ST 1 Ophthalmology interview experience‏

Candidate 1 (Yorkshire/Northern)

There were 4 stations in total. 3x10mins and 1x 20mins.

Station 1:  (10mins)

·      A drunk consultant in the theatre. He claimed that he only has a glass of wine with friend. He’s adamant that he’s not drunk and competent to perform the surgery. What are you going to do? Ok, fine. You finally convinced him not to operate. You are a ST1.There’s no other consultant available, patient is on the table, are you going to wake him up or take a shot. On the following day, what are you going to do? Obviously, the drunk consultant is unhappy. Do you think this is a disciplinary issue?

Yo You have 30 patients to see on your own in the morning, your consultant has never turned up. Then you cannot make it on time to review cataract patients before theatre in the afternoon. Your consultant wouldn’t let you operate because you’ve never seen them before. This has been going on for months. You finally raised this issue with your consultant. He said that you are too slow, previous trainees never had problems. What are you going to do?

Station 2: (10mins)

Eye simulator: Picking up cubes and put them into the box. (10mins)

Station 3: (10mins)

Perform fundus examination on a dummy using ophthalmoscope.  Fundus: Pre-retinal haemorrhage, exudates, old pan-photocoagulation scar, NVE, NVD.  What’s your diagnosis? What’s your differential dx?

Station 4: (15-20mins)

 Portfolio station: highlight 4 components in your CV. Briefly describe each and tell them what you have learned and why they important.

 Interviewer randomly picked up one of your case based discussion (CBD) during your FY1/2: Tell me what you have learned from this CBD. What’s your view on CBD? Important or a waste of time? How did you prepare for the CBD? What do you hope to improve in the future? What is your plan?

Candidate 2 (London)

There were 4 stations in total.

Station 1:

 Tell me about the paper you have just read (I was given 30 mins to read a review paper on ethical issues on fetal surgery). Do you think that it’s a good paper? Why?

 Dictate a reply letter to the complain team.

Station 2:

Role play: A new foreign doctor whose father is a close friend of your consultant taking away your operating slots for the next 3 months. You are particularly unhappy about it. You decided to approach the consultant. 

Station 3:

Perform 2 simple interrupted sutures. Name all the instruments on the table. Types of suturing material. Types of needles.

Role play: explain how to use ophthalmoscope to a student (interviewer). Performed it on another consultant.

Station 4:

·       Portfolio station:  Tell me about your leadership skills. What are the common problems you encounter as a leader? What are the current issues in NHS? How is that going to affect ophthalmology training? What’s your understanding of current topic on NHS reform? And, is that going to have any effect on ophthalmology training? **most of the questions are on NHS issues which I have no clues***

·      What do you do outside medicine?

·      Tell me about your elective.