my med interview (Thursday, April 8, 2010 / 2:35 AM)
initiated conversation with some of the peeps in the waiting place,cos i was bored and had to wait 1.5 hours.found out that they were hwa chong/ RJC -________- two half an hour interviews back to back!
Did you consult any seniors abt the life of medicine?
I have no seniors in medicine because i am from NYJC ( where our world record was 2 med students)However i did consult neighbours and relatives* recites inspirations and experiences*
why do you really want to be a doctor?What makes you think you will be a good doctor?( u mean my personal statement sounded like a lie to you? SOBS I WAS SO SINCERE) Do you want to change the healthcare system?Yes i want to make it more efficient as i feel that it can be improved.(hurriedly agreed because i didnt know how to answer the other part of the question and i needed more time to think)I also feel that doctors are the symbol of hope for many people,they are who people go to for help when in need.
I feel that i am the sort of person that will thrive in medical school as it is mentally challenging and I enjoy such subjects.Also in my environment of equally passionate and driven peers,it would inspire me and make me work harder.We are not in it for the money or the prestige,but because of the passion for helping others.
But as a doctor u cant change the healthcare system.If you want to change it might as well be the minister for health.i forgot what i answered but i rmb thinking err if doctors have no say in healthcare system wont they go on strike????and minister of health u appoint me lah,ill make it a point to let all doctors suffer.I think i said healthcare lies more within my interest or smth like that.
What are some of the strengths and weaknesses that may help or hinder you in being a medical professional?For my weakness,I feel that i am a shy person hence I may have difficulties communicating with my patients.However,I am learning to break out of my comfort zone as I took a sales job during my holidays where I actually had to approach strangers and cold call people and that helped me overcome my shyness.
I feel that i am an emphathetic person.because i have lost a family member from an illness i would be able to understand the suffering of my patients and help them recover emotionally.When a person is affected by an illness,it not only affects him,but his entire family so I would advise them to explain their children because as a child I did not know about my father's terminal illness,hence I misunderstood my mother and blamed the doctor for my fathers death.
Isnt that the job of a medical social worker? You also said that doctors are part of a team in your personal statement?Shouldnt you leave it to them to do the job and just diagnose the illness and move on to the next patient? Doctors cant do everything you know.I feel that the roles are not always singular,they may overlap* insists that doctors must show compassion and i will do my best to also show that i care for the welfare of my patients as doctors are an epitome of hope to patients.doctors muz be flexible!
Do you read newspapers?I try..i read mind your body ( for some reason they laughed at this part-.-)
They asked abt a liver transplant frontpage news.
Err....i dont really remember
asked abt some more stuff that I DON REMEMBER,went around in circles until we reached the topic of euthanasia.YES YES YES.but then i ruined the chance by insulting the singapore press holdings on their biased report on euthanasia.and they told me actually the report is from law society.=.= then i fuzzily remember some current affairs stuff,ask me abt healthcare issues.There is this recent dispute on the allocation of wards even though there may be sufficient wards inefficient allocation...blah blah patient dissatisfaction...blah blah more wards built...
What do you want to specialize in?Psychiatry.cos of my dad died of a disease tt affected nervous system blah blah.
I suppose it is unfair to ask you,but...* asks how would i act if my patient was suffering and his family and him approached me to ask for euthanasia.*Euthanasia is not allowed in singapore =.=
( ian told me to answer: bring him overseas and kill him)
what about pain relief? morphine causes depression etc...I would clearly explain the consequences of adminstering morphine to the patient and his family and let him have the choice of taking the morphine and risking the side effects or living with the pain.I would also advise his family members to give him alot of psychological and moral support throughout his last days.*rambles on*
What do you think are the consequences of the ageing population?I feel that it brings about a whole new set of diseases which old ppl are susceptible...depression over being a family burden..so more psychological support needed to change mindset of these ppl ...dementia...*COUGH THAT IS WHY U NEED WANNABE PSYCHIATRISTS COUGH*...financial burden on their children..ppl are living longer....*rambles on abt ensuring quality of life*
What do you feel are some "modern" diseases?I feel that in the developing world,we have progressed from problems such as famine to excess of food,hence the obesity crisis in the USA which is currently being rectified but the problem is not solved yet.For example the movie super size me illustrates how fast food restaurants like macdonalds is unhealthy.Fast food restaurants are also present in developing countries,whose residents may not be educated about the unhealthy side effects of fast food,so they may also face this obesity problem in the future.
I also feel in this image conscious society,eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa would also occur more frequently.-*yes i know i am majorly contradicting myself.too fat and too skinny people plague the world-.-
2nd interview
There is a very interesting statement in ur PS.U mention tt you appreciate the arts and sciences?yes.I was trying to decide i was in the art or sci person as due to the distinct streams in school.But i realized that people may not necessarily fall in one category,though i know people who cant write a humanities essay.tts is why i think the education system of having a contrasting subject is good.I think medicine is a science and art in itself.It is a science in content and an art by communicating with patients.
How did u do for lit?
I got B -_-
Name me a non curriculum book u have read recently.Is fiction okay?*
they nod*
Harvest by Tess Gerritsen.I like to read medical fiction.Its about the illegal harvest of organs for profit by abducting poor children from africa/developing countries.I feel that even though the issues may be sensationalized in fiction,the threat and inherrent fears are very real. .blah blah more blah.
Can you name me other authors? I would like to read them.Yes,michael critchton that wrote jurassic park and tess gerritsen, lisa gardiner.TESS GERRITSEN ( had to repeat cos he wanted the name clearly.LOL BOOK CLUB :D)
ONLY two authors.why there must be many more *quotes examples,eg, arthur conan doyle,i thought u asked me to mention living authors only sia*i <3 sherlock holmes
Err yes i enjoy reading them too.* sheepish*
Do you read the health ministers blog?
No.( like WHY WOULD I WHEN I CAN READ XIA XUE,the other interviewer also gave him a very pek cek look,I think he expected)
They asked me about the medicine curriculum,which i gave smokey answers.they then asked me to define biochemistry and physiology,to which of course i gave entirely wrong answers or half correct smokey answers. I could sense the pained expressions on their faces.T.T
What are the working hours of a house officer?24/7 *they laugh*I spoke with some medicine students during open house i heard they sleep very little.
yes you are lucky if you can get one hour of sleep a day...Are you prepared for this?Yes I am prepared.I feel that these are only physical barriers that one has to overcome to pursue their passion.As long as you are passionate about what you do,physical barriers r just sth u have t blah blah*yes i know i am repeating myself,rambles more*
Who is the health minister?
( omg wtf shit i never bothered) i dunno,i am sorry it slipped my mind *looks apologetic*
and worst of all when i was walking ut of the med interview,the prof was right behind me but i din notice so i straightaway told the next interviewee"got alot of things i dunno leh!!!!" =____= and i think he heard me like omgbbq.
plus i hemmed and hawed 100 times during the interview,repeated qns to myself such tt i sounded unsure,said i beg your pardon? at least 3 times.
Ill put in more qns whne i can rmb them.lol.
