Shadowing/Volunteer problems (UNC/Duke specifically for me)

[Medmon]

I am having a lot of trouble getting in contact with physicians to shadow at these two universities. Essentially I am getting bounced around (at one point I got transferred to the accounting department by someone who thought they could help me) without being able to find a single person who can actually get me in contact with anyone who knows anything about shadowing. Do most of you guys do it at smaller private hospitals? I like both UNC and Duke and plan to apply to both so it would be nice to get some shadowing done there but it just doesn't seem likely at this point. Should I give up and find somewhere else?

I have driven there and had no further luck even then..

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[mic2377]

I would entirely give up at trying to find one at UNC/Duke. The physicians at these places are generally way too busy to have anyone shadow them, or have any time to spend talking to the person shadowing whatsoever. This is a definite downside of big academic centers like this. I only have such a negative attitude because I lived in Chapel Hill last year, and never had any luck. I ended up cold-calling virtually every doctor I could find (I made a massive list) until one agreed to meet me.

Also, the Dr. I ended up shadowing was a 45+ minute drive away, but it was worth it. He was friendly, we went out to lunch, and I got to scrub in for a bunch of emergency procedures on top of the usual OR time. I can't imagine finding opportunities like this at a place like UNC/Duke, as there are too many PA/MD/RN students floating around looking to get their hands on things. Students like yourself get pushed to the bottom of the barrel.

Oh, and he was at a UNC-affiliated site, BTW. Also, if you do get a chance, expect to a thorough grilling. My initial interview was brutal, but apparently I passed. He asked me everything under the sun, what are my grades/MCAT/school, why am I in NC, why medicine, what experiences do I have, etc. for a full hour.

 

[Tatastrophy]

See if either have Clinics....those are generally not as busy and you'll get both experience with an awake patient 🙂 and surgery.
I also had a lot of difficulty finding shadowing opportunities...sometimes it just falls into your lab after you give up on it. Hopefully you will find someone before then though 🙄

 

[TheMightySmiter]

The problem with trying to shadow at hospitals that are attached to med schools is that shadowing is normally reserved for med students, unless you already know a physician at the hospital. I would try for another hospital in the area. Med schools likely aren't going to place too much importance on where you did your shadowing, but what type of physicians you've shadowed and for how long.