How important do you believe bedside manner is for a Surgical Oncologist?
As you likely experienced during your General Surgery residency training, surgeons have a reputation for being gruff, direct, and in too much of a hurry to get into lengthy interactions with their patients. Patients going through cancer surgery and eventual treatment will require a different set of bedside skills with patients. Your interviewers expect any candidate they consider for their Surgical Oncology fellowship program to come with a great bedside manner.
"Patients going through a life-altering cancer diagnosis and coming into surgery can be scared, angry, and have a wide array of other emotions. I know they will rely on me to be level-headed and caring and reassure them that their surgery is best for their survival. Always knowing that surgery was my true calling, helping patients that have potentially fatal diagnoses that can be saved with surgery is what inspired me to become a Surgical Oncologist; you'll quickly find that my bedside manner is excellent."
Your answer about bedside manner should simply state how important it is and that none of the stereotypes apply to you. Express that the patients you will be working with as a Surgical Oncologist require collaborative communication, empathy, respect, and care.
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
I've always believed, even before I started medical school, that kindness is a fundamental value in my everyday life. Since then my idea hasn't changed and I try to apply it at my best with my patients, they usually are scared or confused by the information that they receive and they need not only answers to their fears with words but also kind gestures are important.
Jaymie's Feedback
Many organizations emphasize the importance of kindness, compassion, empathy, and respect for patients through their core values. Great job showing the interviewer that you understand the importance of bedside manners in this role.
Anonymous Answer
I believe that bedside manner is important in any specialty, however, this is especially true in oncology. These diagnoses are associated with a significant emotional impact on patients and their families. As a surgical oncologist, they will depend on me to be compassionate, kind, and available to take the time to sit at their bedside and explain the details, discuss their fears, and provide them with evidence-based guidance throughout their treatment. As a person personally affected by HNPCC, I have a deeper understanding of these fears and anxieties and can use this to develop a deeper connection to my patients which is easily recognized by my bedside manner. Many families have thanked me throughout my residency for taking the time to speak with them during and outside rounds. I plan to only improve on this moving forward as a fellow and eventually as a surgical oncologist attending.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is such a well-rounded answer. You tie in your personal experience and share several ways that you go above and beyond to be available and reassuring to your patients in their most difficult times. The interviewer will undoubtedly see that this is an area of passion for you.
Unlock all 30 Surgical Oncology Fellowship questions
Prepare for rigorous fellowship interviews with answers from academic surgical oncologists.
Get Started