Shadowing

[Rachmaninoff]

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This is a question for all of you who have shadowed a physician. How did you go about arranging it? I am not in school anymore so I can't arrange it through them. I have written to several physicians in the area and haven't received a response.

Thanks

 

[tBw]

Hang around outside a hospital, and when you see someone in a white coat, just start following them...

seriously though I would contact local colleges to see who they do arrange shadowing with, or the local hospitals volunteer department. If you want to shadow a family practioner following up with a telephone call usually works better than just a letter.

Good luck

onwis

 

[amonkeybutt]

i would keep trying if i were you. i do not have any connections but just kept writing to different physicians in the area and found two positions.

 

[SMW]

I shadowed my Dad's physician. Turns out he went to JHU and knows the interviewers for the WWAMI program at UWSOM. Plus it was an awesome experience.

 

[DNALadder2002]

Try to get a part-time position at a hospital. Or volunteer in a hospital, ER? I know at some hospitals, after racking in 75 hours of volunteer work, they let you shadow a doc.

 

[E'01]

Rachmaninoff! which is your fave piece? I LOVE piano concerto #2 second movement. 🙂 🙂

 

[Atlas]

I'm lucky because I know docs from my ballroom dancing class. I'll admit it, yes I take ballroom...but it stictly 'cause the chicks dig it! I swear! lol 🙂 Kidding aside, you'd be surprised what activities doctor's like to get involved in. I've met a couple through this social interaction. This is often a better approach than stalking them around the hospital. Get to know them outside of the hospital. I did and it's been a fabulous experience. If you can, try to become friends with them. Plus, I sent a letter to another doc about shadowing. He was an osteopath just for the record. He called me a week later. He told me that not only would I get to shadow him, but his colleagues...one of which is a thoracic surgeon, who by the way, performed a lung transplant that's only been done 15 times in the world! I was like WOAH!!! 😳 Writing letters and sitting tight is another way. Also, be persistent about it. Let them know your desire and it will take you far.

Good luck

 

[Szkwicz]

For some reason, my pre-med advisor was very reluctant to give me any help in this field...so here's what I did:
I made up letterhead for myself on Microsoft Publisher with all of my contact information. I wrote a brief letter stating my career interests, academic background, and why I would be so incredibly grateful If I could shadow with ____. I included a resume as well. I found names of all of the doctors in my area via the phone book. I sent these letters and resumes to all I was interested in shadowing. After about 10 days to two weeks, I made follow up calls. Sure enough, a few of the practices I sent letters to had circulated the materials around the doctors in the practice and a few doctors offered times that I could come in and shadow. Conversely, a few of the places I called gave me the whole we'll call you back later run-around and nothing happened. But, I did get the opportunity to shadow two very good doctors by doing this, so I'd recommend this approach.