Surgery Residency Interview Prep: Real Questions, Real Answers from Surgeons

Surgery residency interview prep from surgeons who actually interview applicants. This candid 75-minute roundtable breaks down what surgical programs really look for—beyond test scores, buzzwords, and rehearsed answers. Featuring an all-star panel of attending surgeons and senior residents across ENT, plastic surgery, urology, and general surgery, this discussion goes past generic advice to cover the real dynamics of surgery residency interviews: how to stand out without being performative, how interviewers read confidence and emotional intelligence, and how to handle difficult or inappropriate questions with professionalism. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or trying to recover from a low Step score, this session offers practical, honest guidance you won’t hear on the interview trail. 🎙️ Panelists Dr. Lauren Umstattd — Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Liz Malphrus — Chief Resident, Plastic Surgery Dr. Mel Thacker — ENT Surgeon Dr. Maheetha Bharadwaj — PGY-4 Urology Resident Dr. Brooke Golisch — PGY-7 General Surgery Resident Dr. Frances Mei Hardin — ENT Surgeon, Host & Moderator 📌 Topics Covered What surgery programs really look for beyond your application Common interview clichés to avoid Authenticity vs. polish: how to be memorable without trying too hard Thank-you notes, letters of interest, and what actually matters Addressing low Step scores and other weaknesses with grace Handling illegal or inappropriate interview questions Confidence vs. arrogance—and how interviewers read the difference Emotional intelligence and reading the room Smart questions to ask interviewers How to prep, debrief, and build your rank list ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & introductions (black cat chaos + session context) 02:45 – What programs are actually looking for in surgical applicants 06:00 – Mindset shift: You are the prize 09:00 – What interviewers really notice (personality vs. perfection) 10:30 – Cliché answers to avoid 13:00 – Talking about hobbies without sounding rehearsed 14:30 – Avoiding interviewer boredom & staying authentic 17:00 – Thank-you notes and “love letters” 20:00 – Letters of interest: when (and whether) to send them 24:00 – IMG-specific strategies and late-cycle interviews 27:00 – Emotional intelligence and reading the room 34:00 – The 7-38-55 rule and communicating confidence 36:00 – Crafting your “why surgery” answer 39:00 – Addressing a low Step score 42:00 – Managing “mind-game” interview styles 44:00 – Handling inappropriate or illegal questions 48:00 – Confidence vs. arrogance 53:00 – Authenticity and medical hierarchies 55:30 – “Tell me about yourself” — what to include (and skip) 56:30 – Questions you should ask programs 1:01:00 – Using humor and curiosity to connect 1:04:00 – Should you take notes during interviews? 1:06:30 – How to debrief and record impressions 🔗 Hosted by: The Hippocratic Collective 📍 Recorded live: October 2025