Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship Mock Interview
Practice 30 fellowship interview questions covering clinical scenarios, research experience, and critical care philosophy.
Question 23 of 30
Why did you choose a career in medicine?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
The interview panel wants to understand what drives your pursuit of a career in medicine. Your core passion and intrinsic motivation are what keep you going on the toughest days of fellowship training. The panel wants to understand how to best support and motivate you, so they need to know what drives you.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"There are several factors that inspired me to choose a career in medicine. Growing up, my mother battled cancer. In her lowest moments, I saw how her physicians encouraged and supported her. Every time we left the hospital, she was in better spirits than when we arrived. I saw what they did for her overall well-being, and as I grew older, I wanted to do the same for others. I'm also simply a caregiver by nature, so ensuring the well-being of my patients keeps me motivated even during long shifts and challenging cases."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
It is okay to share a personal story when answering this question. Perhaps you can briefly discuss why you applied to medical school in the first place, then how you choose your specialty and end with how and why residency has increased your passion for medicine and pulmonary critical care specifically.
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Jaymie
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Anonymous Answer
My mother had some health issues growing up. When I was younger, I did not understand it but we were fortunate because her best friend was a doctor. I called her my Aunty. She was always very supportive, and I noticed that her presence relieved her stress and anxiety. I realized that I wanted to play that role for others. I am the first child and a caregiver by nature so ensuring the well-being of my patients keeps me motivated even during long shifts and challenging cases.
Marcie's Feedback
The personal details you include in your answer make it very meaningful and memorable. It's clear why this path was the right one for you, and your passion for helping others like your Aunty did shine through. Excellent job!
Anonymous Answer
I chose a career in medicine because of the incredible opportunity it provides to engage with a wide range of disease pathologies. Medicine allows me to apply critical thinking and offers a clear pathway to specialized areas like pulmonary critical care, which aligns perfectly with my aspirations. It encompasses everything I am passionate about, particularly the pulmonary/critical care aspect. What excites me most is the prospect of waking up every morning with a deep sense of purpose, knowing that I'll be working with patients and making a difference in their lives, be it through small or significant interventions. I want to maintain that drive, the feeling of being able to heal, or at least provide hope to individuals facing terminal illnesses, ensuring they have something to hold onto until the end.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a very genuine and passionate answer. Nice job!
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