Medicine is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see medicine going in the next five years, and what part do you intend to play as a Family Medicine Physician in the future?
This question is meant to explore your vision for medicine in the future because your interviewers want residents who will grow to be impactful physicians in their careers. Medical advancements happen all the time, and physicians need to be ready to adapt to new technology and procedures.
"I plan to stay within the state-of-the-art parameters and the standard of care, no matter where the future of medicine takes me. That means keeping up with the literature. Whether I'll be a follower or a leader in the future of medicine doesn't matter, as long as I am practicing the current standard of care, which I know will change all the time. I also know there will be times my patient will not fit comfortably in the center of the bell curve. There will be outliers, and that's when I'll lead for the sake of my patient. I can do this by exploring unusual options. As long as I do no harm, I can be creative in offering more than just book knowledge to my patient. Anytime I must deal with the inexactness of the science for the sake of my patient, I feel I'll be leading. I realize that the art of medicine means tangential thinking."
Before your family medicine residency interviews, make sure you know how telemedicine is impacting family practices around the world. You can find a lot of great reading materials on the subject before the start of your interviewers. Identify and explain whether you'll be a follower or a leader in this realm as a resident and as a physician in the future.
"Yes, over the past few years it has become clear that telemedicine is the new normal. I hope to be a part of providing excellent medicine whether in person or through telehealth. I think it is important to adapt and provide the best patient care possible."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
It doesn't matter if I will be a follower or a leader as soon as I am helping patients to feel comfortable and better. Certainly, telemedicine is easy for some people to compare to the in-office patients ( especially for those who are using public transport),
they need help too. This is a little challenging for physicians because we don't do a physical exam but we will learn how to deal with these patients.
Chad's Feedback
You are correct that telemedicine can be convenient for the patient, but present challenges for the physician. However, the interviewer will be expecting to hear your vision for medicine in the future. For instance, if you believe internet collaboration and telemedicine will continue to grow over the next 5 years, you could discuss how you plan to contribute to overcoming the associated challenge you identified (i.e. the lack of a physical exam).