MD/DO Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Posted Aug 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a surgical complication you had. How did you handle it with the patient, the family and your team?
What they are checking: Whether they are honest about complications and communicate openly, which shows how they handle outcomes and peer review.
How do you teach general surgery residents in the OR while keeping cases safe and efficient?
What they are checking: Whether they can give trainees real responsibility in a structured way, since teaching is part of this role.
How do you keep your outcomes data in good shape, and how do you respond if your numbers start to slip?
What they are checking: Whether they welcome quality data and act on it, which matters in an award-winning cardiac program.
What about a 1:3 call schedule and set OR blocks in La Crosse appeals to you?
What they are checking: Whether their expectations for workload and lifestyle match this practice, which predicts whether they will stay.
What would you do
You'd work with four inpatient and two outpatient APCs. How do you set up a working relationship with APCs so patients get consistent care?
What they are checking: Whether they can lead a team-based model with clear expectations rather than trying to do everything personally.
How do you work with referring cardiologists and rural hospitals across a large region so patients get to surgery at the right time?
What they are checking: Whether they build strong referral relationships and think about patients who travel far for care.
How do you handle a family that wants surgery for a very high-risk patient you don't think will benefit?
What they are checking: Whether they can have hard, compassionate goals-of-care conversations instead of operating by default.
About the work
Tell me about the range of adult cardiothoracic procedures you do now and where you'd want to grow.
What they are checking: Whether their case mix and skills fit a comprehensive adult program and what support they would need.
Walk me through how you decide between surgical and catheter-based options for a patient with aortic stenosis.
What they are checking: Whether they think in a heart-team way and put the patient's risk and wishes ahead of their own specialty.
A post-op cardiac patient becomes unstable overnight while you're on call. Talk me through your thinking.
What they are checking: Whether they work through tamponade, bleeding and pump failure quickly and coordinate the team at night.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Bellin Gundersen.