Outside of your medical training, what keeps you busy?
Having hobbies and interests outside your current residency training and future fellowship training is an important part of maintaining a healthy work/life balance. During your ID fellowship interview, your interviewers will ask questions to get to know you better. They also want to know that you will have a healthy balance between work and personal life while training with them.
"My top priority outside of schooling and training is my family. We have twin boys who are growing up fast, and we like to stay active with them. During my undergraduate program and medical school, I was a competitive runner and competed in several full marathons. While I don't compete anymore, running daily helps keep me in great physical and mental form."
Talk openly and honestly to the interviewers about the activities that interest you outside the medical field. Explain how these activities will keep you happy, healthy, and refreshed during your fellowship training.
"Having been raised around pets my entire life, I have a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever that I have a lot of fun with. We take long walks, and I'm training him to catch frisbees. I'm also into art. I paint regularly to help clear my mind when things get too crazy during my residency training."
