What makes being a family practitioner so special to you?
"Being a family practitioner is a great opportunity. I don't know if I could choose one thing that alone makes being a family physician special. I like the feeling of being able to work in a family atmosphere that I get being a general practitioner."
"Having the opportunity to care for people in need is a special feeling in itself. Being a physician makes me feel even more special because I have learned skills and obtained knowledge about things that others rely upon to help improve not only their quantity of life but the quality of their life. That means more than words can say."
Being a physician means you are involved in the lives of many people. While there may be instances when an outcome is not the positive one you may have hoped for, there are also times that things do go well, or something that happens that leaves you feeling fulfilled by your job. Interviewers like to know the things that make you feel happy or well-accomplished in your job.
"There are many things that are special about being a family practice physician. Being a family practitioner gives me the opportunity to get to know my patients and care for them, often for the long-term versus being an emergency room or specialty physician who may only see a patient a few times. The bonds that we develop with patients are highly gratifying."
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
Family medicine is special because it is very challenging. The challenges include working with different age groups and different stages of disease (acute and chronic). It presents a good opportunity to use all of my previous experience.
Rachelle's Feedback
Good start! I recommend that you expand on your thought regarding combining your previous experience and your work as a family physician.
Anonymous Answer
The longitudinal relationships with the patients are very valuable to me. During my observership experiences in Family Medicine clinics in Canada, sometimes I saw that a patient and their families are seen by the family doctor for 3-4 generations! That deep relationship was fascinating to me. The more you know the dynamics of a person and their family in time, the better you can communicate with them, and I believe this good communication is one of the most important factors in providing patients with top-notch care. In addition, I would know what the values and standpoints of the patients are, and I could benefit from those to guide the management and help them better. I always compare this to how a mother knows their children. When family physicians feel that their knowledge is not enough they can use the help of other specialties, collaborate with them, and lead the medical team to reach the optimum point of care for the patients. I find no other specialties that offer these fascinating points.
Chad's Feedback
Excellent answer! Your response comes across as well thought out and genuine, and you do a good job supporting your reasoning around the importance of long-term relationships with patients. Nice work!
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