Spend time thinking about your communication strengths before the interview. Be prepared to discuss what makes you great at communicating with patients, colleagues, and support staff. More importantly, reiterate why solid communication skills are vital for any physician. It's best to address both verbal and written communication in your response.

"My communication skills are rooted in compassion and educating others when appropriate. I'm also an active listener, which is a crucial component of communication. I treat every conversation with the utmost respect no matter who I'm speaking to. As a resident, my colleagues and patients expected me to communicate information thoughtfully and empathetically, and I've worked hard to refine those skills throughout my training so far. When I'm communicating in writing, I'm also very careful about tone because I know it's often hard to read someone's intentions through words on a screen."