Interview Assignment: Application of Physiology to Healthcare/Research
Goals:
⦁ To develop an appreciation of your knowledge of physiology and to learn more about possible future careers by
⦁ Learning about healthcare, research and related occupations and companies/organizations
⦁ Exploring how knowledge of physiology forms the basis of healthcare or research
⦁ To provide an opportunity for developing multiple communication skills
Part 1: Interview
1) Choose a health care profession or other career that requires practitioners to have a thorough understanding of physiology. Examples: nursing, respiratory technology, speech and language pathology, physiotherapy, personal training, medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy, scientist etc. Next identify a representative who works in that profession who is willing to participate in a 30-min with you (over the phone or online is fine).
2) Research the profession and the representative’s organization before your interview.
3) Keeping your interview time to 30-min, gather the following information.
a) Overview of the company/organization
⦁ i.e., services or products provided, (research undertaken, if applicable), size of the company and location.
b) Overview of the occupation and your interviewee and their responsibilities
⦁ i.e., academic and professional requirements of the occupation, daily tasks, brief bio of the representative, things they like best/worst about their job.
c) Describe how the interviewee uses their knowledge of physiology in their occupation
⦁ include both a general overview and a specific example.
d) Suggestions for how undergraduates can prepare for a career in the interviewee’s occupation or for a career in healthcare in general
⦁ i.e., what skills are required, education, work experience, etc.
Remember
⦁ Be prompt, cordial, respectful and enthusiastic in your interactions with the professional.
⦁ Ask during the interview for permission to present the information supplied to the class.
⦁ Interviewees are volunteering their time to educate you.
⦁ The companies and organizations may be future job sites for you.
⦁ You are representing the Department of Physiology and the University of Toronto.
Part 2: Reflection
1) After interviewing the healthcare professional/researcher, are you interested in that occupation for yourself? Explain.
2) Looking back on this interview, were there any surprises or AH-HA moments for you? What were they? How will you apply this information to you educational/professional development?
Assignment format:
Your assignment will consist of two 8 X 11.5-inch pages (letter size). Submit as a single document in PDF format (only PDF format will be marked and anything over the two-page limit will not be marked.)
On page 1, create an information sheet summarizing the information requested in part 1. Be creative, use both text and images. (The text size and diagrams must be legible without need to magnify (e.g. 12 pt font is acceptable.)
On page 2, put your name and student number at the top of the page. On the next line provide the name, organization, and email address of the person whom you interviewed
Then record your responses to part 2 (maximum total words for both questions combined = 350).
Use complete sentences. Use 12-point font, single spaced. At the bottom of the page (if applicable) include a list of references.
