please answer these questions

[shawty ya'head]

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what is the biggest problem in entering medicine?
who are your role models, positive and negative?


i got those in an interview today...i think i came up with sucky reponses....wondering what you all think.

 

[SFMDBound]

I think I actually got asked both those questions at U. of Maryland. For biggest problem facing medicine, I spoke of the downspiralling effect created by 50 million uninsured -- more pressures on ERs, which in turn raise insurance costs, making insurance even more unaffordable, and in some cases, the closure of some hospitals' entire ERs -- i.e. more uninsured. This is probably a pretty generic answer, I think its the details you mention in your response that matter.
Positive role model: I spoke of a fellow I work with who I have a lot in common with, and how I admire the way she works with patients in a professional, down to earth and compassionate manner and also is unbelievably committed and intelligent.
Negative: I did a crappy job coming up with a negative role model - I could think of tons of bad people/doctors, but my interviewer wanted one that I had actually worked with.
Hope this helps!

 

[shawty ya'head]

bump....please

 

[KiKat37]

I wouldn't talk about insurance for the biggest problem facing medicine. It's an obvious response and it's a dangerous topic. What if the interviewer then asks you the terrible "how would you fix it?" I always avoid the topic because I'm in favor of socialized health care and many many docs don't share my opinion.

So, I would say ethical issues. For example, as we make advances in science and create new technologies/drugs/etc, we are able to keep dying patients alive longer and longer... but we don't necessarily provide them with better quality of life in their last days/months. So, what's gonna happen with the euthanasia issue in the next few decades?

Obviously, you could also talk about stem cell research. How is that going to change the role of the doc? As time goes by and scientific progress is made, stem cell research will create tremendous hope and also introduce ethical concerns that we have never had to confront before. For instance, will stem cell research indirectly lead to cloning? Will scientists attempt to clone human beings to create “individual designer stem cells,” essentially to grow a copy of you, to be available in case you need another heart or lung or liver? And, what would the new duties of physicians be? Will they encourage the creation of designer stem cells and present them as an option to their transplant patients? Or, will they oppose it and jump back at the idea of growing spare body parts?

My positive role model, probably my undergrad research mentor... for many different reasons.

Negative role model, I have no idea... Good question! I'll think about it. 😉

 

[Sundarban1]

I wouldn't talk about insurance for the biggest problem facing medicine. It's an obvious response and it's a dangerous topic.

While I agree with this statement, I think that when you answer the question "whats the biggest problem facing medicine...etc." no matter what your answer is,you are opening the scope of questions to follow. I think the key is to know the facts regarding the issue you write about, and being prepared to answer sticky questions that may follow.