Shadowing Doctors

[gildas]

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How do u meet Doctor to shadow? It seems that it is hard to find someone willing to let you shadow him.
Thanks

 

[Amxcvbcv]

I'd start with your family physician, if you live close to him/her.

If not there, then ask at your pre-med advising office.

If not there, pick a specialty in which you are interested and start calling them at the local hospital.

Worked for me. 😛

 

[TTSD]

What Amx said. Also, ask your friends. Try volunteering at a hospital at well.

 

[Scrubz67]

University relations/ties...they work wonders
The doc I shadowed did his undergrad (not med school) at my undergrad school, and he was so excited to have me around. Just find an "in" or a point of common ground with a doc, like family friend, alumni relations etc and you will be able to find someone in no time

Good

 

[PositivePostBac]

I found that volunteering at a teaching hospital is the way to find a doctor you can shadow who may just wind up being your mentor: as a an example I give you my experience:

I volunteered at a major teaching hospital and after working as an ambasador for a couple of months I asked if they could transfer me to a specific dept, which they did. While working their I made it a point to go out of my way to learn everything I could, like by sneaking in to the back of grand rounds and taking notes. One day a doctor walked up to me after rounds and, with an expressionless face, said "My name is Dr. X, One of my residents left, would you like to shadow me?" He was obviously a man of few words but his presence alone was powerful and intimidating. I immediately said yes. Only later did I find out he was the hospital's chief in his practice area and one of the world leaders in his field. I shadowed and volunteered with him for almost a year, including working on his clinical research, until his resident load got too heavy and he told me he could no longer keep me on. When I asked him for a letter of recommendation this year, he called me into his office and let me listen as he dictated it to his secretary; it was the best rec I could have hoped for. Just as I was sending out my completed secondaries, his research was published and got top billing in NEJM, other journals, and on the front page of the health sections of several major newspapers. I can't say for sure, but I think his rec may be a big reason why I have some interviews already.

Anyway, my point is that doctors at teaching hospitals are their to teach. If you show them you truly are committed to learing than they will be committed to you. I hope this helps.

 

[WalterSobchakk]

That's a pretty sweet deal, PositivePostBac...congratulations!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

The hospital that I volunteer at has a preceptorship program. Pre-meds that volunteer for at least 70 hours are eligible to apply for the program, where you get to shadow an ER doc for 10 weeks, 4 hrs/week. You see everything the doc sees, following every step of the way. You also get to assist in surgical procedures. Just kidding about the last part, but overall it is a great program. You should ask your local hospital if they have a similar program.

 

[rockstar2525]

I had just moved to Chicago to start my post-bac and didn't have any connections. I looked up doctors on the web in the specialty I was interested in. I called and called back. I asked if I could come shadow, even if only for one afternoon. Eventually two agreed to let me shadow, and so I shadowed both for one day. I really liked one of the doctors after my first day and asked if I could come again. I kept doing this, and although I sometime had to wait for a few weeks while she'd have a med students I got to go in quite a few times with her over the past year. It was total shot in the dark, but this women ended up being very influential in my decision and quite an inspiration to me. My advice: start asking around, the worst they can say is no.

 

[shadowy onion]

you should have a list of alumni at your school who are willing to help out.
These doctors made the effort to list themselves so I am sure the chances are that they are willing to allow you to shadow them.