About shadowing-strange situation

[287029]

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I live in the NYC area.
I don't even know how to start looking a physician to shadow. All I can think of are my primary physician (in a noisy clinic... he seems to see patients for 10 minutes max, I'm not sure how much I would learn) and this other physician..

BUT here comes the awkward part: he was my late mother's pulmonologist (she passed away a few months ago). I accompanied my mother to visit him back then so I've met him a few times; spoken to him on the phone a couple of times as well. He came to mind because he's honestly one of the nicest physicians I've ever encountered thus far. But... I'm scared that it would be awkward to ask him/contact him, since my mother was one of his patients..

What should I do?

Also, is anyone able to share with me some advice as to how I could find and get in contact with willing physicians I could possibly shadow (in the NYC area)? I'd appreciate it very much😳

Thanks in advance!

 

[charju]

if you feel uncomfortable asking this doc then dont. There are tons of docs out there. I personally dont see why you cant ask him though.

honestly you should just find a teaching hospital close to you. and look in the directory of the specialty your interested. and start emailing them. you'd probably hit a few depending on how many you send emails to. I personally think shadowing in large hospitals give you way more things to see.

something along the lines of your current status, why you wanna shadow, and how you would appreciate the opportunity. keep it like 2-3sentences.

 

[halethsonofhama]

honestly you should just find a teaching hospital close to you. and look in the directory of the specialty your interested.

so thats how you do it.... sadly I never considered shadowing until it was too late. However I am going to shadow a Ortho I knew in HS next week for a few surgeries- but thats just for kicks, not for application

 

[LizzyM]

The purpose of shadowing is not to learn medicine but to learn what a physician does all day. Either your own doc or your late mom's doc would be fine... even if one sees patients for only 10 minutes, the point is what goes on behind the scenes... how much time is devoted to documentation & paperwork, is lunch a sandwich eaten on the run or part of multi-tasking with other team members, etc., does the doctor see pharmaceutical reps (some do, some don't and many have strong opinions or workplace policies on the issue), etc.

I always suggest that people start with docs they know and if they say "no", ask if they know of anyone who might be open to having you follow them for a day or two.

 

[farrago]

Are you in school here in NYC? Is there a medical school/hospital associated with your school? If so, pick some doctors at the medical school/hospital and email them, say you're a student, and ask if you can shadow.

 

[petyr_baelish]

Are you in school here in NYC? Is there a medical school/hospital associated with your school? If so, pick some doctors at the medical school/hospital and email them, say you're a student, and ask if you can shadow.

👍 thats how i did it.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

👍 thats how i did it.

me 2

OP, don't be afraid. I felt the same way as you did before. Remember, some of these doctors are very nice and will offer opportunities for you to shadow them because they know what it feels like to be in your position 🙂

Just shoot a bunch of emails and I'm sure one doc will be nice enough to let you.

 

[kansaskid]

I agree with LizzyM that your best bet is always a doctor you know well. I shadowed my family's pediatrician; she prescribed my first birthcontrol pills, caught my littlest brother's heart murmur, etc. It was not strange at all. I'd go into a room with her, she'd introduce me as a student, and tell the little ones that I used to be her patient. Always the kids were like "WHOA, COOL." And yeah, she only spent like 15 minutes tops in the exam rooms, but I still learned so much about what her day is like and what is fun and boring for her. Shadowing was definitely the most enjoyable part of this whole process for me; I finally realized how much I really wanted that lifestyle, wanted to be a physician. There is no other way to truly figure that out. If your doc isn't interested in having you follow him around, just ask him if he knows anyone who would be available. If that doesn't work, check out a local teaching hospital and make some calls. You are on the right track and will have a lot of fun! Good luck!