Shadowing Question

[MedPR]

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The consensus about the best method to get shadowing experience is to apply broadly (heh) and call a bunch of offices and hospitals in your area to find out if any of them are open to shadowing.

Part of that process appears to be asking the office assistant/nurse to take a message and request that the physician call you him/herself so you can ask them directly. Seems like a solid plan, and one that I have no problem attempting.

However, what happens if multiple doctors agree to let you shadow them, but they both or all want you to shadow during the same week/weeks. Obviously you have to pick one, but how do you tell the others that you aren't their first choice? What would you do in a situation where you are offered an opportunity to shadow more than one doctor, but you don't have enough time to make it happen?

 

[Deekle]

However, what happens if multiple doctors agree to let you shadow them, but they both or all want you to shadow during the same week/weeks. Obviously you have to pick one, but how do you tell the others that you aren't their first choice? What would you do in a situation where you are offered an opportunity to shadow more than one doctor, but you don't have enough time to make it happen?

I don't think you'll have much of a problem with this. If it does happen, just explain to those you decide not to shadow that you did "apply" with a lot of doctors and were able to figure out the best schedule\location. Honesty is always the best policy.

Doctors don't get as much out of shadowing as you'd think. Most of them are doing it out of the kindness of their heart because somebody helped them once. Having a shadow puts them behind on paperwork\dictations while they are explaining things to us poor medical students.

 

[scarshapedstar]

Yeah, just be honest. They did the same thing years ago. Tell them you'll check back in a few months.

 

[PharMed2016]

The consensus about the best method to get shadowing experience is to apply broadly (heh) and call a bunch of offices and hospitals in your area to find out if any of them are open to shadowing.

Part of that process appears to be asking the office assistant/nurse to take a message and request that the physician call you him/herself so you can ask them directly. Seems like a solid plan, and one that I have no problem attempting.

However, what happens if multiple doctors agree to let you shadow them, but they both or all want you to shadow during the same week/weeks. Obviously you have to pick one, but how do you tell the others that you aren't their first choice? What would you do in a situation where you are offered an opportunity to shadow more than one doctor, but you don't have enough time to make it happen?

I don't think you will run into that issue.

 

[MedPR]

I don't think you'll have much of a problem with this. If it does happen, just explain to those you decide not to shadow that you did "apply" with a lot of doctors and were able to figure out the best schedule\location. Honesty is always the best policy.

Doctors don't get as much out of shadowing as you'd think. Most of them are doing it out of the kindness of their heart because somebody helped them once. Having a shadow puts them behind on paperwork\dictations while they are explaining things to us poor medical students.

Oh I know they don't get much, if anything out of it. I was thinking more along the lines of them deciding to add a little more to their workload by allowing a student to shadow only to have the student tell them "oh nevermind, I found someone better." Seems like a slap in the face and I don't want to give anyone that impression.

 

[Deekle]

Oh I know they don't get much, if anything out of it. I was thinking more along the lines of them deciding to add a little more to their workload by allowing a student to shadow only to have the student tell them "oh nevermind, I found someone better." Seems like a slap in the face and I don't want to give anyone that impression.

Do not phrase it in this way. You never know who you'll end up working with in the future. Don't forget that they've been in your shoes. Just tell them that you spread a wide net and got more feedback than you needed. If you feel more explanation is necessary, tell them that you picked based on location\time. Thank them for their willingness to help you out and move on.

 

[MedPR]

Do not phrase it in this way. You never know who you'll end up working with in the future. Don't forget that they've been in your shoes. Just tell them that you spread a wide net and got more feedback than you needed. If you feel more explanation is necessary, tell them that you picked based on location\time. Thank them for their willingness to help you out and move on.

I didn't plan on saying it in those terms, but I was worried that's how it would sound.

Thanks for the advice, that's exactly what I will do if I run into that problem.

 

[Deekle]

No problem. Good luck with the shadowing, you'll have a blast.

 

[MedPR]

No problem. Good luck with the shadowing, you'll have a blast.

I shadowed an MD a couple of years ago at his practice and it was really interesting. I haven't shadowed any DOs yet (I need to, since I'm applying DO in June), but his approach to patients was what I imagine a DO's approach would be. He was concerned more about just the primary complaint and current issues and he often seemed to try and treat underlying causes instead of just what the pt was complaining about. Maybe that's what all doctors do, but I thought it was very DO-like.

 

[mafunk]

I think it is far more important to shadow on person for a long time than to shadow many folks for a short time. Just pick one and stick with it... then thank the others for the offer. simple

 

[MedPR]

I think it is far more important to shadow on person for a long time than to shadow many folks for a short time. Just pick one and stick with it... then thank the others for the offer. simple

That's what I used to think too, but now I think I'd rather get to shadow different specialists rather than spend months with one person doing the same thing every day over and over. I did that 2 years ago and was bored after the first month.

 

[mafunk]

That's what I used to think too, but now I think I'd rather get to shadow different specialists rather than spend months with one person doing the same thing every day over and over. I did that 2 years ago and was bored after the first month.

Yeah... I totally agree that it gets boring. I just meant that I think adcoms like depth rather than a shotgun approach. My solution... no shadowing.

Instead I volunteer in triage at one place and as an MA in the other (long term)... so instead of JUST shadowing I get to work with patients AND watch the dr.

 

[Deekle]

Who are you shadowing? If you're getting bored after a month, you should probably be looking for something with a faster pace. Have you tried emergency medicine?

 

[COTA2Phys]

Who are you shadowing? If you're getting bored after a month, you should probably be looking for something with a faster pace. Have you tried emergency medicine?

👍 Or Critical Care

 

[MedPR]

Who are you shadowing? If you're getting bored after a month, you should probably be looking for something with a faster pace. Have you tried emergency medicine?

Private practice rheumatologist. It was all I could get at the time.

 

[LifeTake2]

The consensus about the best method to get shadowing experience is to apply broadly (heh) and call a bunch of offices and hospitals in your area to find out if any of them are open to shadowing.

I would argue this point.

The BEST way to get decent shadowing is to work the connections you know. Even if that means starting with your PCP and then branching out. You will have a greater rate of success, and more valuable shadowing if you put more thought into it than scanning the yellow pages.

 

[MedPR]

I would argue this point.

The BEST way to get decent shadowing is to work the connections you know. Even if that means starting with your PCP and then branching out. You will have a greater rate of success, and more valuable shadowing if you put more thought into it than scanning the yellow pages.

I'm 24, I don't have a PCP. My last "PCP" was my pediatrician and I went pretty far from home for college and I now live in the same city I went to college in. I haven't really had to see a doctor for anything.

I work in a hospital though, so I don't know if that puts me at an advantage?

 

[scarshapedstar]

Private practice rheumatologist. It was all I could get at the time.

I shadow/volunteer with a rotating group of residents at a free clinic for the homeless. Not glamorous but good variety of doctorin' styles and social issues, and usually one interesting patient per day. And they definitely appreciate the help. If you can find something like this, it might be a great experience for you.

 

[vnlegend]

Hi all, interesting discussions here.

I'd like to ask how much shadowing experience (hrs? duration--month/year?) is needed to have a competitive application for MD/DO schools?

 

[MedPR]

Hi all, interesting discussions here.

I'd like to ask how much shadowing experience (hrs? duration--month/year?) is needed to have a competitive application for MD/DO schools?

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think all premeds should want as much shadowing experience as they can possibly get.

With that in mind, I don't think there is a minimum necessary for a "competitive" application. It won't break you if your stats are good enough.

 

[Deekle]

Yeah, its less about the quantity and more about the quality. I spent 2 years as a volunteer in a large hospital ED. I learned more in my first day of shadowing an actual Dr. than I learned in 2 whole years of volunteer work. Honestly, if you're on the right path, you'll get plenty of time shadowing. Most of the time I'm counting down the days until my next shadowing appointment. If you're counting the hours until you get some magical number you're probably doing it for the wrong reasons.

 

[MedPR]

Yeah, its less about the quantity and more about the quality. I spent 2 years as a volunteer in a large hospital ED. I learned more in my first day of shadowing an actual Dr. than I learned in 2 whole years of volunteer work. Honestly, if you're on the right path, you'll get plenty of time shadowing. Most of the time I'm counting down the days until my next shadowing appointment. If you're counting the hours until you get some magical number you're probably doing it for the wrong reasons.

👍

 

[Medicinewoman85]

I would argue this point.

The BEST way to get decent shadowing is to work the connections you know. Even if that means starting with your PCP and then branching out. You will have a greater rate of success, and more valuable shadowing if you put more thought into it than scanning the yellow pages.

I have to agree. I have found several shadowing opportunities and an offer to serve on a Health Committee by networking and talking with members of my church. Since being on the committee I have the chance to get two know a dermatologist, 2 obgyn physicians, a CRNA, a primary care doc, and the list goes on. Once they find out who you are and what you plan to do they are almost always willing to help you.