Talk about a conflict you were involved in as a resident or medical student. What was the situation, and what was your approach to handling it professionally?

"I was a conflict avoider growing up. Medical school and my initial years of residency training have taught me how to approach conflict with a focus on a healthy and respectful resolution. A few weeks ago, I had a patient upset about wait times in the clinic, and they took their anger out on me. I've learned that simply listening and not taking things personally are very important, and that is just what I did. I used reflective listening to sympathize with the patient and then talked about the precautions we were taking to ensure that wait times were as minimal as possible. Just hearing me calmly say this put them at ease for his exam."

This is your chance to talk to the interviewers about your ability to handle conflict. Give a specific example of a time you resolved a conflict with a student colleague, fellow resident, or superior using direct communication and respect. To conclude, highlight how your actions led to a great outcome.