Residency interview tips from faculty and newly matched DOs

Congratulations on submitting your ERAS application! Now it’s time for the next exciting chapter: Interview season. There’s an abundance of tips and suggestions out there, but The DO has collected insights from recently matched osteopathic physicians across various specialties, as well as two physicians who frequently interview residency applicants.

Tips from recently matched students (now DOs)

Morgen Spees, DO, Yale Emergency Medicine Residency Program: When it comes to interviews, the vibe you bring is just as important as your qualifications. It’s all about building a connection with your interviewer. Those moments when the conversation flows into shared interests or hobbies can really make a difference. While it’s wise to prepare for the standard questions about your accomplishments and motivations for pursuing medicine, you don’t need to stick to those topics. Embrace the opportunity to go off on a tangent. Who knows? You might discover common ground that makes the interview feel more like a conversation than a formal Q&A.

Maria Grba, DO, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County Internal Medicine Residency Program: The most important thing to remember is that interviews are just as much for you to get to know the programs as they are for the programs to get to know you. This is a place where you’ll spend a significant amount of time over the next few years. In addition to weighing the program’s strengths, consider how you would fit in at that institution. The ideal program is one where you can comfortably be yourself while still receiving exceptional training.

Catherine Johnson, DO, Naval Medical Center San Diego Pediatric Residency Program: My biggest tip for interviewing is to be confident in your CV. Anything on it is fair game for discussion, and every experience is valuable if you can articulate what you gained from it. Take the time to understand how each experience contributed to your medical career, so when you’re asked about it, you can convey your passion for the things you’ve pursued. Beyond that, just be yourself and take pride in how far you’ve come!

Hannah Magee, DO, Houston Methodist Hospital OB-GYN Residency Program: Everyone will tell you to keep an open mind during your interviews, and while it may sound cliché, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy programs you hadn’t initially considered. Approach each interview with curiosity and openness; you may find that you connect with aspects of a program that you didn’t expect. Trust the process and stay receptive to new possibilities.

Alexandra Siavelis, DO, McLaren Greater Lansing Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program: To prepare effectively for an interview, focus on a few key steps. First, practice with a friend or mentor; this gives you the chance to get feedback and feel more comfortable in the interview setting. As you get ready, think of specific stories or examples that highlight your strengths, as showing your skills through real-life experiences makes a bigger impact than just mentioning them. Try to keep your answers concise and short to keep the interviewers engaged. Finally, after the interview, reach out to the coordinator to thank them for their time and ask if they could pass along your thanks to the interviewers for taking the time to interview you.

Tips from faculty interviewers

Kayla Lyon, DO, Assistant Program Director, Wake Forest Psychiatry Residency Training Program: Be prepared to discuss anything but avoid over-preparing or scripting your answers. Interviewers can be turned off by generic, rehearsed responses, as they often come across as insincere. Second, avoid exaggerating. This applies to the significance of your experiences, your involvement in processes or organizations and various aspects of your background. Interviewers typically ask follow-up questions to clarify anything that seems unclear. If they suspect you’ve exaggerated, it can create a negative bias toward everything else you say. Strive for honesty, even if your involvement was minimal. We all have experiences where we were only peripherally involved. This honesty signals to interviewers that you are trustworthy and allows them to move on to topics that are more meaningful to you.

Anthony Atala, MD, Director, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine: While it’s important to understand the residency program and why you’re considering it, it’s equally valuable to learn about the city and region, as well as the community itself. After all, that’s where you’ll be spending a significant amount of your time off. Take the initiative to explore and share what you discover—it’s a great way to show that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the program and the environment surrounding it.

Advice from the author

My best advice? Be confident in who you are. Remember, you’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this point—you deserve to be here, and you will find your place on this journey. Embrace the process and trust in yourself!

Related reading:

How these DOs matched into their top-choice programs

The top Match tips and advice from osteopathic physicians and students from the past year