Question about shadowing.

[PsychStudent]

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I've been shadowing an inpatient peds doc for two months now (for 4 hours once per week), and I've had a terrific experience! It's completely affirmed my interest in medicine. I'm writing to ask whether people have any guidance on how long I should continue shadowing her, since it's obviously a diminishing returns thing in turns of how much I'll learn over time. Also, do med schools have a certain amount of time that they would like to see me shadow? Perhaps at some point I could transition into volunteering in child life or something?

Even though I want to go into peds or neonatology, my fiance is suggesting that I shadow another type of doc to show that I'm well-rounded (most of my research and EC have been with kids). Do you think that's necessary/important?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[njbmd]

I've been shadowing an inpatient peds doc for two months now (for 4 hours once per week), and I've had a terrific experience! It's completely affirmed my interest in medicine. I'm writing to ask whether people have any guidance on how long I should continue shadowing her, since it's obviously a diminishing returns thing in turns of how much I'll learn over time. Also, do med schools have a certain amount of time that they would like to see me shadow? Perhaps at some point I could transition into volunteering in child life or something?

Even though I want to go into peds or neonatology, my fiance is suggesting that I shadow another type of doc to show that I'm well-rounded (most of my research and EC have been with kids). Do you think that's necessary/important?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Most people shadow for about 4 to 6 hours once or twice. The experience is to allow you to obtain first-hand knowledge of how the profession works. If you have done this, you have shadowed enough.

You cannot possiblly know for sure, what you want to do in medicine unitl after you have been exposed to various specialities during third and fourth year of medical school, therefore, trying to shadow every type of phyisican is useless. Many medical students (including myself) came in with the idea of going into one specialty and ended up in something far different. (Came in wanting to be a pediatrician [had research in cystic fibrosis and had worked as a pediatric-perinatal respiratory therapist] and now a surgeon).

Shadowing an physician does not equal experience in that specialty or "show" that you are well rounded. If you want to shadow more, do so because of your interests and not because you are trying to "show" something. The best thing that you can "show" from shadowing, is answering question realistically during your medical school interview about your shadowing experience.

 

[Haemulon]

This is very helpfull. Thanks. I recently shadowed an IM doc for a day and learned a great deal. While I have been invited back and would like to do it again, I don't want to impose on him and his staff. I had been a little worried if just a day or two would be considered insignificant by Adcoms, even though I did get to see and learn much from the experience. Anyway, I included it as an update in my recent letter of interest.

The other thing about shadowing is that it is more and more difficult to do as a pre-med these days. With the new HIPPA requirements, many independent docs no longer take on individuals like that. I suppose some hospitals may have programs though. Do you think Adcoms will adjust their expectations accordingly in the future?

 

[ntmed]

Most people shadow for about 4 to 6 hours once or twice.

I recently shadowed an IM doc for a day and learned a great deal.

I know the original poster asked about job shadowing. And I agree that shadowing a physician for a handful of visits is adequate.

However, I don't think that this alone is enough to satisfy the volunteer requirement for medical school. Most applicants that I've seen have a good 100 hours or more of clinical volunteer service in the ER, on medical floors, at free clinics, as EMT's, etc.

In the end, the exact number of hours isn't the main issue. But you need enough volunteer hours to covey that you know know what you're getting into, to demonstrate that you are a person of compassion, and to be able to talk confidently about your experiences if asked during the application process.

Mike

 

[RxnMan]

I've been shadowing an inpatient peds doc for two months now (for 4 hours once per week), and I've had a terrific experience! It's completely affirmed my interest in medicine. I'm writing to ask whether people have any guidance on how long I should continue shadowing her, since it's obviously a diminishing returns thing in turns of how much I'll learn over time. Also, do med schools have a certain amount of time that they would like to see me shadow? Perhaps at some point I could transition into volunteering in child life or something?

Even though I want to go into peds or neonatology, my fiance is suggesting that I shadow another type of doc to show that I'm well-rounded (most of my research and EC have been with kids). Do you think that's necessary/important?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I quit volunteering at a local ED when I realized I had learned everything I could as a non-medical person and I could spend my time better elsewhere. In your case, you might try looking at another field if you have the time. If you really want something different than peds, try emergency medicine. You'll see lots of different patients (even some of your familiar peds patients) but you'll see so much more and more acute cases too. Something to consider.

 

[mamadoc]

I know the original poster asked about job shadowing. And I agree that shadowing a physician for a handful of visits is adequate.

However, I don't think that this alone is enough to satisfy the volunteer requirement for medical school. ...

Shadowing and volunteering are two entirely different things. The point of shadowing is to give you enough exposure to the medical field to be able to speak at least a little knowledgeably about what it's like to be a doctor. In a shadowing experience, hopefully you'll see what a doctor does, from actually seeing patients to dealing with staff, drug reps, insurance companies etc. In a great shadowing experience, you'll see patients with a doctor and you'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the frustrations and rewards of the job.

Volunteering is supposed to demonstrate your interest in your community. It does NOT have to be medical, although many pre-meds choose this route because they can "kill two birds with one stone" -- in some medical venues they'll get a taste of what doctors do, AND they are performing a service.

Virtually all pre-meds say they want to be doctors "to help people," no matter what words they use to convey that sentiment, and so medical schools want to see them prove it - what have you done to help people in your own life? in your own community? Shadowing helps yourself, not your fellow human, so be careful not to confuse the two.

 

[musashi]

I initially wanted to apply solely to PA school (am considering medical school now as well) and started shadowing 3 different PA's (ED, Family Practice, Rural Clinic). I have acquired around 300 hours of shadowing thus far. Granted I haven't worked in any health career field so thought this was a good place to start. Through my shadowing experience I have benefited from newtworking and have recently started shadowing a couple of physicians as well. I absolutely love my shadowing experiences and shadow between 15-20 hours a week (shadowing in the ED can quickly raise your hours). I am shadowing tomorrow evening (7-7) at the ER and can't wait! There is so much going on. The PA's and Physicians let me see everything they do and I've now assisted in suturing and stapling as well as basic splinting. I've also taking history's solo and performed some brief counseling (after being fed what to say). To think I was teaching H.S. History/Geography last year. This is only my 4th month of shadowing and I still have over 1-2 years before I will apply. I anticipate having over 800-1000 hours when I apply. Why do some only reccomend shadowing just a few hours or a couple of days at the most? From what I've read shadowing seems par for the course for PA school, but not so common for medical school. Anyone?

 

[relentless11]

This is only my 4th month of shadowing and I still have over 1-2 years before I will apply. I anticipate having over 800-1000 hours when I apply. Why do some only reccomend shadowing just a few hours or a couple of days at the most? From what I've read shadowing seems par for the course for PA school, but not so common for medical school. Anyone?

As njbmd and RxnMan pointed out, there's only so much you can learn from shadowing a physician. More or less, once you've shadowed one physician, you've pretty much seen it all. Having 12 hours of shadowing vs. 1000 hours of shadowing is moot. Its far better to put more time and resources into something that is both unique and something you like to do.

If you like to shadow then more power to you, but it certainly does not raise too many eyebrows if you have 12 vs. 1000 hours of shadowing. Additionally, there's really no way for adcoms to confirm how many hours of volunteering and shadowing. Thus, most extracurriculars are taken as a grain of salt. Remember med schools only want to know that you know what you're getting into (e.g., long hours, lots of paperwork, deal with various kinds of people, etc). In all honesty, you can probably get that from watching Scrubs on NBC (to some extent😉). But surviving med school is totally indepedent of how many hours you follow a physician around. At best, you might develop enough leg stamina, but in terms of developing clinical skills....its a FAR CRY from what what you learn in med school, let alone residency.

I've been shadowing an inpatient peds doc for two months now (for 4 hours once per week), and I've had a terrific experience! It's completely affirmed my interest in medicine. I'm writing to ask whether people have any guidance on how long I should continue shadowing her, since it's obviously a diminishing returns thing in turns of how much I'll learn over time. Also, do med schools have a certain amount of time that they would like to see me shadow? Perhaps at some point I could transition into volunteering in child life or something?

Even though I want to go into peds or neonatology, my fiance is suggesting that I shadow another type of doc to show that I'm well-rounded (most of my research and EC have been with kids). Do you think that's necessary/important?

Thanks in advance for your help!

In regards to PsychStudent, I suggest do whatever floats your boat, but don't put too much time into shadowing unless you can't live with out it. I've been a shadowing and volunteering for the past 8-9 years now, and really, I've just stopped countin how many hours if clinical exposure that i've accumulated. I still do it because I like it. Its a nice change of pace from being a clinical researcher, to just being a shadow. Ultimately, shadowing is probably more of a recreational learning experience. Rather than any decisive factor in getting you into medical school. However I must digress, I don't spend that much time shadowing anymore because: (1) i have other clinical obligations, and (2) in terms of getting into medical school, its far better for me to focus on more unique extracurriculars. Regardless, I want to reiterate that you should do what you enjoy, rather than worry about how many hours of whatever to do😉. GOod luck!

 

[PsychStudent]

Thanks for your feeckback, guys! I'm really enjoying shadowing, but I think I'll stop at the end of this calendar year because I definitely should bone up on my volunteering. I did a ton of volunteering my first year of college, but then I joined an athletic team and started getting heavily into research, which took up almost all of my free time.

In graduate school I've been a (sliding scale) therapist for depressed and anxious adults and done free psycheducational assessments for kids who are struggling in school, but because those were done in the context of my program I doubt they would count as volunteering. I really miss the volunteering I used to do, so I'm going to do some websearches about that right now!

 

[Haemulon]

Good points about the volunteering. I'm trying to get involved as much as I can with groups around my area. I definitely need it too boost the volunteer aspects of my application (for either this years apps, or next if I have to re-apply), but it is also a rewarding experience in its own end.