Shadowning: Duration vs Variety?

[mafunk]

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First, I have to say that I have had to work hard to find physicians to shadow in my small town. Putting that aside....

Do you think schools are more interested in duration (shadowing one physician for an extended period) or variety (shadowing multiple physicians for shorter periods)?

 

[PressPforPi]

About 20 hours of 3-4 different physicians, one being a general practitioner, is sufficient. I would say that med schools want to see that you have a real interest in medicine and aren't simply doing it for the money or prestige. Shadowing only specialists who make a lot of bank would communicate that.

 

[fiznat]

I didn't get the impression that they really cared either way. I did about 300 hours with one physician in the ED, and I work as a paramedic. I'd say that my experience was pretty well slanted to emergency medicine, but nobody batted an eye about it. I think they just want you to have made an effort....

 

[LifeTake2]

Shadowing only specialists who make a lot of bank would communicate that.

ws
Not necessarily true, I personally have shadowed several specialists, most of which do very well for themselves. But I shadowed them because I know them & they supported my decision to pursue medicine in my 30's. I would hope an adcom is bright enough to see this.

 

[NurWollen]

I have had med students and adcom's alike tell me that the most important thing is what you can say about the shadowing you did... so while you do it, be on the look out for that perfect personal statement topic.

 

[MRSAful Fate]

I have had med students and adcom's alike tell me that the most important thing is what you can say about the shadowing you did... so while you do it, be on the look out for that perfect personal statement topic.

I agree with this. Another important consideration is letters of recommendation. You may want to shadow a few people and ask them all for letters. Some may flake, some may agree but seem a little begrudged about it (and probably not write you the best letter), and some may be enthused. It helps to have options.

 

[milosavljevic]

Hello,

I'm didn't want to start a new thread for fear of this question already being addressed, but feel free to move my post to a separate thread if necessary.

I have had two clinical shadowing experiences. The first mentoring opportunity was with an OB/GYN MD who specializes in Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekly half-day sessions observing while she met with patients, but it was only for one month back in 2008.

The second, more recent opportunity was with a Complementary and Alternative Medicine DO who practices pain medicine and internal medicine. I met with him for two hours, during which time we chatted up a storm in his office but did not see any patients.

I stopped shadowing the first physician because she went on vacation, and then she never returned my calls to continue shadowing. For the second physician, I'm not sure what happened but after our two hour meeting, he basically wished me good luck and that was that. I wanted to ask if I could come in during another time when he was seeing patients, but I wasn't sure if this was appropriate since his tone was that our one-time-only meeting was sufficient.

Unfortunately for both opportunities, I feel like I must have dropped the ball in terms of explaining why I wanted to shadow them. When I initially approached both physicians about shadowing, I *thought* I had made it fairly clear that I have the time to devote and that I am interested in more of a long-term type of shadowing.

Before all this, I had assumed that physicians would have at least a vague idea of what pre-meds mean when they ask about shadowing, but I think that was a false assumption. Since I really didn't develop a connection with either physician, I would really like to keep trying to find another physician to shadow.

What tips would you suggest to make it completely clear from the beginning that I am interested in something that is more than just "come in and let's talk and that's it". I know I need to be direct and up-front with what I am looking for, but what specific things should I mention when contacting potential physicians?

Thank you in advance.

 

[PressPforPi]

Hello,

I'm didn't want to start a new thread for fear of this question already being addressed, but feel free to move my post to a separate thread if necessary.

I have had two clinical shadowing experiences. The first mentoring opportunity was with an OB/GYN MD who specializes in Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekly half-day sessions observing while she met with patients, but it was only for one month back in 2008.

The second, more recent opportunity was with a Complementary and Alternative Medicine DO who practices pain medicine and internal medicine. I met with him for two hours, during which time we chatted up a storm in his office but did not see any patients.

I stopped shadowing the first physician because she went on vacation, and then she never returned my calls to continue shadowing. For the second physician, I'm not sure what happened but after our two hour meeting, he basically wished me good luck and that was that. I wanted to ask if I could come in during another time when he was seeing patients, but I wasn't sure if this was appropriate since his tone was that our one-time-only meeting was sufficient.

Unfortunately for both opportunities, I feel like I must have dropped the ball in terms of explaining why I wanted to shadow them. When I initially approached both physicians about shadowing, I *thought* I had made it fairly clear that I have the time to devote and that I am interested in more of a long-term type of shadowing.

Before all this, I had assumed that physicians would have at least a vague idea of what pre-meds mean when they ask about shadowing, but I think that was a false assumption. Since I really didn't develop a connection with either physician, I would really like to keep trying to find another physician to shadow.

What tips would you suggest to make it completely clear from the beginning that I am interested in something that is more than just "come in and let's talk and that's it". I know I need to be direct and up-front with what I am looking for, but what specific things should I mention when contacting potential physicians?

Thank you in advance.

I cold e-mailed/called a few. I simply said/wrote that I was interested in shadowing "insert physician name" for a certain period of time. I would meet with them at the time that's most convenient for them and discuss hours and availability. The next day, I get a call from a Surgeon basically saying, "Come on in and we'll get everything set up."

Now I shadow him at his private practice and when he performs surgeries. Good luck bro. Remember one thing, be persistent!

 

[Journey2become]

I also shadowed a few physicians that seems hesitant to have it be more than a 2 or 3 times kind of thing. However, then I found a Family clinic that has several residents. I talked to the residents office and they set me up to shadow different doctors. Once I found one I liked I asked for a letter. The Dr. was enthusiastic but still flaked so I should have shadowed a few more and asked them to write a letter as well...
The great thing about this set up was that I would call the office and say I could shadow on such and such day and they would set me up with an available resident. I realize not all places have access to a set up like this, but I found that residents were more willing to have a shadow (possibly because they still remembered what it was like to be a pre-med?). Physicians that have been out of the application process for a long time might not realize that it is now a REQUIREMENT for many schools to have a letter. Not that you are looking for a letter now, I'm just suggesting if you do find someone to write a good letter for you go ahead and ask and set up an interfolio account or something that they can send the letter to so you have control to who and when you send it.

Hello,

I'm didn't want to start a new thread for fear of this question already being addressed, but feel free to move my post to a separate thread if necessary.

I have had two clinical shadowing experiences. The first mentoring opportunity was with an OB/GYN MD who specializes in Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekly half-day sessions observing while she met with patients, but it was only for one month back in 2008.

The second, more recent opportunity was with a Complementary and Alternative Medicine DO who practices pain medicine and internal medicine. I met with him for two hours, during which time we chatted up a storm in his office but did not see any patients.

I stopped shadowing the first physician because she went on vacation, and then she never returned my calls to continue shadowing. For the second physician, I'm not sure what happened but after our two hour meeting, he basically wished me good luck and that was that. I wanted to ask if I could come in during another time when he was seeing patients, but I wasn't sure if this was appropriate since his tone was that our one-time-only meeting was sufficient.

Unfortunately for both opportunities, I feel like I must have dropped the ball in terms of explaining why I wanted to shadow them. When I initially approached both physicians about shadowing, I *thought* I had made it fairly clear that I have the time to devote and that I am interested in more of a long-term type of shadowing.

Before all this, I had assumed that physicians would have at least a vague idea of what pre-meds mean when they ask about shadowing, but I think that was a false assumption. Since I really didn't develop a connection with either physician, I would really like to keep trying to find another physician to shadow.

What tips would you suggest to make it completely clear from the beginning that I am interested in something that is more than just "come in and let's talk and that's it". I know I need to be direct and up-front with what I am looking for, but what specific things should I mention when contacting potential physicians?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Journey2become]

I have had med students and adcom's alike tell me that the most important thing is what you can say about the shadowing you did... so while you do it, be on the look out for that perfect personal statement topic.

👍 I agree! Pick whichever is most convenient (duration or variety) then it might help to write a summary of the experience for reference later when you are writing your personal statement. If you do choose duration you might want to ask for a LOR while somewhere in the middle of the experience so that they still see you and might feel a little bit more of an accountability (people get busy/forget).