Hours a week for shadowing?

[PsychStudent]

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I'm going to be shadowing a pediatric hospitalist once a week to see whether medicine is indeed good match for me. How many hours do you suggest? Like 2-3 once a week? This would be in addition to my PhD program and two premed classes.

Also, what should I expect when shadowing? I'm just going to be walking around and watching what the doc does in her daily routine, right?

Thanks so much!

 

[gipper]

i think that with everything else that you are doing, 2-3 hours is fine. when shadowing, you will observe but also try to understand what you are seeing - and if you don't, be sure to ask questions. get engaged in the process...you'll get a lot more out of it.

 

[Febrifuge]

2-3 hrs a week is fine, if you stick with it for 8 or 10 weeks minimum. It's best when the doc has time to decide you're smart, and furthermore you sort of "get it." Not that you have to know anything about medicine; you just need to be able to put stuff in context and understand why the important stuff is more important. If that happens, it's my experience that MDs love to teach, and explain.

Plus, a doc who gets to know you a little bit makes for a good letter-writer.