Chief Medical Officer Interview Questions:
1. How would you strike a balance between being an administrator and being a physician?
Candidates should note that administrative responsibility takes precedence over being a doctor and that they will implement a working schedule that ensures both aspects of the job are being managed.
2. Which medical experiences have best prepared you for the chief medical officer role?
Candidates should attempt to marry the two roles of physician and administrator by citing past experiences that have prepared them for the position. Showing good listening skills to help better diagnose a patient could serve as an example. As mentors, they will now train their physicians to have better listening skills.
3. Describe a time when you erred as a physician. How did you overcome your mistake?
Mistakes are common in the life of a medical doctor. It is important that candidates acknowledge the potential severity of their mistake and describe the lesson they have learned from it.
4. What will be the key challenges in healthcare administration in the near future?
Chief medical officers need to be aware of the industry they currently work in, but also the future challenges facing hospital administration. Candidates could cite the proliferation of health apps as a significant area of change. More and more people are producing and tracking their health data from their smartphones and hospitals need to ensure that they are prepared to take advantage of the data explosion by equipping doctors with data analysis skills or employing healthcare data scientists.
5. How do you stay abreast of developments in the medical industry?
Chief medical officers will need to stay on top of developments in healthcare, whether it be new cost-cutting technology or changes to healthcare regulations. Candidates should cite reading medical literature and attending medical conferences as their means of staying informed.