My "Why" - It was a motorcycle accident at age 16 that made me want to study medicine.

I was admitted to our local Hospital in Germany with what turned out to be a torn ligament in my knee. It was after hours and the young doctor admitting me told me I was going to be a cripple now for life. I now know he probably meant well, wanting to scare me so I would not ever ride a motorcycle again- but I had the worst night and didn't get a wink of sleep. The next day the doctor's supervisor told me this could be addressed with routine surgery. During that hospital stay I decided that I could do better than that fellow, if only for having empathy.