Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship Mock Interview
Practice 30 fellowship interview questions covering clinical scenarios, research experience, and critical care philosophy.
Question 17 of 30
What is your most memorable patient encounter?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Example Answer
Community Answers
The interviewers want to know more about your background than what your CV provides, so they're giving you a chance to choose a memorable patient experience and elaborate on it.
Choose an experience that highlights something you learned that will help you during the fellowship. If you discussed a patient in your personal statement, you can expand on that story during your interview.
"I once cared for a patient admitted to the ICU with severe pneumonia. He was an older gentleman who, despite his illness, was exceedingly pleasant whenever I checked in on him. Although he started to improve at one point, he suffered from comorbidities that ultimately led to his death. I chose to talk about this patient because it was the first time I lost a patient, and it taught me how to deal with the emotional side of medicine. It was difficult, but I did learn to allow myself to experience my emotions without letting it impact my practice or outlook on other patients."
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Anonymous Answer
My most memorable patient is a patient I cared for while I was a medical student. I choose him because, despite the unfortunate ending, it was that patient that led to my desire to go into PCCM. He was a patient who had no significant medical history, mainly hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. He suffered an ischemic stroke with hemorrhagic conversion leaving him in a vegetative state. A lot of basic ICU knowledge to be attained as a medical student I did through him; ventilators, pressors, sedation, ICU procedures, and the palliative aspect of patient care. I enjoyed the complexity of patients cared for in the ICU. I also developed a good relationship with his spouse which allowed me to understand how good communication breeds trust and satisfaction.
Marcie's Feedback
Wow! This is a very strong response. You paint a clear picture of the patient and how much you learned from him. Any interviewer will be both moved and impressed. Excellent.
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