how to...shadow?

[tank you]

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i need to find a doctor to shadow, where do i start? am i supposed to just call them and ask if i can shadow them or is there a specific place in the hospital where i can sign up? currently, i volunteer in a hospital in the post-anesthesia care unit, so there are no doctors there, mostly nurses.
and is it too late to start shadowing, im applying to med school after april 05 mcat.

 

[americanangel]

This is what I did: (I don't know if the same holds true for every school)
I spoke with Career Resources at my school and they have a division just for pre-meds. Well, I spoke with the woman there and she found three doctors for me to shadow...Once she got their names, I faxed them a resume and called them up to see if they still aproved. I managed to shadown an ob/gyn, peditrician and an eye surgeon (so cool!!!).
I don't know if every school can help you like that, but it doesn't hurt to try and find out! If not, call up some of your doctors and ask them, or just start calling up doctors in the area. Some doctors might have already allowed people to shadow them. Sometimes your best chance are with alumni from your own school!

 

[redrocks]

This is what I did: (I don't know if the same holds true for every school)
I spoke with Career Resources at my school and they have a division just for pre-meds. Well, I spoke with the woman there and she found three doctors for me to shadow...Once she got their names, I faxed them a resume and called them up to see if they still aproved. I managed to shadown an ob/gyn, peditrician and an eye surgeon (so cool!!!).
I don't know if every school can help you like that, but it doesn't hurt to try and find out! If not, call up some of your doctors and ask them, or just start calling up doctors in the area. Some doctors might have already allowed people to shadow them. Sometimes your best chance are with alumni from your own school!

These are all great suggestions. The essential thing is you have to be willing to stick your neck out. Most docs I have talked to (emphasizing most) welcome those interested in medicine and want them to know what medicine is REALLY about. The most important advice is: START NOW! And no, it isn't too late.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

agree on all posted advice. I shadowed a psychiastrist who i also do volunteer work with. I also checked thru this guy and professors at my school and was put in touch with some MDs at the local hospital. I did volunteer work there (in oncology and the ER) and got to know some of the docs. I got to shadow a doctor in neurosurgery and it was awesome. all my experiences were. Just asking around, being out-going and getting to know people really helps.

 

[jammin06]

you can try calling the med school's office of student affairs and see if they know any doctors that typically take students. Also, i found out last night while taking to a friend in med school is that you can find clinical research projects to help out with through this same method (ie. u want clinical research and don't know how to get a hold of a doc)

 

[Iain]

Is the decision solely up to doctors? Or do they have to coordinate and get approvals, etc. I have a friend whose husband is a trauma surgeon; is it worth asking him? I would imagine with trauma being so intense and chaotic they would rather just do their work, rather then have a spectator.

 

[DrMom]

Use your connections. Also, you can always ask the trauma surgeon if he knows any other docs who take students. (do this even if he'll let you shadow...the broader the experience the better).

 

[stoic]

Use your connections. Also, you can always ask the trauma surgeon if he knows any other docs who take students. (do this even if he'll let you shadow...the broader the experience the better).

Definately work the network. If you make a good impression on the trauma surgeon, he'll probably be more than happy to set you up with some of his buddies. His "seal of approval" will make other physicians more likely to take you on than if you just hit them up cold.

Best of luck.

S

 

[Iain]

I was definately planning on networking, however I was unsure the protocols for shadowing doctors. I am right at the begining of exploring the possibilities and unlike careers like pilots where they are (well used to be) more then happy to let you sit in the cockpit for the entire flight, answer questions, explain what they are doing, doctors have a special relationship with their patients, which I would imagine would be strained in certain instances with a stranger present.

I am quite lucky with these friends - she is an IVF nurse who was given a horse I was working. She is quite new to the horse world (especially ownership), so I keep in communication with her ensuring the horse is not misbehaving too much, and I occasionally go down to her barn and ride with her. I have only met her husband once, but I am sure as soon as I express to them interest in becoming a doctor, they will take good care of me. Right now I am just trying to position myself so I can enroll in a post-bacc course, and gain some impressive marks. Once I am on my way there, and have started volunteering I will bring it up.

 

[Code Brown]

I was definately planning on networking, however I was unsure the protocols for shadowing doctors. I am right at the begining of exploring the possibilities and unlike careers like pilots where they are (well used to be) more then happy to let you sit in the cockpit for the entire flight, answer questions, explain what they are doing, doctors have a special relationship with their patients, which I would imagine would be strained in certain instances with a stranger present.

I am quite lucky with these friends - she is an IVF nurse who was given a horse I was working. She is quite new to the horse world (especially ownership), so I keep in communication with her ensuring the horse is not misbehaving too much, and I occasionally go down to her barn and ride with her. I have only met her husband once, but I am sure as soon as I express to them interest in becoming a doctor, they will take good care of me. Right now I am just trying to position myself so I can enroll in a post-bacc course, and gain some impressive marks. Once I am on my way there, and have started volunteering I will bring it up.

Don't worry about the protocal. The doctor will let you know what he wants you to do. Some of the doctors I shadowed even introduced me as a fellow physician who was there for residency training to some of their patients so don't be surprised if this ever happens to you. It puts the patients at ease and helps explain why the doctor is talking to you about their ailment and is explaining things to you.