Shadowing vs. volunteering

[skyeblue0610]

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What exactly is the difference between the two? They really seem like the same thing. Aren't you volunteering your time for the shadowing.

The only difference I see is with shadowing you could be in a small group doctor practice....but that still seems like volunteering to me.

What is the difference? Instead of a bright blazer they give you a mini white coat😕

 

[jr doctor in sd]

I personally see shadowing as a hindrance to the doc and volunteering as a help to the doc.

I personally havent shadowed so my opinion probably isnt that helpful but from people who tell me how they shadow it seems like i actually get things for patients and do stuff on my own that's needed for the hospital...

while friends just follow the doctor around n watch...kind of just being in their way haha. im sure some shadowing ppl get more responsibility as time goes on but i frankly dont want to just follow someone around i dont know...

 

[DObound]

common in both of these things: pointless. Would not do either if the schools did not require it. As far as volunteering goes, i have been volunteering for several years now at different places... I always felt it was a waste of time. The first thing I did after I learned that I was accepted, I quiet my volunteer job.

 

[darshan22030]

I personally see shadowing as a hindrance to the doc and volunteering as a help to the doc.

I personally havent shadowed so my opinion probably isnt that helpful but from people who tell me how they shadow it seems like i actually get things for patients and do stuff on my own that's needed for the hospital...

while friends just follow the doctor around n watch...kind of just being in their way haha. im sure some shadowing ppl get more responsibility as time goes on but i frankly dont want to just follow someone around i dont know...

dude... u better get used to interacting with "someone you dont know" cause if you want to be a physician, thats what it is all about... except for the part where you have to know (medicine) what you are doing, ofcourse

and the answer to the question, I would go for shadowing.. but then it depends where u want to volunteer, if you want to volunteer at a place that u would really like to be than go with volunteering... but dont just volunteer as a resume padder... in that case, shadowing would be better

 

[postbacker]

What exactly is the difference between the two? They really seem like the same thing. Aren't you volunteering your time for the shadowing.

The only difference I see is with shadowing you could be in a small group doctor practice....but that still seems like volunteering to me.

What is the difference? Instead of a bright blazer they give you a mini white coat😕

Shadowing is NOT the same as volunteering...volunteering implies you provide a service to others for no compensation...shadowing implies you are an observer with no obligations or services rendered...you could be a volunteer in the same clinic as a shadower and see the exact same stuff, but your obligations would be entirely different...

 

[futuredrcrawfor]

I personally love both! And I would and have volunteered before I wanted to go to medical school...

Volunteering is you using your time to help others- it can be anything from answering a crisis phone call to cleaning dog poo at a shelter. It isn't always fun but for me I always leave with a sense of accomplishment

Shadowing is following a physician (or other health professional) around for a day to learn what they do and if it interest you. This takes time from the doctor you are shadowing and in many cases they see it as volunteering to help you. I would highly recommend trying to shadow 2-3 specialties because personally I have wanted to be a certain specialty for years but when shadowing in another field I really see myself there instead.

So Shadowing is to further yourself and Volunteering is to further others

Hope that helps! Try to accomplish both in your UG career

 

[NJDIF]

common in both of these things: pointless. Would not do either if the schools did not require it. As far as volunteering goes, i have been volunteering for several years now at different places... I always felt it was a waste of time. The first thing I did after I learned that I was accepted, I quiet my volunteer job.

this is absurd. first of all, i dont know how it is over by you, but around here, docs sign up to participate in shadowing programs. each doc knows exactly what he/she signed up for. when you shadow, you get to see exactly what medicine is like. if you are a freshman, sophomore, this is a perfect way to see if medicine is right for you. I did shadowing after freshman year with a vascular surgeon who was more than happy to teach me, and let me accompany him in the OR. Without this experience and exposure to the lifestyle, I would have a much muggier picture as to what medicine is like.

Volunteering on the other hand, I may concede the point. I cant speak for all programs, but pushing around book carts and running gopher errands might not be the most desirable clinical exposure.

 

[Isoprop]

i wouldn't recommend volunteering at a big hospital, especially a university one. better places to volunteer are small outpatient clinics.

exceptions would be volunteer emts in the ER or volunteer phlebotomists. of course, that's something very different.

and of course, if varies per hospital. i'm speaking generalities here.

 

[futuredrcrawfor]

I did a children's hospital for two reasons

1- I just LOVE kids
2- They have much more interaction with the patient- I can honestly say I haven't run errands ever- unless you count picking up a child for school an errand or talking to patients/parents about what the school program offers

I spent between 2-3 hours doing school tutoring- everything from talking with families to in classroom help and bedsides... then i do an hour or two in child life where I just go and play with patients, do art, sing songs, rock babies etc. I have seen a lot since I am in the patients rooms so much and while I never ask about a condition many kids/parents will tell you about their medical issues and many doctors won't care if you listen in during consults and visits.

 

[Bacchus]

They are not the same. Shadowing is when a doctor volunteers to "show you stuff." You are the one that is benefitting, not the doctor. However, when you volunteer, you're doing it for the benefit of others. I'd pick volunteering over shadowing. Volunteering gives you access to all the aspects of the field where as shadowing does not. There is plenty of time (elective and required) to shadow when you get into medical school. Also, don't think you have to do copious amounts of both. Do a substantial amount and try something else. You can always continue if you enjoy what you are doing.