Shadowing a neurologist

[airix]

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Hello,

Tomorrow will be the first time I attend a shadowing with a physician. For this physician, he asked me to come prepared with questions before hand to ask him. I am not sure what questions I should ask and I am not sure what questions would be appropriate to ask. Please let me know where I should start!

Thanks!

 

[familyaerospace]

Ask him why he picked medicine, ask him why he picked his specialty. When you see a patient, after you leave the room ask questions about what went on inside the room (I can't get specific on that one as I was pimped by the neurologist.)

 

[airix]

Thanks, that's a great place to start. I was thinking so in depth that I forgot the obvious questions! If there are any additional things I could ask, let me know thanks!

 

[familyaerospace]

There is no right or wrong question to ask. It's for your benefit not mine, I already have 400+ hours shadowing, 36 hours with a neurologist.

 

[Boolean]

There's a book I have on my shelf called Pre-Test for Neurology. I read over it when I was shadowing a neurologist and learned an awful lot.

 

[coffeesnob]

There's a book I have on my shelf called Pre-Test for Neurology. I read over it when I was shadowing a neurologist and learned an awful lot.

seriously? lol oh yeah right…. i am sure you learned a lot from reading through board-style questions and answers. OP, don't do this. I highly doubt the doctor expects you to ask clinical questions. I would just read up on what the specialty is about. If the doctor sees any specific patient population, then I would wiki it.

 

[Boolean]

seriously? lol oh yeah right…. i am sure you learned a lot from reading through board-style questions and answers. OP, don't do this. I highly doubt the doctor expects you to ask clinical questions. I would just read up on what the specialty is about. If the doctor sees any specific patient population, then I would wiki it.

I personally feel you can learn quite a bit from them, yes. There's a reason why they are used. Would they possibly go above OP's head, sure. I'm not denying that they are higher level subject material, but implying one cannot learn a lot from them is a bit ridiculous.

 

[coffeesnob]

I personally feel you can learn quite a bit from them, yes. There's a reason why they are used. Would they possibly go above OP's head, sure. I'm not denying that they are higher level subject material, but implying one cannot learn a lot from them is a bit ridiculous.

I literally said "i am sure you learned a lot from reading through board-style questions and answers." i bet you learned something from reading through the book. but recommending a book that MS3s use to study for their shelf exams to a premedical shadowee is a bit ridiculous.

 

[Boolean]

I literally said "i am sure you learned a lot from reading through board-style questions and answers." i bet you learned something from reading through the book. but recommending a book that MS3s use to study for their shelf exams to a premedical shadowee is a bit ridiculous.

The "lol oh yeah right" part is the one I was concentrating on. You make a beyond fair point though. Is there a comparable book you recommend for pre-meds?

 

[deleted407021]

I suggest to the OP that they sit back and listen carefully while not trying to learn anything that may apply to step I or med school or neuroscience. They are there to see just what it's like to be a neurologist. What they do; what their hours are like; what they enjoy or do not enjoy about the field of medicine and neurology. Some of their questions may be answered by observation. If not, ask them. I'm certain that any "science" OP may learn in the time they shadow this physician will be of no yield high enough to impact their future performance on standardized tests. They are there to be a shadow, not a neuroscience student.

 

[coffeesnob]

The "lol oh yeah right" part is the one I was concentrating on. You make a beyond fair point though. Is there a comparable book you recommend for pre-meds?

nope 🙂 please don't read any medical school review books now. please don't study for shadowing. enjoy your premedical years. there will be a plenty of time to learn everything properly when you are in med school.

if you want to look up any specific neurological disorders, google is your friend.

 

[whatever5]

I shadowed a neurologist as I was a neuro major in college so I actually had some background to ask questions, but if you don't then focus mostly on asking how he deals with patient type X or why he told patient Y one thing but seemingly similar patient Z a totally different thing - keep it within the realm of something patient focused so have something useful to talk about applicable to all specialties if it comes up in an interview/secondary.

 

[Cinabonchik]

When I shadowed a cardiologist I went over my notes from physiology class just kind of to have an idea of the field.After the first day he was giving me chapters/papers to read and then I had to ask questions;-)

 

[WingedOx]

The good news for neuro is that there is a lot of physical examination that tends to happen during the clinic. Ask about the specific portions of the examination and what they mean/what parts of the brain each finding is involved etc (read up a little on the basic neuro exam beforehand too).

also, don't get offended if the guy you're shadowing seems awkward and incapable of keeping up a basic conversation. That's just because he's a neurologist.

 

[supermintyfresh]

Here are a few questions that come to mind:
1. Who was your most difficult patient and how did you get through to him and her?
2. How do you deal with the stress associated with the field? (ie: treating neurodegenerative diseases that have no cure and often causes depression in patients)
3. Why did you choose neurology?
4. What are your hours like?
5. What disease most interests you?

Like someone above said, anything is fair game as questions. Just try to have normal conversations with the neurologist 🙂