DO Personal Statement
“Who are you?”
Three words I had never expected my father to say to me, but as I would soon learn, early onset Alzheimer’s disease was merciless in its ability to erase memory and confounding in its inconsistency. One day, my father’s recollections were sharp as an elephant’s. The next, he couldn’t remember his son’s name. After my father’s official diagnosis, I underwent the necessary tests and examinations to find out if I was at risk, too. It seemed better to know for certain than worry for the rest of my life. But hearing that you have a 66% chance of developing Alzheimer’s later in life doesn’t stop your heart from dropping into your stomach or alleviate your fears. Not after you’ve watched your father be ravaged by the same disease.
When my father first started displaying symptoms of memory loss, we started with small rituals. His coffee table and mine were piled high with sudoku, puzzle books and other “brain games”. After hearing of my heightened risk, I reached out to my father’s primary doctor to discuss how I could reduce my risk and improve my health. At the doctor’s suggestion, I started doing research into the disease to better understand it. I soon found that although this was an illness of the brain, a person’s overall health could play a significant role in prevention and reduced risk. I was beginning to make the connection that what was healthy for my body was good for my brain. And keeping my brain in good health would be good for my overall health.
Wanting to walk the walk with my newfound knowledge, I started implementing new habits. I started a food journal. I practiced meditation and affirmations for my mental health. I changed my exercise habits and became interested in hiking. At this point in my life, I had thought it was too late to make such lifestyle changes, but I was surprised at my progress and the change in my health. Most surprising was the change in my brain. I felt more alert and more focused, particularly at work. As a PA my medical knowledge and expertise was narrowed by my job at a family medicine clinic. But my personal experiences, deep dive into research on this specific disease and ensuing lifestyle change had spurred a transformation. I had always loved my job, been comfortable in my job. Until I realized I wanted to push myself further. Expand my medical knowledge and expertise. Explore these newfound connections between the brain and the body and health. In my work as a PA, I was firmly of the mind that less intrusive treatments were of greater benefit to patients, and I was curious as to how Alzheimer’s patients could be treated.
I started by volunteering at a memory ward, to work firsthand with patients like my father who suffered from Alzheimer’s and similar illnesses. It was incredible to experience the different approach taken by the dedicated doctors and nurses there. In my work, we asked what the problem was, discussed our options for treatment, and then followed through with our plan. But Alzheimer’s is not a problem with a straightforward fix. The goal with these patients was to slow the progress of the disease, to ensure quality of life. It was about cooperation between doctor and patient, body and brain. I worked with patients on a more therapeutic and even social aspect of treatment. I spoke with patients daily, guided them through mental and physical therapeutic exercises and engaged with them on a more personal level.
I came to realize that if I planned to apply to medical school, my ultimate goal would be to become an osteopathic doctor. I cannot deny the personal transformation an osteopathic approach to health has had on my life and my well-being. In my goal to share use this personal transformation for the benefit of others, osteopathic medicine is the clear professional path.