Shadowing hours help

[floatingribs]

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I'm a sophomore and have 0 shadowing hours. I do volunteer in the ER weekly and have lots of clinical exposure through other means, but I'm not sure how you're supposed get doctors to allow you to shadow them. I plan to contact any personal doctors I know through family/friends and my pediatrician, but other than that do you just like call random hospitals asking if they have shadowing programs/positions? Or would one contact doctor's directly?

Also how much shadowing hours is a good amount to have? I've heard diversity is key, but in general what's a good hour amount to aim for?

 

[Catalystik]

I'm a sophomore and have 0 shadowing hours. I do volunteer in the ER weekly and have lots of clinical exposure through other means, but I'm not sure how you're supposed get doctors to allow you to shadow them. I plan to contact any personal doctors I know through family/friends and my pediatrician, but other than that do you just like call random hospitals asking if they have shadowing programs/positions? Or would one contact doctor's directly?

Also how much shadowing hours is a good amount to have? I've heard diversity is key, but in general what's a good hour amount to aim for?

Aim for at least 40 hours. About 50 is the average listed. So long as you include a primary care doc, there isn't a lot of pressure for diversity among specialties. There is no need to have a regular shadowing gig. You can accumulate hours up to the last minute and it will "look" fine. Getting them in during breaks while at home is a good option.

You might hit on ED docs you get to know while volunteering, or other specialists who frequent the Emergency area. Better is to contact your own physician, those of parents, or physician parents of friends. Some pre-med advisors have a list of docs wiling to be shadowed. So do some Pre-Med Clubs. Cold calling professional offices is an option that may pay off, but is time-intensive.

 

[ciucia53]

I would shoot for 40, spread across 3 specialties. Definitely contact personal doctors first and even if they might not be able to let you shadow, they might know a doctor that's willing to do so. Reach out to your pre-med advisor if you have one, as there might be a lesser known shadowing program already in place at your school or they might be able to get you an in as well. Beyond that, I found a list of doctors on staff at a local hospital and mass-emailed them asking if I could shadow.

 

[kb1900]

Cold email private practice docs offering to help out as a volunteer with clerical stuff as well. 2 birds 1 stone

 

[aldol16]

It's much more likely that you will be able to get a shadowing opportunity through personal contacts than through calling various offices whose numbers you got from a phone book.