University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine MMI Practice Questions

How does the Cumming School's commitment to training physician leaders align with your professional aspirations?

Should Alberta's new physician compensation models prioritize practice efficiency and patient volume over traditional fee-for-service approaches that allow for variable consultation lengths?

Tell me about yourself.

Why medicine?

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

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

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.

Why University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine?

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

What is your favorite movie?

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

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

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?

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

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

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

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

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?

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

What draws you to the Cumming School of Medicine's integrated curriculum that combines basic sciences with early clinical exposure?

Can compassion be taught?

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?

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

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?

The Alberta government's healthcare restructuring involves splitting AHS into four Provincial Health Agencies, with some physicians describing the process as chaotic and lacking clear roadmaps. Given that this structural change affects patient care coordination and resource allocation, how should physicians balance their professional obligations to patients with their concerns about a rapidly evolving system that lacks established protocols?

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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?

How should Alberta evaluate the success of chartered surgical facilities when data suggests surgical volumes in public hospitals have declined while private facilities have grown?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

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?

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.

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

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?

Tell me about a time you failed.

What community service activities have you done?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What interests you about studying medicine in Calgary specifically?

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?

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

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

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?

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?

What do you think about stem cell research?

What do you do for fun?

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?

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

How do you study?

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?

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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?

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?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

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?

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

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

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?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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?

How might the transition to medical school affect you.

What was your most challenging experience?

What is your learning style?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 is your biggest fear?

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

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.

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?

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

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.

How would you engage with the Cumming School's emphasis on community-engaged learning?

The Alberta government has suggested including homeopathy and alternative medicine in primary care despite lack of scientific evidence. Consider the ethical tensions physicians face when government policy conflicts with evidence-based medicine principles and professional standards.

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

Alberta's Primary Care Physician Compensation Model requires a minimum panel size of 500 patients, potentially excluding rural physicians who serve smaller communities with critical healthcare needs. Consider whether this policy appropriately balances healthcare access equity for rural Albertans against incentivizing comprehensive primary care delivery.

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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 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?

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?

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?

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

How does the school's emphasis on social accountability and serving diverse populations align with your career goals?

How do you handle stress?

Teach me something.

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

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

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?

How would you contribute to the school's mission of improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities?

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 is your biggest regret?

Should Alberta physicians be ethically obligated to work in chartered surgical facilities given concerns about profit-driven healthcare compromising professional autonomy and patient-centered decision-making?

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

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

The Alberta Medical Association reports a $600 million shortfall in physician compensation relative to population growth and demand, while the government simultaneously expands private surgical contracts. Analyze the ethical implications of this resource allocation approach for physician-patient relationships and healthcare equity in Alberta.

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?

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

What do you think are important qualities for a doctor?

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

What appeals to you about the school's collaborative learning environment and small group format?

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

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

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

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

What makes you special?

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

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.

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

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?

What are your strengths?

Alberta's healthcare system restructuring has resulted in over 16,000 staff transfers between health agencies since 2023, with some healthcare workers reporting confusion about roles and responsibilities. Given that continuity of care is a fundamental principle of medical practice, discuss how physicians should navigate their professional duties when institutional structures are in constant flux.

Who is your role model?

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?

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?

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

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.

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

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

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

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?

Why do you want to go to school in Calgary?

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

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?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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?

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

How do you relate to our mission?

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

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

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?

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?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

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?

What role should Alberta physicians play in addressing the province's move toward hospital-based leadership structures that eliminate regional health zones?

What would be the worst superpower to have?

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

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

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

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?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

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.

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

How does the Cumming School's focus on rural and remote healthcare delivery match your interests?

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

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

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

What do you know about the school's longitudinal integrated clerkship program?

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

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?

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

What are University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine's values?

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

What are your weaknesses?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

Alberta's rural healthcare delivery relies heavily on part-time positions and on-call services, yet the province's four-pillar healthcare restructuring has not been analyzed through a rural lens according to municipal associations. Discuss how physicians should advocate for rural healthcare needs within Alberta's evolving health system governance structures.

What aspects of the Cumming School of Medicine's competency-based curriculum appeal to you?

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?

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