After graduation, I took up a residency in Surgery, specifically Urological Oncology, in a local clinical center in China. During this time, I was frequently frustrated with the classic methods of a cancer diagnosis. Many cancers had become incurable by the time they had been diagnosed. Also, many patients failed to respond to treatment, but we could not predict this outcome. I became very concerned and determined, if I could, to improve this situation. This situation led me to undertake the very first of many research projects. I compared the therapeutic response in patients with urinary bladder cancer who received immunological therapy after tumor resection. With the help of pathologists, I studied the immunological cell compositions in biopsied tissues and the responses of those cells toward various cytokines. I identified a sub-fraction of patients for whom there would be no response from existing BCG immunotherapy and therefore needed the addition of chemotherapy to prevent cancer relapse. This experience led me to an understanding of the enormous value of pathology and fired a very great interest in it. I now seek to join a challenging program that will expose me to a wide range of specialties such as molecular pathology, microbiology, and surgical pathology and also to undertake further research into cancer diagnostics.
What initially attracted me to this specialty is the fact that the Pathologist is often the first physician to make a diagnosis leading to the identification of the most effective treatment and can also be a significant contributor to the discovery of new pathogenesis mechanisms and improvement in medical guidelines. My interest in the specialty was further enhanced when I met Dr. XXXX at XXXX University. Dr. XXXX is a distinguished clinical pathologist with a long-standing interest in cancer diagnostics, and he supervised me during my Ph.D. studies. These studies included Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Immunology and Pathology, and the practice of laboratory medicine. During this time, I discovered several new markers for the early detection of prostate cancer and established specific assays which had not been incorporated into screening programs. I also received various grants and awards and completed numerous peer-reviewed publications. I now consider Pathology to be more a vocation than a mere career choice.
I undertook a two-year post-doctoral training course at XXXX University, Sweden, in 2000. I learned new experimental skills and expanded my vision in biomedical research. In 2002, I was invited to return to Helsinki University as a teacher and senior scientist, providing practical training for Ph.D. students, residents, and technologists in clinical laboratory work. I also conducted my own research into new biomarkers for the early detection of cancer metastasis. I believe that I have the characteristics necessary to become an extremely successful researcher and to assist others who share my enthusiasm to do the same.
After coming to the US in 2006, I worked as a Research Associate with Dr. XXXX, who is an expert in coagulation and hematology at XXXX University. I am currently a fellow in Clinical Chemistry at the XXXX Clinic in Ohio; this fellowship is certified by the AACC. The company is designed for a future director of a clinical laboratory, and I have acquired beneficial knowledge of general laboratory skills, laboratory management, and informatics. I have rotated and had on-call duties mainly in Chemistry and Immune-pathology. A valuable aspect of this training has been the substantial amount of interaction with clinical physicians and laboratory technologists that have been involved.
I can work effectively alone but am equally happy to work in a team environment and, when called upon, to lead a team. I am always pleased when my contribution to a team effort is acknowledged, but I am also keen to have others’ efforts recognized. I believe that this is the primary key to running a happy and effective team of people. I have traveled widely and have happily worked, studied, and socialized with people from many social and cultural backgrounds. I am regarded as a friendly, cooperative and adaptable, and I possess a well-developed sense of humor.
My ideal program will: involve substantial collaborative contact between the resident and faculty; provide for an increasing amount of responsibility and autonomy throughout the residency; provide training for private practice and academia with a broad exposure to the various sub-specialties; offer research and teaching opportunities.
I know that there will be many well-qualified applicants for residencies in Pathology. However, I consider myself to be an exceptional candidate. I have proven research skills, acquired in 15 years of work, in areas offering comprehensive and significant medical benefits; my awards and other successes to date will provide an assurance that I am a diligent, enthusiastic, disciplined, and determined person; I am an experienced and effective teacher of young physicians, but my main recommendation is my passion for pathology and my determination to acquire and to apply my knowledge and skill to make a significant beneficial difference in improving cancer diagnosis and thus increasing survival rates. I undertake to use myself fully in the program to excel within it and look forward immensely to participating.