How do you best learn something new within a short time and retain it for future use?
In the grand scheme of things, two years of training and learning in an intense pediatric dentistry residency training is a very short amount of time to learn and retain all of the nuances of a successful pediatric practice. In asking this question, your interviewers want assurance that you can learn new skills under pressure and put them to use quickly in the direct care of patients as part of their program.
"I can't reiterate to you how eager I am to come to learn from and train with some of the best pediatric dentists in the world at your institution. If I am fortunate enough to be accepted into your residency program, I would bring a positive attitude and open mind, ready to learn new skills daily and put them to use right away. During my dental school program, I needed to learn new concepts quickly and put them to use. In my pharmacology class, I had to cram the final four weeks' worth of material just five days before the final exam. It took extra work and commitment, but I'm happy to say I aced my final and now consider pharmacology one of my favorite areas of dentistry."
Show your interviewers that you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn every new skill possible. Come to your interview prepared to talk about how you best learn and retain new knowledge and how you will translate classroom learning into patient care as a Pediatric Dentistry Resident. Talk about times you did this successfully during dental school.
