What do you feel is the single most important quality a Physician should possess?

"I believe that the most important quality for a Physician to possess is integrity. In the end, practicing medicine will always come down to putting the patient's needs first. Integrity for a physician also comes down to treating all attending staff with respect and being dedicated to bettering themselves in their craft. Integrity is essential, and I work hard to build my integrity level daily. I do this by making ethical decisions, working hard, and doing the right thing, even when it isn't the easiest option."

"I believe a Physician should possess empathy, above and beyond all other attributes, as this will carry any helping provider throughout their career with the right directives. Without understanding my patients' concerns and complaints, I would be doing them a significant disservice by simply providing 'textbook treatment.' I have already been building my empathy skills by taking on volunteer experiences outside my comfort zone and carefully examining any unconscious bias I may possess."

This question is an opportunity to give a unique answer, so try to dig deeper than 'good bedside manner' or 'strong attention to detail.' Put some thought into how you want to answer this question before your interview, knowing that you'll ideally want to discuss your penchant for the quality you discuss. Some possible things to consider discussing include an unrelenting drive, continually seeking innovation and improvement, patience, and holding yourself to a high degree of integrity.