shadowing question

[pinkzebra]

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i wanted to try to get some more shadowing hours before the application cycle. when you were looking to shadow, did you just call local physicians in your area? explain that you are a pre-med student looking to shadow temporarily? my supervisor at my lab position is a MD and told me the other day that physicians really do not like when people shadow. that makes me a little nervous to call and ask!

 

[SoftwareKevin]

I had a hard time at first finding physicians to shadow. I work in a research lab in ophthalmology but people seemed to only know people in their own specialty. Finding primary care and internal medicine was the hardest for me. I just started cold calling clinics. Most of the time I never got past the front desk, but I did get a couple of people to call me back. Once you find a few physicians it becomes much easier to network.

Just keep at it. Try and call physicians or clinics associated with universities as they'll be used to having residents and students around. I was able to find a trauma surgeon, family med doc, and internist through cold calling and introducing myself. Ask your classmates what they've done - they might be able to refer you to who they've shadowed. Try calling your own primary care doc.

i wanted to try to get some more shadowing hours before the application cycle. when you were looking to shadow, did you just call local physicians in your area? explain that you are a pre-med student looking to shadow temporarily? my supervisor at my lab position is a MD and told me the other day that physicians really do not like when people shadow. that makes me a little nervous to call and ask!