35 Gastroenterology Fellowship Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Gastroenterology Fellowship interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

Table of Contents

1. Behavioral Questions
2. Communication Questions
3. Direct Questions
4. Discovery Questions
5. Leadership Questions
6. Operational Questions
7. Situational Questions

Behavioral

1. How would you deal with a disagreement among other fellow colleagues or senior fellow as a trainee with our program?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Disagreements requiring outside help are inevitable during your time in Gastroenterology Fellowship training. Your team of interviewers wants to know that you would join their program with the ability to be respectful and diplomatic when you face a disagreement with your immediate colleagues.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

For a colleague disagreement, you should go to your senior on the team. For disagreement with your senior, you should go to the chief fellow. If there is a significant and imminent risk of harm to the patient, you should go to the attending physician. Walk your interviewers through how you would first try to handle the disagreement among yourselves and then take it up the chain of command as necessary.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"It would depend on the disagreement. If the disagreement was with a senior fellow, I would defer to their opinion as they have more experience than I do. However, if I was concerned that they were making the wrong decision regarding patient care or providing subpar patient care, I wouldn't hesitate to discuss it with them respectfully. If necessary, I would go to the chief resident. For more serious issues, such as ignoring patient care responsibilities, I would go directly to the attending physician because these actions, or inactions, would be done under the umbrella of the attending's medical license."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would be respectful, and diplomatic first. I will approach GI attending first respectfully to discuss because they have more experience. If I still have concerns then I will follow the proper chain of command. If the patient’s safety is at risk then I will approach directly attending."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! The interviewer will appreciate that you stay respectful during conflicts. Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully handled a disagreement with others? This will further strengthen your response. You might also talk about being an active listener who tries to fully understand the perspective of others. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"Disagreements are unavoidable and will occur during your career at one point or another. Firstly I would want to acknowledge and try to understand the other person's perspective in case this was a communication issue and I did not interpret the situation in the correct way. I would speak with them directly about the issue and ask for details or information regarding their opinion or way of thinking so that I could have insight into why the disagreement may have occurred. Secondly, I would try to offer a solution - for example, I recently had a rostering disagreement with my fellow ATs if there were rostering issues where I was given more weekend shifts to accommodate someone else's leave but that then wasn't reciprocated. Firstly I asked if the person making the roster had noticed there was a large difference in weekend rostering and asked if we could try to make it more even. I also helped try to fix the issue by offering to re-write the roster. Thankfully we were able to sort this out between us, however, if we weren't able to do that, I would have escalated to my immediate supervisor, followed by the head of department. If issues in the workplace remain unresolved it may be helpful to institute a third party such as a union or other manager from higher up the chain of command. It is important to always maintain respect and professionalism throughout these processes."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is an excellent strategy, and using specific examples throughout your response made it even more impactful!

Anonymous Answer

"I believe that disagreements occur not uncommonly in practice due to the busy schedule and work-related stressors. An important aspect of dealing with disagreement is to understand the point of view of the other person and try to come to a common ground diplomatically as long as it does not affect patient safety.

As an example, I recently disagreed with a senior colleague when I noticed that she ordered fecal occult blood testing for an inpatient with gastrointestinal symptoms. I was aware that this test has not been validated for this indication and this practice exposes patients with unnecessary procedures with these related risks. I approached this colleague and expressed my concern to her respectfully. She asked for further information or evidence regarding this and I was able to provide the related articles and specifically a meta-analysis on this topic. That was enough to convince her and she was thankful that I provided her with feedback regarding her practice that was helpful to change it in a better way."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great answer! You are self-aware and can take a step back and try to evaluate the situation from others' perspectives before jumping to conclusions or rushing to a confrontation. Your example is excellent because it highlights your ability to be professional and use effective communication skills to resolve a disagreement.

Anonymous Answer

"Whenever there is a disagreement with a colleague, I have learned to always be respectful and take a step back. Expressing good intentions and my point of view meanwhile being open to the views of my colleagues and curbing any emotional response has helped me to foster great relationships with colleagues.

If there is a disagreement with a senior fellow, I am always respectful and cognizant of my lack of experience. I follow a similar pattern to establish collegiality and exchange thoughts. If a patient-care issue is the cause of disagreement then escalating the issue through the chain of command to get an impartial opinion seems pertinent."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response displays a high level of emotional intelligence! You have excellent communication and conflict-resolution strategies in place here. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"In medicine, just like in most professions, there is always a hierarchy in place. As a trainee, I believe it would be crucial to approach the colleague and diplomatically raise your concerns for the patient's safety."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good start! It's important to focus on communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills in your answer. Consider going into more detail on your approach to addressing your colleague. For example, maybe you ask them to speak one-off and discuss how their behaviors or actions are impacting you or the patient. You are respectful and compassionate and actively listen to their perspective before discussing the situation and coming up with a compromise. Sharing the details of your specific strategy or approach will showcase your skills and abilities.

Behavioral

2. What would you say is the biggest challenge you faced in your residency training program?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

There are many challenges when coming into a program as a new Gastroenterology Fellow, from learning new faces to taking on a whole new subset of patients for the first time. Your interviewers are aware that you likely faced a few challenges as an Internal Medicine Resident and need confirmation that you can face challenges head-on, embrace them, and learn from them throughout your time with their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Pick a challenge that is commonly faced by residents rather than focusing on a potential deficit in your ability to perform as a Gastroenterology Fellow. You can also pick something unique to you that is not the result of your actions (e.g., a family member passing away). Then, explain how you took steps to manage this challenge and prepare for similar challenges in the future.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"For me personally, the biggest challenge of residency training happened in the first year and that was handling the stress of the long hours and managing a delicate work-life balance. Coming out of medical school, I was taught that stress management skills were important but I never knew how true those words were until I faced them in person. I admit that I did have some breakdowns during my first year and it was some great senior residents and attending physicians that lifted me up and gave me encouraging advice. Throughout the remainder of my training, I learned some great tactics to manage busy clinical loads and have a happy home life and I and my family are both ready for the next three years of my training in a great GI Fellowship program like yours."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I've had both some personal and professional challenges. The biggest challenge I have faced so far is moving away from the town I lived in for 12 years to pursue my advanced training. I found myself living in a new city, in a job that was much more demanding, with none of my usual support networks or family around me. I had also left a lot of things behind when I started advanced training. I always played weekend soccer and had to give this up when I started due to a busy weekend roster. I also had a relationship breakdown in the middle of my physician training. I was able to use multiple coping strategies and have a positive outlook which meant my mental health wasn't compromised and I was able to work to the best of my ability."

Jaymie's Feedback

Those would have been difficult challenges to face! Your answer should reassure the interviewer about your commitment to your career. Great job providing strategies you used to over those challenges; that is the most important part of your response!

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Anonymous Answer

"I believe that the biggest challenge I faced was starting to practice in Australia after practicing overseas. I started working here six years ago, It was completely different from where I did medicine first. The language barrier was adding more to the challenge. I was committed to succeeding and proceeding with my career and reaching this point where I am interviewing for my dream position. I assessed all the challenges I was facing and decided to resolve them by putting more effort into practicing medicine, learning new knowledge, and mingling with the new culture at the same time. I was successful and reached all the goals I aimed for, I was able to complete all the required examinations and training requirements in a very short time compared to most International medical graduates in my circumstances."

Jaymie's Feedback

Nice job! Your response walks the interviewer through the challenge you faced, and then you were able to give examples of strategies and skills you used to overcome that challenge.

Anonymous Answer

"I had initial visa-related delays and thus joined the program 2 weeks late. While I gave up 1 block of my vacation, I also missed all of the orientation. Thus, I entered the program lagging on system-based practice. I touched base with nurse educators to get an understanding of the EMR and a few efficient residents. This enabled me to get more efficient and develop attention to detail."

Jaymie's Feedback

That would have been a great challenge to overcome! Remember to mention skills and traits that helped you overcome the challenge (dedicated, determined, driven, motivated). It sounds like you took the initiative to get caught up, which will impress the interviewer!

Anonymous Answer

"For me personally, I was spending too much time on EMR than with the patient. However, I learned some techniques from seniors and attendings and I developed more strategies during the last few years so I can spend more time with patients at the bedside and I am still able to finish charting on the same day without compromising quality."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job! You shared the challenge, then followed up with ways you overcame that challenge and how your efficiency has evolved.

Anonymous Answer

"One of the notable challenges I encountered during my residency was effectively managing the demanding workload while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The residency program can be intense, often requiring long hours and a continuous stream of clinical responsibilities. This situation occasionally led to exhaustion and limited personal time.

To address this challenge, I proactively developed strong time management skills, sought guidance from experienced senior residents and mentors on workload management and stress coping strategies, and prioritized self-care. By implementing these strategies, I successfully achieved a more sustainable balance between my professional commitments and personal life. This experience taught me valuable lessons in resilience and adaptability in a high-pressure medical environment"

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent job! You focused your response on the many effective strategies you utilized to overcome the challenge!

Behavioral

3. As a new Gastroenterology Fellow, are you comfortable speaking to the importance of nutrition to your patients?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

It is a well-known fact to your interviewers that a large number of GI fellows self-report that their knowledge of nutrition and its importance in GI care is subpar. While you won't be expected to match into this program as a nutritional expert, your interviewers will ideally want to hear that you have at least some level of comfort speaking to the importance of a healthy diet to help limit many different GI issues that your patients will be facing.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

This is a question to be very open and honest with your interviewers on your comfort level. If you would be comfortable, give some insight into your knowledge of nutrition and its importance in GI health and assure your interviewers that you would join their fellowship ready to learn more and educate all of your patients. If you wouldn't be comfortable from the start, that is okay. Just focus part of your answer on the fact that you would join this program and work to learn the important educational aspects of nutrition in practice with your patients.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I believe that I would be pretty comfortable speaking about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet to my patients. If a patient had a digestive diagnosis like GERD, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease, I would recommend a tailored diet for their condition that includes a healthy mix of fiber, protein, and essential vitamins. But, I would also join your program knowing that I have so much more to learn regarding effective nutritional treatments for patients and I would look forward to learning and growing more in this area with your faculty."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would be pretty comfortable talking about healthy diets to my patients with GI disease; GERD, and IBD. I would learn more about the nutritional aspect by joining your GI fellowship program."

Marcie's Feedback

Why do you believe you'd be comfortable talking about this topic? Do you have any past experience doing so that you can mention? Also, consider discussing why good nutrition is so important, particularly with folks who have some of the health issues that you mentioned. Emphasize that you would want to encourage good nutritional habits because your patients would benefit from this. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I have a degree in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation where I had to take multiple nutrition courses. I also competed in professional sports for many years of my life so I have a very good knowledge of nutrition. I am also good at explaining this in lamens terms and do this regularly in my clinics. For example - a discussion of high protein and high energy foods for cirrhotic patients and low sugar and fat for fatty liver patients."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! You have answered the question well and provided a supporting example.

Anonymous Answer

"I would be quite comfortable discussing the impacts of nutrition on various gastrointestinal diseases. During my practice as a hospitalist, I have routinely encountered patients with GERD, acute pancreatitis, IBS, celiac disease, and Cholecystitis and I have utilized every possible opportunity to learn about specific diets and implement them in education for my patients. I am sure I will have many more opportunities to learn more about healthy nutrition and dietary requirements specific to the treatment of various GI illnesses during the training."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! It sounds like you are very knowledgeable about diet and nutrition and comfortably use that knowledge to educate your patients.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel very comfortable speaking to patients about this. This comfort originates from my knowledge and appreciation of the importance of nutrition for GI health and general health, we are getting more and more evidence regarding the benefit of diet and microbiome changes on health and specific diseases like IBD. I practice discussing dietary habits and the implementation of healthy dietary habits daily when I see my patients in the clinic. They usually praise the tips and the advice I provide them and they mention how helpful it usually is to improve their symptoms and life in general."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! Your response tells the interviewer you are comfortable and knowledgeable in this area!

Anonymous Answer

"I realize that nutrition is an important part of GI training and we are less comfortable discussing it with our patients due to a myriad of reasons including lack of exposure, knowledge gaps, etc.

As a clinical pancreatology fellow, I have spent a lot of time caring for pancreatitis patients and developed some acumen in describing and counseling optimal nutrition to my patients."

Jaymie's Feedback

The interviewer is looking for reassurance that you are comfortable and willing to educate patients on the value and impacts of nutrition. It sounds like you have experience in this area, and it will not be an area of concern.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel comfortable. As a former medicine resident, it was vital for us to teach our clinic patients the various types of diet based on the pathology. I also think that understanding nutrition, particularly in GI will have a positive impact on their well-being."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you are confident in your knowledge and understand the importance of patient education. If there are specific topics you've taught in the past or teaching methods you've found effective, you could discuss those to make your answer even more impactful.

Anonymous Answer

"I feel fairly comfortable talking to patients about nutrition education, breaking it down in layman's terms. I understand that the basic tenets of nutrition education in cirrhotics are cutting down the salt intake to 2g/day, and encouraging adequate protein intake with frequent meals throughout the day due to the high risk of developing frailty and sarcopenia. In terms of IBD, patients are encouraged to consume a balanced diet, avoiding foods that may potentially trigger flares and navigating through other avenues for nutrition in case issues like structuring and bowel obstruction arise. I do need more insight into this and I feel that fellowship training will be able to polish my skills more."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you possess sound knowledge in this area. Consider what soft skills you might use when educating patients, like effective communication, active listening, providing opportunities for patients to ask questions, providing and receiving feedback, etc. Adding those aspects will make your answer more well-rounded. Good job!

Behavioral

4. Is there a personality type that you have found was most difficult to work effectively with during your residency training or medical school?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As you enter Gastroenterology Fellowship training, you will work side by side with a very diverse group of fellows and faculty, each with their unique personality and work style. Your interviewers ask this question to understand your ability to work with even the most difficult personality styles.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

During your years of training hard in residency and medical school, you have worked with a wide variety of physicians and other support staff in many different environments and you more than likely have found a certain personality type or trait that doesn't mesh well with you. Try to talk about a quality that doesn't reflect poorly on you. Talking about demanding personalities may make you seem lazy or unable to work with demanding faculty in the program. Instead, choose a quality that impairs the ability of even the most competent and hard-working doctors from delivering high-quality care or working as part of a high functioning team.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I would say that my biggest pet peeve is working with colleagues and staff that are poor communicators. As an Internal Medicine Resident, I found that communication lines should always be open between residents, faculty, and the care team. If someone on my team wasn't communicating properly during residency training, I never hesitated to respectfully approach them to explain what I need from them concerning communication. If the problem persisted, I would take it up the proper chain of command. I would use this same approach in training in your GI Fellowship program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"My biggest pet peeve is working with a colleague who is always known for being late to work or every event. However, I try to show examples by coming early all the time just like in the military where we believe that 15 mins early is on time."

Marcie's Feedback

It can definitely be frustrating to deal with someone who is always late. It's great that you mention overcoming this issue by setting an example. You might also say that you would discuss this problem privately with your colleague, explain that you feel it's disrespectful, and politely ask if they can try to be on time more frequently. If you encountered someone like this in residency training or medical school, what did you do? Explain how you resolved the issue. The more details you can include, the better! Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I have found that people with poor communication skills who was the most difficult to work with. Usually, I do not hesitate to respectfully approach them about concerns if the problem persists, I would approach the proper chain of command."

Marcie's Feedback

It can definitely be a challenge to work with people who aren't good communicators. Can you give an example of a time in residency training or medical school when you worked with someone like this? Talk the interviewer through how you successfully handled this situation.

Anonymous Answer

"People who aren't proactive or those that don't work as a team. Also, the type of personality that keeps to themself and tries to do their work and then leave. We spend so much of our time at work we need to be proactive and helpful towards each other. It fosters a much nicer working environment and in turn, happier colleagues if teamwork is an innate skill of your co-workers."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great start! If you have found any strategies that work well to engage these types of colleagues, feel free to share those as well.

Anonymous Answer

"I found it challenging to work with people who are negligent and like to cut corners. I have worked with a colleague who does not appreciate the importance of our work and constantly tries to cut corners. For example, they would not examine patients properly during ward rounds or not take a thorough history on admission. I found it difficult to trust the colleague and as a result, I had to constantly stay back to revisit the task that he had done. I have tried to discuss the matter with him privately in a respectful way. Unfortunately, his behavior has not changed. Due to the concern that his behavior may pose a risk to patient safety, I have escalated the matter to the attending physician."

Jaymie's Feedback

It can be hard to answer these questions without being overly negative about the person. You did a nice job focusing on the behaviors, not the person, which is important. You gave supporting context to help the interviewer understand why working with this person is difficult, and you did an excellent job walking the interviewer through your conflict resolution process of communicating and addressing that person directly before escalating. Nice work.

Anonymous Answer

"I have worked in many team settings during residency training and hospitalist jobs and I have been quite flexible and adaptable to work with which I believe is very important for quality and productive teamwork. In terms of a difficult personality, I believe it's difficult to work with someone who does not understand and fulfill their responsibilities in a timely manner. Also, I believe in sharing knowledge and do not hesitate to ask questions if in doubt, especially regarding patient care and safety. I have encountered some people during training who would get upset when I would disturb their sleep on a night call as an intern for patient questions. It was somewhat hard to cope with as a new intern but fortunately, I had another extremely supportive senior and I am grateful for the learning he provided during that rotation as I was able to manage my subsequent night floats with more confidence and I inculcated the same practice for my junior residents."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! You weren't negative about anyone in particular and focused your answer on the challenging behaviors they displayed instead. It sounds like you can work well with others, and if you have a conflict, you can find alternative solutions to help you overcome the obstacle.

Anonymous Answer

"I am usually able to work and be in a team with people with different personalities; however, people and colleagues with not very good communication skills are challenging to work with. I would like to mention an example of one of my colleagues who had excellent clinical skills and knowledge but his communication skills were suboptimal, specifically, he used to speak very fast and not communicate all his thoughts. I approached this colleague and discussed this point with him, he advised that this has been raised by multiple other colleagues. He thought that he speaks fast to cover for his accent, I reassured him that I do not find his accent difficult to comprehend and that he should be conscious and practice speaking slower, one more advice was to check with others if what he said was easy to understand. After a few months, he thanked me because he found that he was communicating easier with others and this helped him to pass his clinical examination where he had to use his verbal communication skills."

Jaymie's Feedback

You did a nice job avoiding speaking negatively about a colleague and focusing on the issue that caused the difficulty. You were able to use effective communication and interpersonal skills to help coach and mentor your colleague, which ultimately improved their communication skills, benefiting both the team and patients. Well done!

Anonymous Answer

"I am ENFP by personality type and am open to collaborating with all personality types. I have learned from some of my introverted friends that extroverts can be very exhausting. Over the years and especially over the pandemic, I have explored the introverted portion of myself and thus I can develop meaningful connections without much energy expenditure from my introverted colleagues."

Jaymie's Feedback

The interviewer will be impressed that you've done self-exploration and learned how your personality type fits into the workplace. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"I would say my biggest pet peeve is the lack of communication skills. It's an effective tool that can help patients and keep efficiency in your work."

Jaymie's Feedback

Working with others who do not communicate effectively can be a challenge. What are some ways you approach working with those who lack this skill? Share your strategies and techniques for overcoming this obstacle.

Behavioral

5. If we were to talk to your personal friends, what would they say are your strengths and weaknesses?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

You will likely talk about your clinical strengths and weaknesses throughout your Gastroenterology Fellowship interview. This question is unique because it asks that you answer from the perspective of your friends, rather than your current resident colleagues or the attending physicians you've worked with in the past, to hear about some of your personal strengths and weaknesses that only your friends would know.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Give a strength that is unique to you and can apply to your clinical practice. While it can be a common strategy to offer a weakness that is actually a strength (e.g., "My weakness is that I work too hard.") your interviewers will recognize this as a transparent tactic. For this reason, you should provide an example of a legitimate weakness that you have been working to improve.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"If you were to ask my core group of close friends, they would tell you that my strengths are my communication and motivational skills. I have an infectious spirit that is able to connect with any type of personality and help me work well as a team. They would also tell you that my weakness is self-criticism. I frequently reflect on my words and actions and wonder if I should have said or done something different. I have learned to call my patients to provide new information about important issues that I may have neglected to discuss during their appointment."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"My strength is that I am very Persistence to achieve my goal.

My weakness is that I have an accent and I am working hard to speak American English."

Marcie's Feedback

Okay! This is a tough interview question. It's best to be honest, in addition to talking about how you're working to overcome your weakness. In your case, can you talk more about what you're doing to improve your English? Are you taking classes or trying to practice a lot with English-speaking friends? In terms of the strength you've mentioned, the interviewer will be happy to hear that you're persistent. Can you give an example of a time when you reached a goal because of your persistence? This will strengthen your answer. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"My strengths are definitely my motivation to excel in whatever I am doing. I also have keen attention to detail and I am thorough. I often will stay back after work and read through my clinic or ward round notes to make sure I haven't missed anything important which can sometimes also be a weakness. One of my weaknesses is that I find it hard to say no to things and I will take on more work or responsibilities even when I am already overworked. However, I think it is probably better to be this way than to be complacent and avoidant of responsibilities."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are good examples! If you are using techniques to overcome this area of development (like evaluating your time and other responsibilities more thoroughly before committing), be sure to share those.

Anonymous Answer

"If you talk to my work friends they may tell you I am very dedicated, hard-working, and punctual- even after the birth of my baby, I stayed very focused on my work and did not arrive to work late or left work early even once. I do not compromise my responsibilities for anything. But with time, I have adapted to the highly demanding job and have sorted out ways to balance my family life and enjoy the precious time I have with my little one.

These strengths apply to my relationships too. My friends tell me I am a very loyal friend and a very good secret keeper.

For weaknesses, I am very detail-oriented which sometimes takes a lot of my time and energy but mostly helps me with achieving great results."

Jaymie's Feedback

These qualities, traits, characteristics, and skills you listed as strengths will align well with the fellowship program! Being detail-oriented is mainly considered a strength, but if it slows you down sometimes, it can be viewed as a weakness, as you mentioned. Be sure to discuss ways you're working on remaining detail-oriented while also managing your time effectively.

Anonymous Answer

"I believe they will mention my organizational skills as a strength, I am an organized person and very punctual with prioritizing tasks and managing my time in a perfect manner, this helps me to multi-task and manage a busy term and positions. Another strength they would mention is my effective communication skills, I am a very good listener, I listen empathically and supportively which makes people comfortable in talking to me and at the same time make sure to communicate my thoughts in a clear manner which helps me in managing any team I am involved in.

In terms of weaknesses, they might mention that I sometimes spend longer than required time on certain tasks which might lead to higher stress levels, however; now I am more aware of this issue, I am able to recognise it when i feel I am tired or not concentrating and I take a break to de-stress then re-prioritise, I have to say this is a rare occurrence but It is one of my few weaknesses."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! Your response is well-balanced, and your strengths will align well with the fellowship requirements. You did a nice job discussing your area of weakness and sharing details on ways that you're working to overcome that area of development.

Anonymous Answer

"1. Strengths: I think integrity, loyalty, perseverance, and compassion.

2. Weakness: I have been told "I think too much."

Jaymie's Feedback

You're off to a good start! Be sure to connect the dots with the interviewer so they understand how your strengths would benefit the program and make you the ideal candidate. Be sure to go into detail about how you're working to grow and develop your area of weakness.

Anonymous Answer

"According to my personal friends, my greatest strength is that I am a social person who likes to create bonds and is flexible to others' frequencies. My weakness would be foreign language, particularly Spanish. I am currently taking strides to improve my Spanish by using Babel."

Jaymie's Feedback

Being a social person who can build relationships with others is an ideal skill in healthcare. Can you tie your strength more closely to how it would benefit you in the fellowship program and benefit those you work with? Good job sharing your weakness and then giving an example of how you're actively working to improve and develop this area. How will mastering this skill help you in your career?

Behavioral

6. Tell me about a time you received constructive criticism from an attending physician or senior resident during your residency training. How did you handle that situation?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

It should be abundantly clear as you enter Gastroenterology Fellowship training, that your work will be scrutinized to the nth degree by the senior fellows and the faculty of the program you join. Your interviewers want to know that you can take any constructive criticism you receive and turn it into a positive learning opportunity moving forward.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Choose an example that does not highlight a significant or persistent deficit in your ability to provide care. How you handled this criticism should show your devotion to providing optimal care and willingness to use the criticism to shape how you approach patient care moving forward. Don't hesitate to reiterate to your interviewers that you would join their Gastroenterology Fellowship program ready to accept any constructive criticism that would come your way.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During my ambulatory medicine rotation during my 2nd year of residency, I was told that I spent too much time with patients and caused backups in patient flow. My nurturing inhibitions were taking over in most situations. After some coaching from my attending physician on how to best handle these patients, I got a very good feel for the patient moving forward in that environment. I didn't take the criticism personally and knew it was for the best in my professional development."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I was told by my attending that I took too much time interviewing patients in the clinic and it caused backups in patient flows. After some coaching from my attending physician on how to best handle these patients, I got a very good feel for the patient moving forward in that environment. I didn't take the criticism personally and knew it was for the best in my professional development. I used to see 28 patients as internists without any delay and compromised patient care and at the same time providing high-quality care."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice job using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to answer this question! It sounds like you didn't take the criticism personally and instead used the feedback to improve yourself professionally. Consider talking a bit more about the coaching that you received. (In other words, what did you change in your process to speed things up?) Excellent!

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Anonymous Answer

"Once on my renal rotation, I was told I was too slow at clinic. This made me reflect on my time efficiency and I changed my practice."

Jaymie's Feedback

If you can, go into more detail here, as this is a critical interview question that tells the interviewer a lot about you. For example, were you receptive and open-minded when approached with this feedback? Did you actively listen and ask questions to seek guidance on what you could do differently? In what ways did you take that feedback and implement change? Did you see a positive outcome or receive positive feedback after making those changes? All this information will make your response more well-rounded and highlight your professional maturity, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Anonymous Answer

"During 1st month of residency training, when I was presenting the case in the morning report; the attending asked me about the patient’s echo results from 2 years ago and I did not know the results since I did not know how to look up old echo/results. After some guidance from kind seniors and the chief resident; I learned to navigate EMR and look up old results, and by the end of that rotation I became proficient in case presentations. I did not take the criticism personally and instead utilized it for my own good to the point that I received very positive remarks from the same attending in my subsequent rotations throughout the residency. I also incorporated teaching extensive data search and case presentations to my junior and incoming residents/interns"

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! This example shows the interviewer that you can receive feedback and use it to grow and develop your skills. You learned from your mistake and took it a step further by using your new knowledge to help educate other team members.

Anonymous Answer

"I see constructive criticism as very important feedback on my performance, I usually self-reflect and re-assess my performance, try to seek more advice regarding the issues, and find solutions to improve what I have been criticized about. During my training years, one of the consultants approached me advising that he noticed that I had been demanding with the junior team members, he understood that the reason behind that was trying to be as good as possible but his advice was to try and see the bigger picture and assess whether small details needs to be chased or time spent on. I self-reflected on his advice and I agreed that at that time when I had less experience than now, I was spending time and effort on smaller details and I was also asking other team members to spend effort on these things, this extra work could potentially lead to unnecessary stress which might affect the team performance. Now, that I am more aware of this issue, I am a better person in seeing the bigger picture rather than delving into the tinniest details, I added to my practice a discussion with Junior doctors to always let me know and feel comfortable in telling me if I am asking for too much. Reassuringly, no junior team members have ever mentioned this and I always have a very good relationship with all team members at work and outside work."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a very thorough response! It really shows that you are receptive to feedback and can digest and internalize it to make improvements and adjustments that better support the team. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"As soon as I entered residency I learned the importance of "precision." This pertained to the competency of system-based practice and included data gathering as well as close attention to EMR: MAR summary, nursing updates, and labs. I worked hard on it during the initial months and it paid off for the rest of my training. I appreciated that this skill intertwined with patient care, medical knowledge, and professionalism."

Jaymie's Feedback

Constructive criticism is a type of feedback that offers specific and actionable advice to help you improve in a particular area or skill set. Early in your residency, did you receive constructive criticism leading to your abovementioned example? If not, try to find another example that shows you can be receptive to critical feedback and use that feedback to grow and improve.

Anonymous Answer

"During my second year of residency. As an Intern, you are taught to write notes, place orders, and call consultants. But as a second year, you learn how to manage a team and look at the bigger picture. My attending told me that I dwell on every aspect of the patient but need to realize that it is an intern's job to perform such duties."

Jaymie's Feedback

You're off to a good start! How did you feel when you received it? Were you receptive and reflective? What did you do with that feedback? What adjustments or changes did you make? What was the impact, or what did you learn from that feedback? Sharing those details is critical in your response to this type of question.

Anonymous Answer

"During my intern year, I frequently got feedback on my ability to manage time effectively. While on ambulatory service, I would spend a lot of time with patients, which would essentially back up the workflow. I realized that being efficient was just as important so I tried to focus on pertinent history with directed questions to maximize the time allocated. Very occasionally I still encounter this with complex patient situations but most of the time I have no trouble."

Jaymie's Feedback

Good job! You were receptive to the feedback and put a corrective action plan in place to improve in this area.

Behavioral

7. A recent patient survey comes back, and you find out that you did not meet a patient's expectations as their physician. What are the next steps you would take to improve as a Gastroenterology Fellow in training?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Patient satisfaction surveys are commonplace in any healthcare institution and are put in place to ensure that the best possible care is provided to every patient of the institution. During your time in Gastroenterology Fellowship training, your patients will fill out satisfaction surveys about your performance, and your team of interviewers poses this question to understand how you will take constructive feedback from a patient's survey and learn from it.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

If you were to ask any physician if they have ever received critical feedback on a patient survey, the answer would be a resounding yes. The goal in answering this question is to demonstrate to your interviewers that you can take the feedback, analyze it, and use it as motivation to improve the care you provide moving forward. Keep in mind that most patient feedback is anonymous, and you may not be able to pinpoint the exact interaction that resulted in the feedback from the patient.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"My next step would be focused on using the feedback as a learning situation and moving forward to improve. That process would include breaking down the feedback and taking the time to self-reflect. I know that it can very difficult to know which patient situation the feedback came from given the anonymity of the patient survey, but I would always take the feedback to heart and learn. As a fellow with your program, I would also seek insight from an attending physician or senior fellow as well on where I could improve."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would take the feedback as a learning situation, analyze it, and use it as motivation to improve the care I provide moving forward. I would also seek insight from an attending physician or senior fellow as well on where I could improve."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! This is exactly what the interviewer wants to hear - that you'll learn from the feedback and try to improve. Can you talk more about why it's important to you to meet patient expectations?

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Anonymous Answer

"I would sit down and analyze the survey to see what were the shortcomings so that I can take it as a learning opportunity and work towards improving those shortcomings. I would also seek guidance from my senior and/or mentor as patient satisfaction is the core of our profession and I would put all efforts into achieving this goal."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you're open-minded when considering patient feedback and use that information to improve the overall patient care experience. Nice job!

Anonymous Answer

"I would first place the survey in a safe place and let the initial emotional response of rejection settle. I will go over the appointment date and reconcile my experience with the feedback. I will also touch base with my preceptor and seek their feedback on the survey.

I will work on modifiable factors. We must try to modify our behavior to the hilt and the remaining generally resolves."

Jaymie's Feedback

Receiving critical feedback can be difficult but it sounds like you have a solid strategy in place to receive, digest, and improve from it!

Behavioral

8. Tell us about a time you had to work with new technology during medical school or residency training. What did you do to ensure proficiency as quickly as possible?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Technology in the medical field has been evolving and will continue to evolve year after year. While you may be academically gifted, your interviewers need to know that you can pick up and master any new technologies in GI and hepatology care during your time with them. During your Gastroenterology Fellowship training, you will likely work with many pieces of equipment you haven't had the opportunity to in the past.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Think of a time you had to learn new technology and choose an example that proves your ability to study, learn, and master its use in short order. If possible, try to think of a piece of equipment you had to learn during your time in residency training. Then, discuss with your interviewing team the fact that you know you will be learning a new EMR and other medical equipment during your Gastroenterology Fellowship training and are willing and ready to be a great learner of any new technologies thrown your way during your time with them.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"First and foremost, I want you to know that I understand that today's Gastroenterologists need to embrace technology to provide the best patient care possible. I've always been enamored by great technological advancements in healthcare. More recently during the pandemic, one area that physicians need to embrace is telehealth, and I was fortunate to be exposed to this during my clinical rotations. Learning technologies like Zoom and other video conferencing apps was a new concept to me. Before beginning their use, I watched training videos and practiced having virtual consults with my classmates to ensure that there wouldn't be any technical glitches when I worked with patients. I am fully confident in my ability to use video for telehealth consults with patients in your GI clinical setting. Are you able to elaborate more on the telehealth services you are currently providing for patients?"

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"More recently during the pandemic, one area that physicians need to embrace is telehealth, and I was fortunate to be exposed to this during my clinical rotations. Learning technologies like video conferencing apps was a new concept to me. Before beginning their use, I watched training videos and practiced having virtual consults with my classmates to ensure that there wouldn't be any technical glitches when I worked with patients. I am fully confident in my ability to use video for telehealth consults with patients in your GI clinical setting."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! This is a great example to cite in response to this question. Can you discuss in more depth how the training you received helped when you used the telehealth technology during patient interactions? Did the training videos and virtual consult practices properly prepare you? Can you also talk more about how quickly the training got you ready? Did you go above and beyond in any way to ensure that you learned the new material quickly?

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Anonymous Answer

"Before joining residency, I had done observerships and externships in the USA to familiarize myself with the Healthcare system here but EMR was still a fairly new concept. It was certainly challenging to learn EMR but continued practice, completing practice modules, and continued heko from seniors allowed me to be proficient in it in no time."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good example to share! It sounds like you face challenges head-on and do what it takes to learn from available resources to acquire the necessary skills.

Anonymous Answer

"This happened at the beginning of this year, on the first day of work. I was supposed to attend the endoscopy list and I was told that I must do the report and manage the documentation. I asked about the software we were using and then searched on how to learn to do it. I watched a full YouTube series on how to navigate through the software and I also searched the details and terminology of documentation. The endoscopist on that day was ready to teach me how to do it, he was surprised and impressed that I already knew how to do it. He supervised the process for the first few times to make sure there would not be any mistakes, Now, he fully trusts me and is happy for me to do the documentation from A to Z. I always make sure to re-check certain details with him as I believe this is part of my learning."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent! You tackled the challenge head-on by taking the initiative to use available resources to self-help. I'm sure that preparation impressed the endoscopist! This was a great example to use.

Anonymous Answer

"The EMR I used in my away elective during residency was new and I had to learn it within 2 days. Luckily EPIC has a playground option & I quickly worked on it. As it was not linked with patient care, it was safe to click as much as possible.

I arrived early to work and observed colleagues while they were working. I made a note of their workflow and was also fortunate to have colleagues help me."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job! You showcased your ability to recognize when you lack skills, take the initiative to improve those skills, and work with colleagues to help learn.

Anonymous Answer

"During my Intern year, the entire UH hospital switched EMR from Cerner to EPIC. We were very comfortable with Cerner but had to quickly adapt to EPIC."

Jaymie's Feedback

Put yourself in the interviewer's seat and consider why you would ask someone this question. Interviewers want to hear that you tackle problems head-on, demonstrate tenacity and a willingness to learn, have a positive attitude, self-help, utilize available resources, etc. Incorporate some of those elements into your response by describing ways you learned the system.

Behavioral

9. How will you respond when asked to do a procedure or task that you were unfamiliar with and uncomfortable handling as a new Gastroenterology Fellow?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As you enter Gastroenterology Fellowship training out of residency, you know that you will be tackling many new procedures and tasks in practice that you haven't been directly exposed to before. In proposing a question like this, your interviewers will be looking to hear that you would take a collaborative and learning approach and that you aren't afraid to ask for help when you know your shortcomings.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

This is not the time to say that you would jump in with both feet and potentially risk the safety and wellbeing of a patient. Your interviewers are not looking for someone who jumps when someone says jump, but someone willing to jump with confidence and competence. Provide an answer that illustrates this difference. As you answer, talk about your willingness to ask for help and learn in the process.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I am confident in my medical knowledge and the skills that I developed during my GI rotations in residency training, but I also know that I will be tackling some things that will be very new to me. When faced with this situation, like the first time performing an endoscopy on my own, I wouldn't hesitate to ask a senior fellow or faculty member for guidance. My goal is to leave your fellowship with all of the skills necessary to be a confident and competent physician, and I greatly look forward to these learning opportunities with your program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I would take a collaborative and learning approach and I am not afraid to ask for help with things that will be very new to me. When faced with this situation, like the first time performing an endoscopy on my own, I wouldn't hesitate to ask a senior fellow or faculty member for guidance. My goal is to leave fellowship with all of the skills necessary to be a confident and competent physician, and I greatly look forward to these learning opportunities with your program."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You come across as very confident and open to collaborative learning, which the interviewer will appreciate. It's also great that you mention approaching your first endoscopy in the same way. Great response!

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Anonymous Answer

"If there is a task or procedure that I am unfamiliar with and not fully comfortable with, I would not hesitate to ask for help from a team member; whether it’s my colleague or senior as I would not risk patient safety. I would rather learn that skill and work hard to achieve proficiency in it before attempting to perform it incorrectly."

Jaymie's Feedback

The main focus here is on patient safety and then your ability to ask for help and willingness to learn. Excellent job!

Anonymous Answer

"I believe that patient safety should be our priority all the time during our practice. Performing a procedure that is unfamiliar to me will expose the patient to a risk and it might also lead to a poor learning experience. I will approach the consultant who asked me to perform the procedure respectfully and explain to him/her the fact that I am unfamiliar with the procedure and that I would appreciate it if they could teach me the first few times, I am usually a fast learner and during my practice, I learned multiple procedures including learning the basics of endoscopy during my current training year which I believe should be followed by further development during this coming year."

Jaymie's Feedback

The interviewer will be pleased to hear that patient safety is your top priority! You know when to admit that you don't have the knowledge or skills to perform a task, and you can ask for help while demonstrating a willingness to learn. Great job.

Anonymous Answer

"This is a great question. I have some experience in intubation of the esophagus during my first EGD. I was very anxious about the aspiration risk and I was honest with my mentor regarding both my nervousness as well as my eagerness to learn. I received very good real-time feedback during the activity. I was not successful and yet received encouragement. Finally, got it right after a few tries."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's important to be direct and reiterate that you would never jeopardize patient safety. You used a good example that shows you are comfortable speaking up when unfamiliar with a task and willing to learn!

Anonymous Answer

"I think sometimes it is important to know your limitations. As this can be detrimental to patients. At the same time, there are many procedures that gastroenterologists should be familiar with and comfortable performing. Thus it is vital to let your faculty know to help improve on procedures."

Jaymie's Feedback

You started off perfectly by making patient safety the priority. Your response demonstrates you're willing to learn, but you also know when to pause and ask for help so you don't jeopardize a patient's safety. Good job!

Communication

10. Did you ever have a situation during residency training where you felt you could have communicated better?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Patient-centered communication is vitally important for the fellows of any GI program and your interviewers need to be assured that you would join their program as a great communicator. They'll also want to be assured that you can be aware of your communication shortcomings if you ever are faced with one during your time as a fellow with their institution.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Prior to your interview, think back to a time when you were able to reflect back upon a time you could have communicated better during your residency training. While the example you talk about could come from any situation, make sure that the situation you describe can show how you learned a lesson and took action to make the situation right. No matter how you answer, make sure that your interviewers walk away from your time together knowing that you are cognizant of the fact that your communications are very important during Gastroenterology Fellowship training and that you will take each and every conversation at their institution seriously.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"On a busy day during my rotation in the rheumatology clinic, my preceptor and other physicians were trying to keep up with the high patient volume that day. With one patient, my preceptor let me handle the patient follow-up after examination to discuss the next steps and a treatment plan. Knowing that time was running short for the clinic to close, I hustled through my conversation with a patient. As I went to close, my preceptor jumped in and finished with some great points of education and follow-up with the patient. After the patient left, I learned a very valuable lesson from my preceptor that day and that was to only worry about the task at hand with the patient in front of me at the time. This is a lesson I will carry with me for the rest of my career as a physician."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Great communication.

I will take poor communication as Learning approve and improving myself."

Marcie's Feedback

Make sure to directly answer the question. Here the interviewer wants you to talk about a time during residency training when you didn't communicate as well as you could have. Did this type of situation ever arise? How should you have communicated differently?

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Anonymous Answer

"During my intern year, I had a patient who had significant hip pain and he had requested increased doses of narcotics during pre rounds. I had rounded on him at 7:45 a.m. and we were supposed to start attending rounds at 8:30. I told him I would discuss with my senior and get back to him. I discussed it with my senior and did go up on the dose but I did not get s chance to go back and inform him. During attending rounds he was very upset about his pain and medication situation. This taught me a lifelong lesson to never promise a patient and if you do, make sure you fulfill it. From that day onwards, I make sure I communicate everything with the patient regarding their care."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your response demonstrates your ability to take ownership of a mistake and learn from it so that the same mistake is not repeated in the future. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"I was once asked about the LFTs of patients. She had isolated and slight AlkPhos elevation(127 vs. normal 110) but had severe Vitamin D deficiency. I had ordered GGT to differentiate the Alk-phos from liver vs. bone. I failed to communicate this and learned early on to be very specific when stating facts including lab values rather than editorialize them."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great example to share!

Communication

11. As a GI fellow, how will you explain a complex gastrointestinal diagnosis, procedure, or other medical term to a patient using verbal instructions?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your team of interviewers wants a full team of Gastroenterology Fellows who can be world-class educators. In your later years of fellowship training, you will be responsible for educating patients and junior residents. A question like this allows your interviewers to see how you would handle educating a patient on a complex diagnosis or procedure using only verbal dialogue.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Healthcare is increasingly complex, so it makes sense that the instructions can be as well. This question provides a chance to showcase your talent to take a complicated idea and explain it without losing the integrity and dumbing it down. Explain to your interviewers your step-by-step approach to ensure that the complicated subject is understood by your audience. If you have an example of a time you did just this during your residency training, now is a great time to bring that up.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"While most of the general public is getting very educated on their primary care, living healthier and making wiser choices, specialty care like gastroenterology continues to be a dark subject for most patients. I see it as my job to help patients understand what we as physicians are looking for during procedures and what a final diagnosis means in terms they can understand. In the end, ensuring that the patient understands the root cause and treatment moving forward is what leads to the most successful outcomes. During my residency training, I took a simplistic and step-by-step approach to the patient and their family. I would stop along the way and ask them to repeat what I'm teaching them and use language and terms that best suit their educational level."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"During my residency training, I took a simplistic and step-by-step approach to the patient and their family. I would stop along the way and ask them to repeat what I'm teaching them and use language and terms that best suit their educational level."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! Using simple terms and a step-by-step approach, in addition to asking the patient to repeat back what they've learned, it's definitely possible to convey complex medical concepts. Can you give the interviewer a specific example of a time when you did this? Be detailed about the medical concept you had to explain and exactly how you did that successfully. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"Although we are seeing an increase in knowledge and awareness of health by the general public, it’s important to use simple language and not complex medical terms when communicating diagnosis or treatment to a patient. I would start by asking the patient about his understanding of illness/diagnosis to get an estimate of his comprehension. Then using simple terms I would begin to explain and would pause intermittently to allow time for his comprehension and give him a chance to ask questions."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are fantastic techniques to ensure patients understand the information you're communicating.

Anonymous Answer

"I will get a first-hand understanding of the patient's symptoms, presumed diagnosis, and indication for the procedure. I will then explain to them what instruments will we be using and what the texture. Stating a flexible tube with a camera on the top generally is less anxiety-provoking. Also describing findings like erythema, polyp as redness, and a lump in the colon is helpful. Ending the conversation with what will the procedure or diagnosis mean for the patient is important and helps them understand what to expect and what not to and especially when to contact the medical team is very important."

Jaymie's Feedback

Be sure to include explaining things in simple terms to help with patient comprehension and understanding. It sounds like you have a solid approach for sharing each step of the process with the patient so they know what to expect and have the opportunity to ask questions. Good job!

Direct

12. Are you considering or interviewing with any other Gastroenterology Fellowship programs?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

It is no secret that hopeful GI Fellows are encouraged to apply to many programs to better their odds of matching. In any given match season, the success rate of matching is around 65%. It always puts a little bit of fire under the interviewers if they are aware that you are actively pursuing many opportunities, especially if you are a top candidate of theirs to match with their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Talk openly about the applications you submitted, but emphasize your interest in this particular Gastroenterology Fellowship program. Give the specific reasons you want to complete your training with this program and explain how the program will benefit you in the pursuit of your dream career as a physician.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I'm really targeting my search for GI Fellowship training to programs that have a high emphasis on research and clinical activities. I have formally applied to many of the reputable programs across the country because I want to give myself the best chance of matching into a reputable program. No matter the number of interviews I complete, I hold your program in the highest regard because of the clinical, academic, and research success that your past trainees are now having in practice."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I have formally applied to many programs locally to give myself the best chance of matching into a program. I hold your program in the highest regard because of the clinical, academic success that your past trainees are now having in practice."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! While the interviewer will be happy that you're most interested in their program, they'll understand your need to apply to more than just one program. To build out your answer a bit more, talk about how you've learned about the success past trainees are having and why you want that for yourself. Plus, are there any other reasons why this program is your top choice? Don't hold yourself back! The interviewer will appreciate hearing about all of them. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I do have a few other interviews lined up. Still, I am strongly considering ranking your program as my top choice given I have witnessed the excellent quality training your fellows receive from faculty here at Hartford Hospital. My husband also has a stable job here, Connecticut has one of the best schools in the United States and I have extended family in the Northeast. All of these combined, I believe your program will give me the best chance to achieve my long-term goals and raise my family"

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect!

Direct

13. Do you have any thoughts on the 80-hour workweek limit for residents and fellows?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

In the early 2000s, the ACGME created rules that limited work and educational hours for all medical residents and fellows, including the 80-hour workweek. Your interviewers mainly want to hear that you are aware of the work hour limits that are in place and to know if you have any concerns or opinions on this.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

A lot of people are opinionated about this topic, and this could include one or more of your interviewers. For this reason, it is important to focus on the pros and cons but not take a strong stance on this topic. State that you are aware of the rules, why they are in place, and the impact they can have on every Gastroenterology Fellow in training at their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I understand this system is in place to prevent poor performance of residents and fellows due to exhaustion. There were times during my Internal Medicine Residency training when I know that line in the sand was nearing and by the end of the 6th day in a row working 12 hours shifts, I was exhausted. But, I know that the next three years in training as a GI Fellow will entail a great time requirement and I'm ready to take on whatever time is needed in training with your program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am aware of the rules, and why they are in place, and I'm ready to take on whatever time is needed in training with your program."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you're both familiar with the rules and open to working as many hours as necessary. Be sure to go into more detail, however, about why the limit is necessary and indicate that you recognize the need for a healthy work/life balance even while being willing to go above and beyond. The interviewer will appreciate your passion but also want to know that you'll take care of your emotional and physical health too. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I am aware of this work limit which I believe was put in place to prevent residents/fellows from getting exhausted from long work hours which I believe would lead to improved quality of learning and patient care in the long run."

Jaymie's Feedback

Patient safety is a top priority! It sounds like you understand why the limit was put in place and agree with its reasoning.

Anonymous Answer

"I have been trained in 2 residencies and functioned in a no-patient cap and no workweek limit as well as an 80-hour workweek model of residencies. I appreciate the recent model of the work-hour limit which is intended to ensure patient safety and prevent burnout. However, patient care may and should demand an extra step which I shall not hesitate from.
GI as a subspecialty is fuel to me! I am excited about the opportunities to care for patients with digestive diseases."

Jaymie's Feedback

It's evident you understand the reasoning behind the workweek limit and the importance of patient safety! Great job sharing your thoughts briefly and concisely.

Discovery

14. Our Gastroenterology Fellows work side by side with Advanced Practice Providers in the clinic, hospital and OR settings. Would you have any issues in doing so?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Over the years, there has always been some hesitation for physicians to work alongside APPs in their practice. But the reality is that most large institutions have made the financial decision to employ and use more APPs in practice and your interviewers need to be assured that you are comfortable training in this situation and that you will be a great team player with Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants as you train during Gastroenterology Fellowship.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Your answer to this question can be a pretty short and sweet 'no' that you wouldn't have any issues in working closely with APP staff while training during GI Fellowship. To further solidify your response to this question, try to highlight some of the positive aspects that Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can bring to practice, and don't hesitate to discuss some of the positive interactions and outcomes you were a part of in working with APP staff during your residency training.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During residency training, I got to work very closely with APP staff in the outpatient clinic setting and they were amazing to work with. They greatly improved patient access, which is a benefit to all. They are also very knowledgeable in procedures and can be the second set of eyes in many situations. In the state where I trained for residency, they did not have a full scope of authority, and physicians needed to sign off on any prescriptions they wrote. Can you talk about your state's scope of practice for APP staff and how they operate within the division of gastroenterology here?"

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am comfortable working with them. Actually, I have been working with them since my residency. They are very helpful and they can be the second set of eyes in many situations."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! Can you talk more about your experience working with them? If possible, give a more specific example of a time when one helped you. Prove to the interviewer that this situation will work fine for you. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"Absolutely not. I have worked very closely with APPs and NPs during my hospitalist job and I feel very comfortable working with them. I have also been actively involved in their supervision and mentoring. I have also worked with them as a part of the hospitalist council. They are a great addition to the team and helpful as 2nd set of eyes on patients"

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a great overview of your experience and ability to work well with a multidisciplinary team. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

"None at all. In our program, we worked with APP service during rotations. I have been able to foster excellent professional and personal relations with them and greatly benefitted from their years of cognitive and interpersonal wealth of knowledge."

Jaymie's Feedback

Perfect! Your experience working with an interdisciplinary team will be ideal for a candidate!

Discovery

15. What types of conferences did you get to attend as a resident? Which one was your favorite and why?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As a medical resident and future Gastroenterology Fellow, attending academic conferences is extremely beneficial to career/skill development, networking, and receiving valuable feedback. Your interviewers pose this question to hear you talk openly about the conferences you have attended as an Internal Medicine Resident to gauge your interest in further participation during your time as a fellow in their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Be sure to speak freely on all of the conferences you had the chance to attend during your time training in residency and discuss what you feel are the biggest advantages to attending them. Then, as you describe which one was your favorite and why make it clear to your interviewers that are looking forward to joining and participating in the conference opportunities that will come during your time training with their Gastroenterology Fellowship program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I really loved the ability to attend core lectures, senior reports, and the ACP national conference last year. Being able to network with other future physicians with my practice and research interests has set me up for long-term success. I would have to say that my favorite conference opportunity with my residency program has been weekly attendance at the medicine grand rounds, to hear speakers talk about innovative research and healthcare delivery. Coming to your Gastroenterology Fellowship program, I would look forward to taking advantage of any conference opportunities to help myself learn and grow in the field."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I really loved the ability to attend core lectures, senior reports, and the ACP national conference. I would have to say that my favorite conference opportunity with my residency program and the job has been weekly attendance at the medicine grand rounds, to hear speakers talk about innovative research and healthcare delivery. They are extremely beneficial to career/skill development, networking, and receiving valuable feedback."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! This is a strong answer. Your passion for the field and learning is very evident because of the enthusiasm in your response. Was there a particular speaker that resonated with you?

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Anonymous Answer

"As an IM resident, we had daily morning reports and noon conferences. In addition to that, I have routinely attended medicine grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences, and quality improvement meetings as a resident and hospitalist. I have also attended the ACP chapter and national meetings, ACG, and DDW. I am very fond of all these educational conferences as they are highly interactive. My favorite was morning reports where cases were presented and there was a high level of interaction and discussion. Local and national conferences are a great source of networking, presenting your work, meeting the esteemed faculty in your field, and receiving valuable feedback. I also had the opportunity to attend a hands-on manometry workshop in ACG."

Jaymie's Feedback

Well done! You gave several examples of the types of conferences you have attended and the benefits of attending!

Anonymous Answer

"I have attended ACP, ACG, and DDW conferences. I was also fortunate to attend PRECEDE Consortium meetings. They have enabled me not only to present my work but also to absorb knowledge from Plenary sessions, and other colleagues' work and enhance my knowledge base in an academic milieu. I was able to connect with mentors and grab a cup of coffee with my existing mentors who on a normal day are incredibly busy :)"

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you've attended several valuable conferences that benefited your growth and development! Don't forget to answer the last part about which was your favorite and why.

Discovery

16. What is motivating you to pursue Gastroenterology Fellowship training?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Coming out of Internal Medicine Residency, many are tempted to hit the workforce and go directly into practice for the financial gain and to practice medicine after many years of education and training. Your decision to pursue a Gastroenterology Fellowship training program hopefully means that you have a career path planned out and that you are highly motivated to pursue that plan. Your interviewers want to hear your ultimate career goals following your training or any additional fellowship that you want to pursue.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Come to your interview prepared to talk about your ultimate career goals as a physician and why this program is the best option for your pursuit of those goals. No matter what your motivations and goals are, make sure to speak with passion about where you see your career taking you. Don't hesitate to talk about your own personal motivations as well as your answer.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"From a personal point of view, I've always been fascinated by GI medicine because my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease at a pretty young age, and watching how her treatment plan totally changed her quality of life motivated me to pursue this career. In medicine, my ultimate goal is to practice at an academic institution where I can pursue a career in clinical practice and academics. I love the education aspect in medicine with medical students and residents."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I've always been fascinated by GI medicine because I was diagnosed with PUD at a young age and watching how my treatment plan changed my quality of life motivated me to pursue this career. My ultimate goal is to practice at an academic institution where I can pursue a career in clinical practice and academics. I love the education aspect of medicine with medical students, residents, and fellow."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! You come across as excited, passionate, and genuine in your answer, which is great. Can you talk more about how your diagnosis and ensuing treatment impacted your life? The more details you can give, the more memorable your answer will be to the interviewer. Excellent job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I love food and I believe every individual strives for a quality life and the core of quality life is being able to enjoy food/eating. As a physician, one of the best ways I can alleviate one's suffering and have a meaningful impact on their life is by relieving their gastrointestinal symptoms. This was the basis of my interest but it got further solidified as I did GI rotations during my residency and worked with esteemed mentors. I witnessed the amazing combination of cognitive stimulation, procedural intervention, and advancements in research shaping and impacting patients' lives- something I have always wanted to achieve as a physician. Additionally, it allows you to build long-lasting relationships with your patients, especially the ones you follow in outpatient clinics and I have always enjoyed this part as an internist."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your passion for helping others through GI care is evident in your response!

Anonymous Answer

"I look forward to evolving as a clinician and scientist on 3 fronts:
1. Knowledge/Skill: learning more about the lengths and breadths of my understanding of digestive health. I aim to enhance my cognitive and procedural skills to be able to help my patients.
2. Precision: Developing precision in the clinical presentation and application of various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
3. Empathy: I feel empathy and connection with ailing diverse patients both in background and disease would enable consolidation of my training on an emotional level."

Jaymie's Feedback

Often, candidates respond with a generic answer, and you did an excellent job avoiding that! You gave a thorough explanation that shares your passion and drive behind pursuing a gastroenterology fellowship. Good job!

Discovery

17. Do you have any specific research interests during your time in training as a Gastroenterology Fellow?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

While training with the program during Gastroenterology Fellowship will be very clinically rigorous and focused, your involvement in research activities will also be a vital part of your success as a fellow. As they consider residents to match into their program, your team of interviewers wants some insight into what areas of GI research you would like to pursue during your time training with them.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Be sure you have put some thought into your research interests in gastroenterology prior to your fellowship interview and come prepared to talk at a high level about your areas of interest. As you discuss your interests, be sure to share why you are specifically interested in these areas. This will help give your interviewing team an idea of the faculty member that you would be paired with as a mentor for your research ventures during training.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Yes, I have put a lot of thought into this over the last year knowing that I want to pursue a clinical and research-focused career in GI medicine. I am very interested in studying genetic factors in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and also conducting translational research in finding effective new treatments for those diseases. Knowing that your institution has many great faculty members conducting life-changing research makes me very excited about the prospect of training here."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Yes, I am very interested in studying the consequences of untreated H. Pylori, c diff, and NAFLD."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! Can you talk more about why these illnesses interest you in particular? The interviewer will be curious and want to know!

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Anonymous Answer

"As a resident, I have worked on diverse GI topics including case reports on drug-induced liver injury and pancreatitis, review articles, book chapters on the molecular pathogenesis of cancers, and longitudinal studies/meta-analyses on endoscopic mucosal resection for colonic neoplasia and Barrett's. If given the opportunity, I would like to explore research in ESD for large polyps and diagnostic/therapeutic advancements in liver diseases/cirrhosis as I may consider a transplant hepatology fellowship in the future."

Jaymie's Feedback

It sounds like you've given this some thought and have identified areas of interest. Great job!

Anonymous Answer

"Along with clinical training, I aim to acquire skills in bioinformatics/ Computational Biology and work in the space of Pancreatic Cancer prevention. I aim to work in Malignant stratification and Predictive Biomarker discovery. I also look forward to multidisciplinary collaboration with Cancer Biology Labs for in vitro/vivo testing of pancreatic cancer hypothesis testing."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are exciting areas of research to share! It's evident you've put some thought into this. Good job!

Discovery

18. Are you aware of any challenges that the field of GI medicine is currently facing?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

This question assesses your familiarity with the field of gastroenterology and that you've done your homework on what issues are currently occurring in the field. Your interviewers hope the candidates they interview are prepared to talk about the issues the field faces.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Before your Gastroenterology Fellowship interviews, research this question so you can come to your interview prepared to talk about a couple of the issues. Remember that the unstated question is how to fix the issues. You are more than welcome to give your own educated opinion on this as you answer. As you may have learned through residency training or your research, you'll quickly learn that many issues face the physicians in the GI field today, including payer reimbursement issues, the shortage of physician staff, and the impact of COVID-19 on screenings for colon cancer.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During my GI rotation just a few months ago in residency training, I had the opportunity to really pick the brain of my attending physician there. While she was certainly glowing about the future of the field, she also warned me of what she saw as the biggest issues facing the field in the future. The one issue that really piqued my interest and further discussion was what she felt was complacency in the field and a lack of entrepreneurial innovation in the field. She felt that because of the high demand for simple screening colonoscopies, the field has become complacent in using the same techniques and technology for years where there could really be more innovation. Being someone who is enamored and interested in technological advances in medicine, I look forward to learning more during my time in your fellowship program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am aware of challenges like payer reimbursement issues, the shortage of physician staff, and the impact of COVID-19 on screenings for colon cancer, cologuard test, and a new study about colonoscopy."

Marcie's Feedback

You appear knowledgeable about the challenges in the industry. Consider providing additional details about these topics to further impress the interviewer. Good job!

Discovery

19. Do you have any internal worries about joining a reputable Gastroenterology Fellowship program?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As you interview for Gastroenterology Fellowship, your interviewers ask this question for two reasons. First, they want to ensure that any common myths about becoming a fellow are debunked for any prospective fellows that have worries that aren't true. Second, they want to hear how you are working on the areas in which you are not confident.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Put some thought to a question like this prior to your interview and use it as an opportunity to talk through any unknown questions that you want to be answered during your interview process. You can frame your answer to say that this question has been worrying you a bit and that you are hoping to get further clarification from your team of interviewers.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I have all of the confidence in the world in the clinical skills that I've developed over the last three years of Internal Medicine training. I know that I will be mastering new skills in clinical and procedural practice during Gastroenterology Fellowship training and I'm not worried on that end. The only things that would risk keeping me up at night coming into your program would be quickly learning an unfamiliar EMR and integrating quickly with the existing team of senior fellows. These are pressures that I put on myself to do in a timely manner and I would make them both a priority in my initial days with your program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I do not have any internal worried about joining a GI program because I have confidence in the clinical skills that I've developed over the last three years of Internal Medicine training. I know that I will be mastering new skills in clinical and procedural practice during GI Fellowship training and I'm not worried about that end. I also know EMR. If I find any worry later on, I would make it a priority in my initial days with your program."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! You come across as confident and prepared for the program, which the interviewer will appreciate. You also do a great job of mentioning some of the experience and skills that you bring to the table. Perfect!

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Anonymous Answer

"I tend to use fear and worries and channel them into self-improvement. I know enough to know how much I don't know. Pursuing fellowship training is an incredible opportunity full of learning and responsibility: new patients, areas of digestive health techniques, and interpretation of diagnostic modalities.
I have internal worries about patient safety but they propel me and not incapacitate me."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great answer! You share your concerns and worries but with a positive and constructive tone.

Discovery

20. Take some time to talk about your interests and hobbies outside of your medical training.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As a large portion of your time with your interviewers will be for them to get to hear about the great clinical skills that you would bring to their Gastroenterology Fellowship program, they'll still take some time to get to know you a bit personally. Your interviewers will want to get a feel for who you are and what motivates you. They also ask this question to make sure that you will partake in activities outside of your GI Fellowship training that help recharge, both physically and mentally, and ensure that you will be a good fit with their team of fellows and faculty.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

This question is more likely to be asked by senior fellows than attending physicians to try and gauge your fit with the current fellows in the program. This question asks what is unique about you as a person. Pick some popular activities to show that you would get along with the current fellows, as well as some uncommon activities to project yourself as a unique and memorable person. Expect follow-up questions about your interests and make sure to speak with passion as you answer.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I'm a very athletic person and grew up playing soccer. Throughout my residency training, I played in a Sunday night league and love the competition and physical fitness. My other interest outside of the workplace is cooking. I'm on a mission to try making dishes from all over the world over the next year."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I love to go on long road trips. I also love cook and invite friends to try my new vegetarian recipe."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! Can you find a way to connect your outside interests and hobbies to any of the skills or qualities that the interviewer is seeking from a program candidate? Doing so will further strengthen your answer. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I love traveling especially road trips with friends and family. I love food, cooking, and trying different recipes. I enjoy inviting friends over and spending time with friends and family over a meal. Besides, I also enjoy painting and music, shopping for new clothes and accessories. I enjoy organizing events and parties. I used to be the main surprise party planner for my college friends."

Jaymie's Feedback

These hobbies and interests offer the interviewer much insight into who you are outside of work!

Anonymous Answer

"I am a member of the Poets Society of America and read and write poems. I am also skilled in watercolor painting and love to paint landscapes.

I am a runner and hiker and love nature which helps me decompress and come up with innovative ideas!"

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all interesting hobbies to share with the interviewer as they shed some light on who you are outside of work. Nice job!

Discovery

21. During your residency training, have you gained a preference for outpatient or inpatient clinical care?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As you are likely aware heading into your Gastroenterology Fellowship interview, the GI field is primarily an outpatient-based specialty with some inpatient care mixed in. While your interviewers ask if you have developed a preference for one versus the other during your time in residency, they're ideally looking to hear that you understand the importance of both inpatient and outpatient care that gastroenterologists provide and that you are looking forward to your rotations in each setting during your time training with their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Yes, it is okay to discuss a preferred setting for clinical care that you may have developed during your time in residency training. But if you do, be sure to walk a fine line and not pigeonhole yourself into not caring at all for the other setting. It's also okay to let your interviewers honestly know that you haven't had a preference for either development. No matter how you answer, you can talk about your ultimate career goal post-fellowship and what type of setting you to prefer to be in to give some insight into how you would like to see your training customized.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I've honestly loved my time training in the different outpatient clinic settings, continuity clinic, inpatient rounding, and hospital shifts during residency training and haven't started leaning one way. All are important in their own right. As a future Gastroenterologist, I want my practice to be heavily procedural and I understand that I will have responsibilities for outpatient consults and hospital rounding as a part of that. I think your program will give me a very well-rounded experience in all areas of a great GI practice."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I love traditional practicing inpatient and outpatient together. All are important in their own right. I want to be a very well-rounded experience in all areas of a GI practice."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you strive to be well-rounded. Discuss in more detail the benefits of both outpatient and inpatient clinical care and why each is important. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I do not have a specific preference for either setting as I thoroughly enjoy the acuity of inpatient hospital consults and the development of long-term physician-patient relationships in outpatient settings. As my eventual goal is to become an educator in an academic setting, I am enthusiastic to rotate through all necessary settings to become a competent gastroenterologist"

Jaymie's Feedback

It's great to share your flexibility as you have here!

Anonymous Answer

"1. During residency training, I loved critical care rotations: the diagnostic complexities, decision-making, and end-of-life discussions with family.
2. As I grew as an ambulatory and QI chief resident, I appreciated the skills of outpatient patient care: running transition of care/new-patient intake and evening clinics. I found it incredibly fulfilling.
3. As a clinical pancreatology fellow I care for patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic malabsorption, and elevated risk of pancreatic cancer. I also run an independent consult service for pancreatitis patients. These opportunities have consolidated my clinical competency in outpatient and inpatient settings."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent job providing such a thorough and detailed explanation of your experiences!

Discovery

22. Would you have any concerns about relocating to join our Gastroenterology Fellowship program and living in this city for the next three years?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Every year, graduating Internal Medicine Residents compete to match into a wide array of fellowships to further their careers. This includes the very competitive process for matching into Gastroenterology Fellowship programs. As you are likely applying to and interviewing with programs all over the country, your interviewers need to know that you are willing and ready to relocate for their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

If you have lived or visited the city or adjacent cities, you should mention this fact. If you know anyone there, talk about the good things they have told you. If it is an unfamiliar city/region, pick traits that are unique to the city that would intrigue you and help you be able to thrive while living in the area. Ensure that your interviewers understand that you have done your homework on the city and can see yourself succeeding there.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I have only visited New York City during my freshman year of my undergraduate program, but I would be super excited to come and train here for the next three years. I would look forward to visiting Times Square, seeing Madison Square Garden, and enjoying the wide variety of dining options here in the city. I wouldn't have any concerns about relocating here."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I have been living in New England for about 4 years and I love the amazing balance of tranquility and vibrancy in this city. My husband has an established job here, we have extended family and we frequently travel to the Tri-state area. U conn provides a wonderful training perspective and Connecticut has one of the best schooling systems in the United States so training in this program will be. a win-win situation overall for my career growth and my family."

Jaymie's Feedback

Your answer will reassure the interviewer that you have no concerns about the relocation. Nice work!

Discovery

23. What are some key things that you are looking for in a Gastroenterology Fellowship program?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The matching algorithm for fellowship programs takes an applicant-centered approach, meaning it looks to rank current residents with their top fellowship program choice as long as the program holds the candidate as a top choice. Knowing this, your interviewers want to ensure that their Gastroenterology Fellowship program fits your needs.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Your interviewers are ultimately asking why you want to enter their program. As you research the program prior to your interview, come ready to explain how the program meets your needs and your ultimate goals for training as a GI Fellow. Try to identify a few unique features of the program that are important to you when ranking the programs that you interview with.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Right now, I'm focusing my career path in community medicine as a Gastroenterologist that has a strong focus in a well-rounded clinical practice. Looking to be a jack of all trades, I want to get a strong foundation in outpatient care, inpatient care, and procedural care. Exposure to clinical trial experience in fellowship is also very important to me."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Right now, I'm focusing my career path in community medicine as a Gastroenterologist with a strong focus on a well-rounded clinical practice. I want to get a strong foundation in outpatient care, inpatient care, and procedural care. Exposure to clinical trial experience in fellowship is also very important to me."

Marcie's Feedback

Okay! It's great that you're looking for exposure in these key areas. To round out your answer, state that you believe this program is perfectly suited for you because it will provide the training you need in outpatient and inpatient care, procedural care, and clinical trial experience. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I am looking for a collegial training environment with a well-balanced training curriculum for fellows in terms of cognitive and procedural skills as well as adequate research opportunities as I aim to become an academic gastroenterologist. I also look forward to diverse patient and disease exposure so that I am ready to take on any challenges post-graduation as a competent gastroenterologist. I would like to stress the importance of a healthy and supportive culture in the workplace which I experienced during my residency training as we spend more time at work than home and would like that environment to be nurturing for personal and professional growth."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great answer! If you researched the program and found alignment in these areas, be sure to speak to that as well.

Anonymous Answer

"I aim to become an academic pancreatologist and through fellowship training aim to enhance my skills as a clinician and scientist.
Through fellowship training, I am looking forward to strong clinical training and the opportunity to advance my pre-existing research in pancreatic cancer prevention, discover or validate biomarkers in PC detection, and identify signatures that portent aggressive course."

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job discussing the aspects that are important to you! This will be a good conversation starter with the interviewer.

Discovery

24. What does the perfect day during Gastroenterology Fellowship training look like for you?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Physician stress and burnout have become a much more prevalent issue among doctors in every specialty. The same also applies to Gastroenterology Fellows that undergo a strenuous training program for three years. In asking a question like this, your interviewers are looking to hear what an ideal looks like for you that will help keep you engaged and stress-free. In turn, your answer will really help them gauge how you will fit with their program and curriculum.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

You can certainly have some fun when answering this question and be very frank with what your ideal day would look like when training as a GI Fellow. No matter how you answer, you want to speak with passion and try to match your perfect day to the offerings of the program you are interviewing with.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"My perfect day as a Gastroenterology Fellow starts with a two-mile run, a shower, and a fresh cup of coffee as I head in for the day. The ideal morning would be spent in a continuity clinic, where I can see and build relationships with patients in need of long-term care for complex GI issues. Following a quick lunch and finishing up patient charting, the afternoon would entail a couple of hours of protected research time, where I would ideally be focusing my research on immunology in IBD. The workday would ideally end on a great note with grand rounds of attendance to learn from different faculty members from around the world. After getting home, the perfect day would end with a light dinner and reading for an hour before bed."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"My perfect day as a Gastroenterology Fellow starts with a fresh cup of coffee as I head in for the day. I would start early morning around 5 AM to review all inpatient new consults and see them in AM so I can have use rest of the day for clinic and procedure. The ideal morning would be spent in a continuity clinic, where I can see and build relationships with patients in need of long-term care for complex GI issues. Following a clinic and finishing up patient charting, the afternoon would entail education, conference, and research time. Then I would focus on inpatient consults or follow-up or afternoon clinics. In the evening, I would ideally end on a great note with grand rounds of attendance to learn from different faculty members. After getting home, will have a light dinner, play with the kids, and spent time with my wife and family. I will read about the topic and review the chart for next-day clinic patients before bed."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! You have provided a detailed and thorough account of what your perfect training day would look like, which the interviewer will appreciate. You come across as energized, passionate, and focused, in addition to being a strong relationship builder and enthusiastic learner. Any interviewer would be impressed by everything you wish to pack into a training day. Excellent job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I am a member of the 5 a.m. club so the day starts with a quick 3-mile run followed by 1 hour of reading and research and starting the day in the morning with continuity clinic/scope. Noon conference with colleagues and lunch where we get to feast on food and knowledge. In the afternoon another session of scoping and then finishing notes in the evening before dinner and a nice long walk with my family and dog before we go to sleep."

Jaymie's Feedback

This sounds like an ideal day of learning, growth, and patient care. Good job!

Discovery

25. What are your thoughts on the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

As an Internal Medicine Resident, you were hopefully exposed to the relationships that physicians have with reps from the pharmaceutical industry. This relationship will continue during your future practice in gastroenterology. Your interviewers will want to hear that you can see the positives in your relationships with the pharma industry.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Due to the tendencies of these companies to financially reward physicians for using or prescribing their products, it is important to realize that sales representatives of pharmaceutical companies are an important ally for physicians and provide essential information. Assure your interviewers that you are open to listening to the reps and learning about new treatment options for your patients.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"While I recognize that financial incentives provided by pharmaceutical companies are not acceptable and should be restricted during my time as a GI Fellow with your program and in process, I see value in pharmaceutical sales representatives as useful sources for information about a new drug, including data from clinical trials, samples for my future patients, and information about the manufacturer's program. This can make their drugs more affordable for patients who struggle financially, particularly those who don't have health insurance. Between the histamine blocks, PPIs, and promotility agents, I know that I will be prescribing a wide variety of medications to my patients as a fellow with your program and the drug reps can be a great ally for me."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I am open to listening to the reps and learning about new treatment options for your patients. While I recognize that financial incentives provided by pharmaceutical companies are not acceptable and should be restricted, I see value in pharmaceutical sales representatives as useful sources of information about a new drug, including data from clinical trials, samples for my future patients, and information about the manufacturer's program. This can make their drugs more affordable for patients who struggle financially, particularly those who don't have health insurance."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! You have provided a balanced and thoughtful response that outlines many of the positives of pharmaceutical sales representatives. You may want to consider adding another sentence or two, however, with some of the negatives and conflicts of interest that can arise in this situation. Emphasize that you recognize that a physician's primary duty is to ensure the good health and welfare of the patient ahead of any pharmaceutical company's interests. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I appreciate that I am embarking on a clinical path and allyship with pharmaceutical companies shall enable me to advance my knowledge about available drugs, and recent clinical trials, and in some cases also advocate for my patients in need. I have collaborated with Abbvie: on pancreatic enzyme replacement which enabled me to use online tools for optimal dosing of the medication.
That being said, I intend to practice ethical medicine and will be sure to avoid potential conflicts of interest during my interactions with pharmaceutical companies."

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent response! You clearly understand the value and importance of those relationships but also know how to set boundaries.

Discovery

26. Do you believe telehealth is an effective form of healthcare delivery, specifically as it relates to gastrointestinal care?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

While telehealth principles have been applied to patient care for years, it has come to the forefront in recent years. Your interviewers want their future Gastroenterology Fellows to have a positive outlook on telehealth and a vision for where it will go in their future down the road as physicians in practice.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Although telehealth has limitations in a gastroenterology practice, including the inability to do a physical exam and obtain vitals, it is a useful way to reach out to patients who otherwise would not be able to get care when needed. For this reason, any future physician in practice must embrace telehealth platforms while recognizing that they are not ideal. Your answer should provide the pros and cons of telehealth as it relates to GI care, along with any direct examples of its use you are familiar with.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Yes, I think that telemedicine can be very effective and efficient in GI care, but it has to be for the right service at the right time. Things like medication management, reviewing imaging/lab results, and dietary consultations can happen so easily with patients over a video consult. This can help open up vital clinic space for patients that need in-person care. I foresee that long-term management of diseases like Hepatitis C and Crohn's Disease are ideal using telemedicine as well."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Although telehealth has limitations in a gastroenterology practice, including the inability to do a physical exam and obtain vitals, it is a useful way to reach out to patients who otherwise would not be able to get care when needed, but it has to be for the right service at the right time. Things like medication management, reviewing imaging/lab results, and dietary consultations can happen so easily with patients over a video consult. This can help open up vital clinic space for patients that need in-person care. I foresee that long-term management of diseases like Hepatitis C and Crohn's Disease is ideal using telemedicine as well."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You have clearly explained many of the benefits of telehealth but also addressed why it doesn't always work in every situation. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"Although I have not utilized telehealth as a provider I have been on the other end when I utilized telehealth for my COVID appointment. I believe it is a really important tool as it saves cost and time of travel, more readily accessible than in-person visits. Instructions are not very difficult to follow and in GI cases, most of the care can be provided by obtaining a detailed history and treatment can be guided accordingly. Some of the cons include technical challenges especially for elderly patients with no support, inability to perform a hands-on examination, and some bedside procedures that can be done during inpatient visits like DRE, banding of hemorrhoids, etc."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a good high-level overview of the pros and cons of telehealth. Your answer shows you're knowledgeable and know when telehealth and in-person visits are appropriate.

Anonymous Answer

"Telemedicine is an excellent tool for keeping in touch with patients, reviewing labs and imaging, and planning the management of patients. Select patients who have issues with transport have certainly benefitted from Televisits with us. However, we are unable to examine patients and I wonder how much are the patients satisfied after a Televisit. I believe during scheduling incorporating patients' comfort and preferences is critical."

Jaymie's Feedback

You mentioned several benefits of telehealth services for patients! Consider sharing your knowledge and opinion of when telehealth visits would not be appropriate for patients. Also, consider discussing issues with using technology as well as the transportation issues that you mentioned.

Discovery

27. What invasive procedure are you most excited to learn during Gastroenterology Fellowship training?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Coming out of Internal Medicine Residency and in hopes of landing a great slot in a GI Fellowship program, you are well aware of all of the invasive procedures that you will be learning over the next three years. With this question, your interviewers are looking to hear what invasive procedure is most exciting to you and learn a bit about what you will be trying to accomplish during your time training with their program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Come to your interview prepared to openly discuss the one or two procedures that excite you the most. With no right or wrong answer to a question like this, your interviewers will be keying in on your passion and drive for the procedure you are most excited about and you'll want to display both passions and drive as you answer.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During my residency training, I feel like I got very good exposure to the outpatient clinic setting in GI and that really piqued my interest. Just a few months ago on my elective rotation in advanced endoscopy with one of the best physicians in the country, I knew my future was sealed. I'm very much looking forward to learning and mastering endoscopy procedures and one day pursuing advanced endoscopy training following GI fellowship."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"During my residency training and hospitalist job, I feel like I got very good exposure to the clinic setting in GI. I'm very much looking forward to learning and mastering endoscopy procedures and one-day pursuing advanced endoscopy training following GI fellowship."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! Can you talk a bit more about why these particular procedures interest you versus the others? Including these details will further build out and strengthen your answer. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I realize as a Gastroenterologist, Routine diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies and colonoscopies will be my bread and butter and I am very excited to learn those first. I have done some scholarly work on advanced endoscopic procedures like EMR and I would like to gain experience in some of those advanced endoscopic procedures as well as ERCP, and stent placement to relieve biliary obstruction. I am also particularly excited to learn the endoscopic management of food impaction as it is very distressing to patients and presents as a GI emergency."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all areas of interest the interviewer will be pleased to hear you're excited about! Your passion for the field and helping patients is evident in your answers.

Discovery

28. How would you describe your personality using just three words?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your interviewers pose this question for two reasons. First, they want some insight into your personality to get a feel for how you will fit in with their Gastroenterology Fellowship program. They also want to hear how you view yourself. Notice they do not ask how others would describe you but how YOU would describe yourself.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Since you only have three words, make sure the words that you use will make a lasting impact on your interviewers. Some possible words to use include adaptable, brave, compassionate, respectful, helpful, positive, thoughtful, and versatile. As you prepare for a question like this, try to avoid giving the same canned answers other candidates give. Explain your reasons for choosing these words to describe yourself.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"If I could describe my personality to you in three words, I would say that I am compassionate, intelligent, and fluid. My personality is well suited for the gastrointestinal care environment as my patients' well-being is always at the top of my mind. My intelligence will carry me through my fellowship and into my career as a physician focused on both clinical care and translational research. My ability to adapt and change with any situation sets me apart from most people because I thrive in environments where things don't remain constant every day."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"adaptable(flexible), respectful, hardworking, helpful, compassionate, positive, thoughtful, and versatile."

Marcie's Feedback

These are all strong adjectives that show you have the perfect demeanor and personality to be a physician. However, do note that the question asks for just three. Make sure to follow the instructions and provide your top three words. Also, consider supporting your assertions with an example or two. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"1. Adaptable/flexible
2. Respectful
3. Hard working
My flexible nature will help me thrive in a highly demanding and stressful environment where things change constantly. I maintain my calm and respect in every situation and conflict. My hard work is the reason behind my achievements and I believe will continue to help me attain my career goals."

Jaymie's Feedback

All of these traits and qualities will be ideal in a fellowship candidate! Great job touching on the relevant application of each trait as well!

Anonymous Answer

"1. Collaborative
2. Hardworking
3. Focussed"

Jaymie's Feedback

These are three skills and traits that will transfer well into the fellowship program!

Discovery

29. How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the field of gastroenterology during your time as a fellow with our program?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Networking, education, and career development are vital to the success of any physician. Your interviewers want to know that you will fully immerse yourself in your field as a Gastroenterology Fellow with their program. This includes keeping up to date on new trends and having a great understanding of the challenges the industry faces, both now and in the future.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Prior to your GI Fellowship interview, it will benefit you greatly to research some of the great societies, associations, and journals that are targeted at gastroenterology care. You might also ask the interviewers if they have any recommendations for you. This can start a conversation that will be helpful to you! Come to your interview prepared to reiterate to your interviewers that you are willing and ready to participate with some of the national organizations within the field and, if you can, talk about any that you are currently a part of and what benefits you have seen from them.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Knowing two years ago that my dream was to pursue Gastroenterology Fellowship training at a reputable institution like yours, I immediately became a member of the AGA and currently subscribe to both the Gastroenterology and The New Gastroenterologist journals. I'm very excited to immerse myself in the GI field and take advantage of all of the different CME and networking opportunities to further my future practice."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"Networking, education, and career development are vital to the success of any physician. I will immediately become a member of the AGA. Currently, I subscribe to Gastroenterology journals. I will take advantage of all of the different CME and networking opportunities to further my future practice."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! It sounds like you know just how to stay on top of new industry trends and changes. Consider adding a sentence that explains why you think it's so important to stay abreast of what's happening in the field. Good job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I understand education and networking are vital to career development in any field. I have previously attended ACG and DDW conferences and I look forward to attending local and national GI conferences, attaining membership in GI societies, and reading journals to keep myself with changing trends in this rapidly evolving field. I believe social media such as Twitter, if well utilized can also be a great source of networking and learning as I have seen many fellows and GI attendings presenting their work on social media. I will take advantage of all such CME and networking opportunities."

Jaymie's Feedback

Using a variety of resources, as you mentioned, is a valuable way to stay current in the field and network with others.

Discovery

30. Do you have any thoughts on how would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve in the next five to ten years?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your interviewers want to better understand how you feel healthcare can evolve for the better, specifically for GI-related care. Demonstrating a forward-thinking and innovative vision will set you apart from the other candidates competing for a spot in this Gastroenterology Fellowship program.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Put some thought into questions like this before your GI Fellowship interviews so you are prepared to talk in an educated manner about how the delivery of healthcare can improve over time. Perhaps you feel that healthcare can best evolve through more patient-centric attitudes. Maybe you think that care coordination and synergy within the administration is the fastest way to improve care. Maintain a positive attitude and describe how you feel healthcare is currently evolving.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Being someone who is enamored with the evolution of medicine throughout history, I love the fact that the GI field will continue to evolve and develop further in the coming years. Most of this development will continue with technology. Not only in GI care but in healthcare overall, I think artificial intelligence will continue to grow and its use will help us to further gather clinical data to improve diagnoses and treatments. I'm also very excited for technology to increase to allow for more telehealth visits and in-home monitoring of patients and increasing patient access across the country."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"With the evolution of medicine throughout history, I love the fact that the GI field will continue to evolve and develop further in the coming years. Most of this development will continue with technology. Not only in GI care but in healthcare overall, I think artificial intelligence will continue to grow and its use will help us to further gather clinical data to improve diagnoses and treatments. I'm also very excited for technology to increase to allow for more telehealth visits and in-home monitoring of patients and increase patient access across the country."

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! Your predictions about the evolution of healthcare sound logical and on-point. You come across as informed and interested. Consider talking about the role you yourself want to play in this proposed future. Good job!

Discovery

31. Talk about the most interesting patient or case you were exposed to during your residency training. What made it so interesting to you?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your interviewers want candidates who have a great overall passion for medicine as they consider who to match into their Gastroenterology Fellowship program. This conversational-based question is intended to get to know the types of cases that you find most interesting and allows your interviewers some insight into what drives you as a physician.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Before your interview, think of what you consider the most intriguing and thought-provoking patient or case you saw during your residency training. The cases that are most interesting to you should pertain to the specialty you want to pursue, but don't necessarily have to. As you answer, take a few minutes to set the stage for the case, name a couple of points that intrigued you, and explain why. If you know the outcome of the case, discuss that briefly as well.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"The most intriguing case I was exposed to during residency training was my first exposure to a patient diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I happened to be rotating in GI during the patient's initial visit and diagnosis. Hearing the extreme life barriers that the disease was creating for the patient was very hard to hear at first. But what made it the most interesting was working with the attending physician on diagnosing and determining that smoking was likely a major contributor to the worsening of the disease for the patient. This was my first opportunity in seeing a care plan come together that included lifestyle changes and management using antibiotics and corticosteroids."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"A stomach cancer case."

Marcie's Feedback

Why did this case interest you so much? What was notable about it? Use the STAR method to explain the situation, your task/actions, and the end result. Convey your passion for learning and discuss any relationships you formed.

Leadership

32. Did you encounter a time where you had to take the lead in a situation during your residency training? Why did you take action as the leader and what was the outcome?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your interviewers want to see that you are confident enough to take the initiative when the opportunity arises as a Gastroenterology Fellow in their program. Most medical training programs don't provide formal leadership training, so your interviewers want to know that you are a natural leader. As you advance to the final year of your fellowship training with this program, you will lead teams of junior fellows and your interviewers will want to hear that you can lead others with success.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Carefully describe a situation during your residency training where you saw a chance to lead and took advantage of it. Talk about the success of the moment and your biggest takeaway from the experience. You'll want to highlight your ability to communicate effectively and lead others as you answer this question.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"I've always been a natural leader to my peers growing up. I had opportunities to lead on the field as an athlete and as a student who organized many different volunteer activities in high school and during my undergraduate program. While recently rotating in our ICU, I took charge of a critical patient situation on a night shift and guided our nursing staff to help stabilize a patient. It felt very gratifying to be the physician in charge of directing care and feeling comfortable and confident in doing so. This is an experience that I will carry with me to your GI Fellowship program."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I had many opportunities to lead on the field as an athlete and as a student who organized many different volunteer activities in high school and during medical school. I took the lead in residency and as hospitalist as Unit Medical Director. While recently rotating in our ICU, I took charge of a critical patient situation on a night shift and guided our nursing staff to help stabilize a patient. It felt very gratifying to be the physician in charge of directing care and feel comfortable and confident in doing so. This is an experience that I will carry with me to your GI Fellowship program."

Marcie's Feedback

Excellent! You appear to be a naturally strong leader. Your example shows how your leadership skills helped both the patient and the staff. Can you provide more details about the situation and why the patient was in critical condition? Adding some more information will make your answer even more memorable to the interviewer. Great job!

Operational

33. How timely would you say your charting and dictations were during residency training?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Getting behind on charting after a long and busy day happens easily in any practice, and this is especially true for residents and fellows in training. Your interviewers at this Gastroenterology Fellowship ask a question regarding the timelines of your charting and dictation to hear how you prioritize these tasks during a busy and to ensure that you can do what is necessary for a patient's record, even on the busiest of days.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Speak openly and honestly about how your prioritized your patient charting during residency training and push your answer further by highlighting any direct feedback you received on your great charting skills from faculty. If you had experienced a time where your charting/dictation wasn't timely, it is okay to bring that situation up as long as you can express what you learned from it moving forward into Gastroenterology Fellowship training.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"Although I've been occasionally remiss in keeping all sign-offs and dictations current during the busiest of days in residency training, I feel it is important for me to be diligent in keeping current. It is not lost on me how reimbursement by third-party payers can be affected by incomplete charts. Just as important is the need for accuracy, and attempting to remember specifics from a procedure or rounds can become spotty if too much time has passed. For these reasons, I agree that keeping current is important and would always strive to be timely in my charting as a GI Fellow in training."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I always have to be timely in my charting as soon as possible same day because it is important in many ways. 1. important is the need for accuracy. 2. attempting to remember specifics from a procedure or rounds can be difficult if too much time has passed. 3. reimbursement by third-party payers can be affected by incomplete charts."

Marcie's Feedback

You've provided excellent reasons for why it's important to be timely when charting. Add another sentence or two emphasizing that you have a strong track record of keeping up on this, even when things are busy and stressful. Talk about how you manage to do this in these kinds of situations. Good job!

Situational

34. Talk about a time you had a conflict with a patient during your residency training. How was it resolved in a healthy manner?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Gastroenterologists need to be able to handle patients who are stressed, in pain, or angry respectfully and healthily. As you interview with GI Fellowship programs, your interviewers need to know that you can handle patient conflicts with ease, and asking about a time you had to do this during residency training gives them a great indication of how you will handle conflict in training.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Describe a simple scenario briefly, focusing on your response to the challenge rather than describing the details of the conflict. When you discuss how you handled it fairly, emphasize that clear communication was instrumental. Describe what you took from that situation that you will put into practice as a Gastroenterology Fellow.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During my time rotating in a busy outpatient IM clinic during my second year, I had a patient that was very irritable about the waiting time. As I was examining the patient, he became very vulgar with this language about our staff and nobody caring about the wait time he had experienced. First and foremost, I didn't take his foul language personally and decided to let him air his thoughts out. Once he was done and I was still performing my examination, I apologized for the wait time and assured him that all staff was doing their best to handle a busy clinic schedule. I reiterated that all of our providers were committed to providing focused care to each and every patient, including him. This comment alone really settled him down and I know that simply letting him talk out his grievances without getting defensive was important in this situation."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I had a patient that was very irritable about the waiting time in the clinic. As I was examining the patient, he became angry toward our staff, and nobody cared about the wait time he had experienced. First and foremost, I didn't take his bad language personally and decided to let him air his thoughts out. Once he was done, I apologized for the wait time and assured him that all staff was doing their best to handle a busy clinic schedule. I reiterated that all of our providers were committed to providing focused care to each and every patient, including him. This comment alone really settled him down and I know that simply letting him talk out his grievances without getting defensive was important in this situation."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It sounds like you were very considerate toward the patient and understood the need for him to express his frustrations. What else did you do to calm him down? Were you an active listener? Did you stay calm and use a certain tone of voice? Assure the interviewer that you are fully capable of handling conflict. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"I had a chronic pancreatitis patient who was in a lot of pain and was having a flare. We were struggling to optimize his pain medication since he had Bipolar Disorder and Cymbalta had the potential to cause hypomania in him. I was working with his psychiatrist to down-titrate his SSRI. He called us and I got "F-bombed" since he was in pain. I appreciated his frustration, let him vent, and validated his concerns. It was not personal and he was in a tough situation. I also took action; he was admitted, started on IV pain medications, and his Cymbalta was up-titrated. We continue to have good connections."

Jaymie's Feedback

This is a perfect example to share with the interviewer! It highlights your genuine care for your patient, commitment to their care and quality of life, and interpersonal, communication, and de-escalation skills. Excellent job!

Situational

35. Tell us about a difficult patient experience you had during your residency training. How did you handle the situation in a professional and respectful manner?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Coming out of your Internal Medicine Residency training, you have had the opportunity to work with patients in a wide variety of settings. This likely has included handling very difficult patients. This question allows your interviewers to assess the patience, communication, conflict resolution, and stress management skills that you would bring to their Gastroenterology Fellowship program as a new fellow.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

How to Answer

Talk about a simple scenario you experienced during your residency training so you don't spend too much time describing details of the patient's story. Instead, spend your time describing your thoughts and actions. Your answer should demonstrate your ability to remain calm, patient, empathetic, and logical while still helping the patient to the best of your abilities.

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Answer Example

"During my rotation in the outpatient clinic setting my second year, I had a new consult with a patient that became very rude and belligerent when I started discussing his obesity and ways to help him lose weight. I immediately apologized to him and let him know that I had his best interest in mind. Following the appointment, I got some great advice from my attending physician that I could have provided more education to him in the moment. During his next follow-up appointment, I continued to provide education to the patient and recommended a consultation with a dietician. He agreed to see them the following week."

Written by Ryan Brunner on May 2nd, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"I had a new consult with a patient that became very rude when I started discussing his obesity, smoking, and alcohol cessation and ways to help him. I immediately apologized to him and let him know that I had his best interest in mind. Following the appointment, I got some great advice from my attending physician that I could have provided more education to him at the moment. During his next follow-up appointment, I continued to provide education to the patient and recommended a consultation with a dietician, SW. He agreed to see them the following week."

Marcie's Feedback

You've done a great job here using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to outline exactly what happened and how you handled it. Your response also shows that you implemented the feedback you received, which the interviewer will appreciate. Consider adding in some more details about the additional education you gave the patient. Excellent response!