Interview Season
Tell me about yourself - correct answer ✔✔- MC - ATSU SOMA in AZ where I completed 1st year
- My school is unique - 2-4 at a federally qualified community health center, which for me is in
Washington D.C
- clinical rotations mix of local hospitals and at my community health center site
I want to train here bc of the variety of opportunities the University of Buffalo has in re: to
- rotation options
- working at Oieshi Children's hospital
- elective time
- tracks esp. medical educator
- fellowship opportunities
Why University of Buffalo? - correct answer ✔✔- the program has many of the qualities I look for
- (1) ample teaching opportunities
- (2) Early psychotherapy training
- (3) supportive environment
Why psychiatry? - correct answer ✔✔I like listening to people's stories, learning about how they grew
up, obstacles along the way, and life choices.
I find it interesting to learn how patients/people overcome adversity.
In psychiatry, we have to consider patients as a whole and piece together their psychosocial hx and
identify the factors that led to their acute state
- accumulation of events or traumas that were never addressed (or poorly addressed).
- better understanding of the factors that influenced a patient's behavior & ability to cope
- attachment style
, - how they grew up
In evaluating patients, I realized how resilient they are and how the mind creates these mental barriers
for protection
I like how there are different modalities to treat mental illness
- build on their protective factors or
- identify what will help them (social support, financial stability, access to therapy and proper health
care)
we work collaboratively with other healthcare providers & support systems for the patient
If you didn't do psychiatry, what speciality would you choose? - correct answer ✔✔If I had to choose a
different specialty, I would choose family medicine and tailor my practice to prenatal care and pediatrics,
which would allow me address mental health concerns in women and children. I could also incorporate
mental health check-ups with patients especially in children, to identify areas where psychiatric
intervention may be needed. Additionally, being an advocate for mental health care, I could educate
patients to prioritize their mental health - especially since patients tend to reveal their mental health
struggles with their primary care provider as oppose to seeing a psychiatrist first.
FM is a specialty I was considering during my 3rd year rotations. I like the variety of patients FM
providers see. I especially liked the women's health component, being able to provide prenatal care and
perform deliveries. I liked that I can tailor my practice to what I am most passionate about.
Additionally as a FM provider I can still advocate for mental health since many patients tend to share
that information with their primary care providers as opposed to seeking a psychiatrist.
What was an ethical dilemma you encountered while in medical school and how did you handle it? -
correct answer ✔✔- cheating amongst my classmates
- some students have had excused absences from tests (guy whose wife gave birth - missed exam)
- heard that some of his peers gave him a clear outline of the exam
- whether that was the case or not, I do not feel it is my responsibility to address this possibility of
cheating - generally I think (being in the medical field) we are honest people and want to help others,
Tell me about yourself - correct answer ✔✔- MC - ATSU SOMA in AZ where I completed 1st year
- My school is unique - 2-4 at a federally qualified community health center, which for me is in
Washington D.C
- clinical rotations mix of local hospitals and at my community health center site
I want to train here bc of the variety of opportunities the University of Buffalo has in re: to
- rotation options
- working at Oieshi Children's hospital
- elective time
- tracks esp. medical educator
- fellowship opportunities
Why University of Buffalo? - correct answer ✔✔- the program has many of the qualities I look for
- (1) ample teaching opportunities
- (2) Early psychotherapy training
- (3) supportive environment
Why psychiatry? - correct answer ✔✔I like listening to people's stories, learning about how they grew
up, obstacles along the way, and life choices.
I find it interesting to learn how patients/people overcome adversity.
In psychiatry, we have to consider patients as a whole and piece together their psychosocial hx and
identify the factors that led to their acute state
- accumulation of events or traumas that were never addressed (or poorly addressed).
- better understanding of the factors that influenced a patient's behavior & ability to cope
- attachment style
, - how they grew up
In evaluating patients, I realized how resilient they are and how the mind creates these mental barriers
for protection
I like how there are different modalities to treat mental illness
- build on their protective factors or
- identify what will help them (social support, financial stability, access to therapy and proper health
care)
we work collaboratively with other healthcare providers & support systems for the patient
If you didn't do psychiatry, what speciality would you choose? - correct answer ✔✔If I had to choose a
different specialty, I would choose family medicine and tailor my practice to prenatal care and pediatrics,
which would allow me address mental health concerns in women and children. I could also incorporate
mental health check-ups with patients especially in children, to identify areas where psychiatric
intervention may be needed. Additionally, being an advocate for mental health care, I could educate
patients to prioritize their mental health - especially since patients tend to reveal their mental health
struggles with their primary care provider as oppose to seeing a psychiatrist first.
FM is a specialty I was considering during my 3rd year rotations. I like the variety of patients FM
providers see. I especially liked the women's health component, being able to provide prenatal care and
perform deliveries. I liked that I can tailor my practice to what I am most passionate about.
Additionally as a FM provider I can still advocate for mental health since many patients tend to share
that information with their primary care providers as opposed to seeking a psychiatrist.
What was an ethical dilemma you encountered while in medical school and how did you handle it? -
correct answer ✔✔- cheating amongst my classmates
- some students have had excused absences from tests (guy whose wife gave birth - missed exam)
- heard that some of his peers gave him a clear outline of the exam
- whether that was the case or not, I do not feel it is my responsibility to address this possibility of
cheating - generally I think (being in the medical field) we are honest people and want to help others,
