Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - School of Podiatric Medicine Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why podiatry?

Why Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - School of Podiatric Medicine?

What challenges do you anticipate in this school?

What would you do if insurance only covers diabetic foot care after complications develop?

What clinical experiences have you had?

What ethical responsibilities do Pennsylvania podiatrists have toward elderly patients who may have difficulty accessing care due to mobility issues, particularly in rural areas with limited transportation options?

What attracted you specifically to LECOM's School of Podiatric Medicine over other podiatry programs?

How should Pennsylvania address its podiatry student application crisis and potential shortage of foot care providers, particularly given the state's aging population and high rates of diabetes that require specialized podiatric care?

What are you reading right now?

If you could have dinner with anyone, who and why?

Tell me about your research.

How would you balance financial viability with accepting Medicaid patients who have few care options?

How does LECOM's integrated curriculum approach align with your learning preferences?

How should Pennsylvania podiatrists balance the business aspects of practice management with their professional obligations to serve patients regardless of ability to pay?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Should Pennsylvania expand Medicaid coverage for podiatric services beyond what is currently required, given the documented need for diabetic foot care in underserved communities?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

What aspects of LECOM's mission to train primary care physicians resonate with your career goals in podiatry?

What would you do if a diabetic patient refuses emergency care for a severe foot infection?

What specialty are you interested in?

Do podiatrists have an ethical obligation to help patients afford necessary orthotics and treatments through payment plans or alternative options?

Tell me about a time you failed.

Should Pennsylvania implement mandatory continuing education requirements specific to diabetic foot care for all podiatrists, given the high prevalence of diabetes in the state?

How would you contribute to the collaborative learning environment at LECOM's Erie campus?

Teach me something.

How do you work in groups?

How would you advise an athlete who wants to continue competing despite a serious injury?

What was your most challenging experience?

What are podiatrists' ethical obligations when insurance companies deny coverage for medically necessary treatments or custom orthotics?

What do you know about LECOM's emphasis on osteopathic principles and how they apply to podiatric medicine?

How should Pennsylvania podiatry training programs address the declining interest in the field while maintaining educational standards and ensuring graduates are prepared for diverse practice environments across the Commonwealth?

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

What would you do if a patient refuses necessary medical care due to previous negative healthcare experiences?

How do you feel about living and studying in Erie, Pennsylvania for the next four years?

Is it ethically acceptable for podiatrists to decline to perform elective procedures based on professional judgment about appropriateness?

How would you keep yourself up-to-date on podiatry education once you begin practicing?

Should the US implement stronger regulations on pricing for orthotics, diabetic footwear, and podiatric medical devices?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

What interests you most about LECOM's clinical training opportunities and affiliated hospital networks?

How would you respond if you discover a colleague performing unnecessary surgeries for profit?

What is one thing you want to highlight about your application?

What are podiatrists' ethical obligations when corporate practice policies create pressure to meet treatment volume or revenue targets?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

Should podiatrists have greater independent authority to treat minor foot conditions and manage chronic foot care without physician referrals?

How does LECOM's focus on underserved populations align with your personal values and career aspirations?

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What is your worst habit?

How would you address racial disparities in pain management that you observe in your clinic?

Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone who wasn’t being heard.

Is it ethically problematic for podiatrists to recommend higher-priced treatments or orthotics when equally effective lower-cost alternatives exist?

What do you know about LECOM's problem-based learning curriculum and how it will prepare you for podiatric practice?

Should there be federal regulations limiting insurance company practices that restrict access to podiatric care and devices?

How would your friends describe you?

If your life were a movie, what would the theme?

Tell me about a time when you were impacted by miscommunication.

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

How would you take advantage of LECOM's research opportunities as a podiatry student?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Should Medicare be required to negotiate prices directly with orthotic and diabetic shoe manufacturers to reduce costs?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

What do you think makes our program unique?

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

How do you handle failure?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

Should there be federal restrictions on corporate ownership of podiatry practices to reduce profit-driven care?

How do you relate to our mission?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

Where do you plan to practice?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex scientific concept to someone without a science background. How did you approach it?

Should healthcare institutions implement mandatory unconscious bias training for all staff and students?

What are Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - School of Podiatric Medicine's values?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

Why do you want to go to school in Erie?

Should patients have the right to request a healthcare provider of a specific gender, race, or cultural background?

What negative feedback have you received?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

What ethical issues do you think will impact you as a healthcare professional?

What do you think about stem cell research?

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

Do you think pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to advertise drugs to consumers?

What does “success” look like to you?

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

Who should receive an organ transplant: a convicted felon or an uninsured mother?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

What are your thoughts on the role of private vs. public healthcare?

Describe a moment when you connected with someone who was going through a difficult time.

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

Do you think it's ever ethical to lie to a patient?

Describe a situation where you had to maintain professionalism under difficult or frustrating circumstances.

Do you believe diversity is important in a healthcare setting? Why or why not?

How do you handle stress?

What would you do if a team member isn’t contributing on a group project?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

As AI becomes better at diagnosis than human doctors, should we rely more on AI decision-making?

What are your strengths?

What role should technology and AI play in the future of healthcare?

Walk me through a period when you were overwhelmed with responsibilities. How did you use to get through it?

What would you do if a colleague comes to work smelling of alcohol?

What are your weaknesses?

Should people with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smokers, heavy drinkers) have reduced access to certain treatments?

What was the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

What would you do if a teenager confides they're being abused at home but begs you not to tell anyone?

What community service activities have you done?

Can compassion be taught?

What do you do for fun?

What would you do if your employer forced you to work over Thanksgiving weekend, interfering with your family plans?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

Should healthcare workers strike if working conditions are unsafe for them or their patients?

Tell me about a skill or knowledge area where you've shown significant improvement over time. What was your learning process?

What would you do if a colleague of yours made a mistake and doesn't want to tell the patient?

What do you think are important qualities for a healthcare professional?

Should students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive preferential admission to health professions programs?

What are three words people who know you would use to describe you?

You're at a party and a friend insists on driving herself home, even though she has been drinking. What do you do?

Who is your role model?

While volunteering at a community center, a family refuses to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs. The father quietly tells you he disagrees but fears community backlash if he consents. What do you do?

What is your biggest regret?

You’re working in a research lab when you discover that your supervisor has failed to report a conflict of interest—he’s consulting for the company funding the study. You depend on him for a strong reference for grad school. What do you do?

What makes you special?

A colleague you respect makes a dismissive comment toward a patient from a marginalized background. You know confronting them could damage your working relationship. What do you do?

What is your biggest fear?

A grateful patient leaves a $100 gift card and a thank-you note at the front desk addressed specifically to you. What do you do?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

You’re walking out of a coffee shop when you notice someone drop their wallet. You pick it up and realize there’s a large amount of cash inside, but no ID. You also notice the person quickly leaving in a taxi before you can call out. What do you do?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

Your roommate confides in you that they have been struggling with depression and occasionally use prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

What is your learning style?

You’re catching a ride home from a friend who begins texting while driving. When you ask them to stop, they brush you off and say, “Relax, I do this all the time.” How do you respond?

How do you study?

A close friend in your study group admits they copied answers from another student on a recent exam but asks you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

How might the transition to this school affect you.

You see a friend post misleading health information on social media that’s getting lots of attention. How do you handle it?

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

You accidentally receive an email from your supervisor that contains private performance evaluations, including criticism of a close friend. Later that day, your friend mentions feeling anxious about whether management trusts them. What do you do?

What will you do if you do not get into this school?

A patient you've been working with for months asks you out on a date. How do you handle this?