DO Interview Questions
What are your biggest strengths?
- Leadership - RCA and Climbing Club (by example) Feedback - Communication - hard communication to create cohesive work between coworkers better for students Vulnerability - RCA listening validating emotions
What will you do if you are not accepted to medical school this year? Do you have an alternative career plan?
- Scribe and reapply in May - If I am not accepted again, I will continue to pursue a medical career. I want to be able to work and provide support to my community and I believe through medicine, I can make the largest impact I can. Our family friend Brad is a PA and has worked hand and hand with Dr. Norris for almost 15 years. He is competent and a well rounded PA that is an asset on Dr. Norris's team. I would be able to serve my community
What is the greatest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Bike and build
Describe an experience where you helped others.
Brandon - angry from letters and went after peers - sat down with him and dug deep when not upset - talked through trust and leadership
Why have you chosen our school specifically?
Campbell: Mission to serve underserved communities in NC Goals to do
Tell us about a particular meaningful extracurricular activity.
Climbing
What are your hobbies? Do you plan to continue these hobbies while in medical school?
Climbing, biking, volunteering Yes, community engagement is important to me exercise helps to mitigate stress and increase educational proformance
If you had to choose between clinical and academic medicine as a profession, which would you pick? What do you feel you might lose by being forced to choose?
Clinical Yes
What do you think are the most important qualities in a physician?
Compassion - creates comfort, understanding, caring for the patient, and vulnerability courage - moral courage, delivering care to infectious patient, meeting an angry pateint or family member, addressing a medical error, being able to deliver bad news to a pateint Honesty - it is important for a physician to be straight forward with a pateint to give the patient autonomy, I know sometimes the most truthful answer is not the most helpful thing to say but it is important to inform you patients
What are your thoughts on euthanasia?
Depends on local laws In the United States, the withholding and withdrawal of life support is legally justified primarily by the principles of informed consent and informed refusal, both of which have strong roots in the common law. The principles hold that treatment may not be initiated without the approval of patients or their surrogates excepting in emergency situations, and that patients or surrogates may refuse any or all therapies. The application of these principles to the care of the critically ill began in the Quinlan case (6), in which the New Jersey Supreme Court held that a patient had the right to refuse mechanical ventilation, and that, because she was vegetative and could not exercise that right directly, her parents could act as surrogates for her. The California Court of Appeals took a similar approach in the Barber case (7), in which it held that physicians charged with murder had not committed an unlawful act when, with permission from a patient's family, they removed nutrition and hydration from a comatose patient.
A pregnant 15-year-old unmarried teenager comes into your office asking for an abortion. What would you do? Would you inform her parents?
Depends on the local laws of a minor - I would inform the parents if minor
What have you learned from shadowing a doctor?
Empathy and compassion
What is the last book you read?
Everest Diary
How would you feel about treating a patient who has tested positive for HIV?
Every person deserves to be treated. As a doctor I will make an oath to serve humanity. This individual is a human and therefore deserves my attention and help to cure, heal, or prolong their life. That is my understanding of medicine. Be there for the ones that need you the most.
Who are your role models?
Grandfather
Who was your biggest inspiration in your decision to pursue medicine?
Grandfather - grew up very poor in NYC and worked hard in school - applied and went to medical school - worked as a family doctor for a number of years until he decided to become an OB/GYN - my father was working a lot so he would pick me up take me shooting guns, hunting, fishing, and instilled hard work in me - he told me I needed to work hard in school because education is the most important thing I can do - He delivered tons of babies _ I was proud of the hard work and work in the community he did - worked at forsyth hospital
If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Grandmother - melanoma Tommy Cawldwell Anthony Faucci
Why do you want to become a DO?
Grandpa, Dad Left school and went to RCA - direct work on health care enjoyed the healing process and wanted to shadowed Dr. Norris solidified my mission Grandpa and Dad - physicians created a good amount of impact RCA - Tommy and helping others watching them grow, service to others Steps - Dr. Norris compassion, empathy, problem solving in the room and in the OR - watching him lead his team of nurses and make autonomous decisions
You observe a fellow medical student cheating in an exam. What would you do?
I believe that issues should be resolved, if they can, with the person that you have the problem with. I would confront them and let them know that I saw what they did. From there I would make a decision to intervene more. I would want to know why they cheated and how I can guide them in a different direction. If they are unwilling to see their error than perhaps reporting the issues is necessary.
What experiences have you had in the medical field?
I have shadowed Dr. Norris a surgeon from Greensboro, NC. - clinical - helped with cortizone shots - watched and learned examinations
Would you get out of your car to help a victim after observing an accident?
I was trained as a WFR because I wanted to provide care to people that are caught in an accident. It is my duty as a citizen to help people in need.
How would you tell a patient just diagnosed with cancer that they only have a few weeks to live?
I would have them sit down and I would tell them straight up. I think being honest with someone in that condition can be a little comforting. I would make sure to tell them what their chance is but I would make sure they also understand the probabilities of a bad outcome.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
It depends on the field that I pursue. - ortho - 7 years -primary care or ER - 3 years I would either still be in residency or either way I see myself married with a child or two.
How are you a match for our medical school?
MISSION CAMPBELL: The mission of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) is to educate and prepare community-based osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment to care for the rural and underserved populations in North Carolina, the Southeastern United States and the nation.
Which college course did you enjoy the most and why?
Microbiology Viruses - RNA dependent RNA polymerase
What are your specific goals in medicine.
My goals in medicine are simple I want to work in underserved communities both national and abroad. I have talked with a primary care physician how has worked in an inner city clinic that helps to work with tansgender individuals. My specific goals in medicine can be divided into categories of research and service work, but really, my ultimate goal is to synthesize the two. I have always wanted to work in underserved communities both nationally and abroad, and this is a commitment I do not intend to change. However, I have recently been personally impacted by both basic science and clinical research. I have immersed myself in this world, and found that I really love it. My ultimate goal is to work with patients and the community to determine what the most pressing issues are. I will then take this information and collaborate with other scientists, public health workers, etc. to develop better solutions and to deliver these solutions in an ethical manner to those who are often marginalized. This mentality of learning from and cooperating with others to give the best care to as many people as possible is something I will maintain throughout my career.
If a close family member ran a red light, would you inform the authorities?
No, I would confront their action and create an area of communication and understanding
How well do you feel you function under pressure?
Quite well: story climbing no gear
How do you plan to pay for your education?
Savings, loans, NHSC scholar ships
What have you learned from your volunteering experiences?
Some of my most impactful experiences volunteering were when I served underrepresented communities. - Bike & Build a nonprofit bike across the country - opened my eyes to rural America and how they seem to be left behind compared with larger cities - Most impactful experience was working at a homeless shelter in Huntington, WV. They worked to get people in before getting sober. Made little and some used to be homeless themselves - saving lives and I realized I needed to continue to work and serve these communities.
Which field of medicine are you most interested in?
Surgery (Orthopedics), Emergency Room (Father), Family practice (being able to generate a lot of good for a family.
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?
The 20 year old has more of their life ahead of them. The 60 year old has experienced more. If I were the older person I would want the younger person saved, because even though both lives are valuable I would want to give the 20 year old a second chance at life to live and flourish into an adult and maybe start a family.
What schools have you applied to?
VCOM - virginia Rocky Vista University PNWU Western U Oklahoma COM Touro COM in Nevada NY institute of tech Idaho College Lake Erie College Midwestern University in Chicago and a few more
Tell us about yourself.
climbing - physically hard, and mentally hard, problem solving when you do not have the right gear, allows me to experience nature vegetarian - climate change, healhthier, carbon footprint, morally right Community service - kindness to others, emersion of diversity, learning from the experience, reminding me of the importance to be a community leader Teaching - being of service, opportunity to pay the kindness forward and work, helping people overcome difficult topics that I also had trouble with Reaching underserved communities, ethical treatment, educate communities, driven to healthy life
What are your biggest weaknesses?
communication working on
