Prepare for 43 Residency interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care philosophy, and program fit.
Question 8 of 43
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Radiology
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
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.
Perhaps you are well-traveled or have researched the differences in health care in other countries. This question allows the interviewers to see your personal opinion, critical thinking skills, and ability to be diplomatic.

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.
"I often compare the U.S healthcare system to the system in Canada, where I grew up. I know both systems very well, and they each have pros and cons. For instance, in Canada, healthcare is mostly free, but the wait times are significantly longer than in the U.S. For that reason, many Canadian citizens travel to the U.S for surgeries, MRIs, and more. They would rather pay the financial price than wait six months for an appointment and pay the price with their health. Although there are significant differences, I believe that it is often a case of 'the grass in greener.'"

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
While there is no right or wrong answer to a question like this, it's a good idea to talk from personal experience if you can. If you can't, research this topic before your interviews so you can speak knowledgeably on the subject with your team of interviewers.
Dr. Shani Saks is a board-certified internist and cardiologist in private practice.
Although I have only lived in the United States, my research taught me that many other developed countries are able to provide adequate medical care at a much lower cost. Although the quality of medical care is very high in the United States, it is not as accessible to some segments of the population.
"The U.S. Healthcare system is world renowned and excellent in many ways. However, one major difference compared to other developed countries is the lack of access to healthcare for some individuals in the U.S."
"One big difference is that the United States often spends more money on healthcare than its counterparts. For instance, the US tends to concentrate a lot of resources on geriatric and end-of-life care. Ultimately, I believe a shift towards value-based medicine could mediate these discrepancies."

Sara Yumeen is a Dermatology resident physician.
"Having completed some of my training in Canada, I have seen firsthand differences in the healthcare system between Canada and the U.S. The healthcare in Canada is focused on primary care and preventative medicine, which are easy to access and at minimal-to-no cost to the patient. However, for elective procedures, or non-urgent specialist care, wait times can be exceedingly long. In my experience, in the U.S., while there may be a greater cost for care to individuals, there is greater and quicker access to specialist care and many new and emerging treatments and research."
"It seems like most other developed nations have created healthcare delivery systems to make basic and primary care for their populations more affordable to individual patients without sacrificing quality of the care that is delivered. There are many studies showing improved long-term outcomes attributable to this however, many of these systems cause prolonged wait times for some care, especially for specialist services. Additionally, the United States is unique in its population size, socioeconomic demographics, aspects of ways SDOH influence overall wellness, and the fact that there are 50 state-based sets of regulations on the financing and delivery of some care. I don't think that adopting an exact copy of any other nation's healthcare system would work precisely for the United States but I think most would agree there are aspects of other plans which would improve our own."
Write Your Answer
0 - Character Count
Master behavioral and clinical questions that residency program directors expect you to answer.
Get StartedJump to Question

Written by Ryan Brunner
43 Questions & Answers • Residency

By Ryan

By Ryan