How will you work effectively and collaboratively as part of a larger care team as a fellow with our program?
You need to be prepared to step in and be a team player with faculty, fellowship colleagues, and all members of the larger care team. The interviewers want to know that you are a team player, regardless of personality or work style differences. They'll also want to hear that you are a natural leader.
"During medical school, I learned how important teamwork is in a clinic or hospital setting. These skills were only strengthened during my residency training. I intend to bring my top-notch communication skills to your fellowship program. I maintain open lines of communication with my colleagues and support staff. In a busy unit, there can be a hundred things happening at once, and the only way for the team to keep abreast of everything is through communication. I'm also excited to take charge of a care team. You'll quickly find that people typically work well with my leadership style. I listen to ideas from everyone, show respect for everyone I work with, and don't hesitate to grab the bull by the horns when needed."
The goal of your response is to describe your approach to collaborating with others while highlighting how your collaboration style will be a good match for the fellowship program you are interviewing with. Highlight your leadership skills, communication skills, listening skills, and the respect you show for others in a working environment. If you have examples of times you've proven to be a team player, don't hesitate to share them.
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
In residency, we work in large care teams on our children’s rotation in the multidisciplinary cleft/craniofacial clinic. There can be a lot of things going on and every person brings their own stake on what the care would like to emphasize for the patient. In these settings, I learned that active listening, open communication, and showing respect are essential to getting tasks done.
Jaymie's Feedback
Excellent demonstration of several critical skills to effectively collaborate with others for the betterment of patients.
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