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

"During my rotation in the outpatient clinic setting in my second year, I had a new consult with a patient who became very rude and belligerent when I started discussing his obesity and ways to help him lose weight. I immediately apologized and told him I had his best interest in mind. Following the appointment, my attending physician advised me that I could have provided more education to him at the moment. That was a great learning experience for me coming into Infectious Disease fellowship training, as I know I will encounter my fair share of difficult patients in training and my career."

Talk about a simple scenario you experienced during your residency training, and don't spend too much time describing the 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 helping the patient to the best of your abilities.