How to start shadowing?

[jacksmind]

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I've searched for this topic, but didn't find any great insight, and my case is a little unique. I plan to start volunteering 3hrs/week for the next year volunteering at a hospital. But I think shadowing an actual physician is more important. How did everyone start shadowing? I plan on just emailing every email address I can get my hands on, but I'm not sure that's the best strategy.

What complicates things is that I will soon have my Ph.D, and I would like to be sure that I would be happy doing medical science, so I would like to also shadow medical scientists. I'm not sure how many work at the hospital, so if anyone has some advice of how to shadow these people, please let me know?

What would be a reasonable number of shadowing hours on an application? I'm sure I should get as many as possible, but what would you say a decent number of shadowing hours to prove to the adcoms (and, more importantly, yourself) that you really want to do the career you are perusing.

Thanks!

 

[Dimness]

I've searched for this topic, but didn't find any great insight, and my case is a little unique. I plan to start volunteering 3hrs/week for the next year volunteering at a hospital. But I think shadowing an actual physician is more important. How did everyone start shadowing? I plan on just emailing every email address I can get my hands on, but I'm not sure that's the best strategy.

What complicates things is that I will soon have my Ph.D, and I would like to be sure that I would be happy doing medical science, so I would like to also shadow medical scientists. I'm not sure how many work at the hospital, so if anyone has some advice of how to shadow these people, please let me know?

What would be a reasonable number of shadowing hours on an application? I'm sure I should get as many as possible, but what would you say a decent number of shadowing hours to prove to the adcoms (and, more importantly, yourself) that you really want to do the career you are perusing.

Thanks!

Networking would be a good start. Find somebody you personally know with a foothold in medicine and start there.

But don't get your hopes up too high. Rumor has it shadowing is going to get harder and harder as the years go by thanks to HIPAA and possible liability. But that's the word on the street. 🙂

 

[tkatchev]

I've searched for this topic, but didn't find any great insight, and my case is a little unique. I plan to start volunteering 3hrs/week for the next year volunteering at a hospital. But I think shadowing an actual physician is more important. How did everyone start shadowing? I plan on just emailing every email address I can get my hands on, but I'm not sure that's the best strategy.

What complicates things is that I will soon have my Ph.D, and I would like to be sure that I would be happy doing medical science, so I would like to also shadow medical scientists. I'm not sure how many work at the hospital, so if anyone has some advice of how to shadow these people, please let me know?

What would be a reasonable number of shadowing hours on an application? I'm sure I should get as many as possible, but what would you say a decent number of shadowing hours to prove to the adcoms (and, more importantly, yourself) that you really want to do the career you are perusing.

Thanks!

The best way to star shadowing is this: find a doctor, start following him, first at a pretty good distance, and then start creeping up...little by little. If he doesn't tell you to stop following him, YOU'RE IN!

 

[Mardi-Bob]

Video tape a doctor committing a crime e.g. picking up a prostitute or sexually harassing a nurse.
Give the Doc a copy at the video and demand that he lets you do suction on the next surgery.
Its simple Blackmail 101. 😀

 

[Institute]

I've searched for this topic, but didn't find any great insight, and my case is a little unique. I plan to start volunteering 3hrs/week for the next year volunteering at a hospital. But I think shadowing an actual physician is more important. How did everyone start shadowing? I plan on just emailing every email address I can get my hands on, but I'm not sure that's the best strategy.

What complicates things is that I will soon have my Ph.D, and I would like to be sure that I would be happy doing medical science, so I would like to also shadow medical scientists. I'm not sure how many work at the hospital, so if anyone has some advice of how to shadow these people, please let me know?

What would be a reasonable number of shadowing hours on an application? I'm sure I should get as many as possible, but what would you say a decent number of shadowing hours to prove to the adcoms (and, more importantly, yourself) that you really want to do the career you are perusing.

Thanks!

Um, dude, you're volunteering at a hospital. That's your gateway right there. Be friendly with nurses (though most nurses are asses to volunteers) and stop and say hi to docs. Show them you're interested and they'll take you as a wingman.

 

[doinmybest5840]

I've searched for this topic, but didn't find any great insight, and my case is a little unique. I plan to start volunteering 3hrs/week for the next year volunteering at a hospital. But I think shadowing an actual physician is more important. How did everyone start shadowing? I plan on just emailing every email address I can get my hands on, but I'm not sure that's the best strategy.

What complicates things is that I will soon have my Ph.D, and I would like to be sure that I would be happy doing medical science, so I would like to also shadow medical scientists. I'm not sure how many work at the hospital, so if anyone has some advice of how to shadow these people, please let me know?

What would be a reasonable number of shadowing hours on an application? I'm sure I should get as many as possible, but what would you say a decent number of shadowing hours to prove to the adcoms (and, more importantly, yourself) that you really want to do the career you are perusing.

Thanks!

Hi! I shadowed three different doctors (2 MDs and a DO) for a full workday each. I knew all three before I shadowed them. Have you considered asking one of your regular doctors if you could work with them for a day or two (or more, whatever you like)? Personally, I shadowed my pediatrician from when I was younger, which was good because he's known me for all 22 years of my life, and was kind enough to offer to write me an LOR as well. I also ended up shadowing my internist and a cousin who is a neurologist and who I've only met twice. But still, knowing people can help. If you don't have any regular doctors for whatever reason, talk to friends and family and ask if they either have any doctors in their family that would be willing to let you shadow them, or ask if they have any doctors they see that would be willing to do so.

As for numbers of hours shadowing, I have been told that it's not how long you do it, it's how much you get out of it. I only shadowed for approximately 20 hours, but since I saw three different specialties, and shadowed them in different environments (hospital vs. private offices), I got a lot out of what I did.

Good luck!

 

[doinmybest5840]

Video tape a doctor committing a crime e.g. picking up a prostitute or sexually harassing a nurse.
Give the Doc a copy at the video and demand that he lets you do suction on the next surgery.
Its simple Blackmail 101. 😀

Hahahaha Smooth

 

[MWK]

Seriously just ask. The worst they do is say no. And whatever you do, dont mention Grey's to them when you're shadowing. Just remember that Attendings, although big and scary will be nice to college kids because college kids turn into med students and into residents, and then they can be mean to you.

 

[prmdbeach17]

If the hospital has a shadowing program you could contact them. I shadowed a pediatric cardiologist at Children's that offered for me to shadow him because he is my brother's cardiologist, but I know they have a shadowing program because they handled the paperwork.

 

[GreenBubba]

seriously just ask someone. I actually got a paid shadowing experience through my lab. It's a psychiatric clinical lab but if you know your PI or someone like that...ask them to hook you up. My PI hooked me up with a surgeon, endocrinologist, and psychiatrist....plus I got paid to follow them around and learn. Also if you checked out your university system..they most likely will have a shadowing program...and get involve with your premed club on campus...they have ridiculous access to medical staff and doctors.

 

[Johnny_one_eye]

You could always do what Panda Bear M.D. says:
http://medicaljourney.blogspot.com/2006/06/more-on-shadowing.html

 

[chickenlittle84]

It can be really challenging to shadow if you don't know someone. I live near a university hospital and tried really hard to shadow a doc in the ER. I met with one of the doc's who said he would be more than happy to have me shadow him, but I would have to get HIPAA clearance from the chief of the ER first. I emailed, called, followed-up in every way I could - I was very nice, polite, and dignified about it - but never ever got a response. I get that maybe he didn't want me in the ER, but the LEAST he could have done is email me back. I am NOT applying to that med school! So, I would say go through someone you know.

 

[sssddd]

you are worrying over nothing