How do you feel diversity in medicine is working out?
This is a question that really is asking how it's working out for you. That is, it is a sneaky way to see what you think of the diversity strategy in medicine. Correcting inequities has always been difficult for society, requiring effort and consistency in spite of the difficulty. It has also been controversial for those who don't embrace its rationale, so your answer can reveal whether you appreciate the rationale or not. Make no mistake: in today's world, the program will expect an applicant it chooses to embrace the rationale of diversity.
"Diversity happened because it was needed. If there is an imbalance in professional caregivers, there could be an imbalance in the care itself. Diversity in medicine is no different than diversity at large, and our society needs it if we're going to 'make it' as a diverse society. I think it's working out fine, but it's not enough. It must continue and be refined for the betterment of all."
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 think that diversity in medicine is critically important in a country that has as diverse a population as we do. I feel that appropriate strides are being taken to diversify residency programs which is great but I don't think that we have as diverse a physician population as we should yet. Only 5% of the physician workforce is black and only 6% is Hispanic. Representation matters. Especially to populations who historically have a distrust of the healthcare system.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a great beginning. Using accurate statistics shows that you've seriously considered the issue and are knowledgeable. Because you say that you feel appropriate strides are being taken to diversify residency programs, you should take it a step further by sharing what those steps are as well as any additional steps you think would help expand diversity and inclusion.
Anonymous Answer
Thankfully, medicine is becoming more and more diverse over time. Recently, I believe in 2019, there were more women in medical schools than men. Furthermore, we have had a record number of minorities entering the medical field every year for the past couple of years. I think by diversifying the medical field, access to medicine will improve. Sometimes patients don't feel comfortable seeing physicians outside of their own culture. In order to help those individuals get the health care they need, physicians of their culture and beliefs need to be available. This also applies to those that identify as homosexuals or transgender. Some of these people refuse to seek physician help out of fear of being judged or misunderstood. This is heartbreaking. Every person should feel like they are able to seek nonjudgemental and honest healthcare. The more diverse we can be as a profession, the better off our patients will be.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent. You come across as knowledgeable about this topic, as well as in favor of increased diversity in the field, which is great. The interviewer will appreciate your explanation about why it's beneficial for patients to have access to doctors of various nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and so on. Can you think of any ways the medical field can encourage even more diversity in its ranks? If so, don't hesitate to discuss this as well. Great job!
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