Repetitive answer to shadowing question

[CBN713]

I have been trying to find shadowing opportunities lately. I've been calling hospitals and clinic and get the same answer: we don't allow undergraduates to shadow or you must be at least a senior.
I only contact one doctor directly so far and got the answer from the office person that they don't allow undergraduate.

I heard that people even freshmen and sophomores could find shadowing opportunities, so why am I not having any luck? Would it be different if I focus on contacting individual doctors directly? As in going through HR or medical staffing after I have already gotten an approval from a doctor.

I found out from a friend (not a volunteer) that the hospital I volunteer at says they only allows medical student to shadow. Would it be different for volunteers of the hospital (I have not asked yet because they tells me to contact medical staffing and the line was busy both times I called)?

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[Scrizzy]

There's only 2 ways I know of to get shadowing to get shadowing experience:
1. You have to apply at a hospital that has that program. There's usually a program involved for pre-med students, but that's up to the hospital.
2. You have to know a guy that knows a guy.
You can try calling individual doctors... But unless you know them, they're most likely not going to fight for you and direct you to the office again.

 

[LacrosseFit]

There's only 2 ways I know of to get shadowing to get shadowing experience:
1. You have to apply at a hospital that has that program. There's usually a program involved for pre-med students, but that's up to the hospital.
2. You have to know a guy that knows a guy.
You can try calling individual doctors... But unless you know them, they're most likely not going to fight for you and direct you to the office again.

This, sadly, is so true!

 

[Espressso]

Are you close to your PCP? Both physically like you live close to your PCP's office and also like, friendly with him/her? Your PCP would be a good place to start. They tend to be open if their patient is explains that they're pre-med and want to go into medicine.

Another option is to get deathly ill or break a bone and go to the ER then ask the doc or specialist there. It worked wonders for me.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I have had zero trouble getting shadowing experience. I am starting to think I am the exception, but literally all I did was ask individual doctors. For example, I took my daughter to see her pediatrician and asked him while he was wrapping up his exam.

You could easily do that with your own doctor. Book an appointment for an exam and ask when you're there. They still get to bill for an exam and you get to pop the question. If you're personable and they aren't a dick, it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Coltuna]

Are you from a rural area? If so, contact the physician recruiter(s) at local hospitals. This is how I've scheduled all of my shadowing. It's a win/win for you and the recruiter as you get to shadow and he has a potential future recruit who is familiar with the facility.

 

[B-Lymphocyte]

Volunteering at a local free clinic is a good way to get primary care experience and it can serve as a basis for clinical volunteering. I started out shadowing at a local free primary care clinic and then I was able to move to triaging patients.