Surgical Oncology Fellowship Mock Interview
Master 30 Surgical Oncology Fellowship interview questions covering complex cases, research experience, and multidisciplinary care.
Question 3 of 30
As a Surgical Oncology fellow, you will work with patients who are often fearful of their diagnosis and any impending surgery you will be performing on them. What skills will you bring to put them at ease?
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Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
Cancer diagnoses are very scary for patients and their family members. Under your care, most will be very open about their fears. Your interviewers want to know that you can bring an empathetic and educated approach to patients who will undergo life-altering procedures under your care.
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
As you answer this question, you want to emphasize that you know you will be melding the technical skills of a surgeon with the people skills of an oncologist as a Surgical Oncologist. It takes a truly special physician to fit well into this role, and you want to make it clear to your interviewers that you will be a solid rock for the patients you work with to lean on and help ease the pain and fear they are facing under your care.
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
"Working with patients with a potentially life-threatening cancer diagnosis will certainly be emotionally tough, but I'm confident that I have the empathy and interpersonal skills to connect with my patients and put them at ease. My approach would be to start with educating them on their procedure and finish with similar success stories I have personally been a part of. I have a knack for connecting with patients, and trust is needed from the patients I will be operating on."
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One of the things that I love about mountain climbing is the necessity to make it all the way to the top step by step. I always try to explain to my patient as kindly and quietly as possible that this is a path, sometimes a marathon, and not a sprint. And that, step by step, I'll be there for them during this path.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great start! Consider mentioning additional soft skills you possess that the interviewer will find valuable, like effective communication skills, empathy and compassion, patience, and your ability to build and foster trusting and reassuring relationships with patients.
Anonymous Answer
Throughout my residency, I am often thanked by my patients for my calm, positive bedside manner. Having a diagnosis of HNPCC myself, I have developed a unique perspective on patient interactions in this setting. I share some of the fears and questions that these patients do, which has allowed me to better understand these feelings and how to navigate and guide them through them. My positive energy and light-hearted approach to my daily interactions create smiles on my patients' faces, which motivates me daily to keep pursuing my dreams of becoming a surgical oncologist.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great answer! All of these skills and abilities show the interviewer that you can relate to and empathize with patients as you provide compassionate care.
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