How to end shadowing inquiry?

[dreamingaboutmedicine]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all!
I emailed a couple of hospitals in the state that I am from and received two great opportunities to shadow. However, after talking with my parents (I go to school out of state and the opportunities would be during the Spring break) the places are too far away (3+ hours) for half a day of shadowing. However, I've already gone back and forth with the secretary of the places twice, and feel bad emailing her saying I'm "not interested" anymore. I really am, just cannot attend due to travel distance.
How would I word this in an email? I feel bad for wasting their time.

 

[JDogtor]

Hi all!
I emailed a couple of hospitals in the state that I am from and received two great opportunities to shadow. However, after talking with my parents (I go to school out of state and the opportunities would be during the Spring break) the places are too far away (3+ hours) for half a day of shadowing. However, I've already gone back and forth with the secretary of the places twice, and feel bad emailing her saying I'm "not interested" anymore. I really am, just cannot attend due to travel distance.
How would I word this in an email? I feel bad for wasting their time.

Just tell them the truth. Something along of the lines of "I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I can not go through with this shadowing opportunity because the travel from my residence is over 3+ hours away. Thank you for providing me this opportunity....". Life happens and we change our decisions every day. They will understand and there is no reason for them to be upset over this.

 

[Mr. Babe]

First off, don't worry so much. It might inconvenience them, but that kind of thing happens all the time. Tell them what's going on, but don't over apologize,....it looks stupid.

 

[Goro]

Hi all!
I emailed a couple of hospitals in the state that I am from and received two great opportunities to shadow. However, after talking with my parents (I go to school out of state and the opportunities would be during the Spring break) the places are too far away (3+ hours) for half a day of shadowing. However, I've already gone back and forth with the secretary of the places twice, and feel bad emailing her saying I'm "not interested" anymore. I really am, just cannot attend due to travel distance.
How would I word this in an email? I feel bad for wasting their time.

Ahhh, parents....doing thier best out of love and ignorance to destroy your career in Medicine.

Do your parents have issues with you being far away for a day?

 

[Robin-jay]

Elaborate.

Plus, you should be able to find a place closer than 3 hours regardless of where you live. On top of that, you should be shadowing more than half a day, as you need LORs from these physicians.

 

[Mr. Babe]

You have to be an annoying pre-med student. It's so true that it's not hard to find physicians to shadow. Make some calls and ask around.

 

[Robin-jay]

yes, I don't know why people complain that it's hard to find physicians to shadow. I live in very rural area and I didn' have a problem at all. Every hospital has dozens of doctors and almost every website I have seen has a section for students and shadowing opportunities.

Agree for MD shadowing, but DOs can be hard to find. I was fortuante enough to find a DO within a week to shadow. Had that DO not allowed me to shadow, who knows how long it would have taken me to find a DO.

 

[Mr. Babe]

Agree for MD shadowing, but DOs can be hard to find. I was fortuante enough to find a DO within a week to shadow. Had that DO not allowed me to shadow, who knows how long it would have taken me to find a DO.

I shadowed multiple DO's. Just need to start early with your search, but it's not that bad.

 

[dreamingaboutmedicine]

I've shadowed multiple D.O's as well. It is not hard to find shadowing, however this certain shadowing would be a three hour for commute for a week, when the shadowing is only for 5 hours.

 

[lucasrinconr]

Hello fellas, first post here!

I am trying to write some email to throw at some doctors for shadowing purposes.

Some of my family members gave me their email address but these doctors dont know me personally.

Do you think it is a good idea to write them explaining our common network?

Thanks.

PD: Posted a new thread, but got the post moved.

 

[Durty-Trixxx]

Why couldnt you find a DO closer to your home? Do you live in the middle of Alaska or something? 😛

No biggie to cancel --- just reschedule when you can find a friendly DO closer to you. Shouldnt be hard --- just be very polite and classy in your letters to them.

 

[Jdp00921]

It really isn't so difficult to find shadowing opportunities. Go to a doc's office and ask to speak with them regarding shadowing opportunities. Maybe I'm lucky, but I have never been turned down when asking a doc if I can shadow them. In fact, the physicians I shadowed seemed enthusiastic to have me there. They applied to medical school, they know what's expected of you, and I believe most would only wish to help.

I disagree with emailing for various reasons. Speaking to someone in person is better than text!

Good Luck!

 

[Moose A Moose]

Might be fun to get a hotel or something out there for the couple days while you’re shadowing.

C’mon. Live a little.

 

[Durty-Trixxx]

It really isn't so difficult to find shadowing opportunities. Go to a doc's office and ask to speak with them regarding shadowing opportunities. Maybe I'm lucky, but I have never been turned down when asking a doc if I can shadow them. In fact, the physicians I shadowed seemed enthusiastic to have me there. They applied to medical school, they know what's expected of you, and I believe most would only wish to help.

I agree wholeheartedly. Physicians get a ton of mail every day so an anonymous letter from a pre-med student asking about shadowing is probably going to get tossed on top of a pile of paper and forgotten.

Besides, a lot of docs older than 50 have sort of a negative stereotype of young people these days as being non-personable automatons glued to their phone screens. I would imagine a 50 yr. old doc being pleasantly surprised that some 21 yr. old kid had the ambition to actually show up at his/her office to speak to them in person about shadowing. I bet it would really impress them in a positive way and 99% would say YES on the spot.

 

[__AVI8R__]

Just tell them the truth. Something along of the lines of "I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I can not go through with this shadowing opportunity because the travel from my residence is over 3+ hours away. Thank you for providing me this opportunity....". Life happens and we change our decisions every day. They will understand and there is no reason for them to be upset over this.

Having some experience with turning down interview offers, I can attest that saying this is fine. HR never seemed to mind when they responded to me after I declined. No need to overthink this. Just be polite and professional.