asking a doctor if i can shadow

[mitchellz71]

---

Members don't see this ad.

i am a sophomore looking to get some experience over the summer by shadowing some different doctors. i plan on writing them letters and have already wrote a draft, im looking for some pointers as what else to add/take out.

Dear Dr

I am a sophomore biomedical science major at Texas A and M University. I am very interested in the medical field, specifically practicing of medicine.
I am trying to get some experience by shadowing different doctors this summer. I would like to make sure that this is the career choice for me. iIhave known that whatever I decide to do, i want to help people. I think that being a doctor will offer me new challanges and oppurtonties everyday to help people.

If this is possible for you, please let me know. I am more then happy to meet with you DR._____ if you would like to set up an interview. Thank you for
your time.


Sincerely,



This is what i got so far, what do you all think??

 

[FIREitUP]

whatever you do, be sure to address him/her as "dogg", "gangsta", "O.G.", "homie", because physicians got street cred.

 

[WhizoMD]

I don't think all of that is necessary, just grab the yellow pages, or look online and start calling/emailing.

 

[apumic]

Sounds fine. I'm assuming you didn't copy that directly from Word or something. If you did, check the grammar, spelling, etc. If I gave a suggestion, it would be to rewrite it and try to "age" it a bit (style-wise; not sure how else to put that). It sounds to me like it was a written by a freshmen in college.

I agree with Whizo, though... the letter probably isn't really necessary unless you're cold-calling, in which case you'd need all the help you could get. Try going through a family friend (MD.... or another healthcare professional) or through your own PCP.

 

[mitchellz71]

i had to copy and paste it from Notepad because my office word is out right now. but i will correct all the grammer and spelling.

how exactly do you call a doctor and ask them to shadow? please help me because i do not know anyone that has done something like this.

and my family doctor is getting back to me.

thanks

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Don't ask. Just show up. If you're REAL go-getter, that is.

 

[BennieBlanco]

Don't ask. Just show up. If you're REAL go-getter, that is.

This is probably the most annoying thing to figure out how to do as pre-med.

Keep telling everyone you run into, professors/admissions people/nurses at the hospital/etc.

"Man, I have no clue how people are able to shadow. I've been trying to find a physician to shadow and it is so hard."

then someone will say, "Oh, I know a guy."

Then you are in.

Worked for me... ran into a guy who ran admissions, PLUS you will get a good physician this way. The guy I shadowed was the coolest guy ever.

The person referring will think of the best guy they know that is nice, etc.

doing letters and cold calling is worthless. Wasted time (low success rate).

Referrals = super high success rate.

 

[rHinO1]

Your letter seems ok, doesn't really matter how you ask as long as you're professional. I posted this for someone else the other day:

"Hello Dr.________, my name is _______ and I have volunteered in ________ hospital for _______ years/months. I am currently an undergraduate student and intend to apply to medical school this June. I am very interested in (insert doctors specialty). I am excited to learn more about (insert specialty) and would be grateful if you would allow me to shadow you."

There is more than one way to ask though. Don't stress on it.

 

[TheFamilyDoc]

Most doctors I know don't mind, especially if you actually know them. But I don't know if thats just for the area I live in (Metropolitan Atlanta). But it cant hurt to ask.

 

[JonathanMD]

Yeah, I think the best way for students who have no clinical exposure (with their own contacts) is to talk to your own family doctor or maybe even a doctor that performed an operation on you recently. Ask them if they have any friends that specialize in the field that you're interested in.

Referral = success.

👍

 

[mitchellz71]

alright thanks for the help everyone. im going to start with some doctors that i have recently visited, if that fails ill mail out some letters, either way im getting some experience!!

 

[FloatOn]

Your letter seems ok, doesn't really matter how you ask as long as you're professional. I posted this for someone else the other day:

"Hello Dr.________, my name is _______ and I have volunteered in ________ hospital for _______ years/months. I am currently an undergraduate student and intend to apply to medical school this June. I am very interested in (insert doctors specialty). I am excited to learn more about (insert specialty) and would be grateful if you would allow me to shadow you."

There is more than one way to ask though. Don't stress on it.

The above sounds good. It's descriptive yet to the point. I don't think it's necessary to say why you want to go into medicine. Saying that you want to learn more about being a doctor is sufficient. Saying your major, year, and school is good too to give them some background info.

Have you tried email? It's a lot more convenient, and efficient for both you and the doctors.

 

[obgyny]

would it help to mention info like your GPA (if it's good), or would that be unnecessary?

the reason i ask is because i've graduated from UG and am taking a few years off before med school (for financial and timing reasons). when most people hear i'm taking a few years off, they automatically ask, "Why?? Was your GPA bad or something?" it seems like most people assume you did horribly in UG if you decided to take time off...

 

[NickNaylor]

I wouldn't bother with a letter - that seems a little too formal to me. Just call or swing by the office and ask.

 

[2nite]

i am a sophomore looking to get some experience over the summer by shadowing some different doctors. i plan on writing them letters and have already wrote a draft, im looking for some pointers as what else to add/take out.

Dear Dr

I am a sophomore biomedical science major at Texas A and M University. I am very interested in the medical field, specifically practicing of medicine.
I am trying to get some experience by shadowing different doctors this summer. I would like to make sure that this is the career choice for me. iIhave known that whatever I decide to do, i want to help people. I think that being a doctor will offer me new challanges and oppurtonties everyday to help people.

If this is possible for you, please let me know. I am more then happy to meet with you DR._____ if you would like to set up an interview. Thank you for
your time.


Sincerely,



This is what i got so far, what do you all think??

I would personally call. Write down what you're going to say before you call, because it will make you more comfortable.

Also, be sure to ask the doctor how they want you to dress. When I've shadowed doctor at home and show up in a nice button-down and dress pants, they've sent me home because I was too formal; when I've shadowed doctors here in the city and show up in jeans and a button-down, they've sent me home for being to informal.

Here's a sample phone call for you:
"Hi, my name is Bob Shmoe. I'm a student at Beer University and am considering pesuing a career in medicine, but wanted to explore the option to see if it fits me. Does Doctor. Frankenstein allow students to shadow him, and, if so, would I be able to do so?"

And the secretary/nurse will be like "Mmhmm, Mhmm, Mhmmm, Mhmmm," and then "Yea, when would you like to come in."

And you'll be like, "How is next Thursday at noon? Oh, and this really cool guy I met online told me I should ask what I should wear? So, what should I wear, dear?"

And you'll live happily ever after. 🙄

That's what I've always done, with obvious ammendments. I wouldn't, however, drop by (unless it's your own doctor who you intend to shadow) without calling first because it could be inconvenient and might seem intrusive.

would it help to mention info like your GPA (if it's good), or would that be unnecessary?

No, I don't think so. You aren't likely to be asked to help the doctor in any way whatsoever, and you'll probably never say a word while you're with a patient (unless you have a particularly sociable doctor). They don't get anything out of it, really, regardless of how good your GPA is. So I would say that, if you have a good GPA and let him know, it will just make you sound pretentious.

Good luck, and enjoy. And take my advice and NEVER shadow a medical examiner. Ever.

 

[insane]

I saw this article on finding doctors to shadow <http://www.premedhell.com/home/2010/1/15/finding-physicians-to-shadow.html> Start with doctors you know or have already been introduced too, it makes life a lot easier. Your note is pretty good, but I would suggest just emailing them and telling them your year, major, and requesting to shadow them should be enough, you could add a bit about wanting to gain first hand medical experience, and seeing the profession.

 

[Technorino]

woooo

 

[jvesco22]

Your letter seems ok, doesn't really matter how you ask as long as you're professional. I posted this for someone else the other day:

"Hello Dr.________, my name is _______ and I have volunteered in ________ hospital for _______ years/months. I am currently an undergraduate student and intend to apply to medical school this June. I am very interested in (insert doctors specialty). I am excited to learn more about (insert specialty) and would be grateful if you would allow me to shadow you."

There is more than one way to ask though. Don't stress on it.

Thanks for the template. It worked and I've set up shadowing with 12 different doctors over the course of the next 2 years. Thanks!









































just kidding 🙂 But nicely worded. I think I will use your words, throw a little swag in it, and give it a shot. Thanks

 

[rHinO1]

Thanks for the template. It worked and I've set up shadowing with 12 different doctors over the course of the next 2 years. Thanks!



just kidding 🙂 But nicely worded. I think I will use your words, throw a little swag in it, and give it a shot. Thanks

Definitely throw a little swag in it 👍

 

[rHinO1]

Several people mention that you should ask doctors you know (like everyone has a doc in the family). I'm guessing the OP and many others wouldn't have this problem if they knew doctors. Not everyone can ask to shadow their daddy or ask Dr. Howser from the country club if it is ok. j/k

If you don't know anyone that is ok. Kepp an ear open and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Volunteer in a hospital and ask around there, be persistent, and don't be afraid to ask.

good luck

 

[mitchellz71]

hey thanks a lot guys and gals. yall have really helped me feel better about all this hah. im going to a doctor tomorrow morning and im going to slip in some questions and see if he can help me out, or at least give me some referrals.