What types of conferences did you get to attend as a resident? Which one was your favorite and why?
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.
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.
"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."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
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?
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!
Unlock all 35 Gastroenterology Fellowship questions
Prepare for program director questions with answers written by fellowship selection committees.
Get Started