Questions about how to ask a doctor for shadowing

[sharpieLIFE]

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Hey All!
I'm new here and I'm just wondering about shadowing. I'm away at college now and don't have any family-friend doctors in my area. Can you guys recommend a good way of looking for doctors to shadow?
Thanks!

 

[mmmcdowe]

Hey All!
I'm new here and I'm just wondering about shadowing. I'm away at college now and don't have any family-friend doctors in my area. Can you guys recommend a good way of looking for doctors to shadow?
Thanks!

Find a hospital, see if there is a volunteer/community outreach program. Contact them. If not, write a few professional emails to physicians with profiles on the hospital page.

 

[MedPR]

Hey All!
I'm new here and I'm just wondering about shadowing. I'm away at college now and don't have any family-friend doctors in my area. Can you guys recommend a good way of looking for doctors to shadow?
Thanks!

Pick up the phone.

Hi, my name is sharpieLIFE and I'm a freshman pre-medicine student at SDN University. I am interested in learning more about the medical profession and I was hoping Dr. Smith is available to shadow.

Then the nurse/secretary will tell you to hold on. She'll place you on hold for a minute or two, come back, and tell you yes or no.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

Does anyone have a template or recommend what to write?

 

[Praefectus]

Go to your pediatrician/family doc and ask them first.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

Unfortunately, I'm away to college and I don't know any doctor's here.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Does anyone have a template or recommend what to write?

Something along what MedPR wrote. You should probably have a resume prepared in case they want one (especially if it is a longitudinal program)

 

[Irish Football]

Just look up physicians on hospitals' web pages and email/call them. It's that simple. If you contact enough of them your bound to get a few who will let you shadow them.

 

[487806]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

If I am volunteering in the ER, would it be a good thing to ask the doctors there for shadowing opportunities? Or just leave them alone and cold call?

 

[MedPR]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

If I am volunteering in the ER, would it be a good thing to ask the doctors there for shadowing opportunities? Or just leave them alone and cold call?

If you get friendly with the docs (e.g if they approach you and maintain a conversation with you) you can ask. Otherwise I wouldn't.

 

[cheesier]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

If I am volunteering in the ER, would it be a good thing to ask the doctors there for shadowing opportunities? Or just leave them alone and cold call?

Definitely ask the doctors you see in the ER.

 

[circulus vitios]

Pick up the phone.

Hi, my name is sharpieLIFE and I'm a freshman pre-medicine student at SDN University. I am interested in learning more about the medical profession and I was hoping Dr. Smith is available to shadow.

Then the nurse/secretary will tell you to hold on. She'll place you on hold for a minute or two, come back, and tell you yes or no.

This. Try talking to someone in charge of medical education, like a program director. He might be able to pull some strings if the hospital has a policy against pre-meds.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

I'm over at Tufts in MA. Do you guys know or recommend any good leads for doctors in the Boston/Cambridge area?

 

[cheesier]

.

 

[qwerty2012]

Call and email. Don't be shy. Use webmd and any websites to get contacts.

 

[circulus vitios]

Call and email. Don't be shy. Use webmd and any websites to get contacts.

And if you get a secretary, always ask if you can speak directly to the doctor. The doctor might be pissed off that an idiot pre-med has the audacity to waste his time, but who cares. It's better than being blown off by the secretary.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

Do you guys happen to have a template that I could use/borrow?

 

[qwerty2012]

What I learned from my past experiences 1. they will mostly likely not return your calls 2. usually when you get the secretary = will hang up on you or make up some lame excuses.

Best is just to email many many people. OR actually go there in person and speak directly.

 

[sharpieLIFE]

Can anyone post some examples of successful emails?

 

[SixStringPsych]

can anyone post some examples of successful emails?

+1

 

[circulus vitios]

+1

Just keep it very brief. Hi my name is x and I'm a pre-medical student at Some University. I was wondering if I could shadow you in the coming months. Thank you for your time and consideration, x.

Apparently the hospital I'm trying to shadow at has a formal shadowing. The application process is detailed and requires things like selecting a preceptor, having the preceptor fill out a form, getting departmental supervisor permission, completion of training (HIPAA, infectious disease control, etc.), verification of several immunizations, a criminal background check, etc. The forms must mention an exact time window for shadowing and they must all be submitted a month before the earliest date on which one wishes to shadow.

The whole process is pretty ridiculous for what amounts to standing around in the corner of a room for 50 hours, so start planning early and beware of the red tape...

 

[ShenanigansMD]

It's like getting the girl (or guy, not sure if you're a dude) of your dreams.

Persistence.

 

[cortana431]

Do you generally shadow for as long as you like to and feel you get the most out of it? Like in my first shadowing experience this summer I kind of felt awkward telling the doctor I was done and that I appreciated the opportunity and stopped coming.