Failing at shadowing

[Dr Poring]

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*SIGH*

I've been trying to shadow doctors for a while. All of them (like 8 or 9 docs) said "I will contact you" but they never did. I wonder why they don't want me to shadow? One doctor said "yes" then later he changed his mind because "he is way too busy". I'm getting so tired of asking around.. 🙁 I really don't want to give up as many med schools HIGHLY recommend physician shadowing. I have +150 hours of hospital volunteering though.. Any suggestions? I'm from northwest suburb of chicago IL. Thank you.

 

[rhesuspieces]

*SIGH*

I've been trying to shadow doctors for a while. All of them (like 8 or 9 docs) said "I will contact you" but they never did. I wonder why they don't want me to shadow? One doctor said "yes" then later he changed his mind because "he is way too busy". I'm getting so tired of asking around.. 🙁 I really don't want to give up as many med schools HIGHLY recommend physician shadowing. I have +150 hours of hospital volunteering though.. Any suggestions? I'm from northwest suburb of chicago IL. Thank you.

There's your problem. You need to be more proactive. If they don't contact you within a week of you asking to shadow, call them/e-mail them/talk to their secretaries/etc. Give them a list of dates that work for you to shadow, and let them choose one.

 

[Astarael]

There's your problem. You need to be more proactive. If they don't contact you within a week of you asking to shadow, call them/e-mail them/talk to their secretaries/etc. Give them a list of dates that work for you to shadow, and let them choose one.

I absolutely agree with this 👍 I would even go so far as to say that if you can find out who their secretaries are, you should be setting up your shadowing experience with them, and not with the doctor (as long as you have permission already). Scheduling is what they are there for, after all.

 

[Maxwell7301]

*SIGH*

I've been trying to shadow doctors for a while. All of them (like 8 or 9 docs) said "I will contact you" but they never did. I wonder why they don't want me to shadow? One doctor said "yes" then later he changed his mind because "he is way too busy". I'm getting so tired of asking around.. 🙁 I really don't want to give up as many med schools HIGHLY recommend physician shadowing. I have +150 hours of hospital volunteering though.. Any suggestions? I'm from northwest suburb of chicago IL. Thank you.

No one you know in the hospital could help you out with that? Check with the hospital volunteer office, ask any docs you know in person, try anything, you have nothing to lose!

Most of my doctor shadowing was in a neurology clinic associated with my research. So you could always do research and become friendly with doctors that way. 🙂

Good luck, whenever you apply!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

another note, doctors from academic hospitals might be more inclined to allow you to shadow, just because they're so used to having people hanging around. in any case, docs are busy people OP, don't take it personally, and i'm sure it'll work itself out

 

[Dr Poring]

Of course I called the doctor's office. The problem was that I was not able to talk to a doctor as a secretary always handled this matter. She told me the doc will contact me and he/she never did. I do not know how much I am supposed to bother the secretary as they tell me the docs are busy. When I was volunteering, I only got to see patients when docs are not around so I do not know any doctors. The volunteer office people tell me that I need to choose a doctor to shadow myself. I understand that I need to be more proactive (I even visited potential doctors but I cannot do this all the time), but right now I do not have a good health insurance and I can't just make an appointment to see a doc. No one had a problem like I did? I just get ignored when I try to contact them via phone/email. 🙁

 

[Minaku]

Of course I called the doctor's office. The problem was that I was not able to talk to a doctor as a secretary always handled this matter. She told me the doc will contact me and he/she never did. I do not know how much I am supposed to bother the secretary as they tell me the docs are busy. When I was volunteering, I only got to see patients when docs are not around so I do not know any doctors. The volunteer office people tell me that I need to choose a doctor to shadow myself.

many docs are busy, so don't worry about speaking to a secretary instead of directly with the doc if that's the only way. but don't wait forever for someone to 'contact you' either, because it chances are it will not happen. if a secretary promised the doc would get back to you and the doc has not gotten back to you, you can try calling the secretary back to let her know this and asking if she can help you, or what she would suggest you do. you're at your wits' end; don't be too shy to ask anything. ask if she has access to the doc's schedule or if she can speak with the doc about your interest. heck, ask if you can arrange shadowing right there, directly with the secretary. if anyone says no, at least that's a certain cross-off on your list and you're not standing around in limbo being frustrated. move on to the next one.

I understand that I need to be more proactive (I even visited potential doctors but I cannot do this all the time), but right now I do not have a good health insurance and I can't just make an appointment to see a doc. No one had a problem like I did? I just get ignored when I try to contact them via phone/email. 🙁

I don't see why going to doctors' appointments is a prerequisite for shadowing? 'being proactive' is not expending money for needless appointments in an attempt to make contacts in the medical field. KEEP CONTACTING PEOPLE. it's easy to feel discouraged, but don't give up. one kid I know spent two straight weeks talking into answering machines before he landed something. get on the phone and stay on the phone. plus, emails are easy to ignore. like bleargh suggested, look closer into the teaching hospitals. they will be more open to shadowing. you're just outside chicago so you have a lot of opportunities. good luck!

 

[Kaustikos]

another note, doctors from academic hospitals might be more inclined to allow you to shadow, just because they're so used to having people hanging around. in any case, docs are busy people OP, don't take it personally, and i'm sure it'll work itself out

Not always... here it's not allowed at all by the hospital itself. But I agree with the prevailing idea - be proactive/annoying because that's what works.

 

[Astarael]

You shouldn't be scheduling actual office visits to see if you can shadow a doctor-that's a waste of their time and your money. Shadowing can be a difficult thing to set up. Doctors are busy people, and you have to find one who is ok with you being there despite HIPPA. There are only three things you can do:

1) Redefine what you consider a success. You might have to go through a very large number of doctors before you find one to follow. As long as you eventually find one, you've succeeded.

2) Keep in contact with the doctors who have already told you 'yes.' They are probably willing to have you shadow them and are just too busy at the moment. Persistence could definitely pay off.

3) Start contacting doctors or their secretaries that are associated with academic programs (residencies or doctors in a teaching hospital). They'll be more likely to let you shadow than a community doctor.

As far as how much you can bother a secretary, I think a polite call once every two weeks would be reasonable. Maybe other people can weigh in on that though.

For reference, it took me 6 months to set up my shadowing experience. As long as you are persistent, you'll get there eventually.

 

[mtbtx]

There's many more challenging things about getting into med school than finding a doc to shadow. If you're inclined to give up so easily (after 8 or 9 docs?) then... Burnett's law

 

[Syqers]

Try a local community hospital instead of major Level 1 trauma centers. I've never found reliable doctors to shadow at a Level 1 trauma center, but when I went to a Level 2, I found several that were willing and, more importantly, had the time to do so.

 

[Disinence2]

they probably just forgot! You have to follow up with them

 

[untouchable]

*SIGH*

I've been trying to shadow doctors for a while. All of them (like 8 or 9 docs) said "I will contact you" but they never did. I wonder why they don't want me to shadow? One doctor said "yes" then later he changed his mind because "he is way too busy". I'm getting so tired of asking around.. 🙁 I really don't want to give up as many med schools HIGHLY recommend physician shadowing. I have +150 hours of hospital volunteering though.. Any suggestions? I'm from northwest suburb of chicago IL. Thank you.

keep emailing them. I had to do that. You will eventually stumble across someone who is nice.

Most doctors suck, so we will have to change that.

when your a doctor, remember to let people shadow

 

[Dr Poring]

Thank you everyone for the comments. In fact I haven't given up yet (obviously). I was just really frustrated. Probably I will make polite calls to doctors even if secretaries yell at me on the phone (that happened to me a couple or more...lol). I guess I really needed both the carrot and the whip. It will be a challenge for me as I have no connections with any doctors. I will try again this month to see miracles. 🙂

 

[untouchable]

Thank you everyone for the comments. In fact I haven't given up yet (obviously). I was just really frustrated. Probably I will make polite calls to doctors even if secretaries yell at me on the phone (that happened to me a couple or more...lol). I guess I really needed both the carrot and the whip. It will be a challenge for me as I have no connections with any doctors. I will try again this month to see miracles. 🙂

here is some advice.

i don't know if it will work for you since my undergrad had a major hospital as part of the university, anyways what you should do is go to the hospital website, and look around for directories. Fortunately for me, there was a physician directory with emails. I emailed like crazy. Guess who replied??the chief of surgeries and other departments.

This also shows you the qualities needed to become CHIEF.

Learn from this, and don't become like those stuck up SOOB doctors who dont care about patients at all, but about the size of their pocket.

 

[sc4s2cg]

I called all major hospitals in my area, and so far I've been denied at all of them. On the other hand, my sports medicine doctor agreed to let me shadow him, my primary doctor at the uni new of a guy I can shadow in primary care, and my dad found a foot doctor I can shadow. They are all primary clinics. The foot doctor, as I found out 2 hours ago from a discussion I had with him (the secretary set up a time where him and I could talk), has a pediatric wife and is well connected with pediatric physicians. Furthermore, he works at one of the major hospitals I called and told me that "it is up to you" as to how many hours I would like to shadow him.

It's all about connections. Ask your parents, friends, primary doctors, PTs, nursing student friends, and so on to see if they could get you the number of a doctor. Takes time though. After 2 months of searching, one week something tumbled and I was able to make appointments with three different doctors. I assume once I shadowed doctors, and hopefully we clicked, they can direct me amongst their medicinal circles.

Also, start making an excel sheet (or use an app on your iPod, like DailyTracker or 2Do) to track who you called, what they said, if you left a message, if they called back, and so on. I had to call one lady twice because she kept forgetting about me. I'm about to call a third time. At another major hospital, while I was rejected for shadowing, she sent me a booklet with physicians' numbers and specialties. That's actually how I found the first of my three docs. So maybe you can ask for contact info of contracted doctors.

If all else fails, explain your very high interest in whatever specialty you are calling about, how you are a medical student and being a doctor is you passion, and that you fully understand HIPAA limitations (if you don't, look it up here or here!)

It really is about perseverance, perseverance, perseverance. 🙂

Good luck!

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I agree about being proactive. 8-9 is too little. heck I send out letters to 15 doctors 😛 nothing hard. I just copied and paste the letter and send out to all of them. and luckly I had 3 offers.

oh, and I did everything through his sec. I just got the ok from him and got in contact with the coordinator, sec, and HR. before I knew it I was in.

you'll be fine

 

[StarryNights]

Can you start with your family physician? Mine let me shadow her 5 hours/week for as long as I needed, then pawned me off on her doctor friends/colleagues in different specialties. It was super helpful.

Or try your church or ask your premed friends which doctors let them shadow, etc.

 

[untouchable]

just keep it simple,

its called having thick skin, and learning how to kiss ass!

 

[nadaba]

keep emailing them. I had to do that. You will eventually stumble across someone who is nice.

Most doctors suck, so we will have to change that.

4/10 docs that I e-mailed let me shadow, which doesn't seem like bad odds. A couple I never heard from, and a couple politely declined.

The trick is to find pictures of them online and only e-mail the ones that look nice 😛

Once you get that "yes," follow through. They are busy, so you need to be proactive.

 

[untouchable]

4/10 docs that I e-mailed let me shadow, which doesn't seem like bad odds. A couple I never heard from, and a couple politely declined.

The trick is to find pictures of them online and only e-mail the ones that look nice 😛

Once you get that "yes," follow through. They are busy, so you need to be proactive.

most of them are not really as busy as they make it out to be. Those are the nutcases you stay away from. I also looked for people that appeared to be nice from their facial expressions, and those were the ones that replied. Who says you should not judge people by their looks? 🙂

 

[HawaiiDoc]

OP, I like your avatar! Ragnarok ftw

 

[fizzgig]

keep trying OP. do you have any connection to anyone who knows a doc - if so, having had your name mentioned to them by someone may help, since they will remember you a bit and feel that you're less likely to be an idiot too 🙂 i found one shadow by meeting a doc at a student run clinic, found a second through him, a third by having my friend's dad (a retired doc) ask a friend for me, and a fourth i found by cold calling. my cold call was researched a bit though. i dropped off a letter by hand so that maybe someone would remember my face/interaction with me, and the person who did respond to this method was listed on the interwebz as having received a mentoring award at one point (meaning she was probably interested in helping others along).

so yes, find and use connections, and keep asking regardless. as others have said i wouldn't take it personally if people don't get back to you. hey might be a little uncomfortable with the idea/trouble of shadows or they might just forget (if you're emailing definitely be succinct 🙂 i get the impression from some of the docs we work around that they read our emails on their phones while walking from the elevator to the bathroom... if they can't reach the end during that walk, it doesn't get read).. good luck! it's definitely worth continuing to pursue.

 

[CaptainSSO]

Failing at shadowing

hahaha

 

[UbuntuGM]

shadowing aint that important. Me and 3 other peeps I know have had a successful app cycle with minimal to 0 shadowing experience. Just make the most of what you got going for you if this shadowing thing doesn't pan out.

 

[Savage Henry]

I work in an ED and at a little urgent care.

Shadowing isn't allowed by hospital policy at the ED unless the student goes through the volunteer registration process.

Now, the urgent care, on the other hand....

Dude, you've got to give some value before you get some. We get people in there all the time asking to shadow, volunteer, etc.

You know who actually gets in? The people who bring the front desk gals Starbucks/chocolate. It's easy to blow off people who are asking something for nothing. Get the office manager and the insurance gal a couple of venti caramel frappacinos and they will bully the doc into taking you on, whether the doc wants to or not. No good doc wants to catch crap from the office manager, and (at least where I work) those women are effing relentless.

Hell, if the student is smart enough to bring us back office people coffee, I teach them to draw my blood/take BP/start an IV on me/shoot an x-ray/whatever they want to do.

It sounds mercenary as hell (and it is), but having a student underfoot can sometimes be a pain when we're really busy. It's a lot more pleasant when we're adequately caffeinated.