University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine MMI Practice Questions

What draws you to UBC Medicine's strong emphasis on research integration throughout the medical curriculum?

British Columbia has committed over $700,000 British Columbians lack access to a family doctor, with nearly 40% of family physicians expected to retire or reduce hours within five years. The province's Health Connect Registry matched a record 250,000 people with providers in 2024, but demand far exceeds capacity. The province is expanding pharmacist scope of practice and implementing team-based care models. Consider the implications of these workforce challenges on patient care quality and system sustainability. How should BC restructure its primary care delivery model to address these fundamental capacity issues?

Canada is currently debating a national pharmacare program that would provide universal coverage for prescription medications, similar to how hospital and physician services are covered. Currently, prescription drug coverage varies significantly across provinces and depends on employment-based insurance or provincial programs with different eligibility criteria. Do you think Canada should implement universal pharmacare? Discuss the implications of this policy with the interviewer.

Why medicine?

Why University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine?

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?

You are a medical student on clinical rotation. A Syrian refugee patient needs a prescription medication, but it's not covered under the interim federal health program and they can't afford the $200 monthly cost. They've been in Canada for 6 months and don't qualify for provincial drug coverage yet. What do you do?

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

You're leading a student health initiative when you discover that a fellow student leader has been embezzling small amounts of money from the organization's budget over several months (totaling about $2,000). When you confront them, they admit it but explain that their family was evicted and they needed money for food and supplies for their younger siblings. They're the first in their family to attend university and are working two jobs while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. They're devastated and ashamed, offer to pay it back over time, and beg you not to report it because it would mean expulsion and loss of their scholarship. Your organization's constitution requires reporting any financial irregularities to the dean. What do you do?

Should Canada shift toward team-based primary care models where nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals provide primary care, with physicians overseeing more complex cases, to address the family doctor shortage?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

During resource shortages in Canada's universal healthcare system, physicians must sometimes make allocation decisions about which patients receive limited treatments or procedures first. Is it ethically acceptable to use criteria such as age, likelihood of benefit, or quality-adjusted life years when allocating scarce medical resources? What ethical framework should guide these decisions? Discuss with the interviewer.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Tell me about yourself.

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 are your weaknesses?

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

You are a physician working in a rural hospital. A patient needs an MRI urgently, but the nearest machine is hours away and the wait list is 6 months. A private clinic 30 minutes away can do it next week for $1,200 out-of-pocket. The patient is a single parent who works minimum wage. They ask your advice about whether to go into debt for faster care or wait and risk their condition worsening. What would you consider? What would you say?

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?

Should Canada substantially increase the number of medical school seats to address physician shortages?

Can compassion be taught?

You're working at an organization when you discover that your mentor—someone who has been instrumental in your development, advocated for you repeatedly, and is genuinely kind—has been quietly discriminating against certain job applicants based on protected characteristics. They're subtle about it (finding 'legitimate' reasons to reject candidates), but the pattern is clear. When you carefully raise concerns, they become defensive and hurt, saying you've misunderstood and that they've 'always supported diversity.' You have documented evidence, but reporting it would likely end their career and damage your own reputation by association. They're also dealing with a family crisis and are in a fragile state. However, their behavior is harming people and perpetuating inequality. What's your responsibility here?

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

How might the transition to medical school affect you.

Should lifestyle choices (smoking, obesity, non-compliance) affect priority for organ transplants?

What attracts you to UBC Medicine's distributed medical education model with clinical training sites across British Columbia?

Healthcare students learn procedures on real patients. Is this ethical, given that students are less skilled?

Should gene editing technologies like CRISPR be used to enhance human traits (not just treat disease) in future generations?

Recently, there have been discussions about implementing user fees or deterrent fees—a small charge that everyone who initiates a visit to a physician would have to pay at first contact. The assumption is that this would deter people from visiting their doctor for unnecessary reasons and help control healthcare costs. Do you think Canada should implement user fees for physician visits? Consider the implications for healthcare costs and access. Discuss with the interviewer.

How should British Columbia address the ethical implications of its physician shortage affecting rural communities disproportionately?

Do physicians have an ethical obligation to advocate for coverage of treatments they believe are necessary but that Canada's healthcare system deems non-essential?

You are a medical student on clinical rotation. You witness a nurse making a medication error. When you point it out, they become defensive. The attending is unreachable for 30 minutes. What do you do?

You're on a scholarship committee choosing between two equally qualified finalists: Candidate A overcame homelessness and foster care (first in family to attend university), Candidate B has a disability and spent years advocating for accessibility (worked three times harder than peers for same grades). You can only choose one. Another committee member reveals Candidate A's essay was heavily edited by a mentor, while B's is entirely their own work. Who do you choose?

What was your most challenging experience?

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

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

What is your biggest fear?

What aspects of UBC Medicine's emphasis on Indigenous health and reconciliation resonate with your values and career goals?

What is your favorite movie?

What are the ethical obligations of non-Indigenous physicians in providing care to Indigenous patients in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for culturally safe healthcare?

You are a resident physician. A patient with a terminal illness requests medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Their family is strongly opposed, citing religious beliefs, and accuses you of 'giving up' on their loved one. The patient is clearly competent and has met all legal criteria. What would you do?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

How does UBC Medicine's longitudinal clinical skills development starting in Year 1 match your learning preferences?

You’re volunteering at a community mental-health clinic. During a family dinner, your brother proudly mentions that he just hired a new employee named Rachel. You realize it’s a patient from your clinic who has a history of manic episodes that recently caused workplace disruptions. What do you do?

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?

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

If you were a soup, what kind would you be?

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?

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?

You are a physician working in a rural clinic when a family brings in their 8-year-old daughter for a routine checkup. While examining her, you notice patterns of bruising on her arms and legs that concern you—some appear to be in different stages of healing. When you gently inquire, the parents explain that she's very active in gymnastics and 'always covered in bruises from practice.' They seem like a loving family and their explanation is plausible. However, the pattern and location of some bruises are atypical for gymnastics injuries. Your clinic partner, who has practiced in this small community for 20 years, is close friends with this family and has never had concerns. You're new to the clinic and don't want to damage relationships or make false accusations, but you're also aware that abuse can happen in any family and that failing to report suspected abuse has serious consequences. What would you consider? What are your next steps?

How do you study?

How should British Columbia balance individual patient needs with population health management in resource allocation decisions?

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?

Why do you want to go to school in Vancouver?

If you could add one law to the laws of physics, what would it be?

British Columbia faces the longest surgical wait times in Canada, with patients waiting an average of 29.5 weeks for non-emergency procedures as of 2024. Despite increased healthcare spending of $1.7 billion, these wait times persist. The province is investing heavily in new hospital infrastructure, but critics argue this won't address immediate capacity issues. Considering BC's specific challenges with geography, population growth, and resource allocation, how should the province prioritize its healthcare investments to most effectively reduce these wait times?

What do you think about stem cell research?

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

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

A hospital press release promotes its new "AI-assisted triage system," which ranks patients by predicted survival rate to maximize efficiency. The administration reports shorter wait times and fewer administrative errors. However, some staff have noticed that patients from minority backgrounds are systematically ranked lower, potentially due to bias in the training data. Hospital leadership insists that "the algorithm is objective" and that "efficiency is our ethical duty." Critically analyze this justification. What ethical concerns and reasoning flaws might you identify?

What is your learning style?

Should Canada further expand the eligibility criteria for medical assistance in dying?

A viral blog post asserts that "organic diets cure cancer," citing several testimonials from individuals who claim remission after eliminating processed foods. The post criticizes oncologists for "profiting from chemotherapy" and argues that "pharmaceutical science ignores nature's cures." The author includes references to "a study" without citation, and dismisses contradictory data as "corporate propaganda." Evaluate the strength of the arguments presented. What logical or ethical issues arise in promoting such claims to vulnerable populations?

You are a physician. An Indigenous patient declines your treatment recommendation and wants to pursue traditional healing practices instead. Their condition is serious but not immediately life-threatening. A colleague tells you that you should 'convince them to accept real medicine.' What would you do? What would you consider?

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

The Interior Health region alone experienced 66 emergency room closures in the first half of 2024 due to nursing and physician shortages. These closures disproportionately affect rural and remote communities, forcing residents to travel long distances for emergency care. Some communities, like Merritt, are even billing the province for the costs associated with these closures. Given BC's unique geography and the critical nature of emergency services, what ethical obligations does the province have to ensure consistent emergency room coverage in rural areas?

Is it ethical for pharmaceutical companies to charge high prices for life-saving medications?

Many rare diseases affect too few people for pharmaceutical companies to profitably develop treatments. Should governments mandate research into rare diseases, redirect funding from common diseases, or accept that resources must be allocated where they help the most people?

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is legal in Canada for those meeting specific criteria. There is ongoing debate about whether MAiD should be extended to individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Is it ethically acceptable to provide MAiD for mental illness? What ethical principles should guide this decision? Discuss your position with the interviewer.

Should gender-affirming care be available to minors? What factors should be considered?

You are a resident physician shadowing in the emergency department when a patient arrives unconscious after a car accident. Their wallet contains a 'Do Not Resuscitate' card, but their adult child, who just arrived, is frantically demanding that everything possible be done to save them. The child says, 'My parent was depressed when they signed that—they didn't really mean it. You have to help them!' The attending physician looks to the team for input before proceeding. Meanwhile, the patient's condition is deteriorating and a decision needs to be made quickly. What factors would you consider? What would you do?

What community service activities have you done?

You overhear colleagues spreading a harmful rumor about a co-worker’s personal life. You consider reporting it, but one of the people gossiping is close to your manager. The targeted colleague is unaware but already seems isolated. How do you handle this, knowing it could affect your standing in the team?

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

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

You are a chief resident. You notice an intern consistently dismisses female patients' pain as 'anxiety' while taking male patients' identical symptoms seriously. This intern reports to you. What do you do?

You discover a popular local business (a major employer and your organization's biggest donor) is illegally dumping chemicals likely causing elevated cancer rates. You have preliminary but not conclusive data. Going public might cause panic and lawsuits that destroy your organization's funding (affecting 500 families). Waiting for conclusive evidence (2-3 years) means more exposure. What do you do?

You are a family physician. A First Nations patient requires a specialist referral, but the wait time is 8 months. They mention that in their community, many people have died waiting for similar care. They ask if there's anything you can do to expedite the process. What do you do?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

How does UBC Medicine's Flexible Enhanced Learning curriculum with its integration of basic and clinical sciences align with your preferred learning approach?

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

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

You are a medical student on clinical rotation. You accidentally access the wrong patient chart and see that your roommate's parent has a serious illness. Your roommate seems stressed but hasn't mentioned anything. What would you do?

Should British Columbia prioritize recruiting international medical graduates over expanding domestic medical school capacity?

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

International medical graduates (IMGs) represent a significant proportion of physicians in Canada, particularly in underserved areas. However, IMGs face barriers to licensure including residency spots and assessment processes. Some propose streamlining IMG licensure to address physician shortages, while others worry about maintaining standards. Should Canada make it easier for international medical graduates to practice? Discuss this policy with the interviewer.

What role should traditional or indigenous healing practices play in modern healthcare systems?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

If you had to be a piece of furniture in a hospital, what would you be?

How does UBC Medicine's focus on social accountability and community engagement align with your vision of medical practice?

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?

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

Should the federal government impose national healthcare standards on provinces to reduce variations in coverage, wait times, and access?

British Columbia's 'In Plain Sight' report documented extensive Indigenous-specific racism in the healthcare system, leading to the implementation of the Health Professions and Occupations Act with specific anti-discrimination measures. Despite progress reports showing ongoing work, Indigenous people in BC continue to experience poorer health outcomes and face systemic barriers to care. Life expectancy for Indigenous people in BC dropped by more than six years between 2017 and 2021. What ethical responsibilities do individual physicians have to address systemic racism in healthcare beyond their direct patient interactions?

How would you explain the internet to someone from the 1800s?

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 is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What makes you special?

Is it ethically acceptable for physicians to interpret MAiD eligibility criteria flexibly based on their clinical judgment of suffering when patients may not strictly meet the legal criteria?

Physicians in Canada sometimes encounter patients who have waited months for procedures available immediately at private clinics. Is it ethically acceptable for physicians to refer patients to private, for-profit clinics when public wait times are long? What are the physician's ethical obligations? Discuss with the interviewer.

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

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

Due to the shortage of physicians in rural and remote communities, it has been suggested that medical programs should preferentially admit students who are willing to commit to a 2- or 3-year tenure in an underserved area upon graduation. Some programs have implemented return-of-service agreements tied to funded positions. Do you think medical schools should require or incentivize rural service commitments? Discuss the implications of this policy with the interviewer.

How many rubber ducks would it take to fill this room?

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

A classmate you barely know asks to copy your homework, explaining they've been dealing with a family emergency and haven't had time to complete it. What do you do?

What is your biggest regret?

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

A government report suggests reducing hospital electricity usage by lowering air conditioning levels, switching to biodegradable single-use instruments, and restricting high-energy medical imaging for non-urgent cases. Officials claim this is necessary to meet carbon neutrality goals. Critics warn that such policies could endanger patient safety and comfort. Critically examine this policy's reasoning. How should public health balance environmental responsibility and patient care?

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

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

What are your strengths?

You are a family physician. A teenage patient experiencing gender dysphoria asks you not to inform their unsupportive parents about treatment options. What would you do?

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

What do you do for fun?

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

Do physicians have an ethical obligation to provide free care to refugee patients whose interim federal health coverage has expired but who have not yet qualified for provincial coverage?

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

What do you think are important qualities for a doctor?

You are a physician. A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, even though it's medically necessary and they'll likely die without it. Their family is pressuring them to accept treatment. What do you do?

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

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?

What aspects of UBC Medicine's collaborative learning environment and small group problem-based learning appeal to you?

Convince me that a potato is the most important invention in human history.

You discover a classmate is using AI to generate their reflective essays about patient interactions—essays meant to develop empathy and self-awareness. The AI-generated reflections are actually better written and more insightful than most students' authentic ones. They're getting top marks and genuinely learning from reading what the AI produces. What do you do?

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

Tell me about a time you failed.

You can eliminate one color from existence. Which one and why?

You are a hospital administrator. You discover the hospital schedules longer appointments for privately insured patients than those with public insurance. What do you think about this? What would you do?

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

Is it ethical for British Columbia to send cancer patients to the United States for radiation therapy due to capacity limitations?

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

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

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

During a public health crisis, when is it appropriate to mandate masks, lockdowns, or quarantines? Where should individual freedom end?

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

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

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

You discover a colleague has been embellishing their credentials—claiming degrees from prestigious schools when they actually graduated from less-known programs. They're exceptionally good at their job, patients love them, and outcomes are excellent. But they lied on their application. Do you report it? What if they came from poverty and believed (possibly correctly) they'd never get hired without prestigious credentials?

What interests you about UBC Medicine's Patient Partnership Program and patient-centered approach to medical education?

You are a medical student. A patient with terminal cancer asks you directly, 'How long do I have?' You haven't discussed prognosis with the attending yet. How do you respond?

Some Canadian physicians practice in both the public healthcare system and private clinics, where they can charge fees for services. Critics argue this creates a conflict of interest and undermines universal healthcare. Is it ethically acceptable for physicians to work in both public and private systems simultaneously? Discuss your opinion with the interviewer.

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

A coworker asks you to clock them in when they'll be 30 minutes late, saying their supervisor is 'unreasonably strict' and they might get fired for being late again. What do you do?

Indigenous peoples in Canada have experienced historical trauma from forced medical interventions and residential schools. When Indigenous patients refuse Western medical treatment in favor of traditional healing practices, even for serious conditions, do physicians have an ethical obligation to respect these decisions without attempting to persuade patients otherwise? Discuss the ethical considerations with the interviewer.

A team project wins an award. You and a peer did equal work, but only you were mentioned in the press release. Your supervisor congratulates you publicly. Correcting the record may jeopardize your relationship with them. What do you do?

You accidentally see a text on your roommate's phone suggesting they're cheating on their long-term partner, who is also your friend. What, if anything, do you do?

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

An economics think tank proposes legalizing the sale of kidneys to reduce transplant waiting lists. They argue that a regulated market would prevent black-market exploitation, compensate donors fairly, and save lives. Critics claim it would commodify the human body and exploit the poor. The report dismisses these objections as "emotional resistance to economic reality." Discuss the logical and ethical merits and weaknesses of this proposal.

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

How would you fix the healthcare system?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

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

Is it ethically problematic for physicians in remote Canadian communities to treat friends, neighbors, or community members with whom they have personal relationships?

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

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

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

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

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

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

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

What would be the worst superpower to have?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

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

Who is your role model?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

What are University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine's values?

How do you handle stress?

In times of resource scarcity—such as limited ICU beds or transplant organs—some argue younger patients should be prioritized because they have more potential years of life. Others claim all lives should be valued equally, regardless of age. Discuss the ethical implications of using age as a factor in allocating scarce medical resources.

How would living and studying in Vancouver's diverse, multicultural environment enhance your medical education experience?

A friend owes you $200 from three months ago and keeps avoiding the topic. Now they're posting on social media about an expensive concert they just attended. How do you address this?

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory for school attendance, or should parents have the right to refuse?

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

A 16-year-old you recognize as your neighbor's daughter requests emergency contraception at your clinic. She's terrified and begs you not to tell her strict religious parents. She mentions her boyfriend is 19 (potential statutory rape). When you discuss reporting requirements, she threatens self-harm if anyone finds out. What are your competing obligations? What do you do first? What if she insists the relationship is consensual?

How do you relate to our mission?

Wait times for specialist appointments and non-urgent procedures are a significant issue in Canada's healthcare system. Some have proposed implementing a parallel private system where those who can afford it may pay for faster access, while maintaining the public system for everyone. Do you think Canada should allow a two-tier healthcare system? Consider the broad implications for equity and access. Discuss with the interviewer.

Indigenous communities often have distrust of mainstream healthcare. How should the healthcare system address historical harms and build trust?

Dr. Sharma often prescribes vitamin supplements to patients complaining of low energy. She knows there is no clear evidence of deficiency, but believes "it can't hurt and might make them feel cared for." Consider the ethical issues raised by Dr. Sharma's actions. What professional obligations might conflict here?

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

If animals could talk, which species would be the rudest?

How would you contribute to UBC Medicine's commitment to addressing health disparities in rural and remote communities?

You're managing a small rural health center during a severe flu outbreak. You have 10 doses of antiviral medication left, but 25 high-risk patients need it. Among those waiting: elderly nursing home residents, pregnant women, healthcare workers who are essential to keep the clinic running, children with asthma, and adults caring for disabled family members. How do you decide who receives the medication?

Should Canada prioritize virtual care over in-person appointments as a standard practice?

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

You are a physician leading an international medical brigade treating patients in a remote village. Your team has limited medication supplies—specifically, you have enough antibiotics for two patients, but five patients present with bacterial infections that would benefit from treatment. Among them: a pregnant woman with a kidney infection, an elderly man with pneumonia, a child with a severe skin infection, a young adult with an infected surgical wound, and a middle-aged farmer who is the sole income earner for an extended family of eight. Your team member wants to save the medication for 'potentially more critical future cases' since you're there for another week, but the patients in front of you are suffering now and their conditions could worsen without treatment. If you use the antibiotics now, you'll have none left if an emergency arises later. How would you approach this situation? What would you consider?

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

Teach me something.

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

Should British Columbia implement a deterrent fee system for non-emergency healthcare visits?

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

British Columbia ranks second-last in healthcare access across Canada, with 24% of residents struggling to access necessary medical services. The province's new Health Authority review aims to reduce administrative spending and direct more resources to front-line care. However, this approach raises questions about whether the problem is truly administrative efficiency or fundamental resource allocation. How should BC balance the need for healthcare administration and oversight with the imperative to maximize front-line patient care resources?