Shadowing Abroad

[Caffein3]

Hey SDN! I've had the wonderful opportunity to live abroad this summer to perform a research project I designed. I've also had a little bit of down time, so I used that time to shadow in an extremely rural primary care clinic where I've been living. It was extremely small, and didn't actually have a primary care doctor. I shadowed a PA, a nurse, and a Pharmacy Assistant. I know I didn't actually shadow a doctor, but I would love to work in the same kind of clinic one day. Would these shadowing hours actually count on my application? If it doesn't it's no big deal--I still learned a great deal about this country's healthcare system and learned how care for rural patients in other countries can be administered. Overall it was a great learning experience, but if it also counts for shadowing hours on my application, that'd be great too!

Thanks.

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[Hobakie]

That sounds cool, what country?

I don't know if you can count them as shadowing hours since it wasn't in the states and some schools are weary about opportunities like this in different countries but it would likely be something you could add under significant experiences especially since it was in a very rural area and was meaningful to you. I would take it with a grain of salt though i'm nowhere near the application process ,but know the AMCAS well enough to know what you are talking about.

if you cant do anyone of these you still have the research experience 🙂 Also try this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ork-activities-tips-thread-2014-2015.1062704/

 

[allantois]

That's not shadowing. As for Pharmacy Assistant, c'mon it's a 2 year degree! Nevertheless, it's still a great volunteering experience to talk about.

 

[Caffein3]

Thanks for the response! I'm currently living somewhere on the west coast of Africa (dont wanna get too specific). True, I guess it's not real "shadowing", but you're right still a great experience!

 

[Catalystik]

Technically, it is job shadowing, and you could mention it on your application. But I would suggest you be careful to differentiate it from your US Physician Shadowing if you mention it in the same space.

 

[Goro]

This is all well and good if you wish to be a nurse, a PA or a pharm ass't.

I would ignore it and ask you in interview why you hadn't shadowed a doctor.

Hey SDN! I've had the wonderful opportunity to live abroad this summer to perform a research project I designed. I've also had a little bit of down time, so I used that time to shadow in an extremely rural primary care clinic where I've been living. It was extremely small, and didn't actually have a primary care doctor. I shadowed a PA, a nurse, and a Pharmacy Assistant. I know I didn't actually shadow a doctor, but I would love to work in the same kind of clinic one day. Would these shadowing hours actually count on my application? If it doesn't it's no big deal--I still learned a great deal about this country's healthcare system and learned how care for rural patients in other countries can be administered. Overall it was a great learning experience, but if it also counts for shadowing hours on my application, that'd be great too!

Thanks.

 

[Caffein3]

Ah I see. I really just wanted to interact with some patients, and I wanted to experience first hand how the healthcare system worked here. It was interesting to watch the PA diagnose, treat, and prescribe medicines for the patients! The village the clinic is in is extremely small and doctors are rare in this country (only work and operate in large cities). So it doesn't count as shadowing, no biggie! I have other shadowing done in the US. Just checking 🙂 Thanks everyone!

This is all well and good if you wish to be a nurse, a PA or a pharm ass't.

I would ignore it and ask you in interview why you hadn't shadowed a doctor.

 

[Catalystik]

I really just wanted to interact with some patients, and I wanted to experience first hand how the healthcare system worked here. It was interesting to watch the PA diagnose, treat, and prescribe medicines for the patients! The village the clinic is in is extremely small and doctors are rare in this country (only work and operate in large cities).

It's still a great experience and I foresee you'll get some interview questions asking you to compare healthcare systems. If the experience was sufficiently substantive, you might consider a separate activity listing for "Experience of International Healthcare," and include your insights gained and impact.