Blocked from shadowing, help?

[Diirez]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone!

So I am a sophomore pre-med who struggled with figuring out if pre-med is right for me. So I hadn't started shadowing yet and by the end of my first year I decided I want to continue my pre-med so I met with my advisor. My advisor was appalled that I had not begun shadowing and told me I needed to spend the whole summer racking up shadowing experience.

Well, I became busy doing different research projects so I didn't go out and start shadowing. Recently I contacted a doctor that I know who has offered to let me shadow before. So I called him so that way I could get my foot in the door with shadowing. Unfortunately, he told me that my states public health department is changing shadowing guidelines and therefore told physicians that they should not allow students under the age of 21 to shadow. He told me that no doctor in my state would allow me to shadow.

What do I do? I know you need shadowing experience but I don't know how I am supposed to get that when my state is blocking it.

 

[femmegoblue]

Just keep contacting doctors. I have spoken with some who strongly follow all the rules, but some doctors in their own private clinics dgaf and let students shadow all the time. Start with PCP's with private practices.

 

[Pinocytosis]

Hello everyone!

So I am a sophomore pre-med who struggled with figuring out if pre-med is right for me. So I hadn't started shadowing yet and by the end of my first year I decided I want to continue my pre-med so I met with my advisor. My advisor was appalled that I had not begun shadowing and told me I needed to spend the whole summer racking up shadowing experience.

Well, I became busy doing different research projects so I didn't go out and start shadowing. Recently I contacted a doctor that I know who has offered to let me shadow before. So I called him so that way I could get my foot in the door with shadowing. Unfortunately, he told me that my states public health department is changing shadowing guidelines and therefore told physicians that they should not allow students under the age of 21 to shadow. He told me that no doctor in my state would allow me to shadow.

What do I do? I know you need shadowing experience but I don't know how I am supposed to get that when my state is blocking it.

Out of curiosity... what state?

 

[Catalystik]

my states public health department is changing shadowing guidelines and therefore told physicians that they should not allow students under the age of 21 to shadow. He told me that no doctor in my state would allow me to shadow.

It would be worth your time to check this out via another source and find out the exact wording of the policy rather than taking one person's word for it.

 

[Diirez]

Out of curiosity... what state?

Rhode Island.

 

[aldol16]

Rhode Island.

Easy fix in the Northeast. Head into Mass or CT.

 

[kopftonmd]

Easy fix in the Northeast. Head into Mass or CT.

It's an easy drive and if you're anywhere near the providence area, the commuter rail goes straight from there to South Station in Boston and then it's just a short T ride to BWH/BIDMC/MGH.

 

[cyang55]

Find primary physicians with their own practice. They don't have to enforce those rules. It's harder nowadays to find doctors who aren't affiliated with big networks, but find the older ones. The doc I shadowed was in his 70s and owns his practice, and he doesn't have to care about those rules cause they don't apply to him.
Also, ask your family physician. They'll know you and can vouch for you, etc

 

[Commer_Knocker]

Doesn't matter about the shadowing, imo. Spend your time studying for the MCAT and volunteering in as many clinical settings as you can.

Many of the kids who rack up huge numbers of shadowing hours used their doctor parent's connections anyway; shadowing is very much a connections game.

If asked, tell your adcom about the law working against you, tell them you didn't have personal connections, tell them you made up for it as best you could by doing hella clinical volunteering.

You'll be fine.