When I looked down and saw that his forearm was indeed bent in the wrong direction, I did my best to mimic a shrug without moving his head and promised that he would be feeling better soon. Even though I wasn’t qualified to patch him up physically yet, I still felt this incredible responsibility to help him feel cared for at the very least. Although emergency medicine is a different side of the medical field seen in clinics and hospitals, helping treat Dirt Bike David in the unpredictable and unforgiving environment of the off-road race track made me confident that I would be able to keep my cool in life-or-death …show more content…
Communication is the key difference between a good doctor and a great doctor - it is an integral part of a physician’s main functions: trust, intimacy, and availability. My father’s cardiologist was soothing and empathetic, conveying information in a way that made us feel safe and that we would be in good hands for as long as my dad needed. Even the smallest acts of compassion can make a big difference in a patient’s hospital stay, whether it’s promising a young child to come back for a bedtime story or bringing flowers to an elderly patient. As a physician, the emotional support that I can provide to my patients is just as important as being a technical expert in the field, which is why I chose to become a peer advisor for Texas Interdisciplinary Plan freshmen. The transition to college is one of the toughest, and starting on a four-year academic plan for future coursework is stressful. I saw freshmen during walk-in hours who had no idea what they were doing, but it was my job to make sure they understood not only their required coursework but also help them feel a little less overwhelmed. Nothing speaks greater volumes than seeing a relieved smile reappear on their bright young faces. One student gave me a heartwarming hug when I informed him that it was possible to major in music performance and pursue pre-med curriculum at the same time. A semi-skilled pianist as well, we both found that