assalamu alaikum,
im a hijabi sister (american grad) applying for FP and have had two interviews already that went well alhamdulillah. i wasn't asked about my hijab at my interviews, however im prepared in case they do. the best thing would be to answer in a positive light and, if possible, not dwell on the issue. i assume my evaluations and recommendations show that i have good patient-interactions that have not been negatively affected by hijab, and i would tell them that (in a nice polite way). whatever u do, make it positive.
i also think it depends on where u are applying, if ppl are closeminded and ignorant at that hospital, then u will be more likely to have problems. its good to know ahead of time if they are stupid like that because then u can choose not to rank them, if u have the choice. at my medical schl's hospital, there are a few hijabi residents (medicine, psych, ob/gyn).
as for the hand-shaking, ppl here will not understand that u will be able to treat men (during residency) if u avoid shaking a man's hand. so maybe the best thing to do, would be to submit a short letter (after u have scheduled ur interview) stating very briefly that, per religious requirements you generally avoid unnecessary physical contact with men, such as hand shaking. but that this would not interfere with your residency (and did not interfere with your medical school training) since you feel that examining men in a medical setting is a necessary thing and that you will not have (and have not had) any objections to conducting thorough exams on any men that you will care for during ur residency. Ask that they please share this information with ur male interviewers as you do not want to offend anyone.
