How to stand out while shadowing?

[TheaterOfTheme]

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Hey everyone!

I am super thankful that this resource exists. Combined, there is a lot of great advice here.

I am currently a junior and just began shadowing a dean of a medical school (to remain unnamed, but it is a DO institution). I am wondering if any of you have advice that will help me stand out, as I would absolutely love to attend this institution.

For context, here is my general place so far...

3.90cGPA
3.88sGPA
2 years of research
ECs and leadership roles in club
Will have to take MCAT 2015

I guess I am just hoping to stand out and not be a complete *****. I am unsure of the duration of this opportunity.
Any advice on this or beefing up my application would be very helpful.

Thank you!

 

[AM508]

Be interested, attentive, and ask good, well thought out questions. Don't try hard to "stand out", they can likely see through this. Just be yourself, be interested and well-informed.

 

[baxt1412]

you're supposed to be a shadow. don't try too hard.


like AM508 said, just be attentive, stay off the phone unless you're at lunch, and be very respectful. you being there is sometimes weird for patients. thank everyone you come in contact with

 

[csx]

what they said

 

[midweststudent1]

Yeah....don't stand out too much. Doctors tend to be boring people while inside the walls of their practice, just be polite and respectful

 

[Mad Jack]

It's hard to not stand out in a way that isn't bad when you have no idea what the hell is going on. Standing out isn't what shadowing is about- you're supposed to be an unobtrusive observer, hence the word "shadow."

 

[Derivations]

I think the word shadow implies how much you're supposed to stand out.

 

[LuluMed]

take the time to just observe and learn. you have no need to impress anyone. as long as you seem interested, the doctors will be happy to have you around!

 

[NontradCA]

Don't.

 

[baxt1412]

i love this thread lol

 

[HoboCommander]

Show some curiosity about the school, and for various specialties within medicine that you might be interested in, if there is free time. Keep a low profile when the doc is working.

 

[crazy87]

If you're going to shadow the same doc multiple times, which it sounds like you are (?), write down the weird clinical stuff the doc teaches you and remember it for the next time. If this doc likes to teach, s/he might ask you "do you remember...." So... Act accordingly 🙂 also what others posted above.

 

[costales]

And don't touch anything unless you're told to.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Haha, thanks guys. 🙂

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Yeah....don't stand out too much. Doctors tend to be boring people while inside the walls of their practice, just be polite and respectful

Hm. I've seen plenty of genuinely enthusiastic DOs in my shadowing experience. I wouldn't say they "tend" to be anything, to be honest.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Oh yeah, the fellow I am shadowing is incredibly enthusiastic. Never shadowed an MD though...

 

[RoadNurse33]

I think the big thing to remember is everyone's shadowing experiences are different.

A couple of things that will go a long way:
-Be punctual. Show up at least 15 minutes early for every shift.
-Be well-rested and polished. I wore a tie for every shift. Some places forbid them due to infection control policies, but it's better to be told to take it off than not have one on at all. Appearance goes a long way.
-Be able to articulate to others (physicians, healthcare personnel, and patients) what you are doing, and why.
-Be respectful and kind to everyone. It doesn't matter if they are a member of environmental services or the physician you are shadowing... everyone is watching you. This is also a good idea for life in general...

 

[PlaqueBuster]

I shadow a DO currently and I have been shadowing him once a week for the whole day (he is an internist with his own practice). He wrote me a great LOR.

1. He discusses about the patient we will see before we go into the rooms. I take time to write down notes and ask him any questions.
2. I observe him when we go into the patient rooms.
3. He goes back to his office to dictate and lets me take BP, check HR, breathing. I take this time to interact with the patients.
4. I follow him to his office and we finish the case. He teaches me things as he finishes dictating and I make sure to ask questions again.

Don't just shadow. The keyword is balance. Make sure you balance conversation with observation because physicians are busy and they cannot teach you the entire time you are there, but you don't want to seem uniterested.