UNMC Interview Questions

If you could be any animal, what would it be?

Alpine swift. I just think flying would be so cool and alpine swifts can fly for six months at a time without stopping. It seems freeing, no natural predators.

What is evidence-based practice?

An approach that integrates the best available research and scientific evidence into clinical practice.

How do you handle stress?

I actually had a conversation with my doctor recently about managing stress and he recommended meditation. I have been giving it a try and it has been really helpful for me. I have learned a lot of breathing techniques that have helped ground me when I am stressed. I also make sure I budget enough time to spend with my friends and family that helps me recharge my battery when I am stressed or overwhelmed with work.

Why did you decide to pursue MD instead of another health profession such as a nurse or a do?

I wanted to diagnosis and only a physician can do that. I also enjoy being a leader and delegating work.

Suppose you walk into a hospital room to work with a patient and she refused because her favorite show is on. What would you do in a situation like this?

If the treatment I am meant to offer is urgent I would inform the patient of all the benefits of the treatment and the consequences of not doing the treatment at that moment to make sure she is fully aware. However, if she still denied, I would have to wait as I can't force treatment on anybody.

What is your greatest academic achievement?

Maintaining such a good GPA and getting on the Dean's list every semester of college.

What would you like to do if you are not accepted into medical School?

Medical school has been my plan A and only plan for as long as I can remember. However, if I do not get accepted, I still know my passion is medicine and I would remain in the medical field. I would most likely try to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. I love the diagnostic side of medicine and radiology so this would be a way for me to still have the best of both worlds. All this being said I don't think I will allow myself to be happy until I am a physician.

What quality do you possess that you think makes you most eligible for medical school? Explain how you possess this trait.

My curiosity. I have a need to learn and it makes me willing to do all my schoolwork without complaint. It is how I have been able to maintain such a good GPA and apply myself in school.

Describe someone or something that provides a strong influence in your life. How long have you had this influence present in your life? How has this influence guided your actions, decisions?

My older sister has been one of the biggest influences in my life. She has always been so selfless which is a quality I have tried to adapt for myself. She is one of the hardest workers I know. She has always pushed me wether it was going to soccer practice when I didn't want to or going to review sessions for school, she is always looking out for me and my best interests. I am far more responsible because of her and I am more aware of other people and their motives and emotions because of her guidance.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

My short-term goal is simply becoming a board certified physician. Long term, I would like to specialize, right now I'm thinking radiology but I have heard that can change with rotations so I don't want to force myself into one category right now.

Describe an accomplishment that made you proud. What obstacles did you encounter in your pursuit of this achievement? How did you overcome them? What did you learn?

Participating in research. Starting research and using software was something I was initially hesitant and afraid as I had never done it before. When I began my research I was joining a group that had already been working on the project for a year and I had no idea what they were talking about in the beginning. However, I learned how to use visual studio code and I am happy I did it.

How have your learned from your observations or clinical experiences?

Probably the biggest thing I have learned from my clinical experience has been proper bedside manner. There is a certain way you should talk to patients. Even little things like not asking "how are you?" cause the answer to that question is probably pretty clear.

Describe a non-academic interest where you have learned a skill or gained new knowledge. How long have you been involved in this special interest? What knowledge have you developed? How has it expanded your ability to try new things or think differently?

Soccer. Learned how to be a part of a time., resilience, perseverance, work ethic.

What qualities do you see in yourself that relate to you as a professional? Discuss them.

Strong work ethic, resilience, perseverance, ability to collaborate, empathy

Explain a time during observation or as an aide that had the biggest impact on you personally.

While working in the emergency department, I overheard a mother crying while her child was being treated. I tend to focus on the medical side of a physician when in reality, it is incredibly important to be empathetic and care for not only the patient's mental health but also their friends and family members.

What experience do you have working with children under 14, and the elderly?

Worked with both in the Emergency Department. Shadowing a nurse at Flagstaff Medical Center.

Which types of experiences have you had with diverse populations?

Working with members of the Navajo Nation, Working with rural residents - all in the Emergency department

What are three things you would like to accomplish as a MD?

1. Participate in Research 2. Serve minority communities 3. Provide health education to rural communities

What is the difference between learning in an undergraduate program and learning in a professional school program?

A professional school program is definitely more focused on career readiness and its much more specific and narrow to a single broad topic than the many you encounter in an undergraduate program.

What do you think are the most challenging aspects of being a physician?

At times a physician can be a very stressful job and as a physician you bear a lot of the responsibility. I think a lot of times, you can't take your work home with you. In addition, a physician can be a physically demanding job.

Why is it important to communicate with other healthcare professionals?

Bouncing ideas off each other, making new discoveries, making sure we are on the same page about how to treat a patient, finding the best options to treat a patient.

Describe a time where you were overloaded with work/school etc. and how you handled it.

During fall of my junior year I was taking anatomy 2, ochem 2, physics 2 and the labs for these courses all while also trying to study for the MCAT. I found something called the pomodoro method. This helped me a lot with taking breaks and focusing. I also designated sundays to doing no work and going on some kind of outdoor adventure to keep me from burning out.

What do you anticipate to be the most challenging part for you in our MD program?

Finding a balance between my course load and my personal life.

Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act where an individual or group was being treated unfairly or discriminated against. What happened? How did you respond or not respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? What did you learn from this experience?

Going to school at NAU, I have become close with many different members of the Navajo nation. A school day happened to line up with a solar eclipse. The eclipse is an incredibly sacred time for the Navajo Nation and they are meant to stay inside and rest and they cannot look at the eclipse. However, our university still required them to come to class and posted the eclipse on the universities social media pages without any warning. I did not do anything or say anything at the time because I felt I did not have the authority to stand up to my university. However, I do wish I spoke up now. If no one ever challenges them, no change will happen. And NAU is built on stolen Navajo land so the least we can do is respect their culture.

Questions for interviewers or panel of students?

Have you utilized your director of academic advising and how have they helped you? What options are there for medical students to get involved in research at UNMC? How have you managed to stay afloat in medical school? What do you think is the number one thing a student can do to succeed in this program? What is the longitudinal clinical experience like? Are you with the same physician for the duration of the experience? Is it in internal medicine?

Describe a personal goal that you have completed. How did this goal originate? What was your timeline to complete this goal? What efforts did you set to achieve this goal? Did your goal change over time? What did you learn about yourself in completing this goal? Did this impact or change who you are?

I always wanted to participate in undergraduate research. I have always wanted to be a part of a team leading innovative discoveries and creating something of value. I wanted to accomplish this before my senior year. I started trying to create good relationships with my biology professors who might be able to set me up with research opportunities. My goal did not change overtime. I learned I am more resilient than I thought

What MD specialties are you most and least excited about and why?

I am most excited for pediatrics as that is something I am interested in and I think the differences between caring for an adult vs a child are very nuanced and I find it fascinating. I am probably the least excited for internal medicine just because it is so broad and I like to get into the nitty gritty details of a case but even with internal medicine, I think I will still really enjoy learning there and the diagnostic side of medicine.

How do you embody the idea of teamwork within the context of medicine?

I can communicate collaboratively and I would love to work with other physicians when treating and diagnosing a patient. I am respectful and supportive, I would love hearing any ideas my colleagues have and bouncing ideas off each other. I can hold others accountable as I would want them to do the same for me.

Why do you want to be a student at this program?

I can serve the same communities that raised me, Longitudinal clinical experience, UNMC reputation, DAA, research opportunities.

What are your weaknesses?

I can struggle with time management and deadlines at times. I am a perfectionist and I can always find issues with my work and things to correct. It is something I have been working on and gotten much better at through college. At times I can also get easily overwhelmed. I just need to remind myself to take a breath, pause and collect myself, and then get back to it.

Explain a patient interaction you have had either through observation or work that has really stood out to you.

I had a conversation in the emergency department with a woman who used to be an emergency department nurse. She was getting older and she discussed with me how hard it is to go from the one treating to being treated. I thought it was interesting because it really puts your own mortality in perspective and makes you think about how you would want to be treated if you were the patient.

Describe a community in which you have participated, are a member, and/or have made contributions. How long have you been involved with this group, and why this community? How did you serve and/or contribute? How has your involvement helped make this community better

I have been a volunteer at the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Department for about a year and a half now. I love the busy environment of the ED and the staff there is constantly doing things so being able to help out and make their lives easier is great. As one of the volunteers that has been there the longest now, I have trained countless other volunteers. I was spoke to our head volunteer coordinator about getting more patient experience for the volunteers and he then allowed us to start rounding on patients in the Emergency Department.

What are you specifically doing to improve your weaknesses?

I have been working on my time management skills by designating blocks of time throughout the week to work on my projects. I have a plan to finish all of my projects at least two days before so I can spend the last two days editing and making sure I am okay with my final product.

From conducting observation hours, what is one challenge that you have faced and how did you overcome it?

I met a woman who had previously suffered from a left hemisphere stroke and had limited mobility on her right side. She was having difficulty eating when I entered her room and she was clearly getting frustrated. I grabbed an ACE bandage from the stock room and wrapped her hand and the utensil together and she was able to eat much better.

Why do you want to become a doctor?

I never felt like I had found a passion in school until I took my first anatomy course. I finally felt like I had a purpose and a career path I would be interested in. I knew I needed to job that would give me fulfillment. I want to go into work everyday knowing what I do is important. I love caring for others and I can think of no greater honor than becoming a physician.

When was the last time you read a book? Tell me about it and why you did or didn't like it.

I recently read when breath becomes air. It is an autobiography about Dr. Kalanthi who was a neurosurgeon diagnosed with stage 5 lung cancer. It was released posthumously and I thought it was a beautiful book. It was all about his experience being a physician and then having to trade in the lab coat for a patient gown and his struggles with his own mortality. I found it inspiring and incredibly motivating.

What are some things that you could work on to improve as a student?

I think I can always ask more questions and try to build strong relationships with my educators as they are great resources to have as I continue my academic journey.

What qualities make you an ideal candidate for our program?

I think my curiosity makes me a great candidate for UNMC. Part of the reason why I chose to apply to this school was because of how big on research UNMC is. I have prior experience in research and I would love to continue to participate in research for UNMC.

Describe a situation where you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group's goals. What was your role? What responsibilities did you assume? Did you encounter any obstacles? If so, how did you overcome them? What did you learn? What would you do differently?

I was designated as the group leader in my Bio writing class in college. I was responsible for submitting all our assignments, editing our final document, and making sure all group members participated. At times, my group members would not do their work and I had to figure out how to have some difficult conversations. I had to have conversations with my peers in ways that did not come off as me attacking them or speaking to them in a condescending way. I figured out how to get them to collaborate with me rather than me just telling them what to do. I asked them questions about how we could do things differently and I got them to particpiate.

What is one time when you had to work closely with others as a team to accomplish an important work activity or project?

I was in a BIO writing course. The entire class was working with the same group to submit a literature review, grant proposal, and presentation.

How would you handle a frustrated patient?

I would be patient and listen to my patient and their concerns. I would be attentive and try to address whatever issues they may have with me, the staff, or their treatment and see if there are better options from them. I would try to be empathetic and validate the problems they are facing.

What kind of post-graduate focuses/specializations do you envision yourself persuing in the field of your choice and what draws you to them?

I would really like to work in radiology I am not sure what I would further sub specialize in that field wether it is musculo skeletal radiology or interventional radiology. I love radiology because the diagnostic part of radiology is my favorite part and if I have to do any procedures they would be minimally invasive but I haven't decided if I want to go the procedural or non procedural route.

During an examination, a patient refers to you in a racist or sexist manner. How would you properly deal with this patient in a professional manner?

I would remind the patient of our roles in the situation and tell them those are not appropriate comments to make in the situation. I would remind them for me to help them, I need them to cooperate with me and if I give them respect, I expect that same respect back.

What would you do if you saw a classmate cheating on a test?

This is a difficult situation as no one wants to be a snitch however it is unfair for you to do the work and have someone not put in the same amount of effort and still get a good grade. I would probably take it up with the student first and tell them I saw them cheating. It is easy to make a dispositional attribute and call that student lazy or incompetent however, you never know what someone could be going through. If it is a one time offense and they learn from their mistakes, I think I have it in my heart to forgive them and not completely destroy their academic career.

What are three traits or characteristics a physician should possess and why are they important?

good communication - with the patient and other physicians, empathy, and curiosity - the need to constantly discover new solutions and find solutions for better patient care.