Shawdoing!!!!Please help!

[theanatomist]

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How are you going about this? How are you finding places? Everywhere I turn there is a big FAT NO! I am about to start asking my personal physicians...

Location Area: New Jersey/Philadelphia

 

[ShayanMoosa]

How do you approach these physicians? Maybe you should reconsider how you are wording your shadowing requests. Are you asking to shadow for a long period of time or just for a day? I'd say the best approach is to ask if you can shadow in the physician's clinic for just a day. If things go well, I would then ask them at the end of that day if you can shadow another day. You can also find shadowing opportunities through your university's premed organizations.

 

[Propylene]

Try emailing different physicians and explaining your situation! I found mine this way, and it worked out great. A lot may not be able to help, but if you keep trying I'm sure you'll find one eventually. Does your school have any programs that help Pre-meds work with doctors? Shadowing your personal physician would probably be easier to set up and would be a great experience, too!

 

[theanatomist]

How do you approach these physicians? Maybe you should reconsider how you are wording your shadowing requests. Are you asking to shadow for a long period of time or just for a day? I'd say the best approach is to ask if you can shadow in the physician's clinic for just a day. If things go well, I would then ask them at the end of that day if you can shadow another day. You can also find shadowing opportunities through your university's premed organizations.

I haven't really approached, or reached out via email random physicans ( I guess I should try), I first started out by call all the local hospitals volunteer services department and asked if they had shadowing opportunites available, or what type volunteer work they had in general. It either wasnt what I wanted/needed or the just flat out dont support shadowing (HIPPA and all)

 

[SLC]

Don't you have any acquaintances who are physicians? That's where I'd start.

Also, are you doing any clinical volunteering? I got over 300 hours in at the health center I volunteer at because I got to know the doc's, they were happy to have me come in and shadow them.

 

[slatermd]

I think it is best to talk to doctors (or their offices) directly. Hospital employees, like those in volunteer services, have HIPAA thrown in thrown in their face all the time and have no vested interest in getting you into med school.

Here is what I did. I volunteer at a Hospital. For the firs 6 weeks I lurked around doing my volunteer work, and observing the different doctors. Most of these guys and gals were major turds who didn't talk to anyone on the unit except the other doctors.

Then one day this guy strolls in in his scrubs, looks me right in the eye like he knows me, and nods. (Cool story bro! I know.)

I ask the unit clerk what kind of doctor he is. Turns out it's something I'm interested in. Long story short, I ask the guy if I can shadow him, and he says yes. I then whistled for a cab, and when it came near, the license plate said "Fresh" and it had dice in the mirror. Anyway, it has been an incredible experience. It also took me 6 weeks to run into the right guy to ask.

Another thing I did was ask one of my med student friends if he knew any doctors I might be able to shadow. He said, "email the admissions secretary at my school and ask her." So I did. She set me up with a guy who is the head of the admissions committee for that med school. It was an ok experience but the other dude is way more intentional about showing me the pertinent +'s and -'s of a career in medicine.

A third thing, which I have not done but have read about is "cold calling" doctors' offices. You will probably have to make a lot of calls to find a doctor who will let you do this. But it will still probably take you fewer than 6 weeks.

Do ask your own/family's physician, or any doctors who your family knows socially.

 

[Torr]

Long story short, I ask the guy if I can shadow him, and he says yes. I then whistled for a cab, and when it came near, the license plate said "Fresh" and it had dice in the mirror. Anyway, it has been an incredible experience. It also took me 6 weeks to run into the right guy to ask.

I amost lol'd at work. I'm so easily amused 😳.

I agree with the "cold calling". Das how I done it.

 

[theanatomist]

I think it is best to talk to doctors (or heir offices) directly. Hospital employees, like those in volunteer services, have HIPAA thrown in thrown in their face all the time and have no vested interest in getting you into med school.

Here is what I did. I volunteer at a Hospital. For the firs 6 weeks I lurked around doing my volunteer work, and observing the different doctors. Most of these guys and gals were major turds who didn't talk to anyone on the unit except the other doctors.

Then one day this guy strolls in in his scrubs, looks me right in the eye like he knows me, and nods. (Cool story bro! I know.)

I ask the unit clerk what kind of doctor he is. Turns out it's something I'm interested in. Long story short, I ask the guy if I can shadow him, and he says yes. I then whistled for a cab, and when it came near, the license plate said "Fresh" and it had dice in the mirror. Anyway, it has been an incredible experience. It also took me 6 weeks to run into the right guy to ask.

Another thing I did was ask one of my med student friends if he knew any doctors I might be able to shadow. He said, "email the admissions secretary at my school and ask her." So I did. She set me up with a guy who is the head of the admissions committee for that med school. It was an ok experience but the other dude is way more intentional about showing me the pertinent +'s and -'s of a career in medicine.

A third thing, which I have not done but have read about is "cold calling" doctors' offices. You will probably have to make a lot of calls to find a doctor who will let you do this. But it will still probably take you fewer than 6 weeks.

Do ask your own/family's physician, or any doctors who your family knows socially.

Lol, but great advice. Thanks 🙂

 

[Astarael]

Medzealot's advice is fantastic. The only thing I have to add is that if you are going to try cold-calling or emailing doctors, you might want to start with doctors that are part of an academic program. That would be either doctors involved with a residency program or those who work at some sort of academic medical center. My impression has been that doctors already involved with teaching are more likely to take on an undergraduate shadow. You certainly could get lucky elsewhere, but doctors in academia seem to be more receptive.

 

[Overhauser]

I did shadow my personal physician.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I sent out Massive emails to a bunch of doctors and crossed my figers thankfully 3 out of the 10 I sent, emailed me back saying to get in contact with the coordinator. I did that, and now Im gonna be shadowing a trauma surgeon in 3 weeks 🙂.

Don't feel bad if you sent emails and they don't reply back. its either they are busy, HIPPA, or just plain out don't like people shadowing them or whatever other reasons they have. if one doesnt work out, move on to the next.

your PCP would be a great start!

 

[sprintuser]

Does shadowing in high school still count?

I shadowed extensively in high school, but so far much less in college.

 

[northpenn]

check out your college's alumni network. Worked perfectly for me.

Also, ask your personal physicians if they know anybody in the field who would be willing to let you shadow them...all you need is one yes to start your network!

 

[MDminded]

I think it is best to talk to doctors (or their offices) directly. Hospital employees, like those in volunteer services, have HIPAA thrown in thrown in their face all the time and have no vested interest in getting you into med school.

Here is what I did. I volunteer at a Hospital. For the firs 6 weeks I lurked around doing my volunteer work, and observing the different doctors. Most of these guys and gals were major turds who didn't talk to anyone on the unit except the other doctors.

Then one day this guy strolls in in his scrubs, looks me right in the eye like he knows me, and nods. (Cool story bro! I know.)

I ask the unit clerk what kind of doctor he is. Turns out it's something I'm interested in. Long story short, I ask the guy if I can shadow him, and he says yes. I then whistled for a cab, and when it came near, the license plate said "Fresh" and it had dice in the mirror. Anyway, it has been an incredible experience. It also took me 6 weeks to run into the right guy to ask.

Another thing I did was ask one of my med student friends if he knew any doctors I might be able to shadow. He said, "email the admissions secretary at my school and ask her." So I did. She set me up with a guy who is the head of the admissions committee for that med school. It was an ok experience but the other dude is way more intentional about showing me the pertinent +'s and -'s of a career in medicine.

A third thing, which I have not done but have read about is "cold calling" doctors' offices. You will probably have to make a lot of calls to find a doctor who will let you do this. But it will still probably take you fewer than 6 weeks.

Do ask your own/family's physician, or any doctors who your family knows socially.

GREAT advice. I've been having the SAME issue because every doctor has explained that they'd love to, but HIPAA stands in the way. Cold calling was also an epic fail, but you give other great ways to find people. Thanks!