katerade Posted February 9, 2007 Report Share Posted February 9, 2007 I had a mock interview today, and I got stumped on the question 'what are qualities that a good doctor should have?' i dont know why it stumped me .... i guess its a pretty common question. anyways, i'll with: good communication skills - need this for interacting with patients and colleagues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temp_degoo Posted February 9, 2007 Report Share Posted February 9, 2007 lol my essays were based on this. Communication, compassion, intelligence and responsibility, well balanced and well practiced imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ève Posted February 9, 2007 Report Share Posted February 9, 2007 http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/pdf/COFM_Abilities_Sept03.pdf Basically, they say: Observation, communications, motor skills, Intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities, behavioural and social attributes... I hope this is helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallguy408 Posted February 9, 2007 Report Share Posted February 9, 2007 Think of the qualities you'd appreciate in talking to someone about a big breakup with your bf/gf. Seriously, if you think about it, they have most of the qualities that you'd want in a doctor. You want someone to comfort and support you, but not to the point where they're smothering you. You want a clear-headed person who understands your problem, is willing to listen, and is supportive. Also, BE AWARE...interviewers often set this question as a trap of sorts. They will follow up whatever answer you give with "So, having told me all these qualities that you think are necessary, which of them do you feel that you lack, and what are you doing/planning to do to improve?" Got this one myself and managed to get through it mostly intact, although it threw me for a hell of a loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temp_degoo Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Is this too confident: I don't feel that I lack any of them, although I'm sure they will all improve with time and practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Ya...to say you lack one of the qualities required to be a physician is a pretty mean trap. That's like setting you up to have the panel question your suitability as a physician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Law Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I agree with Kuantum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clkt Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I disagree. The qualities of a good doctor is very broad and is similar to the qualities of a good, well rounded person in general. I don't think they expect applicants to be perfect. But if you can recognize your faults and are trying hard to improve yourself, that would be sufficient. (Of course, if your fault is that you are racist, you may not want to be too honest in that case;) ) To say that you have no fault would be unbelievable and would suggest that you are either arrogant or you don't know yourself well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Well to say the qualities of a doctor are A, B, C, D, and E. Then to further say, I lack C as of now, but I am working on it. To me that's like saying you lack one of intelligence, empathy, integrity, responsibility, and passion, for example. That to me is an interview killer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallguy408 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I would say to choose a fault that is correctable and non-fatal. A good example would be that you currently don't feel super-comfortable with talking about the intimate physical details of another person's health with them (totally understandable), but that you would work as hard as possible to overcome this. To pick none at all denotes arrogance and a lack of introspection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I would say to choose a fault that is correctable and non-fatal. A good example would be that you currently don't feel super-comfortable with talking about the intimate physical details of another person's health with them (totally understandable), but that you would work as hard as possible to overcome this. To pick none at all denotes arrogance and a lack of introspection. I do agree to say nothing shows a lack of introspection, however, to pick something that is bound to question your potential competence may be even worse. Spend some trying to figure out what qualities you look for in a doctor and then find specific times in your experience where you have displayed these qualities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eise Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Well to say the qualities of a doctor are A, B, C, D, and E. Then to further say, I lack C as of now, but I am working on it. To me that's like saying you lack one of intelligence, empathy, integrity, responsibility, and passion, for example. That to me is an interview killer. But you can always spin it. Instead of saying you lack intelligence, you can spin it and say that you lack the knowledge-base necessary to practice medicine (obviously!) and although you are an intelligent young gentleman, you would feel much more confident advising a patient having more knowledge and expertise. This is not hurting you at all since this is expected but you are still (sorta) answering the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 So, you are saying one of the qualities is intelligence and the knowledge of medicine. However, I lack the medical knowledge to practice medicine. You are just stating the obvious and I think the way one would describe a quality of intelligence necessary for the practice of medicine is not the same as the intelligence garnered from having earned the degree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Well to say the qualities of a doctor are A, B, C, D, and E. Then to further say, I lack C as of now, but I am working on it. To me that's like saying you lack one of intelligence, empathy, integrity, responsibility, and passion, for example. That to me is an interview killer. My weakness is that I am not intelligent.....but I am working on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 But you can always spin it. Instead of saying you lack intelligence, you can spin it and say that you lack the knowledge-base necessary to practice medicine (obviously!) and although you are an intelligent young gentleman, you would feel much more confident advising a patient having more knowledge and expertise. This is not hurting you at all since this is expected but you are still (sorta) answering the question. I'm gonna have to disagree....I think it's a poor answer. EVERYONE at those interviews will be lacking the knowledge to practice medicine, that's why you are applying, for god's sake. If you aren't lacking it, you probably don't need to go to medical school....just challenge everything for credit. I think you'd be better off with saying smth like "A good doctor should have patience, but I personally am the kind of person who likes to see results quick" (unless of course you spent the previous 10 mins BSing about how you wanna be in a kind of specialty where you have the time to try out different treatments and watch the patient progress). Then you can spin it as "This is why I don't think I would make a good (insert specialty like FP/Psychiatry/other specialty where extensive follow-up and monitoring is required) but I would make a great (emergency medicine specialist/pathologist/other specialty where quick results are a priority.)" I think this is better, because this CAN be construed as a weakness in SOME areas, but is not particularly significant in others, so it is one way to address the question thoroughly without digging a hole for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Just for kicks. 1880: Qualities of a Good Doctor by a Doctor Here is a very suggestive summary of hints covering the question of choosing a physician. It has the authority of an experienced and able member of the profession. Read and ponder: ~ Avoid the mean man, for you may be sure he will be a mean doctor, just as certainly as he would make a mean husband. Avoid a dishonest man; he will not be honest with you as your physician. Shun the doctor that you can buy to help you out of a scrape; a good doctor cannot be bought. Avoid the untidy, course, blundering fellow, though he may bear the parchments of a medical college. Avoid the doctor who flatters you, and humors your lusts and appetites. Avoid the man who puts on an extra amount of airs; be assured that it is done to cover his ignorance. Avoid the empty blow-horn, who boasts of his numerous cases, and tells you of his seeing forty or fifty patients a day, while he spends two hours to convince you of the fact. Put him down for a fool. To be a doctor one must first be a man in the true sense of the word. He should be a moral man, honest in his dealings. He must have good sense, or he cannot be a good doctor. He should be strictly temperate. No one should trust his life in the hands of an intemperate doctor. He must have some mechanical genius, or it is impossible for him to be a good surgeon. It is a good sign if he tells you how to keep well. It is a good sign if the members of his own family respect him. It is a good sign if the children like him. It is a good sign if he is neat and handy at making pills and folding powders. It is a good sign if he is still a student, and keeps posted in all the latest improvements known to the profession for alleviating human suffering. However, I found the "avoid the doctor who flatters you and humors your lusts and appetites" to be relevant, and I think this can be used in a discussion of balance of honesty and courtesy. To give a particular example, something like 40% of severely obese individuals have stated that their doctor has never addressed their weight with them despite the obvious fact that it contributes to the decay of their health. While some physicians simply don't have the time for preventative talks, it doesn't take a genius to realize that the major reason why they don't address a patient's weight is because they don't want to hurt their feelings. Many people will assume that people in generally know that losing weight in an obese patient would often help with cardiovascular problems, muscloskeletal issues, etc, but the fact is that a lot of people don't know it. So you have to strike a fine balance in addressing the patient's weight problem to benefit his or her health, yet do it without causing them to burst into tears. Therefore, this scenario could be used to illustrate why too much honesty or too much courtesy would be a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eise Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 So, you are saying one of the qualities is intelligence and the knowledge of medicine. However, I lack the medical knowledge to practice medicine. You are just stating the obvious and I think the way one would describe a quality of intelligence necessary for the practice of medicine is not the same as the intelligence garnered from having earned the degree. Kuantum, I agree that it is a weak response. I'm just not sure what a better response would be. I actually just got asked this exact question in my u of t interview over the weekend. Unfortunately, I did not have a better answer ready and had to go with the lack of knowledge response. Anyone have a better answer? Someone suggested 'experience' (e.g. lack of experience in dealing with difficult patients, or something like that) but I kinda think it's a similar cop-out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katerade Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Kuantum, I agree that it is a weak response. I'm just not sure what a better response would be. I actually just got asked this exact question in my u of t interview over the weekend. Unfortunately, I did not have a better answer ready and had to go with the lack of knowledge response. Anyone have a better answer? Someone suggested 'experience' (e.g. lack of experience in dealing with difficult patients, or something like that) but I kinda think it's a similar cop-out. I dont think its such a bad answer. i think it shows some degree of humility. i think its a mistake to not bring up anything to improve on. what might be even better would be to bring up something you HAVE improved on. Maybe you had trouble managing your time until you started working part time during school, maybe you were not empathetic until you began working in a hospital ... etc. but i dont think that saying you have all of those qualities, without something of a disclaimer is good. it shows you are just giving them what you think they want to hear .... EVERYONE has something to improve on, and showing that you are humble and able to admit that is not a weakness, and will not call your competence as a doctor into question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eise Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 I dont think its such a bad answer. i think it shows some degree of humility. i think its a mistake to not bring up anything to improve on. what might be even better would be to bring up something you HAVE improved on. Maybe you had trouble managing your time until you started working part time during school, maybe you were not empathetic until you began working in a hospital ... etc. but i dont think that saying you have all of those qualities, without something of a disclaimer is good. it shows you are just giving them what you think they want to hear .... EVERYONE has something to improve on, and showing that you are humble and able to admit that is not a weakness, and will not call your competence as a doctor into question. I agree that when asked about a flaw or weakness, you should comment on how you are working on it. however, the question i was asked was "what trait should a doctor have that you don't have?" for this question, the interviewer specifically wanted to know what i don't have yet (i.e. not currently working on but want to improve). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toroharo Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 What's wrong with admitting a weakness? As long as you specify how you may overcome that through learning, you are fine. Medical errors are more common than you think and the Golden Rule is to acknowledge that something unpleasant has happened (not admitting negligence though) and be able to detail the follow-up course of action needed to rectify the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 What's wrong with admitting a weakness? Nothing, you just don't want it to be a fatal weakness, i.e. one that portrays you as someone completely incompetent and/or immature. (e.g. attention span of a dead fly or a habit of going into fits of laughter upon hearing the word "penis") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inclimate Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 I would agree with those of you who said not to admit that you do not have a specific trait, but rather say "I am weak in this area but am working on improving it". I have a friend who was on the admissions committee and said that that is definately what they're looking for. So if U of T is phrasing it as "what trait do you think a doctor should have that you do not have" (or something along those lines), I might refer to Leadership. For example, "I think that a doctor needs to be a good leader, and while I have some leadership experience in terms of taking the lead on group projects and tutoring teenagers in math, I am actively seeking more formal leadership opportunities." Examples of these might be in community projects or employment. The challenges in doing so while in school is that most employment is entry-level, and most of don't have time to start our own community project, but I think it's still best to say that you are interested in this and working on it, and will continue to work on it on your way to becoming a successful physician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwasko@dal.ca Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 I work with doctors and one recently told me that you really need three qualities/Characteristics to be a successful doctor. You need to affable, available, and able. He said "able comes last". I thought this was interesting. He was basically saying that before you become a doctor you need to have the right personality and the desire to make yourself available to help people. The ability to be a doctor comes afterward but is no less important. I would think for anyone applying for medicine, he/she should already possess an affable personality and a desire the make him or herself available to patients. What he/she wouldn't have is the ability to be a physician as of yet. However, one should be able to demonstrate that he/she has the capacity. I think this was kind of mentioned how an answer like this alone would be weak. However, if you could demonstrate that there are certain aspects of ability that you, personally, don't have but are working towards, I would think that's an appropriate answer. For instance, in order to be able to provide good patient care you must have keen diagnostic skills, which might be contingent upon good communication skills with the patient. Perhaps you feel you are not always a great communicator in one on one situations, but that you are committed to working on that, etc. This is just one example I thought of, but there could be many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Soccer Guy Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 If I was interviewing bunch of people and some of them told me that they lack a quality a doctor should have, I wouldn't rank them lower than others because this shows that they are honest individuals, something a doctor should be no matter what. However, you better tell me that you are currently working on improving at this quality and how you are approaching this learning process. Not only will it show that you are honest (from the 1st statement) but the 2nd statement would show how you are willing to learn and do everything within your capabilities to prepare for practicing medicine one day. Now for those of you who really posses all of the qualities you have listed, it would be good to say something like, "Although I posses all of these qualities, this and this quality are not as strong as the rest of them because .....". The reason this would be a good answer is because no-one is perfect, you will not sound cocky, and expanding your answers will create a much better atmosphere during your interview. Anyways, that's just what I think ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medschool hopeful Posted March 10, 2007 Report Share Posted March 10, 2007 "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died!"-Unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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