Shadowing only One Specialty?

[Dr Gerrard]

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So I have only shadowed neurosurgeons. But I am doing this for about 10 hours a week, for a total of about 100 hours.

Is it all right to only shadow one specialty?

Additionally, I feel that it is relevant that I did not just watch their surgeries but also shadowed them during clinic, during rounds, shadowed a few neurosurgery residents. I feel that I have "experienced" the medical field enough to verify my interest, but is it enough?

 

[pharaoh88]

So I have only shadowed neurosurgeons. But I am doing this for about 10 hours a week, for a total of about 100 hours.

Is it all right to only shadow one specialty?

Additionally, I feel that it is relevant that I did not just watch their surgeries but also shadowed them during clinic, during rounds, shadowed a few neurosurgery residents. I feel that I have "experienced" the medical field enough to verify my interest, but is it enough?

From what I've heard, its best to shadow a couple different specialties. However, the fact that you are getting 100 hours is awesome. If you have clinical experience in another area I don't see why you wouldn't be just fine. If you can get a few hours of shadowing in another specialty, I think that would just be icing on the cake👍

 

[Mattabet]

Ideally, you wouldn't even constrain your shadowing to just medicine (you'd look in on some nurses, PA's, etc to develop an understanding of how medicine fits into 'healthcare'). But in reality, most applicants probably fall short of this omni-shadowing.

So is it enough? Probably. But it probably wouldn't hurt to see another specialty or two for comparison (who knows, you might even stumble across something you love)!.

 

[alibai3ah]

It depends more on what your interest are. Like it would sound really weird if you said you wanted to do primary care/family practice, but all you shadowed were neurosurgeons.....

I'd get about 3-4 different types of doctors....