Shadowing a MD

[macfan101]

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What is the best way to approach a doctor if you want to shadow them? Is it normal/ okay to go look up random doctors online and ask them if you can shadow them? If so, would you tell receptionist to connect you to doctor right away or have the doctor give you a call back? Would a personal visit to the clinic help?

 

[Xenops]

Try asking your family physician as a first step, and inquire of your friends that might be nurses if they know a doctor, or ask friends that have seen specialists.

For myself I asked a friend at church that is a retired doctor, and he suggested a family physician. A much weirder case was I called the hospital to ask what I needed to do to watch surgeries, and a lady from staffing services called me back and asked "Hello, what specialties would you like to shadow?" 😀 I got to shadow an orthopedic surgeon last summer, and I'll ask if I can again this summer.

You can cold-call people, I just have no experience with that.

 

[Praefectus]

If you can shadow your family physician first, do that. If not, he/she might be able to direct you towards someone who would be willing to take you.

 

[PMPMD]

Just ask. We all had to play the game to get here.