100 More Residency Interview Questions

1) What role does research play in a physician’s career?

2) Genetics is an evolving field of medicine. It is one of the most researched aspects of disease treatment in the industry. Genetic modification and therapy may someday replace traditional medicine for diseases such as cancer and even congenital birth defects. However, there are also researchers looking into modifying heritable, non-medical traits, such as eye color and sex. What are your thoughts on the role of genetics in medicine and where do you see the boundaries for genetic research?

3) You are working with a particularly challenging resident on the inpatient adult medicine team. So far, you and this resident have been cordial, but you have heard stories about how this resident has berated your peers for minor reasons in the past. While combing the chart of a patient, you notice that the resident has mistakenly ordered a CT scan with contrast despite the fact that this patient’s kidney function is not sufficient enough to handle the contrast dye. What do you do?

4) “There are known knowns. These are the things we know that we know. There are the known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.” – Donald Rumsfeld. What does this quote mean to you?

5) Tell me about a time when you mediated a conflict between two people. This can be family members, co-workers, teammates, etc.

6) Medicine is transitioning away from a “doctor-centered” style of treatment and more towards a “team-based approach” when managing a patient. What does the term “team-based approach” mean to you?

7) Why do you want to enter this specialty?

8) What do you like to do for fun?

9) Why do you want to come to this program?

10) What questions do you have about the program?

11) Tell me about a time you had to think quickly on your feet.

12) Tell me about a time you were outside of your comfort bubble.

13) Tell me about a time you showed leadership.

14) Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

15) Tell me about a time you had to think of a creative solution.

16) What goals would you like to achieve by the end of residency?

17) In what kind of setting would you like to practice?

18) What are some challenges faced by the field right now?

19) If you had $10 million in grant funding, how would you spend it to advance the field?

20) Tell me about a research project you participated in.

21) Define empathy OR Define patient-centred care.

22) What challenges do you foresee facing this specialty in the next 10 years?

23) What did you learn from a different specialty that will be helpful to you in this one?

24) What do you think will be the next breakthrough in this field?

25) What do you think of the US healthcare system, compared to other countries’ healthcare systems?

26) What do you do when you make a mistake?

27) What are you hoping to get from us as your residency program if you are accepted?

28) Have you ever failed at anything? How did you deal with it?

29) What would you do if you’re not accepted to this program (or specialty)?

30) Do you envision yourself working rurally or in an urban setting?

31) Do you envision research playing a large role in your practice?

32) What is the most demanding aspect of being a surgeon?

33) How have you prepared for the rigors of completing a surgical residency?

34) Tell me a good joke.

35) Teach me about something non-medical in 30 seconds.

36) Tell me about a patient who was particularly significant to you.

37) Present an interesting case to me.

38) What is the worst part about this specialty?

39) What would you do if you won a million dollars?

40) Tell me about a patient care mistake you make.

41) What courses and clerkships did you like the best and least?

42) Where else have you applied?

43) Where else have you interviewed?

44) What do you do in your spare time?

45) What bad things have you heard about our program?

46) Why did you become a doctor?

47) Tell me about a time your performance was criticized.

48) Tell me about a patient you had trouble dealing with.

49) Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the past year.

50) What do you see as the positive aspects of this specialty?

51) Where do you see yourself practicing?

52) Do you plan on pursuing a fellowship?

53) Tell me about this problem in your academic record.

54) What accomplishments are you most proud of?

55) Do you want to do research?

56) What problems do you think this specialty will face in the future?

57) Tell me about a stressful situation you experienced in medical school.

58) Tell me about a time you were disappointed with your performance.

59) Tell me about a time you had to form a relationship with someone you didn’t like.

60) Tell us about your 4th year elective experience.

61) What do you do in your spare time?

62) What is your favorite color?

63) What does it take to get under your skin?

64) What training opportunities have you taken advantage of?

65) You're a senior resident and a junior resident shows up late. What do you do?

66) Is a family important in your lifelong goals.

67) What do you think you can contribute to this residency?

68) What attracts you to this residency program?

69) Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

70) If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would you pick?

71) What is your most memorable patient encounter?

72) What are your interests?

73) What is one thing you want me to see in your application?

74) What is something that most people do not know about you?

75) Tell me about what makes you, you.

76) What are you looking for in a program?

77) Tell me what you know about our program.

78) Tell me about a rewarding patient experience.

79) Tell me about a time you advocated on behalf of a patient.

80) What 3 qualities make a good leader?

81) How do you feel about hierarchy?

82) Who inspires you?

83) Tell me about a time you tried to accomplish something and failed.

84) Tell me about a time you disagreed with an attending.

85) What is something you regret?

86) Describe a time you faced adversity in medical school or in life.

87) How do you think millennial physicians will interact with physicians of an older generation?

88) What was the hardest decision you ever made?

89) Tell me about a time your circumstances changed drastically and you had to adapt.

90) What gets you out of bed in the morning?

91) What was your hardest day of medical school?

92) Tell me about a time you did something the right way instead of the easy way.

93) Do you consider yourself to be a leader?

94) How do you cope in a competitive environment where you may feel behind.

95) Tell me about a time you solved a problem no one else could.

96) What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?

97) Tell me about a time you made a mistake and had to tell a resident.

98) What is the last book you read?

99) What are you most nervous about for residency?

100) What was your favorite rotation?

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