Shadowing Questions

[PA_dud3]

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Hi all, hope you are doing well!

Some questions regarding shadowing if its not too much trouble,

1) if I have a continuous shadowing relationship with a physician that dates back to my senior year of HS, are hours from this able to be included in AACOMAS/AMCAS activities? Say I have about 10 hours with said physician in HS and 5 now, would putting 15 down on an application be disingenuous? I plan to continue this further regardless.

2) if I am technically employed by same physician, but have gained this 5 hours of shadowing while "on the clock" is that okay? As in I have time where I work but most of my work is pretty much just shadowing except when I work away from the physician. Would it be ill-advised to count some of this as shadowing while also counting it as time employed? It is essentially scribing with some added responsibilities.

3) lastly, would it be bad to shadow one specialty a lot (IM, nephro specifically) for say, 35 hrs total, while also having 10 for a PCP and 10 for a DO PCP? I am afraid adcoms might see this negatively, but then again I do have several reasons for being interested in nephrology and most of said are reasons I am interested in medicine. I still would be wary of devoting this much time to one area. I could probably articulate my reasons for doing so reasonably well in a PS/interview if that makes any difference.

Thanks! Really appreciate any help you can provide!

Dd3

@Goro @gonnif @LizzyM @gyngyn @Angus Avagadro

 

[907914]

1) Yes, but I would definitely increase that number to more college shadowing with them than high school

2) Don’t double dip. If you want to distinguish shadowing (true, passive shadowing with no responsibility on your part) it is fine as long as you separate it. But don’t list hours twice.

3) not at all. Would shoot for at least 30-40 PCP hours if you can, but no one will care if you overly shadow in one Specialty. I had like 80 hours in urology just because they are my employer and that is easiest access, but also got the PCP stuff because that is what they want to see.

 

[Goro]

Agree 100% with my wise colleague

 

[PA_dud3]

So, it doesn't really matter per se if I get paid for the hours I 'shadow', just so long as I put that those were shadowing hours instead of work hours? And as long as I don't mark the time as both.

 

[907914]

So, it doesn't really matter per se if I get paid for the hours I 'shadow', just so long as I put that those were shadowing hours instead of work hours? And as long as I don't mark the time as both.

Don’t double dip, don’t mention that you were paid, that is correct. Say you shadowed them. Do not describe it as a side part of your scribe-like-think (if it truly is like passive, do nothing shadowing).

No one will question you shadowing a physician that you work for. If asked for some reason, “the physician I work for provided easy access to arranging shadowing.”

If you are explicitly asked if these hours were as part of your job then do not lie. However, it is extraordinarily unlikely.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Nothing else to add. Great advice from my colleagues

 

[deleted987875]

Hello everyone!
I just finished doing 6-weeks of a summer program at Boston University & Boston University School of Medicine that is part of an early medical school selection pipeline program. I was supposed to shadow a doctor at Boston Medical Center this summer, but unfortunately, me and a few other students in the program were not able to. I will admit that I had some anxiety since I've never shadowed a doctor before... I don't know what to expect. I've tried reaching out to OB/GYNs to shadow in the area where I live, but I haven't had any luck yet..