"So, What Questions Do You Have For Me?"- Residency Interview Tips

Here at WCBD, our goal is to support the developing future black doctors of America. As they stand on the precipice between medical school and residency, fourth-year medical students are perhaps the most in need of support from older, wiser docs who can help students navigate their way across the mysterious and sometimes frightening journey of residency interviews. No amount of color-coded spreadsheets can soothe an anxious interviewees mind as well as some practical advice from a physician who's successfully done this before.

We caught up with Dr. Bennal Perkins, a Hospitalist & Clinical Assistant Professor at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, for advice on how to navigate the residency interview. Mentoring medical students is a big passion and priority for Dr. Perkins. "This can be a scary process and sometimes it's hard without any guidance," she shared with us via email. "Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to for mentorship, encouragement, or to share great news!"

And, because she can't meet every fourth-year one-on-one, Dr. Perkins offered up some of her time-tested interview questions, as well as some tips to make residency program visits productive and informative. Making the decision of how to rank programs that will shape the rest of your career is no small feat. But, with these pieces of advice from Dr. Perkins, you'll go in feeling confident to show off your very best self to the interviewers, and feel qualified to discern which program is the right one for you.

The interview questions are listed below, and if you click the blue "Scribd." link you can also download the questions and tips document to your own computer.

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