Is it weird to e-mail doctors you have no connection to about shadowing?

[MangoTea8]

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Hello!
Not sure if anyone on here has experience with this specific route to shadowing, however I would really like to get a glimpse into a specific subspecialty of primary care I’m interested in but I don’t know any doctors in this field. I have shadowed plenty of other doctors, but all have been previous or current mentors who knew me well so it made sense for me to observe them. I am wondering if e-mailing a doctor at the hospital I work in would be considered weird?
Thank you!

 

[freedoctor17]

I don't think it's weird but also why not just ask one of the other doctors you shadowed if they know someone in primary care you could shadow.

 

[Nave]

Nope, not at all! Just as long as you're cordial about it. I did this with a lot of success a few summers ago. The hospital I was volunteering with gave me a hospital email and therefore I was able to access the email addresses of those who were employees of the hospital. I looked up physicians whose subspecialties I was interested in and emailed them. I would say about 3/4 of them responded. A pediatric surgeon even gave me his cell phone number and told me to just text him whenever I wanted to scrub in. It was great! Good luck 👍

 

[MangoTea8]

I don't think it's weird but also why not just ask one of the other doctors you shadowed if they know someone in primary care you could shadow.

I guess I could do that but I'm not sure if they would know someone in this specific field I'm interested in (women's health)? I currently work with surgeons and I get the impression they don't really work closely with any primary care docs. It's been really easy to shadow them or other surgical specialties, but I wanted to also explore this particular primary care field.

 

[freedoctor17]

I guess I could do that but I'm not sure if they would know someone in this specific field I'm interested in (women's health)? I currently work with surgeons and I get the impression they don't really work closely with any primary care docs. It's been really easy to shadow them or other surgical specialties, but I wanted to also explore this particular primary care field.

I think it's worth a shot! All my shadowing experiences have been branching from the first person I shadowed so it's worked out for me and might for you as well. Maybe ask one that you're super close with first before any of the others.

 

[The Dragon Slayer]

I would consider it weird to ask favors from people I have never even met, but that is just me.

 

[Mwooster]

Hello!
Not sure if anyone on here has experience with this specific route to shadowing, however I would really like to get a glimpse into a specific subspecialty of primary care I’m interested in but I don’t know any doctors in this field. I have shadowed plenty of other doctors, but all have been previous or current mentors who knew me well so it made sense for me to observe them. I am wondering if e-mailing a doctor at the hospital I work in would be considered weird?
Thank you!

Shoot your shot, playa

 

[deleted462159]

The worst they can do is say no or ignore you.

 

[Ribonucleic Acid]

I called a neurosurgeon's office and asked and it went pretty well.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DameJulie]

Not at all. It might seem strange on your behalf but really that's how most pre-meds find their opportunities/jobs. They all start with no connection.

The worse they can say is no or silent rejection.

 

[mistafab]

Go for it. Worst they can say is no.

 

[Welshman]

It's only weird if you make it weird

 

[Kobethegoat24]

Hello!
Not sure if anyone on here has experience with this specific route to shadowing, however I would really like to get a glimpse into a specific subspecialty of primary care I’m interested in but I don’t know any doctors in this field. I have shadowed plenty of other doctors, but all have been previous or current mentors who knew me well so it made sense for me to observe them. I am wondering if e-mailing a doctor at the hospital I work in would be considered weird?
Thank you!

I would consider it weird to ask favors from people I have never even met, but that is just me.

I had the same question but never submitted it so this question is very helpful to me. If you have never shadowed before, how else are you supposed to get a start? Is it really weird to call a local clinic or hospital because thats what i was thinking of doing too :/

 

[21Rush12]

I think asking politely will do no harm.

The better idea would be to ask a doctor you do have a relationship with if they know anyone in a field, but there’s no harm in asking by email. Your yield will likely be much better if you are someone who is “known” to them via a mentor than just a cold email.

Good luck!

 

[Writedoc213]

Hello!
Not sure if anyone on here has experience with this specific route to shadowing, however I would really like to get a glimpse into a specific subspecialty of primary care I’m interested in but I don’t know any doctors in this field. I have shadowed plenty of other doctors, but all have been previous or current mentors who knew me well so it made sense for me to observe them. I am wondering if e-mailing a doctor at the hospital I work in would be considered weird?
Thank you!

I do not think it is weird at all. I have received emails from students looking for shadowing experience on several occasions. I have not always been able to accommodate them, but I never thought badly of them for their request.

 

[Veni vidi vicii]

A lot of people don't have connections so they shadow doctors they don't know. I just e-mailed some docs near my campus (campus is associated with hospital) because the hospital shows their emails. Just say who you are and if they'd be kind enough to give you the opportunity.

Nothing weird at all.