How would you handle a situation during residency in which a faculty member were to reject an idea you pitched?
It's difficult for any person to be rejected in any way. As a resident fresh out of medical school and armed with loads of great knowledge, it can be especially difficult. Your interviewers know that the coming years will be a time of growth and learning for all of the future residents in their program. They'll want to hear that you would take a potentially negative situation like this and turn it into a positive experience that helps you grow and learn.
"I know I would feel disappointed, but I would definitely go back and ask for feedback on my idea and be grateful for the feedback. I would ask for feedback from others to see if I presented my idea in a reasonable way. If I still thought it was a great idea, I would review how I explained it, simplify and reorganize the information, and ask for another opportunity to present. I once heard that Walt Disney applied to 302 banks before he got the loan for Disney Land, so I try to remember that success doesn't always happen right away, but it does leave clues. I would want to know what I did right and what I could improve upon and then learn from the rejection."
In a situation like this, the one important factor that you need to discuss with your interviewers is that you will look to get feedback from the faculty member and learn their perspective on why your idea wasn't accepted. Then, talk about your ability to process the new knowledge gained from the faculty member and explain how you will take that knowledge and move forward in a positive manner.
