ID doc - primary care?

[karats]

I have seen people emphasize the importance of primary care shadowing. Does shadowing an ID doc that sees a lot of HIV patients count?

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[FCMike11]

I haven't seen any emphasis on what type of doc you should shadow. I even forgot to put my shadowing on my application and I have had invites to schools that "emphasize" primary care.

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[NotASerialKiller]

I haven't seen any emphasis on what type of doc you should shadow. I even forgot to put my shadowing on my application and I have had invites to schools that "emphasize" primary care.

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Congratulations on getting lucky. Hopefully no one else will follow in your footsteps after reading that.

 

[FCMike11]

Congratulations on getting lucky. Hopefully no one else will follow in your footsteps after reading that.

It was only ~ 30 hrs and I have been in healthcare for 6+ years. Wouldn't reccomend it either if you don't have healthcare experience.

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[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

It was only ~ 30 hrs and I have been in healthcare for 6+ years. Wouldn't reccomend it either if you don't have healthcare experience.

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Would you say that shadowing is less important if you have extensive clinical experience? I was an OR tech for 8 years and worked privately for a vascular surgeon for 2. I spent enough time in his office and on rounds to get a good idea of what it's like. I don't feel like I need to spend 50 hours watching someone do something I got paid to do.

 

[FCMike11]

Would you say that shadowing is less important if you have extensive clinical experience? I was an OR tech for 8 years and worked privately for a vascular surgeon for 2. I spent enough time in his office and on rounds to get a good idea of what it's like. I don't feel like I need to spend 50 hours watching someone do something I got paid to do.

That's more or less what I have been told. But, like the poster above me said, don't neglect it. Even 30-40 hrs would be more than sufficient. That's what I had but totally forgot to include it.

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[popopopop]

Would you say that shadowing is less important if you have extensive clinical experience? I was an OR tech for 8 years and worked privately for a vascular surgeon for 2. I spent enough time in his office and on rounds to get a good idea of what it's like. I don't feel like I need to spend 50 hours watching someone do something I got paid to do.

I have years of clinical experience too, but decided to shadow for enrichment. I learned a ton, including from the ID doc I followed for about 8 hours. Working with a physician is not the same as shadowing them and being able to pick their brain. I loved it!

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I have years of clinical experience too, but decided to shadow for enrichment. I learned a ton, including from the ID doc I followed for about 8 hours. Working with a physician is not the same as shadowing them and being able to pick their brain. I loved it!

I agree. If I can fit it in, I want to. But I spent two years picking a surgeon's brain (he knew I wanted to go to med school eventually).

 

[popopopop]

I agree. If I can fit it in, I want to. But I spent two years picking a surgeon's brain (he knew I wanted to go to med school eventually).

This is one of those "you have to play the game" type thing for your application. Shadow a primary care doctor and you'll be golden. It'll be a good learning experience either way.

 

[Catalystik]

I have seen people emphasize the importance of primary care shadowing. Does shadowing an ID doc that sees a lot of HIV patients count?

Chances are decent that an ID doc providing care for an HIV/AIDS patient is pretty close to being their de facto primary care doc, as they will likely provide longitudinal care for many years to that person. So, if pushed to the wall, you could make a strong argument supporting this position.

OTOH, ID docs take care of other patients who see them for a single visit or a single episode of illness, which would dilute your contention.

 

[freak7]

Would you say that shadowing is less important if you have extensive clinical experience? I was an OR tech for 8 years and worked privately for a vascular surgeon for 2. I spent enough time in his office and on rounds to get a good idea of what it's like. I don't feel like I need to spend 50 hours watching someone do something I got paid to do.

Holy cow dude, your app gets more and more impressive to me every day I swear

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Holy cow dude, your app gets more and more impressive to me every day I swear

Ha, thanks. I'm 32, so I've had time to accumulate a good number of experiences. Just gotta get a good MCAT.

 

[karats]

Chances are decent that an ID doc providing care for an HIV/AIDS patient is pretty close to being their de facto primary care doc, as they will likely provide longitudinal care for many years to that person. So, if pushed to the wall, you could make a strong argument supporting this position.

OTOH, ID docs take care of other patients who see them for a single visit or a single episode of illness, which would dilute your contention.

Thanks for your input. I guess the search continues...
I just haven't found much luck with a PCP sadly. I'm going to still shadow this ID doc, but I'll be sure to find a general PCP as well.

If the appeal of primary care shadowing is that it gives a glimpse into longitudinal care, wouldn't you say that could be found in other specialties as well? Like oncology?

 

[Catalystik]

If the appeal of primary care shadowing is that it gives a glimpse into longitudinal care, wouldn't you say that could be found in other specialties as well? Like oncology?

Perhaps it depends on the doc. Oncologists I've known seem less likely to take on responsibility for overall health concerns than ID specialists in my location.

 

[WheezyBaby]

Perhaps it depends on the doc. Oncologists I've known seem less likely to take on responsibility for overall health concerns than ID specialists in my location.

Thanks for your input. I guess the search continues...
I just haven't found much luck with a PCP sadly. I'm going to still shadow this ID doc, but I'll be sure to find a general PCP as well.

If the appeal of primary care shadowing is that it gives a glimpse into longitudinal care, wouldn't you say that could be found in other specialties as well? Like oncology?

Yea, it isn't just a matter of longitudinal care, but what issues that physician is taking responsibility for. This will vary by specialty, by focus within specialty, and on a physician to physician basis as well. Pulmonologists often serve as PCPs for CF patients, hematologists for sickle cell patients, oncologists for cancer patients, ID docs for HIV/AIDS, etc. However, none of that is universally true. Best just to get the FM/gen IM/gen peds exposure if a school you're interested in desires that exposure imo