I've looked through this forum quite a bit for info about shadowing doctors, and it seems like everyone knew the doctor they shadowed (or has a friend who introduced them). Has anyone blindly e-mailed doctors about shadowing and has it ever worked? I don't know if it would be stupid to e-mail a bunch of doctors and ask if I can follow them around, or if anyone would actually go for that. I'd especially love to shadow some surgeons.
doctor shadowing
- Thread starter JennyB
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I would go for the teaching hospital, just because the docs are probably used to having residents/students around and would hopefully be better teachers.
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I emailed a bunch of random surgeons when I wanted to interview one of them for a high school project. Low and behold I got couple asking me I could do that...
I know one friend who was able to not only shadow but be part of the team in the OR (some surgery related to the brain)...
I think its a good idea. because if I was ever a surgeon, I would let an eagar premed shadow me during surgeries 😎
seriously give it a try! tell us how it goes.
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Apparently the hospital I'm volunteering at has a program that allows high school students to shadow and help out in the OR. Would've been nice to know about that a couple years ago....
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I just started my shadowing today and I got it by randomly emailing different physicians. I went to my local hospitals website and looked through the different specialties that I was interested in and gathered 12 email addresses. I emailed the doctors telling them who I was and I was interested in shadowing them but understood as physicians that they were busy and understood if it was not possible. Out of the 12 emails I sent I got 5 responsed; 1 doctor said he wish he could but was unable to because of a new position he took up. 4 other doctors were happy to have me shadow. 2 Pediatricians, 1 Orthopedic Surgeon, and 1 being the Chief of Cardiology.
Don't be afraid about blindly emailing them, as long as you are sincere with your email it should not be a problem at all in any way. I shadowed a pediatrician today who taught me a lot, she was very nice, sincere, and helpful; explaining about the cases and patients. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
Don't be afraid about blindly emailing them, as long as you are sincere with your email it should not be a problem at all in any way. I shadowed a pediatrician today who taught me a lot, she was very nice, sincere, and helpful; explaining about the cases and patients. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
I have a VA hospital near me, and I went into the Volunteer Services and told htem I was a Pre-Med student and was interested in shadowing a physician. She asked if I had a preference of the type of doctor and I told her I would be happy with anything. Within a couple weeks I got a call back and as luck would have it, the Chief of Surgery was willing to have a student shadow him.
The second shadowing opportunity I had was at an orthopedic clinic. My mother had to go in becauseof some neck problems. She asked her doctor if I could call him and discuss shadowing. He was happy to have me there and to talk with me.
So I would suggest trying to ask the local hospital's volunteer coordinator, a phisician that your family or friends use (could be family practice or specialty) or even your own doctor.
🙂
Hope this helps.
-Ryan
The second shadowing opportunity I had was at an orthopedic clinic. My mother had to go in becauseof some neck problems. She asked her doctor if I could call him and discuss shadowing. He was happy to have me there and to talk with me.
So I would suggest trying to ask the local hospital's volunteer coordinator, a phisician that your family or friends use (could be family practice or specialty) or even your own doctor.
🙂
Hope this helps.
-Ryan
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well, i'm on winter break from school for a whole 5 weeks... I wanted to be productive (and thankfully found this forum🙂 ) but oh goodness, I called a few doctors in the area (Miami) and got their secretaries, most of whom acted like they didn't know what shadowing was, or thought I was some crazy girl who wants to come in and mess things up. Needless to say... no answers.
So I stopped calling...🙁 I tried explaining that I don't go to school in the area. I'm at Wellesley C. and one secretary said "wellesley? wheres THAT?"😱 🙁
siiigh. I think I'll just wait till I return to my college town? Or maybe since I have a couple more weeks left before I head back I should keep trying?
So I stopped calling...🙁 I tried explaining that I don't go to school in the area. I'm at Wellesley C. and one secretary said "wellesley? wheres THAT?"😱 🙁
siiigh. I think I'll just wait till I return to my college town? Or maybe since I have a couple more weeks left before I head back I should keep trying?
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I know someone already mentioned something like this but some probably mostly teaching hospitals have a shadowing program which is how I've went about shadowing. But if not and you don't want to email the physicians themselves, call the human resources department. They could probably match your interests and find a doctor who would let you shadow. They are used to teaching students, most are happy to have someone interested if they have time.
I work at the hospital I'm trying to find docs for, so I can just look them up. 😀 But check to see if there's a faculty directory on the website. What hospitals are you looking at?
S
Smokey
I just emailed a few physicians and asked if they would allow me to shadow for a few days. I emailed the staff physicians that are associated with the school I attend. Most were very willing. Maybe add a CV just to show a little more interest and commitment. They don't have to look at it, but at least you tried.
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A lot of teaching hospitals have programs already set up for shadowing. Sometimes you have to put in some volunteer hours in before they let you shadow, but its usually not that much. If you haven't already done so, check with the volunteer services department in your hospital and see if any such program exists there. Good luck!
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There's an academic hospital close to me, and as I was reading the main page of their website, I saw an interesting article about a new surgical technique. I called up the department that the doctor who performed the surgery worked under, and asked if he would be willing to let me shadow. The secretary said he was fine with it, and gave me the surgeon's email. We emailed back and forth, and we arranged a time for me to observe.
Randomly emailing is fine, just let them know who you are and why you're interested. If the doctors' email addresses aren't available online, call up their department and ask.
Randomly emailing is fine, just let them know who you are and why you're interested. If the doctors' email addresses aren't available online, call up their department and ask.
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I go to doctors offices and ask the office manger/ doctor if I could shadow them..... I might go to 15 and only get 1 or 2 to agree... glad I live in an area that is overpopulated with doctors and hospitals ( There are 5+ hospitals within 15 mins from my house)
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Call the hospital and ask if they have a volunteering/shadowing liaison.
