Just had my first shadowing experience!!!

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Wow!!! I just had my first shadowing experience and 2 days later I'm still flying high with excitement. I shadowed a pediatrician and the experience was so amazingly wonderful that I'm now considering pediatrics as well as family medicine and emergency medicine. The doctors and nurses were so helpful, informative, and encouraging, and I was made to feel very welcome. The doctor I shadowed didn't talk down to me (well, ok, he really DID talk down to me, but that's only because I'm only 4'10" ) nor did he patronize me in any way. I surprised myself at how closely my own thoughts about the various ailments mirrored the doctor's diagnoses. And I even on a couple of occasions made comments that actually prompted the doctor to explore a new issue with one patient and clarify meds instructions for another.

Now, I know with even greater certainty that practicing medicine is exactly what I not only want, but NEED to be doing. Any doubts I might have had have vanished. I know the road there won't be easy, and once there, I know that between med mal issues and the insurance companies telling doctors how to treat their patients, the frustration level can be enormous, but that will all be nothing compared to the satisfaction and sheer joy derived from practicing medicine.

Lest you think I'm some wet-behind-the-ears youngster, I'm probably one of the oldest "old fogies" here. I'm 48, and just starting my prereqs and I'm having the time of my life. I plan on shadowing as many different specialties as I can. Hopefully, I can volunteer in the E.D. this summer, as well. I can't wait till I can shadow again!

Originally Posted by drlisa0318

Wow!!! I just had my first shadowing experience and 2 days later I'm still flying high with excitement. I shadowed a pediatrician and the experience was so amazingly wonderful that I'm now considering pediatrics as well as family medicine and emergency medicine. The doctors and nurses were so helpful, informative, and encouraging, and I was made to feel very welcome. The doctor I shadowed didn't talk down to me (well, ok, he really DID talk down to me, but that's only because I'm only 4'10" ) nor did he patronize me in any way. I surprised myself at how closely my own thoughts about the various ailments mirrored the doctor's diagnoses. And I even on a couple of occasions made comments that actually prompted the doctor to explore a new issue with one patient and clarify meds instructions for another.

Now, I know with even greater certainty that practicing medicine is exactly what I not only want, but NEED to be doing. Any doubts I might have had have vanished. I know the road there won't be easy, and once there, I know that between med mal issues and the insurance companies telling doctors how to treat their patients, the frustration level can be enormous, but that will all be nothing compared to the satisfaction and sheer joy derived from practicing medicine.

Lest you think I'm some wet-behind-the-ears youngster, I'm probably one of the oldest "old fogies" here. I'm 48, and just starting my prereqs and I'm having the time of my life. I plan on shadowing as many different specialties as I can. Hopefully, I can volunteer in the E.D. this summer, as well. I can't wait till I can shadow again!

That's fabulous! What a great sign that you are so excited about shadowing; it sounds totally energizing. I hope you get a chance to do it again, and often.

Best of luck!