Need advice - Can't find shadowing anywhere! Alternatives??

[lottieda]

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The past several months i've been calling around trying to find shadowing. I've called literally over 50 offices got rejected every time. I've asked some family and friends that are connected to doctors and no luck. My town isn't by my undergrad so I don't have any luck going through them.

Is there any alternatives to shadowing you can suggest?

I'd appreciate any advice!

 

[poppie910]

The past several months i've been calling around trying to find shadowing. I've called literally over 50 offices got rejected every time. I've asked some family and friends that are connected to doctors and no luck. My town isn't by my undergrad so I don't have any luck going through them.

Is there any alternatives to shadowing you can suggest?

I'd appreciate any advice!

Maybe try just volunteering at a local hospital and building a rapport. Let your face be known, then go from there. Just a thought.

 

[LizzyM]

People here who have been successful have had more luck with Fax than with phone. (weird, I know).

Getting known around the local hospital as a volunteer is a good way to make the acquaintance of docs who might let you shadow after they know you've been vetted by the local volunteer office (you've had your shots, been tested for TB, etc).

Contact your undergrad alumni office and ask for a favor: can they query their alumni database and identify graduates who also have an MD degree and who live in zip codes xxx__ through xxx__ (or use area codes or some other designation to find people who are pretty close to you). Could they then get in touch with those alumni and ask if they would be willing to communicate with a student/alumnus (don't know which you are) who is hoping to go to medical school. This is a win-win because alumni offices are always trying to find ways to hook alumni into caring about their alma mater and this could be a way of doing that.

 

[sunflower18]

Where I live, I am basically only allowed to shadow because I am a volunteer within the hospital system. They let me come in and have access to confidential patient information because I've signed the HIPAA contracts and gone through safety training for that specific hospital. So, maybe you could try volunteering at a hospital, and then approach it from that angle? They might be more willing to let you shadow if you have some of the legal issues dealt with through the volunteer office, plus there is some familiarity and trust that you aren't a completely random person. Worth a shot, anyway! Good luck 🙂

 

[varsityblue]

Maybe try just volunteering at a local hospital and building a rapport. Let your face be known, then go from there. Just a thought.

I agree.

Making friends with the volunteer coordinator at your hospital could also help you get a lot of gnarly opportunities.

 

[CopaceticOne]

Another suggestion - did you try any of the doctors that have treated you? I had success with asking two mine (via e-mail). In the e-mail I has explicitly stated that I was a former patient that was seen for X condition and am now premed. Because of the great care I received from them, I was wondering if I could possibly shadow them for a bit to learn more about their field and how their days usually run. All the other doctors I contacted were receptive and those that said no were only because the medical system didn't allow it (HR/some department put down the big kibosh after the doctors had said they would love to, and just needed to check and make sure it was okay).

 

[johnisles2011]

Go through your undergrad when you're back in town for school. You probably won't have to give up more than a couple hours a week, if you're worried about how it will affect your studies.

Or get creative and spend a summer with an interesting job in another region, and while you're there, see if doctors will let you shadow there.

I really can't believe they all rejected you. That's incredibly obnoxious of them, and I feel bad for you. Better luck in the future.

 

[nisarg2010]

I have found that calling usually results in no reply (or an answer of no). For me, going in to the doctors office with your resume and waiting until the doctor is free to talk to you (or leaving your resume with a posted note saying that you want to shadow) has been very successful. Also try to be extra nice to the nurse that you leave your resume with as they are usually the biggest hill when it comes to shadowing (doctors are usually very receptive if your message actually makes it to them). for me I get one reply for every 5-7 resumes that I give out. Do whatever you can to make the doctors say no to your face (usually they dont if you put them in that position).

Good luck and keep trying!!!

 

[lottieda]

thanks for all the advice!
Odd, but I actually got a call back today saying yes!