How to get shadowing positions in NYC? Also good summer jobs for premed?

[wherearethemangos]

I was wondering how I could get some shadowing experience in. I wanted to shadow doctors in hospitals, specifically those within NYP... so should I email them? Or call them? Or should I just walk in?
I'm not entirely sure how to go about it.

I was also wondering which jobs are good for a premed undergrad. I've heard scribing, EMT and CNA are pretty good options.

Thanks in advance guys!

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[GnothiSeauton]

I was wondering how I could get some shadowing experience in. I wanted to shadow doctors in hospitals, specifically those within NYP... so should I email them? Or call them? Or should I just walk in?
I'm not entirely sure how to go about it.

I was also wondering which jobs are good for a premed undergrad. I've heard scribing, EMT and CNA are pretty good options.

Thanks in advance guys!

Cornell and Mt. Sinai at the very least have research associate programs, where you do shifts in the ED recruiting research participants. There's usually a lot of downtime to spend shadowing. Columbia has one as well, but as far as I know it's limited to Columbia students.

I haven't heard of people cold-calling for physician shadowing at NYP. Or more accurately, I have never seen undergrads shadowing at either Columbia or Cornell while providing no ancillary benefit (i.e. research associate).

 

[lpp06]

I had luck at Montefiore in the Bronx.

 

[wherearethemangos]

Cornell and Mt. Sinai at the very least have research associate programs, where you do shifts in the ED recruiting research participants. There's usually a lot of downtime to spend shadowing. Columbia has one as well, but as far as I know it's limited to Columbia students.

I haven't heard of people cold-calling for physician shadowing at NYP. Or more accurately, I have never seen undergrads shadowing at either Columbia or Cornell while providing no ancillary benefit (i.e. research associate).

What would you recommend I do then? If you were in my position, because I would like some shadowing positions in a hospital regardless

 

[lpp06]

If NYP is your goal - I'd recommend getting your foot in the door with their volunteering program:

http://www.nyp.org/volunteer

This way you'll be credentialed by the hospital and have a chance to network with some physicians.

Cold call/email shadowing at hospitals in the city is not easy. You could expect a conversion rate of .01 at best (1 willing physician per 100 contacted).

 

[GnothiSeauton]

What would you recommend I do then? If you were in my position, because I would like some shadowing positions in a hospital regardless

Montefiore is a better bet, as lpp06 said. You'll also probably have much better luck at smaller, outer-borough hospitals. The big four in the city are full of busy, academic physicians. They spare their time for their med students first, then people in research associate programs, then other official volunteers/pre-meds from the affiliated undergrads. Trying to get a shadowing gig in any other capacity is bound to be very low yield.

 

[wherearethemangos]

Montefiore is a better bet, as lpp06 said. You'll also probably have much better luck at smaller, outer-borough hospitals. The big four in the city are full of busy, academic physicians. They spare their time for their med students first, then people in research associate programs, then other official volunteers/pre-meds from the affiliated undergrads. Trying to get a shadowing gig in any other capacity is bound to be very low yield.

So how should I just go about asking for shadowing in general? disregarding i wanna get one in the city

 

[wherearethemangos]

Cornell and Mt. Sinai at the very least have research associate programs, where you do shifts in the ED recruiting research participants. There's usually a lot of downtime to spend shadowing. Columbia has one as well, but as far as I know it's limited to Columbia students.

I haven't heard of people cold-calling for physician shadowing at NYP. Or more accurately, I have never seen undergrads shadowing at either Columbia or Cornell while providing no ancillary benefit (i.e. research associate).

Also what are these research associate programs you are talking about?

 

[Ox4d]

Also what are these research associate programs you are talking about?

I'm interested in those in Manhattan, too; curious about the answer

 

[GnothiSeauton]

Also what are these research associate programs you are talking about?

They are programs, usually for a year-long commitment, where you do ~10 hours a week volunteering in the emergency department recruiting patients for emergency medicine research. There's usually enough downtime to shadow and chat with patients as well.

Here is Mt. Sinai's: https://sites.google.com/site/sinaiassociatesed/home

NYU: http://www.med.nyu.edu/emergency/research/research-associate-internship

As I said, Columbia's is open to Columbia postbacs and undergrads. The only people I know in the Cornell program are also from Columbia, I'm not sure if it's open to other students. You may have to be proactive to track down that information.

 

[lpp06]

So how should I just go about asking for shadowing in general? disregarding i wanna get one in the city

You can cold call the numbers you find on hospital's faculty directories or find the emails of those affiliated with academic hospitals, as they will sometimes list those.

As we've mentioned, Manhattan is tough to find these opportunities without first networking through your school or by volunteering.

Look at the 2 hour round trip train ride to the Bronx as an investment.

Any reason why specifically a hospital? Do you have any shadowing in a clinic setting? If not, there are plenty of those in Manhattan.

 

[wherearethemangos]

You can cold call the numbers you find on hospital's faculty directories or find the emails of those affiliated with academic hospitals, as they will sometimes list those.

As we've mentioned, Manhattan is tough to find these opportunities without first networking through your school or by volunteering.

Look at the 2 hour round trip train ride to the Bronx as an investment.

Any reason why specifically a hospital? Do you have any shadowing in a clinic setting? If not, there are plenty of those in Manhattan.

so should I volunteer and try to shadow at the same time? and just because i want to work in a hospital, but i probably have a better chance at a clinic setting dont i?

 

[Turkishking]

I was wondering how I could get some shadowing experience in. I wanted to shadow doctors in hospitals, specifically those within NYP... so should I email them? Or call them? Or should I just walk in?
I'm not entirely sure how to go about it.

I was also wondering which jobs are good for a premed undergrad. I've heard scribing, EMT and CNA are pretty good options.

Thanks in advance guys!

Jobs aren't really needed, unless you need the money, or you have the time to spare. Scribing is usually a year commitment with companies requiring you to work 18 hours a week.

 

[ciucia53]

I work as a scribe now and I really like it! As many people say, it is "glorified shadowing," but I feel like I've learned so much more than I ever wound just shadowing. Shadowing is so passive, and even though I was with nice doctors who were happy to give me articles to read and answer my questions, I always felt in the way. But, as a scribe, I know I'm a valued member of the team, because the doctors are super thankful for my help at the end of every shift. Since it's more active that just you're basic shadowing, I have enjoyed my time as a scribe so much more.

About half of the scribes in our group are still undergrad students, and while it's hard to have a job and go to school at the same time, our chief scribe is really understanding of these students' situation. Our group requires only a few shifts per month, so it's definitely doable on a student schedule! While EMT and CNA are definitely good options and I know docs that went that route, I personally prefer scribing because I feel like I got the best sense of what a physician's day is like and I was able to learn about their decision making process in a much more intimate way.

 

[Turkishking]

I work as a scribe now and I really like it! As many people say, it is "glorified shadowing," but I feel like I've learned so much more than I ever wound just shadowing. Shadowing is so passive, and even though I was with nice doctors who were happy to give me articles to read and answer my questions, I always felt in the way. But, as a scribe, I know I'm a valued member of the team, because the doctors are super thankful for my help at the end of every shift. Since it's more active that just you're basic shadowing, I have enjoyed my time as a scribe so much more.

About half of the scribes in our group are still undergrad students, and while it's hard to have a job and go to school at the same time, our chief scribe is really understanding of these students' situation. Our group requires only a few shifts per month, so it's definitely doable on a student schedule! While EMT and CNA are definitely good options and I know docs that went that route, I personally prefer scribing because I feel like I got the best sense of what a physician's day is like and I was able to learn about their decision making process in a much more intimate way.

PhysAsst required 18 hour weeks.

 

[ciucia53]

PhysAsst required 18 hour weeks.

Ooh yikes. In that case, it's important for OP to be super upfront when applying to determine what kind of time commitment the company is looking for!

 

[kitkat13]

I work as a scribe now and I really like it! As many people say, it is "glorified shadowing," but I feel like I've learned so much more than I ever wound just shadowing. Shadowing is so passive, and even though I was with nice doctors who were happy to give me articles to read and answer my questions, I always felt in the way. But, as a scribe, I know I'm a valued member of the team, because the doctors are super thankful for my help at the end of every shift. Since it's more active that just you're basic shadowing, I have enjoyed my time as a scribe so much more.

About half of the scribes in our group are still undergrad students, and while it's hard to have a job and go to school at the same time, our chief scribe is really understanding of these students' situation. Our group requires only a few shifts per month, so it's definitely doable on a student schedule! While EMT and CNA are definitely good options and I know docs that went that route, I personally prefer scribing because I feel like I got the best sense of what a physician's day is like and I was able to learn about their decision making process in a much more intimate way.

May I asked which company you applied through? This seems super nice!

 

[star-lily]

May I asked which company you applied through? This seems super nice!

I'd also love to know!

 

[ciucia53]

Sorry, I'd prefer to keep some anonymity online. Based on what Turkishking said, I now think my group might be an outlier. :/ I would recommend reaching out to the popular scribe companies to get a sense of what they require.