Shadowing: FP residency or FP Office

[DOwnage]

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I was wondering if anyone here has experience shadowing in either of these 2 environments? Are they equal, or would adcoms prefer one over the other?

The reason I ask is because I want to shadow FP; the residency program may be easier to shadow at than an FP office. The residency program may allow for better learning opportunities since it is a training program, while the office is more realistic of a setting. Also, the residency appears to be more hospital-based medicine, since the program is at a small-to-medium sized hospital. I am worried that this is treading into the waters of hospitalist medicine, which I have learned is not considered primary-care, and I am trying to aim for getting more primary care experience.

Thanks in advance

DOWNAGE

 

[BigBoosting]

I shadowed a FP at his office. I would think a school that pushes primary care would like to see you shadow in an office so that you have the more typical experiences you would as a FP. But at this point, IDK if they'd care so long as you have some shadowing experience and can still effectively convey that you want to do primary care.

 

[guidedwaves]

While I don't know which one will look better on your application, I can say from experience that shadowing in a residency program is more interesting. You can interact with the Dr (s)., residents, and if the hospital trains them, other healthcare fields (nurses, PA, etc). Most of the residents are in their 20s/30s so they are still young and remember what it was like in medical school and the application process worries, so they are pretty affable, while some doctors are too busy or jaded with experience to spend too much time with you.

 

[rmsgolfer]

Do the residency program without a doubt. I have done both and working with physicians who are "new" into practice will allow you to learn a lot more as they too will still be learning quite a bit.

Also they will have a lot more insight into med school and applying to residency as they have just survived the processes.

 

[DOwnage]

I've seen a little bit of what the FP residency docs do at the hospital, because I volunteer there. They're literally all over the place. I think it's a great opportunity to learn the breadth of FP, but how much different is it from a hospitalist?