Psychiatric care is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see the field going in the next five years, and what part do you plan to play in this direction?
This question is meant to explore your vision for psychiatric medicine in the future because your interviewers want residents who will grow to be impactful physicians in their careers. Medical advancements happen all the time, and psychiatrists need to be ready to adapt to new technology and procedures.
"I think it's abundantly clear that the last few years have totally changed how mental health care will be provided into the future. While some of the changes were forced given the pandemic, I think there is so much good that can come out of it and I look forward to helping lead teams that provide care remotely for patients. Psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to provide telehealth services and the days of talking to a patient on a couch may be well in the past. If I were fortunate enough to join your esteemed psychiatry residency, I look forward to embracing new technologies and ways of providing care."
Before your psychiatry residency interviews, make sure you know how telemedicine is impacting psychiatry practices around the world. You can find a lot of great reading materials on the subject before the start of your interviewers. Identify and explain whether you'll be a follower or a leader in this realm as a resident and as a physician in the future.
