I found an MD!!!

[medicomel]

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For weeks now I've been trying to find a family practice physician in my area. I've sent out letters and emails and finally decided to coldcall one that was in my neighborhood. Lo and behold, he agreed to let me do it!!!

I guess calling them works!!!

I know this thread is going to sink fast...just wanted to share my news. 😀

 

[Uegis]

For weeks now I've been trying to find a family practice physician in my area. I've sent out letters and emails and finally decided to coldcall one that was in my neighborhood. Lo and behold, he agreed to let me do it!!!

I guess calling them works!!!

I know this thread is going to sink fast...just wanted to share my news. 😀

Let you do what? Become a patient at his clinic? 😀

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Let you do what? Become a patient at his clinic? 😀

i assume shadow him

 

[Uegis]

i assume shadow him

Haha, yea, I assumed that too. But he didn't put it down on his post, so I was just messing around with him.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Haha, yea, I assumed that too. But he didn't put it down on his post, so I was just messing around with him.

i sorta figured that

 

[medicomel]

Oops! i was so happy i forgot to elaborate.

yes, shadowing. 👍

 

[honsano]

You know what, I think that is great. I am thinking about doing the same thing myself but just haven't worked up the guts yet to do it. I have never shadowed a Doctor before and really want to. You got guts OP. 👍

 

[53948]

hmmm... out of curiousity... what do you do when you shadow a doctor? do you follow them around and see what they do? for some reason i've never heard of shadowing until i hopped in the SDN forums... do adcoms like to see shadowing?

 

[medicomel]

You know what, I think that is great. I am thinking about doing the same thing myself but just haven't worked up the guts yet to do it. I have never shadowed a Doctor before and really want to. You got guts OP. 👍

It is kind of scary calling somebody up and asking if you can basically invade his space for several hours, watching his every move. But you have to keep in mind that they had to go through this too at some point.

I shadow for several reasons:
1. to explore various specialties
2. to ask questions
3. to GET A LETTER of recommendation that is required by most schools.

#3 is critical right now for me, given the fact that my committee won't write a letter if i don't have a letter from a doctor. I also volunteer in an ER, but I haven't had the good fortune that some other posters on here have had with docs pulling them aside and allowing them to observe patient exams. (They're just so busy in there, but the nurses/techs/transporters are very nice and allow me to watch.)

Everybody here has to do it, so you're not alone! Good luck everyone.

 

[fever5]

Shadowing:

I shadowed an ER physician occassionally over a year. As in the post above, shawdowing can get you a letter of reference (which helps) It may not be the best letter of reference (i.e. it doesn't "glow") as you more or less just watch, but it is a letter nevertheless.

Shadowing is great because you simply write down observations. Later these observations come in during the interview if you are asked "what would you do if" or "how would you respond" or "what do you some of the concerns doctors face now" or "what are concerns many patients have", etc.

Anyways shadowing can be a geat experience that provides a resevoir of insight for interviews!

 

[leviathan]

Shadowing:

I shadowed an ER physician occassionally over a year. As in the post above, shawdowing can get you a letter of reference (which helps) It may not be the best letter of reference (i.e. it doesn't "glow") as you more or less just watch, but it is a letter nevertheless.

Shadowing is great because you simply write down observations. Later these observations come in during the interview if you are asked "what would you do if" or "how would you respond" or "what do you some of the concerns doctors face now" or "what are concerns many patients have", etc.

Anyways shadowing can be a geat experience that provides a resevoir of insight for interviews!

How good of a LoR can you get from someone who has known you for no more than about 8 hours? The most they can say about you is that you have initiative...LoRs are supposed to be from someone who knows you very well and can say a lot about your personality and suitability for becoming a physician.

Also about the shadowing, what kind of things would you be doing? I tried doing the same in my area, but there is a huge problem of patient confidentiality. I don't think some random patient coming to see the doctor would be happy to find some pre-med sitting there listening to what personal private problems are troubling them, so I understand why.

 

[Csv321]

I've been shadowing various doctors at the campus student health clinic for 4 hours a week. I've gotten to follow around an MD, a DO, and a nurse practitioner. It's great...I see many interesting things and also some repetitive things being that it is the campus clinic (warts, STDs, etc...) but you get a lot of insight.

All the people I've shadowed have been nice enough to actually let me do some hands on things. I hope you enjoy your experience as much as I have been enjoying mine!

Good luck!

 

[fever5]

How good of a LoR can you get from someone who has known you for no more than about 8 hours? The most they can say about you is that you have initiative...LoRs are supposed to be from someone who knows you very well and can say a lot about your personality and suitability for becoming a physician.

Also about the shadowing, what kind of things would you be doing? I tried doing the same in my area, but there is a huge problem of patient confidentiality. I don't think some random patient coming to see the doctor would be happy to find some pre-med sitting there listening to what personal private problems are troubling them, so I understand why.

First off, I knew the physician from volunteering in the ER consistently for 2 years, so she was quite aware of my character, etc. Shadowing was in addition to volunteering.

Second, as I said, by shadowing you don't really do much hence the term "shadowing" its as if you are not even there. However shadowing does give you an insight; it is more to benefit yourself in an interview situation. Of course you will not recognize these insights if you have not shadowed (don't resist! try it yourself! it is rewarding personally)

Finally, about patient confidentiality. I am covered because of my volunteering by my local health information act. Thus I have signed all the same forms health workers have, and am under the same obligations. My physican who I shadow introduces me as a 3rd year university student with ambitions for medicine. Also when I shadow I dress formally. I.e. no jeans. Usually khakis or cords with a nice golf-T. If you act professional, look professional you fade into the background, and most patients will forget you are even there. If a patient looks uncomfortable (which has never happened to me) because of my presence then I will simply leave. Once there was to be a pelvic examination of a pregnant women. Since I am male, I obviously didn't expect to observe. Shadowing does not mean you have to witness everything (especially things that are obviously sensitive like physical examinations, sexual histories, etc!)

 

[fever5]

what i heard is,
one should never ask a letter of reccomendation from the doctor that you shadow. Apparently because they dont know you in comparision to the others. I am not sure how true that is. I was looking forward to ask for a letter of reccomendation from a physician I shadowed, but my health profession club head told me not to...for the reason i mentioned above..
pri..

Bottom line is this - who will give you the best reference. More or less interviewers want to see a) quality of character b) traits that are conducive to the practice of medicine. Who better to comment on professional traits then a practicing physician... I rest my case...

 

[vikaskoth]

what priyanka said could be good advice if you only work with a doc for a very short period of time, days-weeks. I shadowed a surgeon a whole summer so i think in a long term setting it wouldn't be inappropriate to ask.
To leviathan who had some troubles, if you live in a more suburban area, try shadowing in a more rural area. The surgeon i worked with was well established and during his office he would introduce me as a student and most patients responded positively, if some had to put on gowns or were uncomfortable, i would simply step outside. Also the doc knew in what situations exactly how involved i should or shouldn't be.
I guess my experience was unique in aspects compared to some mentioned on this board, because it sounds like people here only worked at the hospital, if you can shadow a physician in his office practice there is a lot to be learned there too, probably more than in a hospital due to the restrictions.

 

[leviathan]

First off, I knew the physician from volunteering in the ER consistently for 2 years, so she was quite aware of my character, etc. Shadowing was in addition to volunteering.

Sorry, my original statement about a good LoR was directed to the original poster, who I presume will only have contact with this person for about 8 hours.

Finally, about patient confidentiality. I am covered because of my volunteering by my local health information act. Thus I have signed all the same forms health workers have, and am under the same obligations. My physican who I shadow introduces me as a 3rd year university student with ambitions for medicine. Also when I shadow I dress formally. I.e. no jeans. Usually khakis or cords with a nice golf-T. If you act professional, look professional you fade into the background, and most patients will forget you are even there. If a patient looks uncomfortable (which has never happened to me) because of my presence then I will simply leave. Once there was to be a pelvic examination of a pregnant women. Since I am male, I obviously didn't expect to observe. Shadowing does not mean you have to witness everything (especially things that are obviously sensitive like physical examinations, sexual histories, etc!)

Yeah, what I really meant by patient confidentiality was that, I get the feeling they might be uncomfortable if they are at the doctor's office and there is someone listening in. But if the patients are fine with it, then by all means, it is a great idea.

 

[leviathan]

I guess my experience was unique in aspects compared to some mentioned on this board, because it sounds like people here only worked at the hospital, if you can shadow a physician in his office practice there is a lot to be learned there too, probably more than in a hospital due to the restrictions.

That's actually a very good idea. The hospitals are bound by so much legal liability that it's practically impossible for them to do anything anymore which could lead to that potential lawsuit...it's kinda sad. As for me, I don't live in a rural or suburban area, I live right in the urban downtown of Vancouver, so I may have trouble. I did, however, shadow two pathologists at a hospital, and though it was interesting (saw some massive tumours on some various excised organs), pathology doesn't interest me for a career.

To the original poster, just remember that the best LoR is the person who can say the most about you. If you shadow with this doctor for a whole summer, then he might very well have some good things to say about you. However, if you were to only go in for one day, the most he could really say is, "This individual seemed to show interest in medicine, and he has initiative." Anyhow, best of luck and hope you enjoy your shadowing experience. 🙂

-L