Interview question on shadowing

[moemoekyun]

So I shadowed a surgeon recently, and was telling me that I should really pay attention to the actual surgery to discuss it in depth. I was under the impression that shadowing was to learn about the doctor's work day, and how involved it is with patients, record keeping, etc, while the surgeon was sort of quizzing me on the surgeries done. His reasoning, which makes sense, is that I could be asked about what I saw, and if I only say, for example, cholecystectomy and not laparoscopic cholecystecotmy (which was my first time seeing it done), it won't look good in an interview. He's aware I'm not a med student so I don't know some of the specifics and he can't teach me everything. Between him and the orthopedic surgeons, I've seen several surgeries, and don't think I can recall all the details of the surgeries. The anesthesiologist also pulled me aside to look at their jobs, but I think it's too much information in the time I have. Thoughts?

Also, I plan to view more cases at least 2x a week, and one of the surgical techs was hinting that I should write (type) stuff down in the OR to remember stuff better. Is that allowed, with HIPPA and all, or is it specific to the hospital? Thanks.

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[ciestar]

Oh my, no.
Your interview in no way will be all about the small details of a surgery you observed...you're not expected to know that yet.
You more talk about the experience itself, what it made you think, how it made you feel....etc

 

[Goro]

It seems that surgeon could not get out of preceptor role and was still treating you like a med student on rotation. Ignore his comments. an actual interview question might be something like "So what one thing that Dr X did to impress you the most?"

So I shadowed a surgeon recently, and was telling me that I should really pay attention to the actual surgery to discuss it in depth. I was under the impression that shadowing was to learn about the doctor's work day, and how involved it is with patients, record keeping, etc, while the surgeon was sort of quizzing me on the surgeries done. His reasoning, which makes sense, is that I could be asked about what I saw, and if I only say, for example, cholecystectomy and not laparoscopic cholecystecotmy (which was my first time seeing it done), it won't look good in an interview. He's aware I'm not a med student so I don't know some of the specifics and he can't teach me everything. Between him and the orthopedic surgeons, I've seen several surgeries, and don't think I can recall all the details of the surgeries. The anesthesiologist also pulled me aside to look at their jobs, but I think it's too much information in the time I have. Thoughts?

Also, I plan to view more cases at least 2x a week, and one of the surgical techs was hinting that I should write (type) stuff down in the OR to remember stuff better. Is that allowed, with HIPPA and all, or is it specific to the hospital? Thanks.

 

[moemoekyun]

Thanks for responses, makes me feel a bit better. Most of the stuff I've seen just went over my head, but I am grateful they're taking the time to explain things and show me some neat stuff. In one physician's words, he's trying to scare me off medicine by showing how much is involved (just watching for 6-7 hours drains me, and standing for hours), but it's probably one of the best things I'm doing now.
Another question, since the doctors I shadow are surgeons, they discourage me from anything non-surgical related. One doctor has his own office, and lets me come in every week to watch him talk to patients, but on surgery days, I watch the surgery, then they hand me off to someone else (tech, nurse, etc) to show me other things, discuss the case, etc while the doc writes up the review, sees the next patient, etc, before the next operation. In their words, it's boring. I do go with the doc occasionally (maybe 1/3 of the time) so I do see the write ups and visits, but not too often. Should I stick with where I am, or try to get the doc to let me spend more time with them, just to see the boring stuff (which is important with EMRs and stuff). I'm also thinking they're more comfortable doing that stuff themselves for other reasons too. Thanks.

 

[gyngyn]

You should do longitudinal care shadowing. It's not boring.

 

[NeuResurgens]

No, this surgeon was just trying to get you involved in the medical science he was using. You won't be expected to recall actual medical details in an interview. However, I do think that is a really cool experience to try and use the minimal science you've learned in undergrad and apply it to actual surgical cases. Use these for your own enjoyment!

 

[panda16]

I had a similar yet different situation when I was shadowing an ophthalmologist in clinic then in surgery the next day, she kept describing all the details and was like "but you honestly don't need to know that until medical school."

 

[moemoekyun]

You should do longitudinal care shadowing. It's not boring.

The ortho surgeon who I shadow in his office schedules patients for later visits, and some of the patients remember me on the return. Other times I see them in the OR. Is this similar to longitudinal care? To me, it's not boring (though I can imagine after being a physician for 20 years, it's not exciting for them), and I want to see as much as I can, especially the not so exciting paperwork, as I feel I need to know what the environment is like as a physician.

I had a similar yet different situation when I was shadowing an ophthalmologist in clinic then in surgery the next day, she kept describing all the details and was like "but you honestly don't need to know that until medical school."

The general surgeon I'm shadowing would describe details and say "I know you're not a student, but you should be able to explain the sentinel node biopsy procedure and significance of the steps in your interview, why else would you be here." To be fair, the area I'm in doesn't have premeds as far as I know, and I have been mistaken for a med student several times (think they only have high school kids from health class and med students, so I'm in my own category). I see it as they want to make my experience as worthwhile as it can, so I don't mind getting "head start" (though I'll probably forget everything in a year).

 

[gyngyn]

Ortho is far from primary care...

 

[moemoekyun]

Ortho is far from primary care...

Thanks for the input. I'm trying to get with one, no luck so far. Ortho (several), gen surgery, anesthesiology, (hospitalist and urology in a week or 2) I'm having more success with.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the input. I'm trying to get with one, no luck so far. Ortho (several), gen surgery, anesthesiology, (hospitalist and urology in a week or 2) I'm having more success with.

Ask one of them to recommend you to one of their referring docs.

 

[NeuResurgens]

The general surgeon I'm shadowing would describe details and say "I know you're not a student, but you should be able to explain the sentinel node biopsy procedure and significance of the steps in your interview, why else would you be here." To be fair, the area I'm in doesn't have premeds as far as I know, and I have been mistaken for a med student several times (think they only have high school kids from health class and med students, so I'm in my own category). I see it as they want to make my experience as worthwhile as it can, so I don't mind getting "head start" (though I'll probably forget everything in a year).

That's silly. Not sure why he thinks you'd need to explain a surgical procedure as a premed. Is he the type that is known to joke around completely straight-faced?

 

[moemoekyun]

That's silly. Not sure why he thinks you'd need to explain a surgical procedure as a premed. Is he the type that is known to joke around completely straight-faced?

Didn't seem like he was joking. If he was, it'd be a real elaborate joke with the nurses and techs involved. He probably thinks it will impress at interviews, make me stand out, etc. Anyways, if he wants to be more involved with my shadowing experience, who am I to stop him.

 

[deleted577188]

That's silly. Not sure why he thinks you'd need to explain a surgical procedure as a premed. Is he the type that is known to joke around completely straight-faced?

Lol I know these kinds of people.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Didn't seem like he was joking. If he was, it'd be a real elaborate joke with the nurses and techs involved. He probably thinks it will impress at interviews, make me stand out, etc. Anyways, if he wants to be more involved with my shadowing experience, who am I to stop him.

Exactly. Realize you don't need to be able to perform surgery as a premed, but enjoy it while you can. Provided you had taken some anatomy and physiology courses, I think it'd actually be a pretty fun experience to get to try and translate some of that information into practice!

Lol I know these kinds of people.

Me too. I had to ask, because you could know someone like this your whole life and miss 98% of their humor.