Pediatrics Residency Personal Statement Examples

You’re an accomplished MD student with a passion for helping children, so it’s only natural for you to want to pursue a pediatrics residency! In order to be considered for admission, your pediatrics personal statement must not only detail your passion and qualifications as they relate to the field, but give the admission’s committee a good grasp of who you are as a person, why you want to work with children specifically, and why they should consider you to be a resident doctor in the field!

Pediatrics is one of the least competitive residencies currently. While it is still in-demand and a popular choice, pediatrics is a broad field. In pediatrics, you may not only be a primary care physician for a very specific group of people (infants and children under 18), but you may also provide care for pediatric patients suffering from terminal illnesses, acute and chronic conditions, injuries, musculoskeletal issues, neurological issues, and more. There are, of course, areas of specialization for each of these, but many pediatric doctors have the ability and passion to understand and study a broad range of pediatric health problems. Both graduates of MD and DO programs pursue pediatrics. Whether you’re Canadian and applying through CaRMS, or American/International and using ERAS, your pediatrics personal statement is a very important component of your application! 

Read on to view examples of pediatrics personal statements and learn more about how to write a strong and detailed personal statement that concisely highlights your relevant accomplishments personal experience, academic career, professional goals, and professional experience that, when all considered in combination, make you stand out as a candidate for residency.

What Should I Include, and Avoid, in My Pediatrics Personal Statement?

Before you write and your personal statement for any field of residency, you should first allow yourself ample time to craft a few drafts to ensure you can accurately detail all relevant information in, approximately, 750 words!

This information should include:

In just a few paragraphs, your personal statement should thoroughly describe why you’d be a great fit for residency in pediatrics, and provide examples of experiences and accomplishments that back up your statement.

 When crafting your personal statement, it’s advised that you revise it several times, and even read it aloud, to be sure that you don’t get sidetracked or include any irrelevant details, as this can be easy to do when you’ve only got a few paragraphs to tell a very specific story! It’s also imperative that you refrain from reiterating a list of accomplishments that are noted on your residency CV , ERAS experiences section, or additional portions of your application and transcript, as this is not what a personal statement is meant to do. If you choose to utilize a few sentences your personal statement as an opportunity to address poor grades or gaps in your medical school CV, ensure that you do so in a mature and optimistic manner, and provide information about the outcome. Most importantly, keep it brief, and stick to the facts! Overall, your personal statement should only include details that convince the admissions team that you’re a perfect candidate for pediatrics residency.

Pediatrics Personal Statement Examples

Example One

“You’re more insightful than most adults!” is what my sixth-grade teacher told me after she overhead me consoling my classmate after she experienced a traumatic event and received little support from her surrounding community. I was always interested in the social and emotional needs of my peers, and many adults in my life dubbed me, "the little therapist" and assumed I'd pursue mental healthcare as a career. But, little did they know that as I grew to be a teen, I became more invested in learning how their problems were addressed and met, and where they stemmed from. While I was in high school, I was president of my local chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) that focused on bettering access to peer-to-peer de-escalation training, and a common theme I noticed among my peers was many had experienced medical trauma, neglect, and inadequate access to health care. I also volunteered with a local crisis hotline through my church, where I would listen to people who were struggling with depression or substance abuse. Many of whom had medical and emotional concerns brushed off as children, and many of whom had never seen a pediatric physician.

When I went to college, I decided to pursue a psychology with the initial intent of becoming a psychotherapist. However, my experiences learning psychology, along with understanding that many traumas stemmed from early experiences, helped me realize that I wanted to help young people take a proactive approach to coping with health issues, traumas and mental illness. And, I firmly believe that a positive interaction with a medical professional at a young age can truly make an impact and lasting impression on a child. As I continued in my undergraduate degree, I completed courses in biology, physics and chemistry in good-standing, and began to develop a passion for medicine.

My experience in my MD program was unforgettable. Going into it, I knew I was focused on helping children develop into healthy adults by providing them with the resources they need while they are still young enough for us to help guide them toward positive change. In my clerkships, I learned how to be a leader and how to work with others in a team setting, and collaborate respectfully with others, even in intense and challenging environments such as the pediatric oncology unit and the emergency department. I learned how to communicate effectively, both verbally and nonverbally, with patients of all ages and backgrounds. In my clerkships, I spent time not only in pediatrics, but in geriatrics as well, which offered me a completely 'opposite' perspective and experience working with an entirely unique group. Geriatrics taught me a lot of about the human condition, aging, and how, even at 90 years old, the inner child still exists, and the experiences of children are not frequently forgotten-- quite the opposite actually-- many elderly patients cling to their childhood memories, and require the same compassion and empathy from their healthcare providers as children do. This experience taught me to be patient, considerate, and genuine with my patients of all ages. I also spent time in emergency medicine and got to interact with children of all ages in the emergency department, as well as adults. However, throughout each experience, being with children was always what I found to be most rewarding.



Children are impressionable and vulnerable, and having a great pediatric physician early on in life can make a huge difference. Having an understanding and compassionate provider can make all the difference when it comes to treating children, especially those with chronic illnesses who will spend a significant amount of time in the healthcare system, and deserve to feel safe and respected within it. One particular patient interaction that stands out in my mind was a teen boy, who had been circulating through the healthcare system for his 'mystery' neurological condition and chronic health issues since childhood, only to have a curious pediatric physician, with the help of a resident neurologist, realize what underlying issues were causing his symptoms, and tackle his case and care head-on, making a huge difference in his life, and impacting the quality of his young life, for the better. Using my knowledge of the human psyche, as well as child psychology and medicine, as well as my ability to think outside-of-the-box and willingness to collaborate with others, I feel I’d be able to help numerous patients, even ‘mystery’ ones, as a pediatrician.

I would be excited to begin a residency in the pediatrics field and I’m confident that I would make an incredibly compassionate, wise and empathetic pediatric doctor, with impeccable critical thinking skills, and the ability to assess and treat each of my pediatric patients with care and respect. The opportunity to learn from established and renowned pediatric physicians and teams would be a truly rewarding experience for me.

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Example Two

When my family fell on hard times and moved to North Carolina, my siblings and I grappled with the fear and anxiety of joining a new community. But, we soon realized our new neighborhood was a place where everyone knew everyone, and children ran around outside without supervision. Older kids, like myself, often cared for younger ones. At the time I didn't quite grasp why, and it wasn't until I was older that I realized many parents were young, working several jobs, and falling through the cracks of society in terms of mental and physical health. The idea of having to supervise children all day long seemed so strange to me at first, but, I grew to realize the importance of my help, and the help of other leaders in our community. I began to see the benefits of having such a small community: it was easy to get involved in activities, and there were always people around who wanted to help out with projects and events. The community also provided a support system for families who needed it most, and as a self-declared leader in such a system, I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a helper in life. In my town, there were several families who struggled financially, with their health, and/or emotionally, and they were always grateful for any kind of assistance they could get from their neighbors. They were good people, but being from a medical underserved, disadvantaged community had left them, and their children, without the resources they required to better their health, and improve their futures.

The idea of being able to help those who are less fortunate has always been very important to me personally, and it's one reason why I find pediatrics so fascinating—it gives me an opportunity to do just that, and do so early on in a child's life. Additionally, it would be extremely gratifying and rewarding to see a sign of relief, or a weight lifted off of a concerned, struggling parent's shoulders. My experiences in pediatric medicine have given me a strong foundation in healthcare, yet also allowed me to see the importance of community outreach and education.

During my undergraduate career, I volunteered at a local pediatric hospital in order to gain experience in the world of medicine. There, I was able to shadow physicians and nurses, as well as help out with some basic administrative tasks. Luckily for me, this allowed me to see how much work went into making sure that patients were getting the best treatment possible at all times. During my MD program, I completed research in pediatric hematology and oncology and co-authored the publication highlighting the year long study. I was able to understand the importance of community outreach and support from various healthcare facilities and resources, as well as how much work goes into making sure that patients are getting the best care possible at all times, specifically in smaller communities that aren't always prioritized in medicine.

For my most recent clerkship in medical school, I worked at a large children’s hospital where I gained invaluable experience working with children who were suffering from a variety of illnesses. During this time, I was able to shadow physicians and nurses on their rounds, as well as meet with patients for exams and discussions regarding their health in general, as well as pre and post-op where I would check their vitals, make note of any changes I observed, and offer some light conversation to uneasy or upset young patients. I also completed several rotations in OB/GYN and emergency medicine, but found myself to be drawn to working with infants and children the most. I am passionate about working with children and their families, especially those who may be suffering from a chronic or terminal illness that prevents them from living their lives to the fullest. I want to help these families by providing them with the tools they need to manage their child’s condition and live a happy, healthy life and feel supported by their medical team and primary pediatric physician. I will do so by being a compassionate, dedicated pediatric doctor, and I will continuously put myself in the position to learn, to grow, and to enhance my skills with each and every interaction I have in residency, and beyond.

Learn how to write your college essays:

Example Three

My grandmother was not only my superhero, but, a superhero to many sick children. She had a profound impact on my life in many ways, and I like to think she did for others, too! My grandmother was an RN and worked in the pediatric intensive care unit at the hospital where she lived. When she wasn't working, she would spend much of her time volunteering at the hospital's children's cancer ward. She would take me with her when she went to visit the children there and would often bring me along to deliver meals or other small gifts to them. Her time spent with these children—helping them get better and supporting their families—was always an inspiration to me, even though at the time, I was very involved in the arts and wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life...I myself was still a child. But, I always knew that I’d follow in my grandmother’s footsteps, and, here I am today doing just that in the final year of my MD program, pursuing pediatric residency!

I think this early exposure is what made me gravitate toward pediatrics as a specialty choice; having seen first-hand how important it is to help young people live healthier lives, I knew that this was where I belonged. During my undergraduate degree, I studied both English and Psychology, but took the required prerequisites for medical school and much to my surprise, excelled in science and math. I also shadowed and volunteered at a local hospital in order to gain experience in the medical field. During this time, one of my favorite experiences was shadowing a pediatrician who specialized in caring for children with learning and developmental disabilities. I was amazed by her ability to connect with each child and provide them with the support they needed—even though she didn't always know how to help them herself.

My medical school experiences solidified my commitment to pediatrics as well. In particular, one memorable interaction stands out: during one rotation in second year, in which we were shadowing doctors in different fields at different hospitals associated with X University, we visited an emergency department for several weeks, where there was an influx of patients due to flu season. The doctor we were shadowing treated each patient with respect and care, but was extra compassionate toward any child he interacted with--whether they were ill, or, were simply stuck waiting with an ill parent. I noticed how genuine his interactions were, and although he was not distracted by the children, he took a few seconds to interact with each child he saw, and ask them a question about something they liked or a movie they enjoyed. I remember thinking how impactful this behavior was, and how, if I were a child in a hospital, how much respect and adoration I'd have for a nice doctor who took the time to treat me as a human being. This type of interaction can shape how a person perceives the medical system in its entirety, and I feel more of these positive interactions between children and medical professionals are vital.

During my most recent clerkship, I was placed in the pediatric oncology unit at my hospital. I was shocked at the number of children who had cancer, and it made me realize that pediatric cancer is one of the most devastating illnesses to be diagnosed with. My experience in this unit was very different from my previous experiences as a medical student. I noticed how devastated parents were when their child was diagnosed with cancer, and how difficult it must be for them to watch their child suffer. It also made me realize how society needs dedicated, compassionate pediatricians in general, whether they are caring for critically or chronically ill children, or, working hard to keep an otherwise 'healthy' child recover from an illness, injury, or mental health battle. In this experience, I learned how to balance maintaining a matter-of-fact perspective and professional tone, while still being approachable and genuine when interacting with patients who look up to their doctor for advice and comforting words.

Would you like 8 medical school personal statement tips? Check out our video below:

I feel my combination of authentic and innate compassion for children and people in need, as well as my skills and experience in my MD program and clerkships would make me an exceptional and insightful pediatrician one day, and I'm confident that I'd be a great pediatrics resident based on my interpersonal skills, medical knowledge, communications abilities and passion for working with children. I am eager to learn and acquire new information, tips, skills, and advice from top physicians and pediatric teams, and I cannot wait to work in a field I feel I was born to work in. It would be an honor, and I would work tirelessly to ensure I do my absolute best for each and every one of my young patients, and their families.

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