Residency Mock Interview
Prepare for 43 Residency interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care philosophy, and program fit.
Question 3 of 43
What drives your passion for a career in medicine?
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.
The interview panel would like to understand what drives you in your pursuit of a career in medicine. Your core passion will keep you going on the toughest of days of residency, and for the panel to understand how to motivate you, 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 have always driven my passion for a career in medicine. If I had to pinpoint one main driver, I would say that saving the lives of everyday people is the most important. Everyone deserves great healthcare, and I plan to live that mantra by being the best at what I do as a physician every day. As a caregiver by nature, my patients are what will drive me every moment of every day."
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 discuss what initiated your interest in attending medical school. Whatever drives you, make sure the interviewers can feel your passion as you speak from the heart when answering this question.
Dr. Shani Saks is a board-certified internist and cardiologist in private practice.
Heart disease afflicts many members of my immediate family, and I know how profoundly that can affect the whole family. I am pursuing an internal medicine residency with the intention of becoming a cardiologist to help prevent and treat people who suffer from heart disease.
"I am driven by the prospect of helping patients spanning all ages. During medical school some of my favorite memories were doing the little things to improve my patients' lives."
"My passion for medicine, radiology in particular, stems from the fact that I believe it is the culmination of biology, chemistry, and physics. It is extraordinary how far humanity has come in terms of medical care and treatment modalities. For instance, there is a newer field within radiology called 'theranostics' which combines diagnostic imaging with therapeutic drugs. It is cutting edge."
Sara Yumeen is a Dermatology resident physician.
"I am passionate about a career in medicine because I am passionate about improving patients' quality of life. Good health is a basic need for patient's to be able to live their lives, enjoy time with their families, and be productive in their livelihood. I am passionate about providing care to patients so that they can have their best quality of life, and achieve their goals, dreams, and follow their passions!"
"I'm passionate about Emergency Medicine because it gives me a chance to interact and immediately help people from all walks of life who may be going through a life-threatening situation. I like being able to isolate a problem and work to fix or at least stabilize the cause in a high-stakes and fast paced environment, I also love that the Emergency Department is healthcare's safety net and that no person is ever turned away due to age, condition, or inability to pay."
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Anonymous Answer
Several factors drive my passion. If I had to pinpoint one, I would say that improving the lives of everyday people through empathy and compassion. Family medicine is so unique in that you can see the profound healing power of empathic human connections. A strong doctor-patient relationship can be therapeutic for a lifetime. Everyone deserves an excellent primary care physician, and I plan to live by that mantra by being the best at what I do every day.
Rachelle's Feedback
Your genuine passion for family medicine shines through. Exceptional answer - very well said.
Anonymous Answer
I believe a career in medicine is ideal because it lets me help patients in a meaningful way, and at the same time, it is intellectually stimulating.
Rachelle's Feedback
Nice start! In a sense, this question is asking about your core interest in medicine. The interviewer wants an in-depth understanding of what motivates and drives you to pursue a career in medicine - specifically in your area of focus. I recommend digging deeper into this response to let your passion shine through truly.
Anonymous Answer
Many factors drive my passion for Family Medicine. One factor is that Family Medicine enables me to improve the lives of people within the community I am living in through empathy, trust, and thoughtfulness. Family medicine allows one to build strong relationships with patients which creates an environment in which you can have continuity of care. Most diseases can be managed with lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy. Building a good relationship with a patient over a period can lead to better outcomes for one's patients and can equip them with the knowledge, they need to take their health into their hands.
Stephanie's Feedback
You do a great job of sharing details about careers in family medicine, but this response should be more personalized. What is it about a career in family medicine that is compelling to YOU personally? What drives your motivation for this career path? Why is working in the medical field important to you? A more personalized approach will allow your interviewer to connect with you and will illustrate your true motivations and passions.
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