Mock interviews give MD students a residency edge

At the onset of their fourth year, medical students begin the next phase of their careers: matching into a residency program. The competition is fierce, and not all candidates will find a position.

That’s why “practice makes perfect” is the underlying principle of EVMS’ national award-winning Mock Residency Interview Program, scheduled to take place again this June.

Led by EVMS Alumni Relations in partnership with Academic Affairs, Graduate Medical Education and Marketing and Communications, the annual event matches third-year medical students with volunteering alumni in their chosen specialty for a realistic residency-interview session.

“The mock interview is an opportunity to provide formative feedback in a nonthreatening environment,” says Ronald Flenner, MD (MD ’89), Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and the James Etheridge Jr. Distinguished Professor in Internal Medicine. “This experience is conducive to enhanced performance in the actual high-stakes residency interview.”

According to a recent survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges, having “poor interviewing or interpersonal skills” is among the top reasons graduating medical students fail to match.

Through EVMS’ mock-interview process, students are able to not only practice, but also receive specific feedback and suggested areas of improvement.

“Volunteering to conduct these interviews is a great way to give back to EVMS and shepherd younger versions of yourself through an anxiety-provoking period,” says Jody Boggs, MD (MD ’08, Internal Medicine Residency ’12). “Providing students with a glimpse of what to expect is crucial in allowing them to put their best foot forward.”

If you are an alumnus interested in volunteering for mock interviews, call 757.446.7085 or email alumni@evms.edu.