Any tips on shadowing?

[Geo16]

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How do people find doctors to shadow and what does a premed do when they shadow?

Anyone could chime a light I would be very grateful!!

 

[deleted1040417]

How to find a physician to shadow:
This is not in any order of importance. Oh, and it might be tough to find an opportunity right now, let circumstances cool down. Nobody wants a pre-med in their phone/email right now.

1. Network. Ask professors or research PI's you're close with/might be able to help. Sometimes they might have a colleague in mind. A family member that can personally ask for you?

2. If there is a pre-med advisor, ask if they have a shadowing directory: list of physicians that have listed their contact info for shadowing. These might fill up as other pre-meds might try to shadow as well. Calling is always better than email. I mean let's be honest, nobody checks their email unless they expect something.

3. Contact Human Resources. Sometimes they can connect you to a field of interest. Other times they send you paperwork and tell you to find a physician at the facility yourself. Sometimes they have shadowing programs!

4. Ask your Family Physician.


What to do whilst shadowing:
- Remember shadowing is a privilege, not something you're entitled to so be respectful. Don't be behind everything hiding in the corner, but try to learn.

- Remember, patients are in their most vulnerable states. Don't be awkward or come off as judgemental or make a face. Just show interest and kindness.

- I haven't done this one in front of patients, but more in private/at home. Write down things you've learned.

- Sometimes, a physician may introduce you as a medical student, just go along with it. They are just trying to keep the patient comfortable.

- Thank them for the wonderful privilege, maybe a thank you note/email if you're able to reach out to them with that sort of thing.

- DON'T wear cologne/perfume. It's a clinic/hospital, not the red carpet. At the same time don't smell bad. Smell like absolutely nothing. Maybe avoid fancy scented shampoo for that day.

*If a physician asks to take you out for lunch, DO IT! It's a great opportunity to talk to them, ask questions, and get the insides of what med school is like if they're willing to give you such a privilege.

 

[Geo16]

How to find a physician to shadow:
This is not in any order of importance. Oh, and it might be tough to find an opportunity right now, let circumstances cool down. Nobody wants a pre-med in their phone/email right now.

1. Network. Ask professors or research PI's you're close with/might be able to help. Sometimes they might have a colleague in mind. A family member that can personally ask for you?

2. If there is a pre-med advisor, ask if they have a shadowing directory: list of physicians that have listed their contact info for shadowing. These might fill up as other pre-meds might try to shadow as well. Calling is always better than email. I mean let's be honest, nobody checks their email unless they expect something.

3. Contact Human Resources. Sometimes they can connect you to a field of interest. Other times they send you paperwork and tell you to find a physician at the facility yourself. Also, sometimes they have shadowing programs!

4. Ask your Family Physician.


What to do whilst shadowing:
- Remember shadowing is a privilege, not something you're entitled to so be respectful. Don't be behind everything hiding in the corner, but try to learn.

- Remember, patients are in their most vulnerable states. Don't be awkward or come off as judgemental or make a face. Just show interest and kindness.

- I haven't done this one in front of patients, but more in private/at home. Write down things you've learned.

- Sometimes, a physician may introduce you as a medical student, just go along with it. They are just trying to keep the patient comfortable.

- Thank them for the wonderful privilege, maybe a thank you note/email if you're able to reach out to them with that sort of thing.

- DON'T wear cologne/perfume. It's a clinic/hospital, not the red carpet. At the same time don't smell bad. Smell like absolutely nothing. Maybe avoid fancy scented shampoo for that day.

*If a physician asks to take you out for lunch, DO IT! It's a great opportunity to talk to them, ask questions, and get the insides of what med school is like and they're willing to give you such a privilege.

Thank you very much!! This info is just gold!!!

 

[deleted1041221]

My university has a very strong alumni network, and that is how I found the doctors I've shadowed so far. Also second the above comment about writing down what you learned: I wrote very extensive journal entries about what I liked about the experience, what I didn't like, how I felt while shadowing, and what I learned (no identifying patient info, of course). This is particularly helpful for me because I'm still discerning if medicine is the right path for me and it helps me to be very reflective about my experiences and potentially in the future to have material I can look back on or cite in my interviews/applications.

 

[openstage]

This probably seems obvious, but I imagine this is the worst possible time to ask for this opportunity. Don’t burn that bridge. There is so much stress in healthcare systems that I wouldn’t dare ask until we are well in the clear of this. Hopefully in the fall.

 

[deleted859689]

#1 is connection. I tried dry calling/emailing at least 15 offices and physicians that said no. Then my labmate was neighbors with head of neurosurg at a University hospital. Shadowed him for a bit and was fun.

 

[deleted1006988]

If you are doing some sort of clinical volunteering you might be able to get shadowing from there. Some hospital volunteer offices will help you out if you do a certain number of hours - (the place I volunteered at required 100hrs).

 

[Talldoctor96]

Start with the doctors you know. I started with my grandfathers cardiologist and an ER doc dad of one of my friends. Once you’re in, the doctor world is smaller than you think. Network from there just need to get foot in door.

 

[hopefull!!]

This probably seems obvious, but I imagine this is the worst possible time to ask for this opportunity. Don’t burn that bridge. There is so much stress in healthcare systems that I wouldn’t dare ask until we are well in the clear of this. Hopefully in the fall.

Do you think that it is still not a great time to ask for an opportunity? If yes, how far in advance should we reach out? ex: want to start in fall, ask for opportunity in august?

 

[openstage]

Really hard to say. I think the best odds would be with a primary care doctor or PA that you attend or whom your family knows. Probably in rural states, places with less of the virus, they may be less nervous about it. In many hospitals now, if you require a procedure or consultation, they are only allowing the patient - no families in the room. In those hospitals, they probably wouldn't allow a shadowing student. You might have some luck with a community health clinic or private practice.

 

[jhmmd]

Most important rule is to not ask questions incessantly/demand too much time from the doc. Usually if the doctor is taking the time out of his or her day to let you shadow, then they're a nice person, so they'll wait for an approrpriate time to ask if you have any questions. Try to ask questions about medicine and not about the specific patient. Remember to protect patient confidentiality and respect HIPAA, which means that when you relay info about the pts you shadowed in print/otherwise, you want to change certain details to protect anonymity. DON'T try to be proactive and do things to "help" w/out asking, even if you have some sort of medical license. Be sure to get along with all of the ancillary staff--your relationships with the people that you shadow with count more than anything else. Don't forget to ask for a LOR. There are more tips buried in places on this forum (it's been years or I would link the threads)--anyways, have fun and good luck!