The following 5 Multiple Mini Interview Scenarios were used in 2009 during the University of Calgary, MD program MMInterviews:
Scenario 1
In 2007, the American Family Physician Journal published an article exploring the issue of physicians as role models, using a scenario in which an obese physician is offering nutrition and exercise counseling to his obese patient. According to the authors’ research, patients have more confidence in the health counseling advice from non-obese verse obese physicians, and physicians with poor personal lifestyle habits are less likely to counsel patients about a healthy lifestyle.
Based on these research findings, do physicians have a responsibility to act as healthy role models to their patients? Please elaborate.
Follow Up Probing Questions:
- Is a physician who does not follow a healthy lifestyle employing a double standard when they are providing lifestyle-counseling?
- Do you think there is a difference between unhealthy lifestyle habits that manifest themselves more visibly than others (ie. obesity vs smoking)?
- What determines whether or not another person is a role model? Who decides and why?
- What are the limits to this responsibility?
- Do you have any additional comments before we end this discussion?
Scenario 2
Every week, your classmates gather at the local coffee house to review the lessons from that week. In the last month, everyone as been working on a major paper on Roman history which accounts for 40% of the course grade. One of your classmates has copies of two of the papers that last years’ students wrote for the same course. Your classmate has emailed copies of the papers to you and the other people in the group.
What would you do in this situation and explain why?
Follow Up Probing Questions:
- Discuss what values and choices are relevant in this situation?
- What are the implications if you decide to read the papers from last year?
- What are the implications if you decline the offer to read the papers from last year?
- What would you do if one of the classmates decided to draw upon the material from the two papers in developing their submission?
- Do you have any additional comments before we end this discussion?
Scenario 3
As president of the University of Calgary Medical Students Association, you have been asked to respond to a proposed bill which would require all Canadian to vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections or face a $100 fine.
What will you include in your response?
Follow Up Probing Questions:
- What general principles would you apply to justify your response?
- What is more important – the rights of the individual or the needs of the society?
- Is the balance between individual rights and societal needs different where the medical profession is concerned?
- Do you have any additional comments before we end this discussion?
Scenario 4
You are a third year medical student on an elective rotation. You are working with another medical student, resident and a staff physician, Dr. Kerry. During rounds, Dr. Kerry and the resident make several demeaning comments to the nurses. After rounds in the doctors lounge the conversation continues. Several condescending comments were said by Dr. Kerry and the resident about the patient management suggestions made by nursing staff. You are bothered by the comments. You know that Dr. Kerry and the resident will be doing your evaluation at the end of the rotation. Other medical students tell you that you will get a better evaluation if you just fit in. However you decide that it is necessary to speak to Dr. Kerry about the situation.
What will you say?
Follow Up Probing Questions:
- In this case how important is it that you speak to the staff physician? Please rank the importance on a scale of 1-10 and justify your response.
- What is your primary motivation in this case?
- Do you see any potential risks and/or long-term implications of your decision to speak to the staff physician?
- How does that decision contribute to your developing professionalism?
- Do you have any additional comments before we end this discussion?
Scenario 5
You have recently taken the initiative to volunteer at a homeless shelter. On this particular day, you meet a 42 year old woman dying from alcohol-related liver disease. Her skin and her eyes are very yellow from a lifetime of alcohol abuse and she complains of significant generalized pain which worsens with movement. She confides in you that she hasn’t had a drink in two days and “wants to get hammered” before she dies, but can not get the last bottle of vodka out of her locker. You know that alcohol is not allowed at the shelter. There is another woman lying on her side three beds away who is watching your interactions closely.
What will you say or do?
Follow Up Probing Questions:
- In medicine, there are often other options to be taken into consideration: what options can be considered and/or dismissed?
- What attitudes does this situation raise?
- In this situation, how might emotion and logic interact in your decision?
- How can individuals demonstrate empathy without imposing your own values?
- Do you have any additional comments before we end this discussion?
What’s the best way to prepare for the MMInterview?
We’ve helped more applicants successfully conquer their MMInterview than probably any other admissions prep company! We’ve put together a few basic suggestions to help you get started on your quest to slay the MMInterview!
- Develop an approach and framework for all MMInterview stations. We use a 5 pockets approach with examples on how to do this in detail in the Multiple Mini Interview for the Mind book.
- Allocate a minimum of 6 weeks to prepare for the MMInterview. The first 2 weeks should be spent the time to freshen up on current issues in health care, public policy, education and commerce as they relate to the program, school and country in which you are seeking admissions.
- Use the remaining 4 weeks to practice MMInterview scenarios under the same time constraints as the program you’re interviewing at with feedback. Make use of your support network and everyone who is willing to listen to your responses and critique. A good source of free support is your school’s career office or premed club which may run mock MMInterview weekends for their members. As you receive feedback, be very critical of the information provided and assess for its applicability to your program and discipline.
