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Shadowing
- Thread starter globy321
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Networking, and good relations?
This is a really good question and it really is difficult. I complain to my friends how often my cold calling fails and they just respond with "Have your parents call their friends who are doctors". Well... its not that easy for all of us.
I suggest starting with your own doctor then branch out from there. I called up mine to shadow and he asked me if I wanted him to contact some other docs he knows to see if they would be open to a shadower. I really believe your family doctor is the best place to start.
I suggest starting with your own doctor then branch out from there. I called up mine to shadow and he asked me if I wanted him to contact some other docs he knows to see if they would be open to a shadower. I really believe your family doctor is the best place to start.
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I have ~200 hours of shadowing and I have done nothing but cold call. You just have to be persistent.
That is a ton of shadowing... well if you can get that much cold calling then by all means, globy321, cold call.
I just found most physicians unreceptive and went another route. Do whatever works for you.
I just found most physicians unreceptive and went another route. Do whatever works for you.
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It could be a regional thing. I'm in Tennessee, and I was only told no by 3-4 docs. As far as privacy goes, I had to sign a HIPAA form with a few, saying that I wouldn't give details on what I saw.
When I called I would simply say "Hello, this is Rocher, I'm a pre-med student and I was wondering if Dr. so-and-so would let me shadow him?"
Good luck!
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I'm in south Florida, and cold calling has worked terribly for me. I'm going to be shadowing with a doc who knows my dad (he set this one up for me - thanks, Dad!). The only other shadowing I've gotten was from a huge regional group/chain practice I called. They put me through to their supervisor, who then got in touch with the docs and asked them. Two said "yes." This all happened the week before I'm applying (this week, I plan to submit on Tuesday), so I've basically been shadowing every day to get some hours before submitting. I will mention on my AMCAS that in will be ongoing. So I guess one of the more productive cold calling techniques would be to call big group practices, ask to speak with a supervisor, and then ask them if ANY of the docs would be willing to let you shadow. Don't give up calling; it's a very discouraging process, but it eventually happened for me - the week before I'm applying!
Yeah where I am it is a administrative mess and I have to file paperwork with a very slow "Department of Education Services" 😡
From the advice I've seen on here in the past, a lot of people recommend asking your own doctor.
That's really hard for me though -- the doctor I see now is at the university health center, and they definitely don't let you shadow.
I did decide to call and ask my neurologist though (in my college town), and they said they're too busy to let anyone shadow right now, but they will probably make an exception for me since i've actually been a patient there and know the doctor. 😀
at one of our 2 local hospitals here theres also a program where you sign up for shadowing, though an ER doctor is the only type available, and you can't do more than 20 hours shadowing there, ever. you also have to sign up in time for the semester's orientation too -- which i found out about too late. think i'll do it in the fall though.
look into options like this at your local hospitals. the ones here have a lot of structure when it comes to college students volunteering and shadowing... then again, there's a ridiculous amount of pre-meds at my university.
That's really hard for me though -- the doctor I see now is at the university health center, and they definitely don't let you shadow.
I did decide to call and ask my neurologist though (in my college town), and they said they're too busy to let anyone shadow right now, but they will probably make an exception for me since i've actually been a patient there and know the doctor. 😀
at one of our 2 local hospitals here theres also a program where you sign up for shadowing, though an ER doctor is the only type available, and you can't do more than 20 hours shadowing there, ever. you also have to sign up in time for the semester's orientation too -- which i found out about too late. think i'll do it in the fall though.
look into options like this at your local hospitals. the ones here have a lot of structure when it comes to college students volunteering and shadowing... then again, there's a ridiculous amount of pre-meds at my university.
