Shadowing

[deleted1040417]

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Is it utterly disrespectful and selfish to contact Primary Care Physicians for shadowing such as in family clinics? My primary care shadowing is on the --- 3 hours side of things making my case for my state DO (that has a goal to pour out PrimaryCPs) very poor. I do have shadowing in other fields though .... from employment that is.

 

[DoctorWhere]

Is it utterly disrespectful and selfish to contact Primary Care Physicians for shadowing such as in family clinics? My primary care shadowing is on the --- 3 hours side of things making my case for my state DO (that has a goal to pour out PrimaryCPs) very poor. I do have shadowing in other fields though .... from employment that is.

Asking to shadow isn't disrespectful or selfish.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

I think the OP is referring to "selfish" in this Covid-19 environment (?)

 

[deleted1040417]

Yes, that is what I was referring to. I have heard and I think? I might have read somewhere some physicians have responded to pre-meds and referred to them as selfish. I don't want to come off as someone like that. It is definitely a bad time with the winter season, but I might wait until February/March before asking to be honest.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

I'd be surprised if you could land any in-person shadowing right now other than maybe in some very rural, isolated places with low infection rates.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Yes, that is what I was referring to. I have heard and I think? I might have read somewhere some physicians have responded to pre-meds and referred to them as selfish. I don't want to come off as someone like that. It is definitely a bad time with the winter season, but I might wait until February/March before asking to be honest.

Framing is important here. I think it is still okay to reach out, but I would encourage you to make it a contact email without expectation of anything soon. Say you are interested, you know that it is not a great time right now, but when things are more settled you would love to follow up.


David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[deleted1075353]

yeah covid strikes again. i would not be trying to shadow as it could be endangering patients, doctors, or yourself.

if it's any consolation you might already have enough shadowing! I had 18 hrs total and I've never been in an OR but i've been having a solid cycle thankfully.

 

[deleted1040417]

yeah covid strikes again. i would not be trying to shadow as it could be endangering patients, doctors, or yourself.

if it's any consolation you might already have enough shadowing! I had 18 hrs total and I've never been in an OR but i've been having a solid cycle thankfully.

That's good to hear! I just want to make sure I have everything set for my state schools (first choices), but I doubt they will be flagging me for primary care shadowing especially with COVID.

 

[deleted1040417]

Framing is important here. I think it is still okay to reach out, but I would encourage you to make it a contact email without expectation of anything soon. Say you are interested, you know that it is not a great time right now, but when things are more settled you would love to follow up.


David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

I appreciate this thought! I may do that.

 

[Ihave Nonamè]

...Do people honestly consider it selfish to reach out for these opportunities??

 

[deleted1040417]

...Do people honestly consider it selfish to reach out for these opportunities??

I've heard it somewhere earlier when the cases were just rising a whilllee ago. Maybe the physician was stressed out and got annoyed having gotten a message from a pre-med during the pandemic? No idea.