My first shadowing experience.

[Azjoe]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Oh my gosh! I have spent the last 2 days shadowing a couple of doctors at a Urology surgery clinic. It has been amazing. I am so motivated, I would take O Chem again if I had too!! (That’s saying a lot)

I have seen things that out of this world. More than anything the trust that patients give you. It’s so motivating. Words can not describe the feeling.

I mean, I can’t even sleep at night because I am so excited to go back.

If anyone out there wonders if all this school work is worth it, go shadow a doc.

 

[Pose]

That's awesome.

How did you get the chance to shadow them exactly?

 

[Azjoe]

The docs that I am working with now are just friends of my family.

It seems that all you need to do is "get in" once you are shadowing one doc, all of the others around him or her seem very willing to help.

 

[DrBowtie]

very true...I was shadowing an ortho surgeon and was watching my 6th knee scope and an OB/GYN pulled me into his OR and I watched a few of his procedures.

 

[adrenalitis]

Ya, isn't shadowing just the most motivating factor on your way to medical school? I've spent the past eleven months shadowing two trauma surgeons at my local trauma center. They give me advice, quiz me on the anatomy, introduce me to the other doctors, occationaly let me assist in surgery, and really involve me in the patient's care. It really has given me a greater understanding of what it means be "be a doctor", and keeps me on track. Oh and if anyone wants to shadow, just open the phonebook. That's how I started with these guys. Most doctors love to help out a student that's on their way to medical school. Besides, the worst they could say is get lost.

 

[Azjoe]

I couldn't agree more. They all went through this long process and they all seem willing to help. I have learned more in the last few days then months of reading. It is still amazing to me that someday I will be that trusted doc.

 

[Tatastrophy]

I am resurrecting this thread because I am so darn excited about my own shadowing experience.
I've been shadowing an Otolaryngologist (Head and Neck Surgeon) for the past couple of weeks-and I have to say that it is awesome. I have to say that this experience is really changing my mind about specialties like this one-there is so much different stuff to do!

Random question: whats the coolest thing that a doctor you've shadowed let you do?

 

[Pedie Packs]

Good for you! Yeah, shadowing surgery really has a way of getting your attention.... it's surreal being in the OR for the first time.... the teamwork, the camaraderie of the staff as well as the anatomy you see (and don't at all understand 😎) haha... it's all awesome!

One piece of advice... keep a journal of your shadowing experience(s) maybe after a visit that you felt like you really learned something or saw something that really opened your eyes... it's cool to come back and revisit those things later on down the road.

Hmm... coolest thing a doctor let me do.... I've done a lot of shadowing but it was mostly hands off I guess... I got to palpate a hernia... 😴 Mostly just observing. One of the coolest things I saw was an esophagectomy (weird as F let me tell you, to see the stomach stapled up near the throat!)

 

[orthomyxo]

My shadowing experiences so far: Nephrologist: I basically told him in a very round-about way his secialty was very boring. He told me in a very round-about way to GTFO

Well you sound like a total ass...why would you EVER tell a doctor, who's taking the time to teach you, that his specialty is boring??? I'm glad he told you to "GTFO," but I kinda wish he had slapped the taste out of your mouth.

 

[Teneo]

Shadowing is awesome. I shadowed my mother's oncologist and had a blast; I also spent one day shadowing his radiation oncology colleague.

Both doctors were very kind and respectful to me, and they seemed to think I had potential. It was the best feeling in the world. 👍

Probably the most interesting thing was getting to listen to the heartbeat of a patient who had recently had cardio surgery. I also liked getting to talk with the patients, most of whom were very polite and interesting.

 

[Dannyw]

So I should've lied to him? OK

Making negative comments about anyone's career is extremely rude. Doctor or not. Keep that kind of stuff to yourself.

 

[Longshanks]

So I should've lied to him? OK

You should have a social ettique filter.

 

[orthomyxo]

Making negative comments about anyone's career is extremely rude. Doctor or not. Keep that kind of stuff to yourself.

👍 DUH!!! The guy spent 10+ years trying to get where he is now. You think you have the right to tell him his job sucks?