Prompt
Some people believe that a physician’s main job is to cure disease. Others believe it is to relieve suffering. Which view is closer to your own, and why?
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After you practice: what this question tests and how to approach it
What this question tests
- Self-reflection and growth
- Empathy and compassion
- Critical thinking
How to approach this question
This MMI station tests what you believe medicine is for, and whether you can hold two goals together when they pull in different directions. Avoid treating it as a contest where one view is simply wrong, and explain where each one fits, such as when a cure is realistic and when it isn't. Ground your view in a real experience, like time with a family member, a person you met while volunteering, or someone living with a long-term illness. Describe what relieving suffering looks like in everyday terms, including listening, honesty, and helping people live the way they want. Then commit to the view closer to your own and explain why. When the station asks you to picture yourself as the patient, answer personally and check that your answer fits what you said about physicians.
More on motivation for medicine
All 13 questions on this topicMock interviews
If you want to practice with a person, we run mock MMI and panel interviews with feedback on every answer.
