As a medical genetics resident, you will be expected to explain complex medical information to patients who may not understand. How will you manage these situations?
Genetics and how they pertain to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions is something that most of the general population doesn't understand. As a medical genetics resident, part of your job will be explaining your work in Layman's terms to your patients. Your interviewers need to be confident in how you will approach this with the patients you will be consulting during your time with their program.
This is your time to show how you blend your excellent communication skills with your ability to educate others. As you answer a question like this, point out that you would come to this program with the ability to connect with patients at their level and ensure they walk away understanding every part of the care that they are receiving.
"Educating patients as a physician requires an instant connection to build trust quickly. As a medical genetics resident, I look forward to bringing experience in these areas. I will be responsible for helping my patients understand some pretty hard-to-grasp terms and processes. I will always have an open dialogue with my patients to ensure they understand their testing procedures and results. I would ask patients to repeat what they heard me say and encourage them to ask questions."
