Shadowing Issue

[eablackwell]

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So, I finally got the guts up to ask a couple doctors if I could shadow them. I thought I'd try my old pediatrician and my urologist, because I've known both of them for about 20 years. Most of the info I've heard on here is "Don't be afraid. They're used to it."

So I went to talk to my pediatrician. After some friendly chatter and catching up I pop the "So, do you ever allow premeds to shadow you?"

And he looks at me like I've grown another head. I explained what it was to which he responds "I've never heard of that before. I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to do it for insurance/privacy reasons."

So I go to talk to my urologist. I figure the pediatrician was just a fluke, even though I felt like an idiot. So I ask the urologist. Almost the same exact answer.

I don't understand why this is so hard. I'm trying to get in as a weekend volunteer at a local ER, but I'm not sure if that will go through or not. It should be easier to volunteer your time, seriously. 😕

 

[NPHisyourLord]

So, I finally got the guts up to ask a couple doctors if I could shadow them. I thought I'd try my old pediatrician and my urologist, because I've known both of them for about 20 years. Most of the info I've heard on here is "Don't be afraid. They're used to it."

So I went to talk to my pediatrician. After some friendly chatter and catching up I pop the "So, do you ever allow premeds to shadow you?"

And he looks at me like I've grown another head. I explained what it was to which he responds "I've never heard of that before. I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to do it for insurance/privacy reasons."

So I go to talk to my urologist. I figure the pediatrician was just a fluke, even though I felt like an idiot. So I ask the urologist. Almost the same exact answer.

I don't understand why this is so hard. I'm trying to get in as a weekend volunteer at a local ER, but I'm not sure if that will go through or not. It should be easier to volunteer your time, seriously. 😕

Not to sound mean, but I think that was their way of blowing you off. Its common knowledge that you mearly have to obey HIPAA laws as well.

NPH

 

[eablackwell]

Not to sound mean, but I think that was their way of blowing you off. Its common knowledge that you mearly have to obey HIPAA laws as well.

NPH

I wish they would have just told me no. I know them well enough that I wouldn't have been offended, and they could have spared me the "please define shadowing" part.

My urologist even went as far as to confuse shadowing with residency and say he had residents from the local hospital, but they had already graduated med school and so that was allowed.

Oh well.

 

[DrMaximus]

Yeah, I've never had one tell me they couldn't do it for insurance reasons. They either tell me they're too busy or have too many already....

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I'm not entirely sure that they were trying to "blow you off". If these are two physicians that have been practicing outside of academics for a while, then shadowing may be completely foreign to them. The emphasis on shadowing that exists today is relatively new. Twenty years ago shadowing was probably very uncommon.... Or they were just trying to blow you off.

You may want to contact physicians that are associated with an academic center; they are probably more familiar with students requesting to shadow. If an academic center is too far away, check with some younger doctors who won't be so surprised by a request to shadow.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

your best bet is just going through the phone book and hitting up a bunch of docs until you get a positive response.

 

[eablackwell]

I'm not entirely sure that they were trying to "blow you off". If these are two physicians that have been practicing outside of academics for a while, then shadowing may be completely foreign to them. The emphasis on shadowing that exists today is relatively new. Twenty years ago shadowing was probably very uncommon

I'm hoping it was this. Both are in their 60s.

 

[lstone13]

your best bet is just going through the phone book and hitting up a bunch of docs until you get a positive response.

👍

 

[apumic]

I'm not entirely sure that they were trying to "blow you off". If these are two physicians that have been practicing outside of academics for a while, then shadowing may be completely foreign to them. The emphasis on shadowing that exists today is relatively new. Twenty years ago shadowing was probably very uncommon.... Or they were just trying to blow you off.

You may want to contact physicians that are associated with an academic center; they are probably more familiar with students requesting to shadow. If an academic center is too far away, check with some younger doctors who won't be so surprised by a request to shadow.

^This. A LOT has changed in med school admissions over the past 20 years. HIPAA is a big deal and for a physician to invite you into his clinical practice and allow you to see pts (w/o being an employee) probably sounds questionable to any physician that didn't have to do it him/herself as an applicant. You may have more success with physicians who are a bit younger and aware of these requirements. Once you're in the door and have a physician mentor of sorts, things will become much easier as that physician can advocate for you and help you get other opportunities (assuming you ask AND made a good/great initial impression on that physician).

 

[justdoit31]

I had something similar happen with shadowing at a hospital- I had to go through about 6 months of paperwork and then they have a whole list of "rules and regulations" for my shadowing weeks. Basically they said I had 14 days to do as much as I wanted to with the department and after that couldn't come back and couldn't get a LOR from physicians- and this is at a huge hospital connected to a med school. It all worked out with time and then I will be returning to that hospital for summer research and 0 restrictions

My family doctor let me shadow her but was hesitant at first- once she let me come in she warmed up fast and I could call pretty much anytime to come in. Since I was accepted and started school she has started working with more pre-meds and med students so sometimes it just takes getting the exposure and realizing that it won't slow you down that much.

Hang in there OP and don't be afraid to call around and find someone who will work with you- my hospital connection was a friend of a friend situation and she has gone above and beyond for me.