Do you have any questions for us about our institution or our ID fellowship program?

"Thanks for asking; I do have several questions. Can you tell me about the research opportunities available for your ID fellows? I am interested in pursuing research following fellowship training. Also, I'm curious to hear about the demographics of the patients you see here in this hospital. I want to ensure that my training exposes me to a diverse patient base. Can you tell me more about this?"

You need to realize that your interviewers are considering a great pool of residents for their Infectious Disease fellowship program. If you end up being one of their top candidates, they want to ensure that you walk away from your interview with all your questions answered to ensure that you will rank their program at the top of your list.

Have questions ready for the end of your interview. Don't ask questions that make it seem like you have concerns outside of becoming the best doctor you can be, such as what the meal allowance is. Come to your interview with questions that show you want to learn more about their program and institution.

"Where have some recent graduates gone on to practice after their Infectious Disease fellowship training here? I'd also like to know if your fellows receive hands-on training with procedures like fecal microbiota transplants and OPAT therapy."

"Yes, thank you. I did my research regarding your program on your website. But I would like to know how is the call scheduled and if there is any assigned mentor for the first-year fellow."

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."

In your Internal Medicine Residency training, you have worked with patients in many settings and have likely handled challenging patients. This question allows your interviewers to assess the patience, communication, conflict resolution, and stress management skills you would bring to their team as a new Infectious Disease fellow with their program.

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.

"Well I did, during my 3rd year when I started as senior resident and was the team leader while covering general medicine team. One my team members was upset and unhappy of the many number of patient admitted that day. I tried my best to talk him down and arranged a list of patients according to the most urgent needs with the final plan and discharge date. As a result that day we served a lot of patients more than expected and my colleague was quite pleased."

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

"My biggest challenge of residency training was navigating being a resident for the first time in a new environment and managing a delicate work-life balance. In medical school, I was taught that stress management skills were important, but I never knew how true those words were until residency. I admit that I had some breakdowns during my first year, and some great senior residents and attending physicians lifted me 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."

There are many challenges when coming into a program as a new Infectious Disease fellow, from learning new faces to taking on a whole new subset of patients for the first time. Your interviewers know 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.

Pick a challenge commonly faced by residents rather than focusing on a potential deficit in your ability to perform as an ID fellow. You can also pick something unique to you that is not the result of your actions and is out of your control. Then, explain how you took steps to manage this challenge and prepare for similar challenges in the future.

As an ID fellow in our program, how would you change your communication style if a patient's family had trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?

"When patients, or their families, don't understand something I've explained, I first try to determine where the communication breakdown occurred. Sometimes, a simpler explanation is all that's needed. If that is the case, I explain things in a very easy-to-understand manner and use educational materials. My goal as an Infectious Disease fellow with your program would be to ensure that my patients and their families understand diagnoses and care plans and that all their questions are answered."

Infectious Disease fellows are often responsible for talking with patients' families and explaining their diagnoses or medication regimen. In cases where a diagnosis is unexpected or the prognosis is not favorable, patients' families may struggle to understand information. Similarly, undereducated patients and their families may need clarification or have questions. Your interviewers ask this question in hopes of hearing that you will be willing to take extra time with patients' families when needed.

Let the interview panel know you are always cognizant of your audience, especially when speaking with patients/patients' families about critical medical information. Discuss the importance of asking questions to ensure patients' families understand the information you've given them. Assure them that, in cases where patients/patients' families are struggling to understand, you will always attempt to offer information in a different way that considers the cause of their misunderstanding, whether it was your initial approach or their background.

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

"While I recognize that financial incentives provided by pharmaceutical companies are not acceptable and should be restricted as an Infectious Disease fellow with your program and in practice, I see value in pharmaceutical sales representatives as useful sources for information about new drugs. I would always seek 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."

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 infectious Disease due to the heavy reliance on drug treatment for the sicknesses you will be treating. Your interviewers will want to hear that you can see the positives in your relationships with the pharma industry.

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.

At our institution, you would be working side by side with mid level providers as an Infectious Disease fellow. Would you have any issues doing so?

"During residency training, I got to work very closely with APP staff in the hospital, clinic, and ICU 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 a 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 interact with the ID fellows in your program?"

Over the years, there has been some hesitation for physicians to work alongside mid-level providers like Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in their practice. But the reality is that most large institutions have made the financial decision to employ and use more in practice. With this question, your interviewers need to know that you are comfortable training in this situation and that you will be a team player with the mid-level providers you would be collaborating with as an Infectious Disease fellow in their program.

Your answer to this question can be a pretty short and sweet 'no,' you wouldn't have any issues working closely with APP staff while training during your ID fellowship. To further solidify your response to this question, highlight some of the positive aspects that Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can bring to a practice. If you have experience working with mid-level providers during your residency training, talk about your working relationship and the positive things that came from working with those providers.

How do you think you will perform under pressure as an Infectious Disease fellow?

"As a person who thrives under pressure, I am confident in my ability to succeed in your ID fellowship program over the next three years. During my second year of IM residency, I spent over four months in an inpatient ward working seven on, seven off for 12-hour shifts. This was incredibly pressure-packed as our units were full most of the time. I learned a lot about time management concerning patient care that will be vital for me as an ID fellow."

During your venture into Infectious Disease fellowship training, you may face more pressure than ever before, even compared to medical school and residency training. Your interviewers need to know that you have the tools and skillset to face the pressure that comes with an intense fellowship program like theirs.

Provide an example of a time you were challenged by a demanding workload or a pressure-packed situation during your IM residency training. Discuss how you reacted in that situation, what you learned from this experience, and if you would do things differently next time. Don't forget to mention the resources you used to handle the challenge.

"I feel comfortable and even thrive in pressure-packed situations. This skill served me well during my time as an Internal Medicine resident. I am eager to continue to work in a fast-paced environment with your Infectious Disease fellowship program."

As a new Infectious Disease fellow, how comfortable would you be handling patients with little supervision?

"Coming out of a great Internal Medicine program, I feel confident in my ability to work with any patient without someone watching over my shoulder. With that said, I also want every interaction with a patient to be a learning opportunity, and I know your faculty has an excellent reputation for providing those opportunities to your ID fellows."

Your interviewing team asks this question to ensure that you have the ability and desire to work independently as an ID fellow with their program. Throughout your residency training, your confidence level has likely grown, but they also want to hear that you will look forward to learning and collaborating with the faculty at their program.

Prove your ability to work confidently with little supervision without being overconfident. As an Infectious Disease fellow, your work with patients will be scrutinized and used as a learning opportunity, so let your interviewers know that you are aware of that. Speak confidently about your ability to work with patients with little or no supervision.

"I feel I am well prepared to start Infectious Disease fellowship training. I have experience and have done multiple IM rotations as a medical student and resident. In training, I never hesitate to consult with an attending to ask questions to ensure that my care plan is always on the right path."

How do you believe the delivery of healthcare will evolve in the Infectious Disease practice setting?

"I'm confident that so many traditional practice settings will evolve into the future, and the ID practice will need to be adaptable. With this field being so niche and highly specialized, telemedicine will continue to grow. I can't wait to learn more from your faculty on how they are handling certain aspects of telemedicine in their practice."

Your interviewers want to understand where you feel healthcare could evolve for the better in the ID setting. Demonstrating a forward-thinking and innovative vision in your interview will set you apart from the other candidates they are considering for ranking into their Infectious Disease fellowship program.

Be prepared to talk in an educated manner about how you feel the delivery of care will improve over time. In the grand scheme of modern medicine, the infectious disease realm must continually adapt and innovate as microorganisms change and evolve. Before your ID fellowship interviews, take the time to put some thought and research into a question like this and come prepared to knowledgeably discuss where you feel the field will go in the future.

"With technology rapidly changing in the field to help identify and track pathogens, the ability to stop major outbreaks faster will continue to be at the forefront of the minds of Infectious Disease physicians and epidemiologists. In 10 to 20 years, when I'm in practice, I'm confident that how we treat patients and manage care will be much more efficient in diagnosing and developing care plans because of the rapidly changing technology."

As an Infectious Disease fellow, how will you stay on top of trends and changes in the field?

"The New England Journal of Medicine has been a great resource during medical school and my IM residency training. With its reputation for scholarly activities, I know it will continue to be throughout my ID fellowship training and career in practice. As a fellow, I plan on joining the IDSA and subscribing to their Journal of Infectious Diseases. Are there any other groups that you would recommend?"

Your interviewers want to know that you will fully immerse yourself in ID medicine during your time in their program. This includes staying up to date on new trends and understanding the challenges this field faces, both now and in the future.

Talk about a couple of the resources you plan to use to stay on top of trends in Infectious Disease medicine. It's also a great idea to ask the interviewers if they have any recommendations. This can start a conversation that will be helpful to you! Before your interview, be sure to look into the different ID Medicine groups, journals, and publications so you can speak knowledgeably about them during your interview.

"Knowing that I was going to pursue ID fellowship training a year ago, I've been reading a lot of the IJID journals and The Lancet publications on great research happening in the field. Immersing myself in research has been very intriguing, and I can't wait to learn more and grow in this realm as a fellow with your program."

Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start residency?

"Yes, I have completed steps 1 and 2 of ECFMG requirements for my J-1 visa. I have brought the supporting paperwork with me if you need me to provide that."

This question will only apply to Foreign Medical Graduates. If you are in this category, your interviewers will need to know that you already have your ECFMG certification by completing steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE before joining a fellowship program in Infectious Disease.

If you are a foreign medical graduate, come to your ID fellowship interviews prepared to discuss the steps you have taken for the ECFMG certification. If you have any supporting paperwork, bring it to the interview and offer it to the interviewers. Be prepared with an affirmative answer to this question.

"Yes, I have gone above and beyond the requirements to be successful in your Infectious Disease fellowship program and am excited to start this next chapter in my training."

Have you applied to and are you interviewing with any other Infectious Disease fellowship programs?

"I am keeping an eye out and applying to several reputable ID fellowship programs, particularly ones with a great reputation and a great path for participating in research activities. No matter the number of interviews I complete, I hold your program in the highest regard because of the academic and research success that your past trainees are now having in practice."

It is no secret that Internal Medicine residents pursuing fellowship training are encouraged to apply to many fellowship programs to better their odds of matching. If the interviewers know you are actively pursuing many ID fellowship opportunities, they may consider you more seriously, especially if you emerge as one of their top-ranked candidates.

Talk openly about the applications you submitted, but emphasize your interest in this particular ID fellowship program. Give specific reasons you want to complete your fellowship training with this program and explain how that will benefit you in your pursuit of becoming a practicing Infectious Disease physician.

"Yes, I am interviewing with other Infectious Disease training programs. The program I match into should be an excellent fit for both parties. From the conversation I had before applying, and what I've learned today, your program has especially interested me."

Would you have any issues relocating if you matched into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

"I would greatly look forward to the opportunity of joining your ID fellowship program. I traveled here in my youth with family as we have extended family in the city. I love that I will be able to participate in all of my hobbies here in the region and have opportunities to do new things over the next three years."

To better the odds of matching with a great program, most Internal Medicine residents will apply to ID fellowship programs all over the country. As they consider your application, your interviewers want to know that you are serious about your willingness to relocate and focus on training in their program.

The goal when answering this question is to assure the interviewer that relocating will not be a problem for you. If it's a challenging relocation for you, but you are willing to do it, explain your willingness to move for the sake of joining and training in this program. Don't hesitate to talk about your personal or family situation and the support you have to pursue this dream of yours.

"I am very eager to join your Infectious Disease fellowship program. One of the many reasons I want to join is to explore a new area of the country and see if this is a place I would someday like to land and build our family. My wife is very supportive of this potential move as she would have great opportunities available in her career here."

Would you be willing and able to complete our background check process if you match into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

"I am ready to fully comply with any background and verification checks required to join your program as an Infectious Disease fellow. I have clean criminal and driving records."

It is necessary to pass a criminal background check in any healthcare-related setting. Your credentialing and state licensure will rely on it as an ID fellow. Your interviewers ask this question to ensure you can pass any state or federal background checks required by their institution.

If you can successfully pass a criminal record check or education verification, explain that you have a clean record. If you have any blemishes on your records and cannot pass a criminal record check or education verification, be upfront about that in the interview process. The fellowship program will be more forgiving if you are honest about any marks on your background check.

"I would be happy to complete a criminal background check and understand that you must do your due diligence to protect the safety of patients. I am completely comfortable with this."

What are you looking for in an Infectious Disease fellowship program?

"Over the past year, I've been researching all of the programs throughout the country and talking with faculty at my residency institution on various programs. My top qualities are a well-rounded curriculum and the proven success of graduates of the program. I'm confident that I've found both here in your program. I want my future practice in infectious disease to entail a solid mix of clinical care and translational research, and I love that I will get a great chance to prove myself as a researcher here."

The matching algorithm for residency and fellowship programs takes an applicant-centered approach, meaning it looks to match medical students with their top choice as long as the program holds the candidate as a top choice. Knowing this, your interviewers want to ensure that their Infectious Disease fellowship program fits your needs if you were to rank as one of their highest interviewing candidates.

With this question, your interviewers want to know why you want to enter their program. Speak openly and honestly about the key factors you are looking for in a reputable ID fellowship program, including esteemed faculty, a great curriculum, and excellent opportunities. No matter what you discuss, make sure that you highlight how the program you are interviewing with matches those factors.

How would you describe your personality using just three words?

"If I could describe my personality to you in three words, I would say that I am compassionate, intelligent, and savvy. My personality is well suited for the ID 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 clinical care and translational research. I also say savvy because my ability to make practical and solid judgments in difficult times has been proven during my residency training."

Your interviewers pose this question for two reasons. First, they want some insight into your personality to understand how you will fit in with their Infectious Disease 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.

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

Describe your perfect day during ID fellowship training.

"This is a great question, and thanks for asking! My perfect day would start by eating breakfast with my kids and heading in for a morning of clinic visits and inpatient rounds. After a quick lunch, the afternoon would entail attending a great Grand Rounds presentation and collaborating with some other fellows on an impactful research project. After heading out in the evening, the night would be capped off with a family dinner and falling asleep to a great book."

Physician stress and burnout have become much more prevalent among doctors in every specialty, and Infectious Disease is no exception. The same also applies to fellows that undergo a strenuous training program for three years. In asking a question like this, your interviewers expect to hear what environment will keep you engaged and stress-free. In turn, your answer will help them gauge how you will fit with their program and curriculum.

You can certainly have some fun answering this question and be very frank when describing your ideal day as an Infectious Disease fellow. No matter how you answer, speak with passion and try to match your perfect day to the offerings of the program you are interviewing with.

As an Infectious Disease fellow, you may work with patients in their most vulnerable states. What about your personality and style will make you an ideal fit to work with our vulnerable ID patients?

"Helping patients in this vulnerable state draws me to a future in infectious disease care. I can build a quick rapport with my patients by showing empathy, connecting with them, and making them feel at ease. My other key quality in caring for this patient base is my resourcefulness. ID patients and their families and loved ones want fast answers, and I'm ready to put in extra effort for every patient under my care as a fellow with your program."

Some infectious disease patients may be in critical conditions under your care, especially with HIV, pneumonia, and TB. Your interviewers need to know that you have the right personality and frame of mind to work with these patients and their loved ones as a fellow with their program.

While you can take many directions in your answer to this question, there are some key things you can reflect on before your ID fellowship interviews to ensure you highlight one or two points about yourself. Put yourself in the shoes of a vulnerable patient suffering from an infectious disease. They want a physician who can build a quick rapport with them, get them answers quickly, and work diligently on a care plan.

"I would describe myself as compassionate. I was drawn to pursuing a fellowship and a future career in Infectious Disease during my first year of IM training. I worked closely with an attending physician treating a patient with a bad case of C. diff. Taking a near-death patient to discharge from the hospital in less than a week was such a rewarding experience. I will try to the best of my ability to treat each patient as if I were taking care of my family member during my Infectious Disease fellowship training."

What do you feel is the greatest non-clinical strength you can bring to our ID fellowship program?

"I was drawn to a future practice in ID medicine because of my strong sense of patient care and doing what's right for patients. The biggest strength I would bring to your program is my ability to put the needs of my patients first. That means putting in the extra time and effort for them and going the extra mile to provide them with the best care and care plans possible."

As your interview team considers many great candidates for their program, sometimes the non-clinical skills come into play when they decide how to rank students if clinical strengths are all relatively equal. This question helps your interviewers separate the good candidates from the great candidates.

Your answer to this question could include soft skills such as empathy, charity, integrity, and consistency. Tell a brief anecdote that demonstrates why you find this strength important for future practice in Infectious Disease. Be sure that your answer is well thought out and speak with a passion to impress your team of interviewers.

"One of my biggest strengths is my ability to be calm, cool, and collected during stressful situations. I desire to become an academic physician in practice, and I know the rigors of publishing, teaching, and maintaining clinical activities aren't for every Infectious Disease physician. As a fellow with your program, I look forward to proving my ability to handle any stress thrown my way."

If becoming a physician was not an option for you, what career path would you have chosen outside of medicine?

"If medicine wasn't an option for me, I likely would have pursued a music career. I grew up playing the piano and mastered every brass instrument during marching band in high school and college. I am also a huge music buff and love listening to any genre. I could see myself teaching band in high school, performing in a jazz band, or even producing albums."

Your interviewers want to get to know each candidate better personally during their interview process. This hypothetical question will give the interviewers some insight into other topics that interest you outside the medical field.

There is no right or wrong answer, but you should consider questions like this before your Infectious Disease fellowship interviews. Talk openly and honestly with your interviewers about where your career path would have ideally taken you if becoming a physician wasn't an option.

"If being an ID Physician wasn't an option, I would have considered being a Firefighter. I have always wanted a job where I could help people, but also one that was exciting and dynamic daily. This career path would have fulfilled a lot for me."

What is ultimately driving you to pursue Infectious Disease fellowship training?

"Heading into medical school, I was unsure where I wanted my career to take me. After training during the pandemic and seeing the lasting effects that ID specialists can have on the greater good of a population, I was inspired to match into a great ID program like yours. Over the last year, I've electively rotated with a couple of great Infectious Disease physicians that have given me a great starting point heading into fellowship training."

Being passionate about their area of patient care is essential for any physician to be successful in their craft. Your team of interviewers wants to match candidates who are passionate and dedicated to a future career in Infectious Disease medicine.

When answering this question, you can shine by espousing the vision of the specialty - being a true detective and team player in finding and diagnosing patients with diseases. As you answer, share why the setting of practicing ID medicine appeals to you.

"That's a great question! A few things are driving me toward this career path as a physician. First, I've always had a passion for the evolution of antibiotics and vaccines. As an Infectious Disease professional, I'll be able to help further evolve these treatments through the use of data and artificial intelligence. Then, looking back on my pursuit of medicine in the first place, I want to help save the lives of sick patients, and practicing in ID will give me the chance to do that daily."

Do you have any interest in pursuing academics and/or research?

"I hope to eventually educate medical students and residents and find an academic practice after fellowship training. I also have a strong interest in research surrounding epidemiology and molecular epidemiology. During my ID fellowship training, I hope to get a great start on publishing and conducting research in these areas."

Ideally, most Infectious Disease fellowship programs want fellows who will give back by teaching and conducting research. Your interviewers want to hear about your future interests as a fellow and a practicing physician post-fellowship.

Tell the interviewer that you WOULD like to teach, conduct research, or do a mixture of both down the road. While your interviewers should get a good sense of your goals by reading the personal statement you submitted, this question is your chance to express where your passion lies. Talk openly about your goals in these areas and how this fellowship program can help you kickstart those dreams.

"Yes, I am interested in doing research and participating in a scholarly activity during my Infectious Disease fellowship training. I have experience conducting research throughout medical school and my IM residency training. Right now, I'm very intrigued by antimicrobial resistance research and biosecurity planning."

Outside of your medical training, what keeps you busy?

"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."

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.

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."

What is your ideal practice environment?

"Having grown up in a rural farming community where access to healthcare often required a long drive, I'd love to practice someday in the area where I grew up with a health system that has community practices in rural settings. I envision myself in a regional hub hospital and doing clinic outreach as part of my ideal practice. Part of my motivation for going into medicine was to give back to the community where I grew up."

There are many environments you can eventually practice in post-fellowship, including large academic institutions, small community hospitals, and even public health entities. With this question, your interviewers are trying to get a sense of your preferred practice environment and patient base to determine the right training path for you.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. The institution you are interviewing with wants to train a diverse pool of fellows. The faculty at the program you are interviewing with have trained fellows who have gone on to practice in every setting possible. As long as you answer honestly, they'll hear your passion for ID medicine and be able to help shape your training according to what you want to achieve down the road.

"Following my Infectious Disease fellowship training, I envision myself practicing as an attending at a large academic medical center. With your program, I believe I will get the best possible training to be prepared for this goal. For me, a great base in clinical practice, innovation, and research to help me blossom into a promising faculty member following my training."

Do you feel that you would have any weaknesses coming into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

"I feel that my greatest weakness coming into an esteemed Infectious Disease fellowship program like yours would be a perceived lack of direct ID experience. During my PGY2 of IM residency, I had a required month of training in ID, and I loved it. A few months ago, I used an elective month to rotate in ID again. I know I'm at that same point as any other potential fellow you have matched in the past, but I'd make it my goal to be a great learner and consistent performer if I'm fortunate enough to match here."

Your interviewers know that every candidate they consider for their Infectious Disease fellowship will have flaws. With this question, they want to hear that you are cognizant of any shortcomings you have and are willing to do what is necessary to overcome those shortcomings during your training with them.

This is your chance to promote yourself despite your flaws. Your answer should point out a salvageable weakness; you should admit that you're imperfect but have the gumption to work on your weakness because you are committed to being the best you can be as an Infectious Disease physician.

"One weakness I continue to improve upon is overanalyzing situations. I have had to learn that while analysis is important, and even necessary, as an ID professional, over-analysis can also be the enemy of progress. I have learned to use all the information available to me to make the best decision possible and move on to the next task."

What EHR systems were you exposed to during your medical school and residency training?

"During medical school, I was fortunate to learn EPIC, Cerner, and a custom system the hospital created. During my Internal Medicine training, I worked solely within EPIC. I learned how to look up patient records, chart notes, order labs, and prescribe medications. While all systems had the same end goals, they operated very differently. I am very computer savvy and picked up on each program quickly. I'm happy to hear that your institution uses EPIC because I am very comfortable in the system and confident in my ability to pick up on things quickly once training starts."

Throughout your time in medical school rotations and IM residency training, you should have been exposed to different EHR programs and learned to work effectively on each. Your interviewers want to know that you can quickly learn the system they use.

First, speak openly and honestly about your experiences with different EHR programs during your training by describing each program you trained on and the role you played working within each. Then ensure your interviewers know you are comfortable working on their system by expressing your ability to learn any program in short order.

"I have gained valuable experience using EHRs over the past seven years. I worked on EPIC and Cerner during my clinical rotations and residency training and have a lot of confidence in my ability to learn and master any system."

What types of conferences did you get to attend as an Internal Medicine resident? Which one was your favorite and why?

"I loved attending 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. My favorite conference opportunity with my residency program has been weekly attendance at the grand rounds to hear speakers talk about innovative research and healthcare delivery. Coming to your ID fellowship program, I would look forward to taking advantage of any conference opportunities to help myself learn and grow in the field."

As an Internal Medicine resident and future Infectious Disease 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.

Speak freely about all of the conferences you had the chance to attend during your residency and discuss what you feel are the biggest advantages of them. As you describe which one was your favorite and why, make it clear to your interviewers that you are looking forward to joining and participating in the conference opportunities that will come during your time training with their ID fellowship program.

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

"Early in my time as a resident, there were a few times when I was late in keeping all sign-offs and dictations current. Coming into Infectious Disease fellowship training, I know how important it will be to be diligent in keeping current. I understand that incomplete charts can affect reimbursement by third-party payers. Just as important is the need for accuracy, especially given that I will be consulting patients under the care of hospitalists, primary care physicians, and critical care. For these reasons, I agree that staying current is important and would always strive to be timely in my charting as an Infectious Disease fellow."

Getting behind on charting after a long and busy day can happen in any practice, and this is especially true for residents and fellows in training. Your interviewers ask this question to hear how you prioritize these tasks during a busy day and that you can do what is necessary for a patient's record, even on the busiest days. Since Infectious Disease physicians work with patients under the care of another physician at times, being prompt with charting is vital as an ID fellow.

Speak openly and honestly about how you prioritized your patient charting during your Internal Medicine residency training and push your answer further by highlighting any direct feedback you received on your charting skills from faculty. If you 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 ID fellowship training.

When a problem requires a quick solution, how do you respond?

"In these instances, relying on the information at hand and my experience is vital. A couple of weeks ago, when I was rotating on a busy hospital unit, we had a new admission come in, and most of our staff was extremely busy. I quickly wrote up the order for their care and worked with the charge nurse on the next steps. Following their admission, my attending thanked me for my quick action to provide the best care for the patient."

When it comes to complex problem-solving during Infectious Disease fellowship training, decisions are not always readily reached. It takes practice, experience, and confidence to learn what decisions yield the best results in the toughest situations. Your interviewers ask this question to know that you can make quick decisions instead of asking for assistance from a senior fellow or faculty member.

Walk the interviewer through your decision-making process. Perhaps you go with a gut feeling or rely on your education/experience. Maybe you rely on case studies that you have read in these instances. Trusting your gut is a skill, and the more you learn to trust your intuition, the easier it becomes to make these types of decisions. Demonstrate that you are confident and can react swiftly when the need arises.

"When a quick solution is needed, I am eager to do the work and solve the problem. I try to respond efficiently and accomplish the mission. For example, during a recent rotation, a patient needed to be taken to their car by wheelchair, but it was an hour's wait before a transport assistant could help them. I asked for permission from my supervisor and then escorted them in the wheelchair myself."

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 an Infectious Disease fellow in training?

"I faced this situation as an Internal Medicine Resident, and I didn't let it get me down. After a GIM patient said my approach was too personal, the operations administrator approached me. Rather than taking the feedback personally and getting upset, I saw it as an opportunity to improve. I took the time to analyze the feedback and remember which patient encounter it came from. It was a turning point in my approach to patients, and I appreciated the feedback. I would take the same approach with patient surveys at your institution as an ID fellow."

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. During your Infectious Disease fellowship training, your patients will likely complete satisfaction surveys about your performance; your team of interviewers poses this question to understand how you will take constructive feedback from a patient's survey and learn from it.

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. Remember that most patient feedback is anonymous; you may not be able to pinpoint the exact interaction that resulted in the feedback from the patient. If you have experience handling patient survey data as a resident, now is a great time to discuss that.

How do you prevent stress from your personal life from entering your professional life and vice-versa?

"When I have a healthy balance in my personal life, I am much better at handling work-related stress. I learned that lesson during my first year of Internal Medicine residency training. I know that keeping personal stress outside of the workplace can be difficult. I do my best to keep my personal life at home and report for each shift with a clean slate. I make a point to eat healthily, exercise daily, and avoid alcohol. As a fellow with your program, I would be able to handle the practice stressors by staying focused on the tasks at hand, recognizing my triggers for stress, and talking with my colleagues regularly."

Practicing as a physician in Infectious Disease brings unique emotional, mental, and physical challenges. Fellows feel this same stress too! During your ID fellowship interviews, your team of interviewers will ask several questions about your ability to manage the stress that comes with being a fellow, and this is one of those questions.

Directly address how you will avoid personal stressors from entering your work life so your interviewers feel confident that you will come to each shift with a fresh mind and body. Then, talk about how you plan to handle the stress of being an ID fellow. Before your interview, consider the strategies you use to manage stress on the job.

"I find compartmentalization to be very important. It is essential to separate work life from personal life and vice versa. In addition, I try to meditate and exercise at home to control stress."

How will you manage the high amounts of stress that are a part of being an Infectious Disease fellow and physician?

"When I am under pressure, I focus on the task at hand and make sure I don't get distracted. This is a skill I perfected during my Internal Medicine training. Knowing that a million things can be coming at one time during a busy clinic day or hospital coverage day, I will always take things one patient at a time as an Infectious Disease fellow. During fellowship training, I plan to utilize my free time wisely by doing what is necessary to recharge my mind and rest my body. Some ways I like to do this are hiking, canoeing, and reading novels."

Physicians are known to have a high amount of stress and burnout due to the nature of the work. You also need to be aware that the time demands and pressure of fellowship training can lead to fatigue and little sleep. Your interviews want to hear about your plan to handle stress during your ID fellowship training.

Explain to your interviewers that you have the tools to keep your mind, body, and spirit in the best shape possible to learn and grow every day during your training as an Infectious Disease fellow. Talk about your ability to maintain perspective, use your downtime to recharge, and come to each shift prepared for the challenges that you'll face.

"When dealing with a stressful situation, I try to take things one step at a time and focus on the problem in front of me. After work, I try to do things such as meditation to deal with stress. I believe that a clear conscious and rested body does wonders to prepare for the next day at work."

What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?

"I am most often challenged by staff who are poor communicators. Communication lines should always be open between residents, faculty, and the care team. If someone on my team doesn't communicate properly during my Internal Medicine residency, I would respectfully approach them to explain what I need from them. If the problem persisted, I would take it up the proper chain of command."

In Infectious Disease fellowship training, you will work with a diverse group of fellows, faculty, and support staff, each with a unique personality and work style. Your interviewers ask this question to understand your ability to work with even the most challenging personalities.

Pick 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.

"I sometimes find it challenging to work with people who are not team players. When this happens, I try to make them feel included so they feel comfortable participating as a team member. If I'm fortunate enough to come train here as an ID fellow, I will take this same team-oriented approach."

Why is working collaboratively as part of a larger care team vital for an Infectious Disease fellow?

"During medical school, I learned how important teamwork is in both clinic and hospital settings. I intend to bring my top-notch communication skills to your Infectious Disease fellowship program. I maintain open lines of communication with my colleagues and support staff. In a busy hospital setting, there can be a hundred things happening at once, and the only way for the team to keep abreast of everything is through communication. I'm also excited to take charge of a care team. You'll quickly find that people typically work well with my leadership style. I listen to ideas from everyone, show respect for everyone I work with, and don't hesitate to grab the bull by the horns when needed."

As an ID fellow, you must be prepared to step in and be the ultimate team player with faculty, colleagues, and other members of the larger care team. In this role, you will be working and collaborating closely with primary care providers, hospitalists, critical care physicians, and others on the care of patients, and being able to work as a great communicator and team player is vital. Your interviewers want to know that you are aware of the importance of teamwork and collaboration in this fellowship setting.

The goal of your response is to describe why collaboration is vital to running an efficient and quality Infectious Disease practice. Describe your approach to collaborating with others. Highlight your leadership skills, communication skills, listening skills, and the respect you show for others in a working environment. If you have examples of times you've proven to be a team player, don't hesitate to share them.

"As an ID physician, I understand that you often need a team approach to provide the best care to the patient. This can involve nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, and consulting physicians of other specialties. A great ID physician can work effectively within the team."

If you were to match into our Infectious Disease fellowship, what type of team player would you be?

"I have always thrived in a team environment and can be very fluid in the roles I play on a team, as long as it is for the greater good. I am most comfortable leading others and can't wait to do this with the team of nursing staff and other care staff at your institution as an Infectious Disease fellow. My leadership starts with building rapport with my team and keeping lines of communication open on both ends. I encourage others to come to me when needed and don't hesitate to give constructive feedback to my team members when necessary."

For ID physicians, teamwork and communication are essential when working closely with clinic/hospital support staff and triaging patients correctly. Your interviewers expect you to talk about the type of team player you will be as part of their ID fellowship program.

Explain that you are a great communicator, can take direction, and can take charge and lead others when needed. Talk about your experiences as part of a larger team during your Internal Medicine residency training and the role you are most comfortable playing on a team. While this is an open-ended question, be sure to give some semblance of your ability to lead others respectfully.

"I believe being a team player is key to providing the best patient care. I am eager to work in a team with people of different backgrounds and talents to help patients. From my residency training, I will also bring a great ability to collaborate with primary care and other physicians who would be referring patients to me."

Infectious Disease Fellowship Interview Questions

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1. Do you have any questions for us about our institution or our ID fellowship program?
2. 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?
3. What would you say is the biggest challenge you faced in your residency training program?
4. As an ID fellow in our program, how would you change your communication style if a patient's family had trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?
5. What are your thoughts on the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry?
6. At our institution, you would be working side by side with mid level providers as an Infectious Disease fellow. Would you have any issues doing so?
7. How do you think you will perform under pressure as an Infectious Disease fellow?
8. As a new Infectious Disease fellow, how comfortable would you be handling patients with little supervision?
9. How do you believe the delivery of healthcare will evolve in the Infectious Disease practice setting?
10. As an Infectious Disease fellow, how will you stay on top of trends and changes in the field?
11. Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start residency?
12. Have you applied to and are you interviewing with any other Infectious Disease fellowship programs?
13. Would you have any issues relocating if you matched into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?
14. Would you be willing and able to complete our background check process if you match into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?
15. What are you looking for in an Infectious Disease fellowship program?
16. How would you describe your personality using just three words?
17. Describe your perfect day during ID fellowship training.
18. As an Infectious Disease fellow, you may work with patients in their most vulnerable states. What about your personality and style will make you an ideal fit to work with our vulnerable ID patients?
19. What do you feel is the greatest non-clinical strength you can bring to our ID fellowship program?
20. If becoming a physician was not an option for you, what career path would you have chosen outside of medicine?
21. What is ultimately driving you to pursue Infectious Disease fellowship training?
22. Do you have any interest in pursuing academics and/or research?
23. Outside of your medical training, what keeps you busy?
24. What is your ideal practice environment?
25. Do you feel that you would have any weaknesses coming into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?
26. What EHR systems were you exposed to during your medical school and residency training?
27. What types of conferences did you get to attend as an Internal Medicine resident? Which one was your favorite and why?
28. How timely would you say your charting and dictations were during residency training?
29. When a problem requires a quick solution, how do you respond?
30. 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 an Infectious Disease fellow in training?
31. How do you prevent stress from your personal life from entering your professional life and vice-versa?
32. How will you manage the high amounts of stress that are a part of being an Infectious Disease fellow and physician?
33. What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?
34. Why is working collaboratively as part of a larger care team vital for an Infectious Disease fellow?
35. If you were to match into our Infectious Disease fellowship, what type of team player would you be?

Infectious Disease Fellowship Interview Questions

1. Do you have any questions for us about our institution or our ID fellowship program?

2. 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?

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

4. As an ID fellow in our program, how would you change your communication style if a patient's family had trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?

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

6. At our institution, you would be working side by side with mid level providers as an Infectious Disease fellow. Would you have any issues doing so?

7. How do you think you will perform under pressure as an Infectious Disease fellow?

8. As a new Infectious Disease fellow, how comfortable would you be handling patients with little supervision?

9. How do you believe the delivery of healthcare will evolve in the Infectious Disease practice setting?

10. As an Infectious Disease fellow, how will you stay on top of trends and changes in the field?

11. Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start residency?

12. Have you applied to and are you interviewing with any other Infectious Disease fellowship programs?

13. Would you have any issues relocating if you matched into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

14. Would you be willing and able to complete our background check process if you match into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

15. What are you looking for in an Infectious Disease fellowship program?

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

17. Describe your perfect day during ID fellowship training.

18. As an Infectious Disease fellow, you may work with patients in their most vulnerable states. What about your personality and style will make you an ideal fit to work with our vulnerable ID patients?

19. What do you feel is the greatest non-clinical strength you can bring to our ID fellowship program?

20. If becoming a physician was not an option for you, what career path would you have chosen outside of medicine?

21. What is ultimately driving you to pursue Infectious Disease fellowship training?

22. Do you have any interest in pursuing academics and/or research?

23. Outside of your medical training, what keeps you busy?

24. What is your ideal practice environment?

25. Do you feel that you would have any weaknesses coming into our Infectious Disease fellowship program?

26. What EHR systems were you exposed to during your medical school and residency training?

27. What types of conferences did you get to attend as an Internal Medicine resident? Which one was your favorite and why?

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

29. When a problem requires a quick solution, how do you respond?

30. 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 an Infectious Disease fellow in training?

31. How do you prevent stress from your personal life from entering your professional life and vice-versa?

32. How will you manage the high amounts of stress that are a part of being an Infectious Disease fellow and physician?

33. What personality type or characteristic do you find most difficult to work with?

34. Why is working collaboratively as part of a larger care team vital for an Infectious Disease fellow?

35. If you were to match into our Infectious Disease fellowship, what type of team player would you be?