation below.

How to Address Red Flags

Your residency personal statement is a great way to address any gaps in your education, unexplained grades, or any other potential red flags in your application that may stand in your way of showcasing your strengths for a potential program.

There is no need to focus too much on any red flags you are able to address within your ERAS application. However, if there is something that you need to provide further explanation for, the best way to do so is to use your personal statement to turn it around to show how this challenge in your life shaped you in a positive way, and the lessons you learned. 

What to Avoid When Writing Your Personal Statement 

As you begin mapping out your residency personal statement, there are some common drawbacks that can prevent your statement from standing out.

As a rule of thumb, here are some things you should avoid: 

• Cliches . Saying, “I want to help people,” isn’t going to set you apart—it’s something we innately hope all of you feel strongly about! However, what did you have to overcome to get here, and what part of your story led you to this moment? Stay clear of cliche stories that make it look like you didn’t put effort into your personal statement. Give specific examples of experiences that inform your career choice and demonstrate your skills.
• Rehashing medical school statements. Your time in medical school has helped shape who you are and why you are pursuing your desired specialty. Focus on experiences and challenges you have overcome in the present day and try to steer clear from anything before medical school. 
• Focusing too much on what led you to your specialty. While it’s important to touch on this, it shouldn’t dominate your narrative. Leave room to discuss your current interests and future aspirations. What excites you about the residency ahead? What are your goals for the future, both in residency and beyond? Programs want to see that you are forward-thinking and have a clear vision for your career.
• Informal writing. Your statement should be polished and well-structured, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively.The best advice you can receive is revise, revise, and revise some more. Plan to read your personal statement several times, as well as others, to make sure your story stays on track, is free of grammatical errors, and remains engaging throughout.
• Controversial topics. It’s wise to avoid topics that include political, ethical, or religious issues. While it’s important to share your personal experiences, you don’t want your writing to come off as offensive or cross any lines. However, when relevant, sharing examples of hardships or family problems that have shaped your journey can be powerful, provided they are presented in a way that is thoughtful and professional. You can refer to Dr. Mirza’s example above for how to best position this.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should your residency personal statement be.

The standard recommendation is to keep your residency personal statement to one page, which is around 600-750 words in length.

How to Write a Residency Personal Statement?

Start with an outline to help you begin to narrow down your theme, followed by examples you want to include. Remember to follow our guide on what to avoid, and don’t forget to revise, revise, revise !

Should You Address Red Flags in Your Residency Personal Statement?

Your personal statement is how you are going to sell yourself to your desired program. If you are able to address your red flags in your application, there is no need to bring them up in your essay, especially if it might invoke any doubt. However, if you are able to address it in a way that demonstrates how you overcame your situation and learned lessons from your struggles, this is a great opportunity to show the program how you were able to turn it around into a positive experience. 

What are Some Residency Personal Statement Examples?

While we touch on a few samples in this blog, Dr. Kamran Mirza, a program director who presented on the topic of writing an effective personal statement, shares several more in his presentation. Watch the full clip from TrueLearn’s 2025 Match Summit event here !

Time to Write Your Personal Statement

We know there is a lot of information here, and we hope these insights have given you a solid foundation to start shaping your own personal statement. The most important thing to remember about the residency personal statement is there are no shortcuts in this match application process. Doing things the right way and going the extra mile will set you apart from the hundreds of other applicants. 

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Applications open for the 2020 Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internship program. Program application deadline is February 14, 2020.

Making the right first impression

How to make a personal statement in a medical school application stand out

By SeventyFourImages via EnvatoElements

By Rachel B. Levin

For Rebecca Morris, MD, writing her personal statement for medical school was a particularly challenging part of the application process. Not only did she feel tentative about her writing skills, but she also considered herself shy and reserved. Tooting her own horn didn’t come naturally.

But Morris found a way to make her personal statement shine by portraying the unique journey that led her to pursue medicine. At the time, she was a master’s student in nutrition and conducting research on obesity. While counseling patients about weight loss, she realized how much she enjoyed one-on-one patient interactions and craved more knowledge about physiology. These insights spurred her to apply to medical school and ultimately unlocked the writing process for her. “I think that [training in nutrition] was something that made me stand out a little bit,” says Morris, who today is a resident in anesthesiology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Tell your personal and unique story

“Being able to tell your personal narrative and your motivation for medical training are really important [in medical school admissions],” says Larry Chu, MD, MS, program director for the Stanford Anesthesiology Summer Institute (SASI) and professor of anesthesiology, pain and perioperative medicine.

Once an applicant has met a school’s MCAT and GPA requirements, the medical school personal statement is what differentiates him or her from other applicants. Ideally, says Chu, the statement should communicate something personal from one’s life that has shaped their perspective, so that the school can really see who the applicant is and what they will bring in terms of diversity, talent and perspective to the incoming class.

Since the medical school personal statement plays such a central role in admissions decisions, selecting the right topic can be daunting. Chu advises applicants to think about their journey thus far through school and consider exploring challenges, hardships or obstacles that they faced along the way.

However, SASI Program Coordinator Nari Kim, who teaches a personal statement workshop at the summer institute, adds that one doesn’t need to have experienced something intensely difficult to develop an impactful narrative. She says topic of a medical school personal statement can be something that is rather mundane. “It’s how you tell your story that makes it influential,” Kim says.

Ideally, writing the medical school personal statement should be a self-discovery process, Kim says, one in which the applicants learn something new about themselves, conveying that epiphany in the personal statement.

Show, don’t tell

Show admissions committee members examples of what makes you a good choice. However, the medical school personal statement may not be something that can be accomplished in one sitting. “You have to rewrite it, come back, look at it again and revise,” notes Chu.

Kim advises that applicants begin their essays with a powerful hook that captures the reader’s attention, such as describing a specific moment in their lives in vivid detail. Show, don’t tell, is the rule of thumb, she explains. “Admissions committee members will read a lot of essays, and if [yours] sounds like one of the many thousands of applicants who are applying, then [you’ve] already lost the admission officer’s interest.”

Figuring out how to write in such a manner that gives an applicant an edge over the competition can be especially intimidating when they feel like their experiences are so similar to others. Yet, “so many times, we are not as ordinary as we think we are,” says Amy Price, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Stanford. She recommends applicants get written feedback from people who believe in them. “It is an astounding way to lift you out of your own feeling of ordinariness,” Price explains.

Chu concurs. “Everyone is a unique person,” he says. “Your job in writing your personal statement is to find what is extraordinary about yourself and not be shy [in expressing it].

One way to overcome any shyness is to think about your personal statement as a conversation starter. “Sometimes when you’re on the quieter side, you’re afraid that people are going to overlook you,” says Morris. “But I think the personal statement is an important time to show something that you are interested in talking about on the interview trail.”

Indeed, opening up about oneself in the personal statement can open the door to the next step toward meeting the next goal.

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.

So many times, we are not as ordinary as we think we are...

Amy Price, DPhil (Oxon) Editor, The Mentor, SASI Newsletter

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Whether you’re using the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or a school-specific application portal, it can be scary to come up with an essay topic that encompasses the complexity and vastness of who you are as a person. So to help you move past the intimidating aspects and focus more on the fun and meaning, in this post, we’ll describe what differentiates the personal statement from other college essays and what function it serves in your college application.

Mastering Anesthesia Scheduling for Optimal Efficiency and Care

• QGenda Staff
• September 6, 2024

Table of Contents

How anesthesia scheduling enhances patient outcomes and efficiency, unique challenges of anesthesia scheduling, best practices for optimizing anesthesia scheduling, enhancing anesthesia efficiency and patient care through effective scheduling software, essential features of an anesthesia scheduling solution for efficiency and provider satisfaction, preventing burnout among anesthesiologists through effective scheduling.

Scheduling for an anesthesiology practice comes with daily, countless complexities. Between maintaining all available Anesthesiologists and CRNAs in one accurate schedule, ensuring the right providers are on-call, applying complex rules and preferences, creating schedules and keeping track of hours, it can be daunting.

This guide breaks down how to create a seamless anesthesia scheduling process, highlighting best practices, automated systems, and strategies for managing last-minute changes.  Streamlining this process benefits both anesthesiologists and healthcare administrators through improved workflow, reduced stress, and enhanced patient outcomes.

Effective anesthesia staff scheduling is the cornerstone of a successful surgical operation. It ensures the right anesthesiologist is available at the precise time, preventing delays and enhancing patient outcomes. By coordinating these specialized professionals’ availability, hospitals can manage emergencies more effectively and reduce the risk of intraoperative complications. 

Efficient anesthesia scheduling also optimizes resource utilization, such as operating rooms and surgical staff. This not only lowers operational costs by minimizing downtime and reducing overtime pay but also boosts overall productivity. More surgeries can be performed within the same timeframe, ultimately benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.

Why it Matters

Enhancing patient care.

Ensures patients receive treatment from the most qualified anesthesiologist, improving care quality and outcomes.

Boosting Operational Efficiency

Optimizes resource utilization, minimizes idle times, and prevents workflow disruptions.

Lowering Costs

Reduces unnecessary overtime, balances workload, and maintains regulatory compliance to lower operational costs.

Meticulously planned anesthesia schedules significantly elevate patient care. By strategically coordinating these schedules, healthcare providers ensure that each patient is treated by the most qualified professional. Ensuring the presence of the right specialist for complex procedures, such as cardiac or neuroanesthesia, guarantees patients receive the precise care they need. This thorough planning not only improves the quality of care but also fosters better outcomes and heightened patient satisfaction.

Implementing advanced scheduling solutions results in substantial gains in operational efficiency. These solutions enable healthcare institutions to optimize resource utilization, minimizing idle times and reducing overstaffing. Additionally, they help prevent last-minute cancellations that can disrupt workflow and cause delays. Effective scheduling streamlines hospital operations, ensuring each staff member is fully utilized and patient flow is managed seamlessly.

A well-executed scheduling system curtails unnecessary overtime and underutilization of resources, leading to significant cost savings. By preventing scenarios where staff are either overworked or underutilized, hospitals can maintain a balanced and efficient workforce. Furthermore, such a system helps maintain compliance with regulatory standards, thereby avoiding penalties associated with non-compliance. The financial benefits are evident: reduced operational costs, improved resource management, and a more sustainable healthcare environment.

Anesthesia scheduling presents unique complexities that set it apart from other medical specialties. The intricate nature of anesthesia care requires not only matching the right anesthesiologist to the specific needs of each surgical procedure but also adapting to constantly changing circumstances. These challenges demand meticulous planning, real-time adaptability, and a deep understanding of both clinical and logistical aspects to ensure effective patient care and optimal resource usage. From handling emergency cases and regulatory compliance to balancing provider availability and dynamic operating room schedules, each factor adds a layer of complexity that must be expertly managed to maintain high standards of healthcare delivery..

Complex Case Requirements

• Specialized Expertise : Anesthesia scheduling must match anesthesiologists’ skills with the demands of specific procedures, such as pediatric or cardiac cases.
• Procedure Duration : Effective scheduling ensures continuous coverage for varying procedure lengths without overburdening staff.

Dynamic Operating Room (OR) Schedules

• Frequent Changes : Emergencies, cancellations, and extended surgeries necessitate real-time adjustments.
• Resource Reallocation : Anesthesiologists must be reallocated as needed to maintain smooth OR operations and ensure patient care is not compromised.

Provider Availability and Preferences

• Balancing Act : There is a need to balance anesthesiologists’ availability and preferences while ensuring 24/7 coverage.
• Fair Distribution : Schedulers must consider individual preferences and personal commitments, distributing shifts fairly to prevent burnout.
• Adequate Rest : Ensuring adequate rest periods is crucial to maintain both provider well-being and high-quality patient care.

Emergency Cases

• Immediate Adjustments : Emergency surgeries and unexpected complications require immediate schedule adjustments.
• Flexibility : Anesthesia teams must be flexible and ready to reallocate resources quickly, often pulling anesthesiologists from planned cases to address urgent needs.

Regulatory and Compliance Issues

• Duty Hours : Adhering to regulations regarding duty hours prevents fatigue and resulting errors.
• Documentation : Maintaining thorough documentation ensures legal and procedural standards are met, adding another layer of complexity to scheduling.

Enhancing anesthesia scheduling requires the adoption of best practices aimed at boosting efficiency and satisfaction among providers. Effective scheduling is crucial in maintaining the balance between workload and provider well-being, ensuring that patients receive timely and high-quality care. By adhering to these strategies, healthcare facilities can not only streamline their operations but also foster a supportive work environment that reduces burnout and turnover. Implementing these best practices helps in maximizing resource utilization, improving communication, and ultimately enhancing overall patient outcomes. Here are some key practices that can make a significant impact:

Best Practices and Their Impact

Best practice, positive impact.

Ensure Real-Time Coordination

Handles last-minute changes efficiently, minimizes disruptions, and keeps team members synchronized.

Incorporate Provider Preferences

Boosts morale and reduces turnover by respecting work-life balance and ensuring fair on-call shifts.

Regularly Review and Adjust Schedules

Enables continuous improvement and proactive changes through feedback and performance metrics.

Utilize Advanced Scheduling Software

Automates processes, reduces errors, and saves time with real-time updates and predictive analytics.

1. Ensure Real-Time Coordination

Open communication among all team members, including surgeons, operating room staff, and recovery room personnel, is crucial for efficiently handling last-minute changes. Facilitating real-time coordination through centralized communication platforms and mobile-accessible schedules ensures that providers stay informed and can make necessary adjustments on the go, minimizing disruptions and keeping everyone synchronized.

2. Incorporate Provider Preferences

Acknowledging anesthesiologists’ personal preferences for days off, vacations, and professional development opportunities is essential for maintaining morale and reducing turnover. By integrating these preferences into the scheduling process, healthcare facilities show respect for their providers’ work-life balance, leading to increased job satisfaction. Additionally, ensuring an equitable distribution of on-call shifts helps prevent burnout and fatigue, fostering a healthier and more motivated workforce.

3. Regularly Review and Adjust Schedules

Consistently reviewing and adjusting schedules based on feedback and performance metrics is another key practice for optimizing anesthesia scheduling. This continuous improvement approach allows facilities to identify patterns or issues and make proactive changes. Ongoing training and development for schedulers can also help keep the team updated with the latest tools and techniques in scheduling.

4. Utilize Advanced Scheduling Software

Implementing advanced scheduling software, such as QGenda, can automate the scheduling process, drastically reducing manual errors and saving valuable time. The majority of these platforms provide features like real-time updates, predictive analytics, and automated notifications to ensure smooth operations. Leveraging these capabilities can enhance scheduling accuracy and enable quick adaptation to unforeseen changes or emergencies.

Advanced scheduling solutions optimize anesthesia scheduling by leveraging cutting-edge technology, automation, and intelligent algorithms to elevate efficiency and patient care.

Automation and Intelligence

Sophisticated scheduling tools automate the process with intelligent, customizable rules. They evaluate factors like provider availability, skill sets, and work preferences to generate optimal schedules swiftly and accurately. These tools alleviate the administrative burden on healthcare managers and ensure the right anesthesiologist is available at the right time for each procedure, boosting operational efficiency.

Automation in healthcare significantly reduces the time spent on routine, administrative tasks, allowing providers to focus more on patient care. This increase in operational efficiency through automation leads to better scheduling accuracy and resource utilization. AI technologies help streamline workflows, improve session summaries, and enhance patient outcomes by allowing providers to operate at the top of their license and spend more time on patient care.

Key Benefits:

• Optimized Scheduling : Ensures the right anesthesiologist is scheduled for the right procedure.
• Reduced Administrative Burden : Frees up time for healthcare managers to focus on other tasks.
• Increased Operational Efficiency : Streamlines processes and reduces errors.

Enhanced Visibility and Coordination

Advanced scheduling systems offer real-time, up-to-date visibility for anesthesia groups and cross-functional teams. Centralized access to scheduling data simplifies shift coordination and change management, reducing conflicts. Real-time insight helps proactively address potential disruptions, ensuring seamless patient care and minimizing surgical delays. 

Centralized and real-time scheduling systems improve patient flow and coordination, reducing wait times and ensuring that surgical schedules are managed effectively. This kind of visibility is crucial for maintaining operational stability and reducing the risk of conflicts in scheduling.

• Real-Time Visibility : Centralized access to data and schedules.
• Improved Coordination : Reduces conflicts and ensures smooth operations.
• Proactive Management : Identifies and addresses potential disruptions early.

Improved Provider Satisfaction

Features such as shift swaps, mobile accessibility, and real-time updates enhance provider satisfaction, allowing anesthesiologists to manage their schedules more effectively. This helps reduce burnout and improve work-life balance. Providers can request shift swaps or time off directly through the platform, which automatically adjusts the schedule without manual intervention. This fosters a balanced work environment, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention rates among anesthesia providers. 

Scheduling flexibility, such as the ability to swap shifts and access schedules via mobile devices, has been linked to higher job satisfaction and reduced burnout among healthcare providers. This flexibility is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and reducing turnover.

• Enhanced Provider Satisfaction : Greater control over schedules.
• Reduced Burnout : Better work-life balance.
• Higher Retention Rates : Improved job satisfaction leads to lower turnover.

Data-Driven Decisions

Advanced scheduling solutions generate valuable data for analytical purposes, allowing administrators to review past schedules and identify patterns. This capability provides insights into staffing needs, peak demand periods, and provider performance. As a result, it facilitates better long-term planning and resource allocation, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and more efficient hospital operations. 

Data-driven decision-making in healthcare, particularly through the analysis of scheduling data, enables better resource allocation and staffing, leading to more efficient operations and improved patient care.

• Insightful Analytics : Enhanced understanding of staffing needs and demand periods.
• Improved Planning : Facilitates better resource allocation and long-term planning.
• Performance Analysis : Enables continuous improvement in provider performance.

An effective anesthesia scheduling solution incorporates several key features that enhance efficiency and provider satisfaction by streamlining the scheduling process and ensuring optimal resource utilization.

Real-Time Updates and Alerts

Managing dynamic schedules often results in miscommunication and unexpected surprises. Advanced scheduling software should:

• Deliver real-time updates and alerts : Ensure all team members are promptly informed of any changes.
• Facilitate swift adaptation : Handle unforeseen circumstances, such as emergencies or staff unavailability, through timely notifications.

This structured approach guarantees clear communication and efficient response to changes, minimizing disruptions and maintaining smooth operations.

Predictive Analytics

Ensuring optimal resource allocation and preventing bottlenecks can be challenging. Leveraging predictive analytics offers clear benefits:

• Forecast Staffing Needs : Utilize historical data and current trends to predict future demands.
• Minimize Staffing Shortages and Overstaffing : Analyze patterns to achieve the right staffing levels.
• Enhance Patient Care : Consistent and adequate staffing improves patient outcomes.
• Increase Staff Satisfaction : Proper staffing levels reduce burnout and improve morale.

By implementing predictive analytics, your organization can achieve better resource management and improved operational efficiency.

Mobile Accessibility

Maintaining flexibility and responsiveness in scheduling can be challenging. Enhancing these aspects for anesthesiologists is possible by allowing mobile access to their schedules. Key benefits include:

• Making adjustments on-the-go : Allowing staff to update and manage schedules from anywhere.
• Requesting shift swaps : Enabling easy swap requests directly through the mobile platform.
• Staying updated on changes : Ensuring all changes are communicated instantly.

This feature ensures a user-friendly and convenient scheduling system. Anesthesiologists can better manage their work-life balance and respond to schedule changes in real time, no matter where they are.

Taking all these aspects into consideration, it’s evident that an effective anesthesia scheduling solution not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly boosts provider satisfaction. By continually evaluating and optimizing scheduling processes through best practices and advanced technology, healthcare facilities can ensure optimal patient care without compromising their staff’s well-being.

Overall, investing in an efficient anesthesia scheduling system is crucial to successfully navigate the challenges of providing 24/7 coverage while maintaining a balanced workload for providers. With the right strategies and tools in place, healthcare facilities can achieve both operational efficiency and high-quality patient care.

So, it is imperative for institutions to prioritize implementing effective anesthesia scheduling solutions that align with their unique needs and support their teams’ well-being.

Explore strategies to prevent and address burnout among anesthesiologists, ensuring their well-being and sustained performance in the demanding field of anesthesia.

Burnout is a critical issue in anesthesiology, impacting both practitioners’ well-being and the quality of patient care. The high demands and intense pressure of the profession can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, making it essential to address this problem proactively through effective scheduling practices. Here are strategies to mitigate and manage burnout while highlighting the role of advanced scheduling solutions.

Key Strategies to Address Burnout

Give anesthesiologists more input into their schedules.

Allowing anesthesiologists to have a say in their schedules can significantly reduce burnout. When providers can indicate their preferences and have those preferences respected, it fosters a sense of control and satisfaction.

• Flexible Scheduling Options : Implementing flexible or part-time schedules that accommodate personal needs can significantly enhance work-life balance. Advanced scheduling solutions allow anesthesiologists to input their availability and preferences, which can be automatically factored into the scheduling process.
• Preference-Based Scheduling : Utilize software that allows anesthesiologists to submit their scheduling preferences and automatically integrates these into the overall schedule. This not only respects their work-life balance but also helps in distributing shifts more equitably.

By giving anesthesiologists control over their schedules, healthcare facilities can reduce stress and increase job satisfaction, leading to a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Reduce the Administrative Effort Involved in Scheduling

Administrative burdens contribute to burnout. Reducing these burdens through advanced scheduling software can help anesthesiologists focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks.

• Automated Scheduling : Use intelligent, rules-based scheduling software to automate routine tasks. This reduces the time and effort required to create schedules manually, freeing up anesthesiologists to focus on their clinical responsibilities.
• Streamlined Processes : Simplify and standardize scheduling processes to minimize manual input and reduce errors. Advanced scheduling systems can integrate with other hospital systems to ensure seamless information flow and reduce redundancy.

By automating administrative tasks and streamlining processes, healthcare facilities can reduce the workload on anesthesiologists, allowing them to devote more time to patient care and less to administrative duties.

Allow for Flexible or Part-Time Schedules

Offering flexible or part-time schedules can help anesthesiologists achieve a better work-life balance, thereby reducing burnout.

• Mobile Accessibility : Ensure that the scheduling software is accessible via mobile devices so that anesthesiologists can manage their schedules on the go. This flexibility allows them to make adjustments as needed, enhancing their ability to balance work and personal commitments.
• Real-Time Updates : Implement real-time updates and alerts to keep anesthesiologists informed of any changes to their schedules, helping them adapt quickly and efficiently. This ensures they are always aware of their upcoming shifts and any modifications.

Flexible scheduling options, combined with real-time updates, enable anesthesiologists to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is crucial in preventing burnout and improving overall job satisfaction.

Physician burnout is at an all-time high. Physician stress, exhaustion, and lack of efficacy not only lead to high turnover and early retirement rates, but they can also increase medical errors, hospital readmissions, and malpractice risk — spelling bad news for your organization’s margins and reputation. 

For more detailed information on addressing the physician burnout crisis, read our eBook.

Transform Your Anesthesia Scheduling with QGenda

Effective scheduling in anesthesia is a challenging but crucial task. By following best practices and leveraging advanced digital scheduling tools, anesthesia departments can improve efficiency, reduce stress, and ensure optimal patient care.

If you’re ready to transform your anesthesia scheduling process, consider integrating a comprehensive solution like QGenda. With advanced features and a user-friendly design tailored for anesthesia, QGenda makes scheduling easier and more efficient. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to streamline your operations and improve provider satisfaction. Embrace new tools and techniques to enhance productivity and achieve better results.

Booking a demo is simple and quick. Just reach out to us today and discover how advanced scheduling can transform your anesthesia department, improving patient care and operational efficiency.

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