How to contact doctor's for shadowing...?

[guitarguy23]

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What's the best way to get in touch with doctors I know in order to shadow them? There are a few that my family and I know well, but haven't kept in touch with.

Is it more appropriate to call them at their home, to call them at their offices or to e-mail them?

Also how long should you shadow a doctor in order for it to be considered meaningful/warranting a LOR? Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

If the docs are personal friends of your parents, you might ask them to call and inquire for you. If they are past physicians of you or family members, it would be more appropriate to call the office and leave a message with the clerk (reminding them of the relationship), or to write them a note asking, or email them at the office if you have the contact information.

You can also ask docs you meet while doing clinical activities.

A physican LOR is rarely required for the allopathic admissions process. I usually suggest you try to shadow 2-3 docs for 8-40 hours each, depending on your interest and their tolerance of your presence. Some are fine with just a few days of shadowing and other shadow for hundreds of hours. Do what seems right for you to grasp what a physician does all day; you aren't there to learn medicine or see cool stuff (though it's a nice benefit).

 

[txprodigal]

Use your family's connections, and if that fails, whip out the phone book and start cold calling.

 

[BlueElmo]

I went to the hospital's website, and they have phone or fax numbers there, I just started going down the list.

 

[guitarguy23]

Thank you guys for your help, this info is very useful!

 

[Catalystik]

We're happy to help.

 

[LizzyM]

Another approach, rather than cold calling, is asking for help from your pre-med advisory office and/or undergrad alumni office. They may be able to help you identify grads of your undergrad school who are now practicing medicine in your community. These docs are often happy to "give back" to their undergrad school (without having to open their wallets). Plus, you have an automatic "old boy" connection being from the same undergrad.

 

[sgtbrushes]

how long should you shadow a doctor in order for it to be considered meaningful/warranting a LOR?

Enough that you can talk about what you saw in a genuinely interested fashion, proving to the ADCOM that you want to do what a doctor does on a daily basis.

 

[Sillyshoes]

Just know that some doctors are going to refuse because of their hectic schedules.

I called and email the doctors I shadowed. I had the most success with email for some reason.
Every time I tried to call, I always had to leave a message with the receptionist, and most of the time, I never heard back.

 

[NightOwlPM]

Always try to talk directly to the doctor if you can, hence why email is better. Email is also better because it lets them reply to you at a good time for them.

Do not trust the receptionist.

 

[FloatOn]

Learn the art of emailing. Doctors, at least hospital ones, are really busy and they're always speed walking from one place to another, so a quick reply email to you is more convenient for them.

 

[muhali3]

Also how long should you shadow a doctor in order for it to be considered meaningful/warranting a LOR? Thanks!

As LizzyM has said before, a LOR from a doctor you've shadowed is worthless.

 

[guitarguy23]

As LizzyM has said before, a LOR from a doctor you've shadowed is worthless.

I've heard it argued both ways, so now I'm not sure what to think. My general impression was that if you developed a good relationship with the doctor and shadowed for a fair amount of time they could write you a good LOR.

Is this the wrong idea? Should I only focus on an MD LOR from my volunteer work?

 

[guitarguy23]

Ok that makes sense. It's good to know these things before I wonder off and make a fool of myself 🙂

 

[GlamDoc]

I have a quick question relating to this too:

During a previous appt, I had asked my doc if I could shadow her, and she had agreed. Well school and other obligations got in the way so I didn't have a chance to shadow her for a while... however my semester will be done very soon, and I figure that in a few days it will be the perfect time to shadow.

She had told me to set things up with her nurse. I left a message, and called SEVERAL times, but no call back and no answer. What should my next step be? Should I just show up at her office so I could talk to them upfront?

 

[twilight461]

What would a Doc's LOR say from shadowing?

...That Jimmy dresses nice and is punctual?
...That Jimmy doesn't speak unless he raises his hand first?
...Jimmy shows an interest in medicine?


"So what?" to all of those.

Yeah, it's really only valuable if you've actually shadowed someone for a signifcant amount of time. I shadowed a ton of other physicians but didn't bother asking any of them for a rec because they prob would've only been able to write those types of examples given above. However, I shadowed a surgeon for a month, and he wrote a really great LOR for me. There's a ton of significant things the doctor could say if you're someone worth saying anything about.

 

[twilight461]

Also, it's really nice to see all of you looking for ways to contact doctors to shadow them, even w/o having any personal connections. I've been lucky and have used my own contacts, but I have a friend who is always complaining that it's unfair that she doesn't personally know any doctors and can't shadow anyone. You all are the type of applicants who will actually get in and deserve to get in because you're proactive and actually work hard to make your goals happen instead of sitting there and complaining. Good luck!

 

[tmlayl]

I shadowed for the second time today (it was the same doctor), and he seemed confused as to why I was shadowing during undergrad. He said he didn't have to complete any EC's prior to matriculation.


My advice to the OP is to call around until you find a doctors office who states that they have had students shadow in the past. I have to admit, I feel less than welcome shadowing my current physician.

 

[DoctorDude]

Yeah, it's really only valuable if you've actually shadowed someone for a signifcant amount of time. I shadowed a ton of other physicians but didn't bother asking any of them for a rec because they prob would've only been able to write those types of examples given above. However, I shadowed a surgeon for a month, and he wrote a really great LOR for me. There's a ton of significant things the doctor could say if you're someone worth saying anything about.

This is more like a general question about LOR's, but it relates to what you wrote. When you say he wrote you a great LOR, how do you know? I was under the impression that you are not allowed to read the LOR (waive your rights, something like that), or is that only for certain schools? Or are you just assuming that he wrote a good LOR because he told you he did or you think he did?

My school's advisor told me that it is best to waive your rights to read the LORs that are written for you because it makes it look more authentic (or something like that).

 

[roseglass6370]

I've had a bit of difficulty with this too. The one doctor I've asked so far pretty much shot down the idea of me shadowing him and instead suggested we "meet-up and talk." 😕 I met with him and gained some helpful information but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to gain from shadowing.

Would shadowing a current family physician be acceptable?

 

[runawayclock]

I've had a bit of difficulty with this too. The one doctor I've asked so far pretty much shot down the idea of me shadowing him and instead suggested we "meet-up and talk." 😕 I met with him and gained some helpful information but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to gain from shadowing.

Would shadowing a current family physician be acceptable?

Same here. I either get no response or some run around answer about confidentiality, time, etc, but that they would answer questions about being a doctor. :-/

 

[LizzyM]

Same here. I either get no response or some run around answer about confidentiality, time, etc, but that they would answer questions about being a doctor. :-/

Some docs might want to meet you one-on-one before committing to anything else. Go armed with your transcript/grade report and a resume including a list of employment and volunteer activities. Dress professionally (shirt & tie for gentlemen, conservative blouse and jacket or sweater for ladies). If you have had HIPAA training as a hospital employee or volunteer, be sure to note that (with the date) on the resume as that may be very reassuring. Listen to what the doc has to say. If it seems to be going well, explain what you have in mind: standing off to the side during office visits/procedures with the patient's permission. Tell the doctor how you will treat the information you obtain as a shadow and note that you will clear with the physician anything you might write about the experience in your application essays.

 

[DocMcCoy]

I was extremely nervous about contacting doctors to shadow. If you are an undergraduate student, some pre-medical groups have information for doctors that are willing to allow students to shadow them. I honestly used a phonebook and just started contacting the offices of specialties I was interested in. The secretaries/nurses/doctors were surprisingly receptive.

As far as the usefulness of an LOR, I applied to DO and MD schools. Many DO schools require a letter of rec from a physician. As far as any weight it has for MD schools it might not have as much of an impact. But a good LOR is a good LOR and if you can get one from a physician I say go for it.

 

[nickmx50]

I've visited many MD school website's so it's hard to remember exactly were I saw it this is. However, I did read at one school that a LOR from a physician in addition to 3 academic letters or a premed committee letter would be considered useful. It seems these subtle hints sometimes have some weight.