Choose one item from your CV and elaborate on it.
The CV is a concise and direct document; it's usually impossible to tell what experiences are the most meaningful beyond the hard skills listed in bullet points. With this in mind, the interview panel wants to know which experience you find significant enough to elaborate on when given the chance. Your response will provide insight into who you are as a physician and as a person.
The smartest decision is to choose an experience from your CV that both resonates with you and highlights strengths relevant to the fellowship you're pursuing. Your priority should be speaking passionately about the experience you choose.
"In the summer between my second and third year of medical school, I volunteered with a group called "Phil's Friends." Their aim is to provide companionship to local seniors who are isolated. Although it's a small organization, it impacts a significant number of people in my home community. I never imagined that the few months I spent volunteering there would contribute to my medical training, but I happened to be paired up with a senior who suffered from COPD. I went to her home twice a week and we did things like play checkers, watch sitcoms, and figure out her shopping list. Even though her condition affected her daily activities, she was always cheerful and excited to see me. The experience really drove home the point that patients are individuals with unique interests and needs, and I'm excited to develop relationships with the patients I'll meet as a fellow in your program."
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
One item from my CV that isn't necessarily medically related but I will never forget s volunteering at Casas Por Cristo. I went to Acuna Mexico, which is a poor region in Mexico with a group of other people with the goal of building a house for a family who is homeless. The targeted time to complete that goal was two days. Initially, I thought it would be a fun activity but I was soon brought to reality when I had to do construction work in wet and cold conditions. We also had to shower and sleep in a church that did not have a good drainage system or electricity. It was tough but interacting with the family and child made it all worth it. That experience taught me kindness, discipline, and endurance.
Marcie's Feedback
Wow! It's great that you helped a homeless family and their child. The interviewer will no doubt appreciate that you assisted others. What prompted you to volunteer in the first place? Also, be careful that your response doesn't sound negative ("Initially, I thought it would be a fun activity but...") Finally, how will the lessons you learned from this experience help you during the fellowship? Including some additional information will make your response even stronger. Excellent job!
Anonymous Answer
I am really proud of the abstract about gender equality that we presented at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine last October. Learning that to this date, women are still underrepresented in the medical field is very hard for me. I have happily found that Canada is conscientious and improving in this topic. Latin America however is still behind and every effort to shed light on this feels important.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a very important topic and a great choice to discuss in further detail. Well done.
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