Shuffle your interview practice

A 14 year old boy is diagnosed with a terminal illness. What should the physician do in this scenario?

Compare and contrast between public and private health care.

Public celebrity cases like the recent Depp vs. Heard case have shown how powerful and biased the ‘Court of Public Opinion’ can be. What kind of effects do you think public opinion can have on the legal process, if any? Do you think that certain court cases should be kept private and out of public view? Why or why not?

You are a judge for a student competition on public health. Student competitors had to present on a current health topic, describing the health issue, current solutions, and possible other health solutions. You and the rest of the judging panel have narrowed down the submission pool to two presentations; one on lung cancer and the other on geographical inequalities in population access to primary care. You and the other judges believe that both projects are extremely well done, but they vary significantly in their subject matter. The competition rules are clear that there can only be one winner. How would you go about choosing a winner?

Describe a time when you learned something new.

Discuss your perspective on how social media is being used in the context of medicine.

People infected with COVID-19 variants are experiencing a spectrum of symptoms with some suggesting that it can be compared to the flu or common cold. Some believe that the risk of vaccination side effects (e.g. inflammation of the heart) may outweigh the risk of contracting COVID. Discuss your stance on vaccination decision making when factoring side effects and contracting the disease.

Why do you like our school over other schools?

Medical school applicants come from a variety of different backgrounds, with volunteer and leadership experience ranging from small local initiatives to worldwide advocacy trips. Do you think medical schools can fairly compare volunteer and leadership experiences that are dissimilar? If you were in charge of medical school admissions, how would you evaluate applicants’ co-curricular experiences?

Describe a time when you improved on a weakness.

Can you tell me why a physician must also be a good collaborator, and provide examples?

What role do genetics and genetic testing have in the Canadian healthcare system?

You are a doctor working ER intake during a particularly busy shift. What do you do?

Bill-C7, which amended the Criminal Code to permit MAID for individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, was recently passed in Canada. What impact do you think this will have?

What characteristics do you think are important for a physician to possess as members within a team and why?

Experimental medicine can introduce hugely effective new methods of treatment for pathologies that previously could not be treated. Do you think experimental medicine research should be done with children? Why or why not?

Medical schools across Canada continue to switch between in-person and online delivery of medical education. Discuss the impact of online medical education.

A lot of people you work with have noticed that many random things which they own are going missing. It appears that some personal items that are not extremely valuable have gone missing over the course of the last two months. Regardless, many of your co-workers are concerned. What suggestions would you bring to an upcoming meeting with your co-workers about finding a way to address this issue?

You are a member of a student leadership group. You feel that one of the other members of the group only joined to use the experience as a "resume booster". They contribute only the bare minimum to the group and participate just enough to make regular attendance. What would you do in this situation?

You started your clerkship rotations coincidently with your best friend. In your conversations, he often mentions patients by name and gives details on their conditions as well as their behaviour. What are some ethical issues that may arise in such a situation?

You are a student in an advocacy group. You feel like another student in that group routinely dismisses the ideas of others and is often stuck in their own perspective of what is best. Do you say anything? If so, what do you say? What would you do if they left the advocacy group as a result of your discussion?

Describe a time when you did something you were not proud of.

What is your greatest weakness?

You are a family physician and another physician at the clinic is dating one of their patients. What would you do?

Describe a time when you felt ashamed.

Describe a time when you had to be a leader.

You say you enjoy helping others. There are many other careers other than medicine where you can do that. Why medicine?

Describe a time when you found that you had “too much on your plate”.

Dr. A is an exceptional surgeon, with by far the best surgical outcomes in the country. However, Dr. A is also highly prone to inter-professional conflict and is frequently disrespectful to patients, hospital staff and students. Do you think exceptional results justify problematic behaviour? If Dr. A threatened to quit in response to any required professional-development or sensitivity training, do you think that this would do more harm than good to patients? Why or why not?

If you were on the admissions committee, what would be the most important thing you look for in a candidate?

Tell me about a time you handled interpersonal conflict.

Describe a time when you had to deliver bad news.

Do you think physicians should lie or withhold the truth from their patients, even if its for the patient’s own good? What are some benefits to telling the truth?

You are an attending physician who works at a busy hospital. Patient X frequently ignores the medical advice given by you and seems to dislike being in the hospital. How would you go about handling such patient encounters?

What is one lasting effect on healthcare from the COVID-19 pandemic?

What would you consider before moving your practice to a rural setting?

Describe a time when you did something wrong.

Recently truckers have gathered to form a convoy in protest of certain decisions made by the federal government. What are your thoughts on this demonstration?

Describe a time when you asked for help.

Why do you want to be a doctor?

Why is confidentiality important for physicians? In what cases should physicians breach confidentiality? Have you ever had to break confidentiality in your life? Why or why not?

You are a medical student. Another medical student, Sam, invites you to a study group with three other students. At the study group, you find that the students are using real cases from their clinical rotations. When you ask Sam about this, they explain that the group removes always patient identifiers and that they feel that current cases are a great way to learn medicine.What considerations should be made in this situation? Would you say anything further to Sam? Are there any other actions you would take?

You are a medical student on rotation in the emergency department with Dr. A. A patient comes in complaining about pain in their hip. Dr. A gives them some medication and the patient very quickly appears to improve and leaves the hospital feeling better. After the patient leaves, Dr. A reveals that the drug was a placebo and that that particular patient comes in often with a pain complaint that "has no pathological basis". Dr. A says that in cases like that, a placebo can be enough to help patients feel better and that telling patient it is a placebo would ruin the effect. What ethical issues do you see here? Would you say anything to Dr. A? Should you report this behaviour?

Tell me about the best day of your life.

What are some difficulties faced by physicians during the pandemic?

Tell me about the last time you were upset.

Your friend tells you that he wants to take an "Introduction to Spanish" course to boost his GPA even though he is a native Spanish speaker. Native speakers are not allowed to take the course. What do you tell your friend?

Who is your mentor?

When do laws deviate from ethics?

Choose a health care debate and discuss both sides. Which side do you agree with most?

One of the patients hands you a basket of baked goods and wine for the holidays as a gift. What would you do?

Physicians are expected to be leaders. In today’s health care system, do you think leadership is important – if so, why?

What is one currently feasible change you could make to improve the condition of indigenous and rural healthcare?

What do you think are the long-term benefits of the Jordan principle, for the indigenous community on a population level?

How has technology improved healthcare?

Describe a time when you doubted yourself.

How would you go about convincing a parent who does not want to vaccinate their newborn?

Describe a time when you had to say “no”.

What are the three qualities you believe would make you a great physician?

A drug formulary is a list of generic and brand name prescription drugs covered by your provincial health insurance. With a finite provincial budget, how would you determine which drugs should not be included in the drug formulary (not covered by health insurance)?

What would you hope to achieve as a physician?

You have two patients who have been admitted after a serious accident. Both require immediate attention in order to survive. One patient is 20 years old; the other is 60 years old. Which life would you save?

What role has the internet played in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The Cannabis Act 2018 came into action across Canada. What are your thoughts on how this Act has affected Canadians?

Is physician assisted suicide a potential asset or is it a liability to an effective healthcare system?

What is the Jordan principle? What are some long-term benefits of this principle to a child’s life?

During your shift, you notice your preceptor is intoxicated. What do you do?

There have been more medical students and physicians participating in activism. What is your perspective on our role in activism?

What do you think health inequality means? What does health inequity mean? Have you ever felt treated unfairly in your own life?

Describe a time when you felt you were treated unfairly. What did you do about it?

Describe a time when you had to be a follower.

Lord Byron stated “always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine.” What does this quote mean to you in terms of how you will pursue your career in medicine?

Discuss your perspective on shifting the COVID-19 crisis from a pandemic to an endemic. What are the positives and negatives? Who stands to benefit and face harm as a result of such a decision? What do you think is the best course of action going forward?

What are some ways to reduce healthcare inequalities in Canada?

You are playing the card game hearts, and your partner is demonstrably less skilled and experienced than you. After a few hands, you both are down by over 100 points as a team, mostly because your partner keeps apologizing for making stupid mistakes during the game. What do you say to your partner?

In healthcare, mandatory vaccinations has been met with mostly support. With COVID-19, mandatory vaccinations and booster shots have been further explored ethically and pragmatically. Discuss your perspective on mandatory vaccinations for COVID-19 compared to others (e.g. flu).

What responsibilities do physicians have in informing the general public about topics related to medicine?

Most Canadians have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Why do you think some Canadians are choosing not to get the vaccine?

It sounds really bad. You are on an airplane and after you have taken off for a 4-hour flight, a baby sitting right behind your seat starts to cry. As time goes on, even while you have earphones, the screams don’t stop. The parent accompanying the child keeps trying to quiet the baby down but to no avail. For every passing minute, the screams get louder and louder. What do you do?

Describe a time when you stood up for someone.

What are your thoughts and feelings on reflecting your life during the COVID pandemic?

During your final exams week, your grandmother calls and tells you she feels lonely. What would you do?

What career would you choose other than medicine, and why?

What health issue within our province are you most passionate about? Why?

Describe a time when you made sacrifices to excel at something (can be any activity).

During COVID-19, the Maritimes created an "Atlantic Bubble". What do you think about this decision by public health?

A couple has decided to have a child through artificial insemination. They asked the doctor for sex selection of the child. What should the physician do?

Why do you wish to attend our medical school?

Describe a time when you helped someone in need.

Aside from the Medical Expert role, select another CanMED role and discuss why you think it is the most important one for a physician.

You are a physician and you have been treating a patient in the hospital for several days. How would you handle this situation?

You are a family physician. You notice bruises on your patient, a 10 year boy. What would you do?

What problems lie at the intersection of indigenous people's relationship with government operated healthcare in Canada and rural communities?

What about our school appeals to you in terms of your medical education?

Describe a time when you were scared.

What are your thoughts on universal basic income?

What is your opinion on medicine and research?

How would you go about suggesting to a family member that they get vaccinated if they are anti-vaccine?

A friend who on the basis of religious beliefs is anti-abortion has just had an argument with their daughter who is pro-abortion rights and is asking you for advice on how to handle the situation what would you do?

What is the biopsychosocial model of medicine and what role does it play in the field of medicine?