Shadowing the First Summer Off

[Herpeto]

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I was recently offered an opportunity to work with a doctor over my first summer off (2005) even though I have never met the individual. He works with my mother (a nurse) and cared for my grandfather prior to death. I am wondering if following him through his practice and the hospital will be enough during my first summer off. What exactly do the residency directors want to see? Even if the doctor doesn't practice within my field of interest, is it still wise to work with him? My interests are Cardiology, FP or surgery. I believe he is a pulmonologist.

Herp

 

[Blade28]

Well...unless you're going to obtain a letter of recommendation from him, residency programs won't "see" this activity, per se. I mean, you could write about it in your personal statement...but otherwise, there's nowhere in ERAS that you'd list it. (It's not a job, or really a volunteer job, right?)

Having said that, it's always good to gain clinical experience, IMHO. Are you doing anything else this summer? Research? Working? Studying? Relaxing? 🙂

 

[Jaded Soul]

Like Blade wrote, it's probably going to be insignificant in your app. I don't think a LOR from a summer preceptorship will be very useful for ERAS either. However, it sounds like a good opportunity, regardless of what interests you right now.

What is a little concerning is that you are worried more about how the experience will make you look, rather than what you might learn from it. Plenty of time for that later.

 

[SolidGold]

The opportunity to get early clinical exposure is probably the best benefit that you will get out of it. It might not help at all for ERAS, but you could get a small taste of what third year might be like.

 

[Herpeto]

Yes, my number one concern is what I gain from the experience, however I didn't know if their were other opportunities that would provide more hands on experience and increase my chances of residency placement. I guess I am a bit naive as to how competitive the placements are and what is necessary during the first summer off. I would love the opportunity to follow a physician because I think it would provide the best first hand experience in how a practice is run and the duties involved. My first summer off isn't until 2005 so I have a bit of time to think about it.


Herp

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

I think that you should go ahead and do it because if you do something harder during the summer, you might be more easily burnt out during 2nd year. And you don't want to be burnt out because you will have to study for boards at the END of the year when you are already tired enough and just want to enjoy the summer. Shadowing is a little different when you are a med student, at least it was for me. I felt like the docs felt more like I was a future colleague, so they legitimately talked to me about cases. And they bitched about stuff, which was something I never got to see first hand in college. However, a whole summer of shadowing gets boring pretty fast. Do it a couple days a week instead.

 

[Vincristine]

Herpeto, Do a search about the first summer off because there have been numerous conversations about what to do. I also agree with Blade (and everyone else) in that people may or may not see this experience -- I don't know why you couldn't put it on your CV, though, especially if it was for any substantial length of time. But, you might find the clinical experience very useful. I shadowed an FP for 1 month after my M1 year as part of a state-wide program with was also paid it's students. Unless you're really serious about whatever you do after M1, I think a month (every day) is a good compromise and allows you to still have significant relaxing/vacation time. Anyway, I was glad for the opportunity despite the fact that I did very little on my own (heck, I was an M1 and didn't have a clue how to do anything), but the doc I was with was a fabulous person to learn from.

On the other hand, since you're only about to start med school, you shouldn't feel pressured into giving this doc and answer now. Thank him politely and tell him you'll certainly keep his offer in mind. Then remember to consider it while new opporunities come along this year. Good luck!