Shadowing: Cold-Calling Methodology

[kypdurron5]

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After having very little success cold-calling physicians for shadowing opportunities, I’ve decided to take a different approach. I’ve tried emailing, but there are very few offices that list email addresses in the phone book. Thus, I’ve decided instead to go the fax route with a well prepared cover letter and premed/academic resume. My big question is- picture or no picture?

Pictures on resumes are generally a no-no (in the United States), however, let me make the case. Most premeds get to shadow because they know a doctor, they have a friend of the family, they are the son/daughter of someone who knows someone, etc. Thus, there is usually some kind of personal connection involved. Since I’m asking a complete stranger to essentially do me a favor, I think it would be best to include as much information as possible so they feel as though they can get to know me through the provided materials. Thoughts?

 

[biohzd79]

Cold calling and faxing is not the way to go about getting shadowing experience. I volunteer on weekends at an Ivy hospital. When things are slow I go up to a medical student on the floor and introduce myself.
"Hi my name is Biohzd, I am a volunteer here and a Pre-Med at xxxx U. Things are kind of slow do you need help with anything?"
Once I get the conversation started, ask about how med school is, where there undergrad was... Then ask if you can follow them, don't say shadow to a med. student. Then later in the day, after they comfortable with you, you ask the med. student if he known of any doctors that would would let you shadow them. He will probably introduce you to a doctor right then and there. Introduce yourself to the M.D. and there you go, you know have a doc. you can shadow...

 

[kypdurron5]

The problem is that my largest area hospital's volunteer office is useless! They assigned me to a floor where patients recover from or are held until (non-emergent) surgery. Very few doctors actually visit the floor, and only for a few minutes at a time. I've left about 5 messages and sent 4 emails over the last few months requesting reassignment to a more "active" area, but they just ignore me. I did meet one doctor who asked if I would be interested in helping with some research...he gave me his number but then never returned my messages. Also, I wouldn't describe myself as "timid," but I am reserved. I'm not unwilling to approach a doctor/med student and try to work my way up to the big "s" word, but it's a very big stretch for me. I would rather state my intentions up front and allow a doctor to decide whether they're willing to let me shadow them or not.

 

[PugMD]

Yeah I definately wouldn't rely on calling or faxing - I know that when I am a practicing physician I probably won't even look at the thing over before it hits the basket. I'd suggest the best route is to get to know a physician before you ask to shadow - If you want to call or send emails and faxes, ask to interview them. Some are nice enough to set aside time to talk to premeds, and after a conversation they will be much more likely to offer you their time. I'd start with physicians you've seen before - send a nice letter outlining your circumstances and maybe stroke their ego a bit talking about how pleasant your experience was with them. Get your foot in the door, them go for the kill.

Just calling or flat out asking a physician for shadowing time is like copping a feel before you ask a girl out; it doesn't usually work very well IMO.

 

[kypdurron5]

That's just the problem though...I really don't know any physicians. I've been hesitant to ask my PCP about shadowing, but given my desperation I finally decided to give it a shot. He told me to try the medical clinic (which requires going through the same volunteer office I've been fighting with for 2 years). It was a last resort, and yet a failure. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the hospital suggestion...but my experience was different from yours, and I don't think that will change until I can either 1) get reassigned by the volunteer office or 2) get a personal invitation to shadow from a doctor.

 

[DoctorPardi]

It really is who you know, with this type of thing. I work in surgery and I have never had a shortage of doctors who would be willing to let me shadow them.

I think a picture could be appropriate because part of a doctor's decision on this type of thing is based on if you will be appropriate for clinic. If some crazy dressed, spiked hair guy asked to shadow a doc, he'd probably say no. Maybe that's wrong, but that's the way it goes.

If you have a picture of you dressed and looking conservative I think it couldn't hurt. It would show you certainly could dress/look the part of someone who would potentially shadow the doctor.

My best advice to you is, try to get a job in a hospital. I love working in surgery, I've learned a ton, have great connections, etc.

 

[popbirch]

You might want to try your pre-med office too. I remember mine had some contacts with doctors that didn't mind having students around. I'm surprised that your PCP wouldn't let you shadow them, that's usually a pretty good in to these sorts of things if you don't have a family member. The other option is to just muscle up the courage one day and call a bunch of doctors offices, and make a request. Some doctors are surprisingly willing to share their time with you. I worry that the faxing thing would be too impersonal and so it would be too easy to dismiss. You wouldn't probably talk to the doctor, just leave a message with the secretary saying you are a student and was wondering if there was anyway you could watch Dr.Doe for a day sometime. Its an easy request and doesn't upset anybody, even if they don't have time to let you watch it never hurts to ask. I would just call like 10 offices one day and see how it plays out, and if doesn't work try the fax thing to some other offices.

The other option to try is to see if anyone you know has docs in their family, because that can also get you in. One of my friends wife's dad was a ER doc, and she didn't mind asking him if a student could come hang out. So thats another avenue to look down if you the calling/faxing thing doesn't pan out.

Good luck

 

[MirrorTodd]

Yeah I definately wouldn't rely on calling or faxing - I know that when I am a practicing physician I probably won't even look at the thing over before it hits the basket. I'd suggest the best route is to get to know a physician before you ask to shadow - If you want to call or send emails and faxes, ask to interview them. Some are nice enough to set aside time to talk to premeds, and after a conversation they will be much more likely to offer you their time. I'd start with physicians you've seen before - send a nice letter outlining your circumstances and maybe stroke their ego a bit talking about how pleasant your experience was with them. Get your foot in the door, them go for the kill.

Just calling or flat out asking a physician for shadowing time is like copping a feel before you ask a girl out; it doesn't usually work very well IMO.

Pug you are the ultimate mod. Nobody can top that.

 

[souslepont]

E-mailing seems to work really well for a lot of people...if there's any hospital near you affiliated with a medical school, go to the school's websites and you can find faculty e-mail addresses there. At least, that's what I'm doing at UIC.

 

[melissainsd]

My story may seem to be a tangent, but follow me...

The first time I met my dean she made me cry. I was just dropping off some paperwork because I had been hospitalized for an illness and needed to withdraw a class. Unbeknownst to me, she had been flooded that day with undergrads asking for favors. She misinterpreted why I was there and proceeded to rip me a new one. I cried. One of the secretaries saw, and everyone knew about it. I was told (by others) that the dean felt bad. Fast forward a year. I needed the dean to do me a favor. I was still scared of her, so I made her secretary cookies. Not a bribe per-se, but a, "I am terrified of your boss- please help me" sort of thing. She spoke with the dean, and my favor was granted. The dean has also since gone out of her way to be nice.

Moral of the story- if the front door isn't working, try a window. Speak with there secretaries. Tell them how much this means to you and speak about how hard it has been to find someone willing to help you. Bring cookies if you like. 😉