Personal Narrative: Grand Forks, North Dakota

I consider my hometown to be Grand Forks, North Dakota. I was born at the former United Hospital in Grand Forks in 1994, and have lived here for my entire life—with the exception of about a year spent in Walhalla, North Dakota, due to the flood of 1997. The schools that I attended while growing up are all within fifteen minutes of driving from my current house. My parents live just 6.2 miles away from me. Although Grand Forks is my city of birth, it wasn’t until I started college that I really considered it my hometown. I was one of the people who desired to move to a “big city” after high school. Since that time, I have discovered that I truly love it here and I am so thankful that I stayed. I love the feeling of community that exists among the residents in town. Grand Forks provides the opportunity to feel safe and secure, watch the athletic teams I have been a part (or a fan) of for year, and stay connected with my friends and teachers from over the years. Most importantly, Grand Forks is my hometown because it is where my family is. I get to see my mother, father, grandpa, and brother almost every day. The purpose statement mentions educating not only physicians, but also other health care professionals. One of the most important lessons I have learned from my health care experience is the importance of effective communication between the various disciplines. Patients will become agitated when they are told conflicting information about their health or discharge plans from one physician to another. Moreover, when doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurse aides, etc., do not communicate, the patient’s safety is put at risk. Effective medicine utilizes teamwork and prevention. UND SMHS focuses on interprofessional, community based learning. I feel that I would thrive in this environment due to my experience with direct patient care. I have been educated on interdisciplinary rounds at Altru and understand the importance of teamwork and communication. A good physician understands that science is constantly evolving and research is the avenue through which medical progress is made. UND has impressive facilities and equipment for research, which I have spent time of my own with through the REFUNDU program. I found my research to be captivating due to its relevance to health care prevention. As a prospective student at UND SMHS, I plan on taking full advantage of research opportunities such as the REMS program. As a physician I will be an advocate for clinical research to encourage the development of medicine and prevention of disease. The state of North Dakota is home for me. I care about the quality of life here. Whether my future lies in Grand Forks or a rural town like Walhalla, I plan on practicing medicine in North Dakota. I know that UND SMHS is an environment that produces great physicians. Many of their graduates I consider friends, mentors, and my own physicians! Looking back, I remember one patient in particular who was at the hospital for over …show more content…
One of the main reasons I decided to work at the hospital was to experience this phenomenon firsthand. I have made it a point to practice mindfulness and it has dramatically improved my own compassion. Maintaining my composure while in a stressful environment is important to me. When a patient is frightened and suffering, they may act out or seem rude to health care staff. To me, compassion is not only the desire to help those who are suffering; it is the action of trying to ease the suffering of others, regardless of how they are treating you or who they …show more content…
Although it is hard to envision giving up on my goal, I know that there are other ways that I could contribute to society. If I had to choose a different career path, I would certainly have to take some time to evaluate which fields I feel passionate about. I would explore jobs that fit my personal abilities and characteristics through research, job shadowing, and work experience. I would seek an occupation in which I could continue to promote the well-being of others. Exposure to challenging situations and the opportunity of continuous personal development and growth would be necessary. Ideally, my job would offer the ability to communicate with a multitude of diverse people on a daily basis. Various health care professions would be one area of interest; however, occupations outside of health care can also provide an environment that fosters altruism and benefits