How to approach doctors

[Gmw1386]

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After some mild stalking, I found a large private practiced of IM physicians, which have two DOs. I found these people by using a local hospitals physcian database and searching for the area i'm interested in.

Well now that I've found them I'm not sure how to ask them if I can shadow them, and maybe even get an office job.

The two DO's have there own lines, no e-mail, no web site.

I'm thinking I sould either just call one of their numbers, send a letter to each of them, or just walk into the office and ask.

I'm leaning to the calling them, but I feel really sketchy looking these people up and them having this random guy asking them if he can follow them around. One of their profiles said they've been practicing since 2000, so I guess he's relatively young, assuming he's a traditional student.

Any advice?

 

[dr.z]

Go visit their office.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

If you want them to say yes..i would go visit their office IMO its harder to say no to a person..than it is to a letter/phone call, etc

 

[Gmw1386]

If you want them to say yes..i would go visit their office IMO its harder to say no to a person..than it is to a letter/phone call, etc

Oh I've had plenty of people say no to me in person (leave your resume and we'll call you), but I will take your adivce. I'll go with resume and LoR in hand.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

The best way to approach a doc is quietly, cautiously and from upwind.

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

The best way to approach a doc is quietly, cautiously and from upwind.

Thats the best way. 😛

 

[HunterGatherer]

just try to shadow and get that letter. Go in person for the above reasons. Doing office work is not the best way to spend your time learning about the profession.

Thats the best way. 😛

 

[MikeyLu2010]

i didnt say going up to the docs would be full proof..i just said it was a little harder for them to say no to you in person 😉

 

[DO Sigma Nu guy]

I would call the office (if you can get the number) and ask to speak with the Physician personally. Thats what I did to a couple. Then try to set up an informal meeting to discuss your aspirations. (One of the docs I shadowed took me to Chic-fil-a and paid...Oooo 5 dollars..but he did have a sweet convertible 350Z) Then hopefully the doc will give you some times that you can shadow him.

 

[Twitch]

I'd just cold call them. There are certain hoops you need to jump through before you actually get the doctor on the phone. Once there, tell them what you want, and if they agree to the shadowing, they'll let you know.

Once you get to the doc, usually they never say no, provided you don't make a complete fool of yourself. The tough part is getting a hold of them. Here is where you have an opportunity to be creative.

You can do it! Just be sincere and tenacious.

 

[Gmw1386]

Damn that's what I've been doing wrong. downwind.... I forgot about their hightened sense of smell. amazing beasts, really.

and yeah i wasn't plannng on trying to get "experience" from working in the office. It mwould just be nice if I could shadow and have a summer job in the same place.

 

[KMG365]

Just a thought...

I think in most cases asking in person is the way to go, but it seems to me that this is a situation where you wouldn't be best served be just walking into the office.

The chances you'd be able to walk in and have the doc (1.) be there, (2.)have time to see you, and (3.) not be annoyed by being interrupted in the middle of his/her day are not high. Call, offer to stop by, and let them know in advance why.

 

[stoic]

you need to talk to them directly, be it by phone or in person. absolutely do not send a letter or email. and the absolutely worst thing you could do is leave a message with a nurse.

the best way is to ask if you can setup a lunch to talk about their practice and thoughts about medicine in general. have a good reason why you're picking this doc over the 1,000 others you could choose from. and once you get talking to them, just be enthusiastic and interested. and honestly, that shouldn't be a problem unless you're totally trying to play them for a letter. from there just see what happens; they'll probably ask if you want to come in for awhile and shadow them.

i know that sounds intimidating and scary, but you'd better get used to putting yourself on the line like that b/c that's a big part of being successful in any field.

what i've out-lined above, that's what i did 4 years ago when i was in my early undergrad years. now i'm in med school and i STILL shadow the doc i setup the lunch with. not only that, but if you can get a doc on your side, they can help you open doors that might not have been an option to you before. through my guy i got to shadow lots of different docs because he set it up for me. not to sound cheesy or anything, but the guy is sort of my physician mentor. he's taught me a lot about medicine; kind of the between the lines open secret kind of stuff that they don't flat out tell you. it's been an invaluable relationship.

so yea. do something like that. lol.

 

[Gmw1386]

you need to talk to them directly, be it by phone or in person. absolutely do not send a letter or email. and the absolutely worst thing you could do is leave a message with a nurse.

the best way is to ask if you can setup a lunch to talk about their practice and thoughts about medicine in general. have a good reason why you're picking this doc over the 1,000 others you could choose from. and once you get talking to them, just be enthusiastic and interested. and honestly, that shouldn't be a problem unless you're totally trying to play them for a letter. from there just see what happens; they'll probably ask if you want to come in for awhile and shadow them.

i know that sounds intimidating and scary, but you'd better get used to putting yourself on the line like that b/c that's a big part of being successful in any field.

what i've out-lined above, that's what i did 4 years ago when i was in my early undergrad years. now i'm in med school and i STILL shadow the doc i setup the lunch with. not only that, but if you can get a doc on your side, they can help you open doors that might not have been an option to you before. through my guy i got to shadow lots of different docs because he set it up for me. not to sound cheesy or anything, but the guy is sort of my physician mentor. he's taught me a lot about medicine; kind of the between the lines open secret kind of stuff that they don't flat out tell you. it's been an invaluable relationship.

so yea. do something like that. lol.

I think I have his direct line in the office, so I'm going to call that, maybe leave a message, hopefully get him. But yeah I've learned not to leave messages with anyone.

really appreciate the advice