To improve the reliability of selection interviews, the faculty of the University of Texas Medical Branch physician's assistant program developed a structured fourteen-category interview. The thirty-minute interview was used to select from 94 applicants; each applicant was interviewed three times and independently rated on a five-point scale of acceptability. The Hogan Empathy Scale, the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, and the Otis Mental Ability Test were also administered. Results supported the reliability of the interview. Its concurrent validity was indicated by a significant correlation with the Hogan Empathy Scale. The Hogan Empathy Scale was not considered to be a feasible selection instrument by itself; however, it was recommended as the type of personality inventory which could be used to assess the concurrent validity of selection interviews. (The fourteen interview categories are appended, and include: initial interest in career; career goals; most and least attractive aspects of the career; previous experience; interest in other programs or fields; financial plans; family support; feelings about the physicians-assistant relationship; outside interests; expectation of program; and expected salary as a physician's assistant). (Author/GDC)