Hard to find PCP shadow...

[panbimbo]

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I really would like to shadow a Primary Care physician. I have already shadowed a CT surgeon in a very specialized field and am definitely leaning surgery right now, but obviously that means nothing when I haven't seen what Family physicians do...

Anyways, I emailed by own doctor a few weeks back who told me he would look for someone to let me shadow and would get back to me. He said he would look for someone that week and get back to me. It's been over a week and a half and... nothing. I'm not surprised, as most doctors don't reply to emails or eventually drop out of the email chain.

Should I follow up now? Or wait till he finds someone and assume he is still looking? I feel bad reminding him about it to be honest. Premeds are such burdens for shadowing

 

[oregonian19]

I’m not a expert by any means, but this is what I would do:

Wait until two-three weeks after you talked to him, then reach out and ask how the search is going.

However, I suggest you look yourself. I have had the most success cold calling family medicine private practices. Additionally, in my experience, DOs are more willing to have you shadow than MDs.

Shadowing is like applying for medical school, the more people you ask, the more likely you will get a yes. Keep it up, you’ll eventually find someone!

 

[allantois]

You don’t need to shadow a PCP

 

[Catalystik]

I really would like to shadow a Primary Care physician. I have already shadowed a CT surgeon in a very specialized field and am definitely leaning surgery right now, but obviously that means nothing when I haven't seen what Family physicians do...

Anyways, I emailed by own doctor a few weeks back who told me he would look for someone to let me shadow and would get back to me. He said he would look for someone that week and get back to me. It's been over a week and a half and... nothing. I'm not surprised, as most doctors don't reply to emails or eventually drop out of the email chain.

Should I follow up now? Or wait till he finds someone and assume he is still looking? I feel bad reminding him about it to be honest. Premeds are such burdens for shadowing

Be patient. Assume he's still looking. This is not an emergency.

 

[panbimbo]

Be patient. Assume he's still looking. This is not an emergency.

Thanks. I appreciate the professional advice!

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

 

[panbimbo]

You don’t need to shadow a PCP

False. My committee letter requires an MD letter. It could theoretically be a surgeon, but they will have even less to say from the little a PCP could say about me. I just see it as a bureaucratic barrier for entry to weed out everyone but the most motivated to succeed.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You don’t need to shadow a PCP

False. My committee letter requires an MD letter. It could theoretically be a surgeon, but they will have even less to say from the little a PCP could say about me. I just see it as a bureaucratic barrier for entry to weed out everyone but the most motivated to succeed.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

I've had more than one adcom strongly recommend shadowing a PCP despite me having 10,000 hours of clinical experience including primary care and a lot of shadowing of surgeons.

 

[676188]

Does your school have a shadowing program?

Is there a teaching hospital in your area?

Are there free clinics in your area?

 

[allantois]

False. My committee letter requires an MD letter. It could theoretically be a surgeon, but they will have even less to say from the little a PCP could say about me. I just see it as a bureaucratic barrier for entry to weed out everyone but the most motivated to succeed.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using SDN mobile

How would PCP letter be different from surgeon’s or anyone for that matter? 😵

 

[candbgirl]

How would PCP letter be different from surgeon’s or anyone for that matter? 😵

It’s not the letter-it’s the experience . Most med schools don’t even require a letter from a doctor. Shadowing helps you understand what you are getting into. It provides an opportunity to see how the doctor interacts with the patients in day to day and critical situations. You can see how the patient responds to what the doctor says. While you might get some of that shadowing a surgeon, by and large the patients are unconscious.

 

[allantois]

It’s not the letter-it’s the experience . Most med schools don’t even require a letter from a doctor. Shadowing helps you understand what you are getting into. It provides an opportunity to see how the doctor interacts with the patients in day to day and critical situations. You can see how the patient responds to what the doctor says. While you might get some of that shadowing a surgeon, by and large the patients are unconscious.

I'm all for shadowing a PCP for the sake of shadowing, but I don't see how the way a PCP interacts with a patient is different from a neurologist, or endocrinologist, etc. Most surgeons have clinic days as well. The OP is the one who stated that he needs a PCP letter.

 

[candbgirl]

The OP and many, if not all, of the ADCOMS on SDN.

 

[allantois]

The OP and many, if not all, of the ADCOMS on SDN.

Mhm, MD schools don't care about physician letters. Some DO schools want a DO letter, regardless of the specialty.

If you can't find a PCP to shadow, no need to make it harder on yourself. But I digress

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Mhm, MD schools don't care about physician letters. Some DO schools want a DO letter, regardless of the specialty.

If you can't find a PCP to shadow, no need to make it harder on yourself. But I digress

Just for clarity, your advice goes against that of actual adcoms.

 

[candbgirl]

I said that most schools don’t want a letter from a doc. It’s the experience. It’s not only a PCP it’s a doc that sees the patient over a period of time. Longitudinal care as opposed to speciality care like a surgeon. I think OP could shadow a PCP, Internist, pediatrician, OB/GYN etc.. Doctors that see the same patient and knows the patient over a period of time are very different than say a surgeon.

 

[allantois]

Just for clarity, your advice goes against that of actual adcoms.

Which part of my advice and which adcoms?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Which part of my advice and which adcoms?

That you don’t need to shadow a PCP, and pretty much every adcom on this forum.

 

[panbimbo]

I said that most schools don’t want a letter from a doc. It’s the experience. It’s not only a PCP it’s a doc that sees the patient over a period of time. Longitudinal care as opposed to speciality care like a surgeon. I think OP could shadow a PCP, Internist, pediatrician, OB/GYN etc.. Doctors that see the same patient and knows the patient over a period of time are very different than say a surgeon.

It's not my choice. I need a committee letter. Committee letter needs an MD letter. Put two and two together. I need an MD letter.

 

[Arturiase]

I agree with the poster above, just try cold calling or emailing pediatricians, family medicine, internal medicine physicians in your area. There should be plenty and eventually one will be willing.

 

[ciestar]

A majority of graduates end up in primary care. Seeing what they do and being okay with the potential of landing there is pretty crucial in my opinion.

 

[leonardoson]

I have only shadowed my PCP and it was a cool experience. Wasn't mind blowing with interesting medicine but it was interesting to see the that the way he handled the interactions with patients was through a team effort where he took into account the patient's wants and didn't slough them off due to him being the "all-knowing" doctor. I recommend shadowing a pcp and following up with your doc in another week

 

[panbimbo]

Be patient. Assume he's still looking. This is not an emergency.

He replied! Got me set up with a PCP. Patience is a virtue. Two and half weeks later

 

[Catalystik]

He replied! Got me set up with a PCP. Patience is a virtue. Two and half weeks later

Congrats! One less stress to deal with.