Paul Edlebeck, MS4, is a current TIP student at the MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland, Family Medicine Residency.
by Paul Edlebeck, MS4
Ever since I applied to medical school, I have always known, deep down, that I was destined to become a family doctor. It started off as a small gut feeling that then transformed into a personal mission. I knew of the suffering that existed in my hometown and in Michigan. I wanted to be the person to listen and have the knowledge and skills to help people through the challenges that they faced with their health. Throughout my undergraduate training, I volunteered in the Emergency Department in my hometown in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well as a hospice house during the school year. Both of these experiences taught me how important small gestures of kindness have in health care. Patients were always so grateful for a glass of water, a warm blanket, or simply a listening ear. I continue to seek out opportunities for small gestures of kindness with every patient I see.
At MSU, I chose to be a part of the Rural Community Health Program. This program allowed me to immerse myself in a community and learn all of the aspects of that community that contribute to their health. During my first two years of medical school, I continued to desire human connection within a community. I spent some time volunteering at the Haven House homeless shelter in Lansing where I helped tutor the children and supervise them during their outdoor time. I remember after one session, a child who I met that day hugged me after a session and thanked me for taking the time to play with him. I still think of him and how the act of simply giving him the attention to play with him meant the world to him.
Once I started third year, it became more apparent that Family Medicine was what I was meant to do. I got to learn a great deal about the Midland community by helping out in a shelter that was created after the Midland area experienced a devastating flood. I was inspired by the compassion that existed through the blankets, clothes, food and time donated to help those who lost everything in the flood. Once everyone had found another place other than the shelter, I found myself wishing I could still see them occasionally to see how they were doing. Once the year started, I found that I enjoyed several aspects of each of my clerkships and I grew more in love with the broad scope of practice the Family Physician has and how they can tailor that to their community. In my rural community, I met with the public health director, the CEO of the hospital, and got to tour the county with the Chamber of Commerce. After learning about the community, I got to see these patients in clinic and in the hospital, learning the relationship of the community and the patients. These moments when I can see the full context of patient care are what solidify my love for Family Medicine and my interest in TIP.
I think the Integrated Medical School and Family Medicine Residency Program (TIP) would be a great fit for me because the integration during my fourth year will allow me to get a head start in the community that my residency will take place and learn the patient population through my interactions in clinic and inpatient experience. It would also give me a chance to meet my future colleagues and begin to develop relationships with them to work together on providing care for our patient population. TIP also allows me to start on a project to learn more about the challenges our patient population faces. Through TIP, I can have the tools to be on the frontlines of Family Medicine to best serve my community.
Tags: TIP
