Questions to ask a residency program director…
While interviews can remain stressful, the ante elevates with the program director. You feel you are on the stand being asked questions, but its important to not forget that you are also evaluating them. Asking the program director the right questions to help you assess whether they’re the right fit for you matters. It also shows you care about where you go and are selective. That makes them want you more.
Feel free to search Reddit and you’ll find countless list of questions to ask a PD, advice from PDs, and feedback from residents about what to do. These you should all consider, but the most important factor is YOU. What do YOU want in your future program and do they want YOU? That is how you end up at the right program.
So, which questions should you ask the program director during your interview? Firstly, determine what’s most important to you in your prospective residency program. Is it lifestyle? If so, ask them about how they handled a resident who was going through a difficult time. Assess whether their response fits with how you would want to be treated if you were going through a challenging time. Is fellowship competitiveness important to you? Ask them about whether they connect residents with researchers in that department and if they provide additional support, like time off for fellowship interviews during interview season. If you want to end up at a place where people are kind and treat you well, ask why the program director chose to become the director and why there? There response will provide you with plenty of information about what matters to them and their residents.
Secondly, remembering the program director is a human, too, helps. People like to be asked questions about themselves and share about their lives. It’s okay to ask them what they do in their time off and how medicine has enriched different aspects of their lives. Research the director and if they did research or had an experience you are genuinely interested in, ask them about it. You want to show these programs you’re not there only for your own benefit, but you have interest in who they are and what they stand for. You will connect with them through work and outside of it which makes working with you as a potential colleague more bearable on a 12h ICU night shift.