Residency Interview Answers - Essay Example

?Health Science and Medicine, Essay Residency Interview Answers Ans001 Medicine was an early inspiration in life. There are no doctors in my family. Even my village has no doctors. Due to this extreme shortage of not only doctors but also facilities I always visualized the idea of changing the health scene at my village and for my family. Now that I am capable I have worked for my family as well as for my village people. I am here in US now to further my education to provide even more specific and specialized care. My inspiration is a direct culmination of the shortage of the exact discipline I work for. Ans001-2: I opted for internal medicine/family medicine after working for the victims of Gujrat Earthquake. The more I saw general inflictions and treated them with ease and utmost care, the more I realized it importance in our daily lives. It was also triggered in part by the general conditions I saw back at my village. My childhood inspiration sort of lead me into this field where I could help a lot more people. Ans001-3: Your program has the right people that I can learn from. The number of patients coming to your facility increases the chance of hands-on experience. Residency is a tough program but from what I hear the support structure at your facility provides a balanced approach towards medicine. Ans001-4: Team work, research abilities and hard work are the fore fronts that I will bring to the program. I believe there is always room for development and as a member of this program I hope to learn new methods of handling patients and new techniques that are always part of the ever-evolving field of medicine. Besides the basics I am a friendly person, easy to get along with and I like sharing knowledge to expand one’s own knowledge. It is imperative to have a ‘circle’ of knowledge and respect among all tiers of the hierarchy so that everyone can do their work effectively. Ans001-5: In the next 10 years I see myself finishing my residency program and doing a fellowship in Pain Management. After residency I see myself working for a hospital in Houston for a few years to further knowledge of medicine in a hospital setting, before starting my own practice. During all these years I do see myself doing any sort of volunteer work that might come my way. It will always be an honor. Ans001-6: I do not intend to go back to India, although I do hope to open an orphanage in India to help the desolate children. Volunteer work will always be on my list. I will be staying in United States with my family for in the foreseeable future. I will also be able to contribute to my village and help people in distress. Ans001-7: I love to jog. I have been doing this exercise on a regular basis. Spending time with my family whenever available is my priority after medicine. Travelling and learning from different countries and cultures is also important as I believe the more a person sees the world the more he understands his own self. In sports I love tennis and do watch it ardently on TV as well. Ans001-8: Being meticulous and detail oriented has helped through and through. Not only in medicine but in daily life as well. My strength is my dedication towards my patients which is unfaltering. It does not fade with less pay. My weakness was communication. When I came to United States and joined clinical in Houston the American accent was very difficult to catch up with. After working for some time, I now have overcome this communication gap and can communicate effectively with people. Ans001-9: Leisure time is spent with family most of the time. We go out to shop or we picnic. I also love jogging which I only get time for in my spare time. Besides that I enjoy tennis. Spending time with my family is a priority usually. Ans001-10: To achieve something worthwhile, to be responsible for the best, is the motivation behind all the work I do. A sense of achievement and undeniable challenge posed by a task of major proportion pushes me beyond my limits. In the medicine world the unknown challenges me. The human body with its intricacies and barriers not only intrigues it forces me to think. This is enough to motivate me. Ans001-11: Success is transcending the barriers set by the society or by oneself. Not only does success bring happiness it brings confidence, power, knowledge and personal growth. It humbles a person essentially and helps the society at large. My success has brought me to help others and given me a chance to learn more from other and impart knowledge as well. Ans001-12: A good doctor should be able to take care of himself, his family and the society at large. Doctors are indebted to the people who are dependent on them. For that they have to be fit themselves. A money-minded doctor does good and takes a whole lot in return. A good doctor should be able to render something low cost or free of charge. Knowledge or services- it is for the doctor to choose. Ans001-13: Relationships between professionals should always be professional and collegial. Reporting staff is different tier of the hierarchy and should not be competitive. Problems arise when all the tiers start competing with each other. Knowledge if possessed by any other tier should be shared and not concealed to provide maximum assistance to the patient. Ans001-14: Nurses should be treated as professionals as they have a full job function assigned to them. Doctors cannot do what nurses do and nurses cannot do a doctor’s job. Due to disparity between the job sets both are equally necessary to the patient’s well-being. Doctors although are primary care takers but nurses administer the patient and deal with the patient. So in effect both have an equally important role to play. Ans001-15: Once I had a patient with a snake bite in a hospital that I worked for in India. The poison had spread through the body and he was paralyzed and unconscious. He was put on the ventilator immediately. Seeing no major progress in the case one of the senior doctors advised to take the patient off the ventilator. I did not allow it and the patient was kept on the ventilator for two more days after which he came to. He was alright and went home himself after a few tests. Ans001-16: My academic capabilities are reflected by my career all through not just my USMLE score. I have been a hardworking student throughout and the university I studied in is one of the top universities in India where every year 15,000+ (you can change this figure) apply and only 2000 (you can change this figure) are accepted. My USMLE score is a reflection of the habit of hard work and dedication towards medicine. Ans001-17: As every student is a bit nervous while inserting needles into a human body, I also was when I started my internship after my graduation. Finding a vein was not a problem as I was good at that. Intravenous canulization was a mistake that took time to master. The needle would cross the vein and would not sit at the right angle. I have now mastered this art. Ans001-18: Criteria for ranking programs????? Ans001-19: There is always another day. I will continue with clinics at Houston. I will try nest time residency is offered. I have set my mind to it and I will achieve it. Ans001-20: Most men in school are not taught the basics about clothes or alteration which they should be when most end up living alone and doing most of the work themselves. Adjusting the length of one’s pants is a very easy task which every man should know. It requires an ordinary needle, some thread and the pants that need alteration. Hemming the pants is quite easy. Wear the shoes that you would normally wear to the office under the pants that need alteration. Mark the point that you need the pants to be at on the pants with a pencil. Take the needle and thread and the pants from the underside. Turn the pant inside and stitch on the seams with the needle. Secure the thread. Turn the right side up and see if the length is ok. Iron the pants so that stiches set at the lower end and a crease is created. There you go you have altered the length of your pants. Ans001-21: Criticism for the sake of criticism upsets me. Leg pulling criticism and demotivating criticism upsets me. People who are so insecure to cause emotional strain to people who have not caused any harm to them are the worst kind of criticism naturally inflicted on earth. They upset me the most. Ans001-22: I believe problems in life are a test of mettle. Therefore, careful thinking and planning can get anyone through any problem be it small or large. Problems are life’s part and parcel and they are necessary to shape a human being; to make him/her a better person. If not felt, life’s problems can become mere jokes and the lessons will be lost. Ans001-23: Medicine in India is totally different from medicine in United States. In United States the social security covers most of the expenses while in India although in Government hospitals the government bears most of the expenses, many amenities are not available like new infrastructure and machines. Due to overcrowded structures in the government sector India has a different approach towards private hospitals where fees are very high. In United States most amenities are available by government run hospitals and private healthcare is needed in selective cases. Ans001-24: Meticulous, hardworking and detail-oriented. Ans002-01: Adversity is part jealousy and it is a natural feeling when working in a competitive environment. I try my best to waive it off and not acknowledge its presence. If it does not die down that way, I confront it and try to bring out the reason for it. If a solution is possible, we work it out. If it was something wrong on my part I offer an apology. Ans002-02: I believe my being a good or prospective candidate for residency is not reflected by my USMLE scores alone. My letters of recommendation, evaluations and academic scores are a stark reality of my dedication towards medicine. Besides that certificates of excellence that I have for voluntary services are also an example of my commitment and hard work. Judging on the USMLE scores alone would make for a skewed decision. Ans002-03: I believe socialized healthcare is a second name given to the same form of government back healthcare that we have back in India but with added benefits. It is an excellent idea to provide healthcare at nominal costs so that everyone can afford it. This not only makes healthcare available to all- it makes the same type of facilities available to all which means not only savings at all levels of the society but also more tax for the government and in turn cyclical better facilities. People get to enjoy the lives they want and yet get good healthcare. Ans002-04: The most memorable encounter with a patient was during the Gujrat Earthquake when I was treating a small girl of 8. She had broken rib and scratches from rubble all over her face and hands. But her eyes sparkled with vigor and energy. She was not allowed to move a lot but she was very talkative and kept the tent space so active and lively that all of the doctors were just pulled to that tent and enjoyed talking to her. The energy she exhibited, in so much pain, still inspires me when I feel down. Ans002-05: From the personal statement and the same CV, you will also gather that I have worked in Houston hospital under a learned doctor. The hands-on experience not only gave me an idea of the working environment, it also gave me an idea of the country I was living in and the demands of the work force. The first few months were the adaptation period and I have come through them. Now I am well-settled and positioned for my residency. Ans002-06: Residency is training and learning period and I am here to do exactly that. I want to learn from the best. To get the best training available, to help more patients survive. I want to learn in depth the techniques used in United States and to apply them to not just help patients but to see them smile again. Ans002-07: I hope to learn from the best in the field and gain insight into the deeper echelons of medicine. Working as a team member I hope to be a good team member and be of assistance to my team members and gain mutually from them. Research opportunities that may come my way will be a good experience. As I want to do a fellowship in Pain Management I look forward to opportunities for it during my residency and hope to educate myself in the discipline to become a clinical physician. Ans002-08: Yes I can move out of Houston for my residency. My family consists of my wife only who is a very supportive lady. The two of us can move out to any station in the United States for me to complete my residency as long as she is with me. Ans002-09: My toughest challenge was to face my own sister’s untimely death due to Mucormycosis. The diagnosis came at the last hour and there was nothing that could have been dome to save her. We could not perform surgeries due to lack of facilities. Now I think if she were in the United States she could have been saved. I have never been able to overcome the shock completely considering that I myself am a doctor. Ans002-10: My most difficult patient was one with recurring back pain. The patient was in their prime and has recurring back pain which would subside after pain killers but would return as soon as the medicine was stopped. It was becoming difficult to figure out as there was no major problem with the patient. After hours of sessions I realized that the only problem with the patient was bad posture. The man sat in his office chair which would strain his back. Once that chair was changed the patient stopped complaining of back pain. Ans002-11: Residency for me is a step forward towards my ultimate goal of becoming a specialist. Doing it through your school is going to give me the perspective and breadth of knowledge that every specialist desires. I do have the right set of skills and academic and professional experience which will help go through the daily tasks of residency. Any shortcomings that I have will be done away with via this program with the help of learned people. Ans002-12: I can only provide you with what you will get if you pick me. I come in a package that promises dedication to work, hard work, meticulous and detail-oriented nature, a team-player and a responsible learner at all times. I do realize that your residency program is a huge investment that you do not want to go haywire. (I was posed this question once-not residency- answer and smile confidently) Ans002-13: Back in India the ranking in class is done differently. Only 1st, 2nd and 3rd students are told of their ranks, the rest have no ranking. They are either in the pass category or fail. Failures usually have to repeat their exams as supplementary exams. For me I have passed all my exams. I was fortunate enough not to give any supplementary exams. I used to participate in discussions in class. I had a group of friends where we talked about advancements in medicine happening all around. Ans002-14: I will not do abortions. My conscience does not allow it. I believe life starts when it is conceived and I do not believe that aborting living thing is ok. I am not against women who go for it. I am just against the whole practice of abortion. If someone does not want a child, they should take precautions for it. Ans002-15: I have talked to residents during medical school and while working in Houston about this and I have a fair picture of what residency means. Residency at some point will mean pushing myself beyond what I can do and I am enthusiastic about it. My mentors and friends have shown the right way to go about it. Although residency is a very busy time, it is undeniably the best time and the time where a person learns a lot; not just about work but about depending on others when things get a bit rough. When working in a team it is always mandatory that we support each other not just as staff but as human beings as well. Ans002-16: I do not see any problem in managing both lives. My wife is a very supportive lady who is more supportive of my residency than anyone else. Residency will reduce my leisure time, but the time I spend with my friends and family will definitely be quality time. Managing both lives will be a challenge for sure but I can live up to it. Having the support of a family has helped me through and through. Ans002-17: (WFUSoM) 1. How is the clinical experience? 2. How does the faculty get evaluated on their teaching ability? 3. How do residents do on their board exams? 4. Do your residents have time to read? 5. Have you had any residents leave or ask to leave the program within the past three years? 6. What are the biggest changes to occur with residency program in the past 5 years? 7. What is patient diversity and demographic at the hospital? Is this represented in the resident continuity clinic? Q: Why do you want to be a doctor? A: I want to be a doctor because of the inspiration that I got when I was young. I want to be a doctor because of the serene satisfaction I get when I treat my patients. They say that ‘your position gives you authority, but you behavior gives you respect’. The occupation of a doctor earns him respect even if they have little experience. With an exceptional experience and exceptional education, I believe a doctor can do wonders for a patient. Not just be a doctor in name, but be a doctor to save life. Q: Why do you wish to join our program? A: Your program has a smooth blend of opportunity, experienced staff and clinics. I can learn from people here and at the same time be a team player. The hands-on experience is pronounced as you have running clinics in internal and family medicine. As a resident I believe a hand-on approach towards learning is the best approach. Q: Why you had to take a qualifying USMLE exam twice? A: As you can see there is a difference of nearly 4 years between the two exam dates. Earlier I was caught up in family issues and marriage. I retook the exam last year after settling in United States and deciding whether I wanted to stay here or not. I have now settled in the work environment comfortably and have come to love it more every day. Q: What have you contributed to the society so far? A: Back in India I was a volunteer on the teams that went to the Gujrat earthquake. This was right after my graduation and house job. It was a wonderful experience and one that I never forget. In United States I got a chance to be useful to the society without any material benefits by volunteering for Houston Rockets Health Fair. Me with a team of doctors provided free of cost health exams, heart screenings and administered shots. I am always looking for ways to contribute to the society as much as I can. Q: Do you have any research plans for the future? A: Any opportunities that I may come by during residency are welcome as research broadens horizons. Be it any subject within the scope of internal or family medicine. Beyond residency I aim to do my fellowship in Pain Management only and any research in Pain Management will be my focus. I believe medical science cannot proceed without research. Q: What do you expect of this program? A: I expect it enroll me (you can joke here!) On a serious note I expect the program to give me opportunity to learn- in the complete literary sense of the word. I expect the program to be fair to all residents. Give me a challenge to rack my brain. Give me the best seniors to consult with. Give me the most inspiring cases to deal with. And yet give me some time to study. Q: Will you find it difficult to step into the role of a resident after having worked as a physician in your country for so many years? A: Every country has its rules and regulations. To practice as a proper doctor I need to be well-versed with your system and for that I need to take up residency. I don’t think it will be much of a problem for me as any foreigner who comes to United States has to go through the same procedure. I do have the advantage of having years of experience on my side which helps me rather than be a deterrent to work. Diagnosis can be easily made with experience. Q: Describe your learning style. A: My learning style is both from books and from experience. It stays with me if it comes from personal experience. I find what I do with my own hands or I see someone do much more effective. Books are good for learning the theoretical part. Q: With which types of patients do you have trouble dealing? A: In family and internal medicine, I have encountered all types of patients back in my country. In my short term in United States too I have seen many patients who are hard to tackle due to their resilient behaviors, but there is always a way to tackle such patients. From my volunteer work and shadowing doctors in United States and from my practice back home, I learnt that psychologically handling such patients is a better way than commanding over them. Q: What work day would you call as a good work day? A: A good work day during residency would go something like, catching the bus on time and being on time at the hospital, doing my wards and clinics efficiently and effectively. Learning at least two new things about medicine. Doing lunch on time. Studying at least single complete chapter of relevant things learnt. Making time for my daily jog through the park and getting to see my family and the news uninterrupted. Sleeping on time to start a new day. Q: If by chance you had not become a doctor, what would you have been instead? A: Striving hard for a goal does get one nearer to it. If at my worst I had been very unlucky, I would still have chosen a field closer to my ultimate goal of Pain Management. I would have taken either Physiotherapy or Pharmacy. I have a very helpful attitude towards people which is where my inspiration for a doctor comes from. I would have been involved in either of the two to help relieve many people of the ailments they face. Q: If we ask you to summarize your studies at your University, what would you say about it? A: Back in University I was an average to good student. Never a failure. I worked hard to keep up my grades. Most of the credit goes to the teachers I had at my university who were my role models as well. They not only educated me, they groomed me as well, encouraged me to take challenges as they come. I would say my studies were well-rounded with my course-work becoming value-added with each year. References WFUSoM. "Lifeline to residency interview." n.d. The University of Toledo. 27 8 2012. . Read More