Necessity of diversifying clinical experiences

[Blessed!]

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Is it necessary to have other types of clinical experiences apart from volunteering and shadowing? I was told by an advisor that having a clinical job is becoming more expected.

 

[Catalystik]

Is it necessary to have other types of clinical experiences apart from volunteering and shadowing? I was told by an advisor that having a clinical job is becoming more expected.

As the age of matriculating med students creeps up, I'd say that clinical employment is more commonly seen, but aside from a few possible exceptions, the vast majority of med schools are fine with clinical experience acquisition through volunteerism plus shadowing. So I think that using the word "expected" is too strong for a generalization. Might the advisor have been referring to a specific school in your state?

 

[premeddestiny]

Is it necessary to have other types of clinical experiences apart from volunteering and shadowing? I was told by an advisor that having a clinical job is becoming more expected.

As long as you are interacting face-to-face with patients then it would be a good clinical experience. It's more about how you are able to demonstrate dedication to that clinical experience and being able to meaningfully talk about it. For shadowing you might want to do at least 1 primary care physician, a surgeon, and a field of your choice to cover your bases.

 

[Blessed!]

As the age of matriculating med students creeps up, I'd say that clinical employment is more commonly seen, but aside from a few possible exceptions, the vast majority of med schools are fine with clinical experience acquisition through volunteerism plus shadowing. So I think that using the word "expected" is too strong for a generalization. Might the advisor have been referring to a specific school in your state?

Thank you! My advisor was making a general statement. She thought a job would show more commitment to medicine over volunteering.

 

[TheBoranIdentity]

The point of shadowing is for you to get something out of it, so I think clinical experiences are relative to what you make of them.

 

[Blessed!]

As long as you are interacting face-to-face with patients then it would be a good clinical experience. It's more about how you are able to demonstrate dedication to that clinical experience and being able to meaningfully talk about it. For shadowing you might want to do at least 1 primary care physician, a surgeon, and a field of your choice to cover your bases.

The breakdown of who to shadow is helpful. Thanks!

 

[deleted966164]

I always thought that the point of shadowing is exposure to the clinical environment, to see what one is getting into. Truth be told though, working in a clinical environment is IMO much more valuable than shadowing.
First, one has access to every situation - there is not "I'm gonna go see this patient by myself because they may be uncomfortable with you...". You are part of the care team.
Second, team members will behave naturally around you and you get to see what clinical environment truly is like versus people watching what they say around a 'stranger' shadowing.
Third, you will have some degree of responsibility for the patient yourself. I consider that a vary valuable experience.

 

[candbgirl]

I always thought that the point of shadowing is exposure to the clinical environment, to see what one is getting into. Truth be told though, working in a clinical environment is IMO much more valuable than shadowing.
First, one has access to every situation - there is not "I'm gonna go see this patient by myself because they may be uncomfortable with you...". You are part of the care team.
Second, team members will behave naturally around you and you get to see what clinical environment truly is like versus people watching what they say around a 'stranger' shadowing.
Third, you will have some degree of responsibility for the patient yourself. I consider that a vary valuable experience.

Well yes because shadowing is a passive activity. But you need both clinical experience and shadowing.

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you! My advisor was making a general statement. She thought a job would show more commitment to medicine over volunteering.

If you volunteer with the same organization for at least a year, even if in different departments, that will demonstrate "commitment" too.

 

[Goro]

Is it necessary to have other types of clinical experiences apart from volunteering and shadowing? I was told by an advisor that having a clinical job is becoming more expected.

The smart thing is not to listen to your advisor. The road to medical school is littered with the festering corpses of students who did and found out that the information they'd been given was lousy. The wise LizzyM

Employment skills are always good (I believe that one should have a year's employment as a pre-req for med school), but altruism is also good.

 

[ChemEMeddie]

The smart thing is not to listen to your advisor. The road to medical school is littered with the festering corpses of students who did and found out that the information they'd been given was lousy. The wise LizzyM

Employment skills are always good (I believe that one should have a year's employment as a pre-req for med school), but altruism is also good.

Do you mean year's employment in a medical/clinical capacity, which is probably obviously preferred if possible, or a year's employment in any capacity, given that it can be difficult to manage those sorts of employment opportunities due to different situations and tracks/paths towards med school?