At our institution, we employ great Advanced Practice Providers in our cancer services and surgery team. Would you have any issues working closely with them as a Surgical Oncology fellow?
Over the years, there has always been some hesitation for surgeons to work alongside APPs in their practice. But the reality is that most large institutions have made the financial decision to employ and use more of them in practice. Your interviewers ask this question to know that you are comfortable training in this situation and that you will be a great team player with Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants.
"During residency training, I got to work very closely with APP staff in the OR and clinic setting. They were all very knowledgeable and hard-working and helped with our patient follow-up scheduling in the clinic. Access could be an issue at times, and without them, things could have been bad for patients. I'm excited about working with NPs and PAs on the clinical oncology and hematology side in this role as a Surgical Oncologist as I know we will be sharing a lot of patients."
Your answer to this question can be a pretty short and sweet 'no,' that you wouldn't have any issues working closely with APP staff while training as a Surgical Oncology fellow. To further solidify your response to this question, highlight some of the positive aspects that Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can bring to a practice. If you have direct experience working with them as a General Surgery resident, this is a great chance to highlight how you work effectively with them.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Not at all, I firmly believe that we do teamwork and that every player matters. If there are Advanced Practice Providers that work with us there is a reason, I try to understand the reason and to work with them in the best possible way.
Jaymie's Feedback
Organizations value collaboration to improve patient outcomes. You did a great job demonstrating that you understand the value of each team member and that you're happy to work with all those on the team.
Anonymous Answer
I always appreciate working alongside APPs. They bring excellent knowledge and skills to the team and I consider them an asset to maximizing patient care. As a resident, I learned a lot from these colleagues. It is important to remember that we all employ different skill sets and have much to offer the patient as a team. I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with them as a fellow.
Jaymie's Feedback
The interviewer should have no concerns with your willingness to collaborate with other clinicians. You clearly respect APPs and value their contributions to patients and your own learning and development.
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