29. Serving Patients and Finding Purpose with Allison Hare

This week, we continue our conversation with Penn medical student Allison Hare. She shares a powerful story of a past patient's miraculous recovery, which helped her identify internal medicine as her true calling. We dive into the importance of examining personal motivations, reframing situations, and ultimately starting with why.

You chose medicine because you want to become the experienced provider. You want to provide for your patients to connect on a level. Share about your decision making and what type of specialty you chose based on the qualities and the values you believe in.

I wanted external validation of, yes, I can do something that saves people's lives. She says she originally decided to become a surgeon from a place of insecurity. After a month in emergency medicine, she realized it wasn't the best fit for her.

So I remember after that, I left her room and I was like, well, I guess I'm an internal medicine doctor. She's still doing really well, actually, even though she'd almost died. I've connected with this flow of purpose, and it's the best feeling in the world.

Allison, that was such an emotional and powerful story that you shared. It exactly alludes to and describe the type of person you are. I believe God or this higher being or whatever you believe the universe, they're always dropping hints. It takes a certain level of humility to accept those hints.

I'm really happy to have had the outlet to sort of share my story. I hope that my clarity and my journey and my motivations will help someone out there listening who may be going through similar struggles. We hope you enjoyed this episode and join us next week in the journey of Discovering More through intentional dialogues.