What motivated you to pursue a career as a Nephrologist?
Your decision to pursue a career as a Nephrologist means that you have a career path planned out and are motivated by the types of patients you see daily. Your interviewers want to hear you speak passionately about this chosen career field in medicine.
"Even upon entering Internal Medicine training, I was still a bit unsure on my eventual career path. I thrive on challenging patients situations and love putting together the puzzle that is providing individualized care and my first rotation in Nephrology really helped me see that this field is just that. Coupled with the fact that groundbreaking research will help alter this newer field in medicine in the coming years, Nephrology was the perfect path for me."
Come to your interview prepared to talk about your motivation for pursuing training and a career in Nephrology. Whether that motivation comes from personal experiences growing up or your experiences during medical school or residency training, be sure to display your passion for the patients and doing what is best for them.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I’ve had an interest in renal medicine since a child, as I grew up with my grandfather on peritoneal dialysis. When I underwent my renal rotation as a basic physician trainee, I found it challenging and rewarding to care for the sick complex patients on the wards, and for at least 1/3 of my rotation, I had the opportunity to cover for registrar leave so I participated in a lot of consults and clinics as well. I especially liked that renal involved treating interesting and varied renal disorders, that you care for a patient as a whole, including not just treating the renal disease but also for example cardiovascular risk, and the most important thing to me was nephrology involved long-term care of your patients so you could followup your own patients and truly build meaningful relationships.
But I knew I wanted to do renal medicine since my final year elective medical placement in Freeman hospital, Newcastle UK which was the transplant center of the North, so I saw renal transplants, pre, and post-transplant care, and people with renal disease thriving, and I have hoped to work in renal medicine since.
Krista's Feedback
Great job including the personal touch with your grandfather. Interviewers gain insight into your motivation and inspiration for pursuing your career, which is highlighted very well in your response.
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