Suggestions about a good email to ask a doctor if I can shadow

[scaredofbears]

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Hello,

I am preparing to find a doctor to shadow, to gain more clinical experience. I am thinking about emailing a doctor (I have yet to decide exactly which one) at the local med center. Could someone give me suggestions about the format of the email I would send to him/her?

Should it be short and sweet, or should I write about myself, and should I include my CV and references?

Are doctors receptive to being emailed like this, or are there more proper avenues that people use to find doctors to shadow?

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think I'd call a local teaching hospital first. I know one of the hospitals 'round here regularly sets up prospective and current students on shadowing runs. In other words, they do all the potentially awkward legwork with the doctors, so all you have to do is show up.

Barring a program like that, I think a short and sweet email stating your interest in medicine and gaining more relevant experience would be sufficient. Offer to provide your academic info but don't do so immediately. That's how I'd approach it, anyway.

 

[chitownGpremed]

I would suggest; explain quickly who you are (school, future plans ----), and that you would like to gain more experience as to inform yourself about choosing medicine as you future. Then maybe say ---- you're interested in their practice specifically because....(maybe you had a class related to their specialty), and then mayeb attach your resume, I dont think it will hurt.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. Completely agreed.

 

[udlax16]

I just called the doctor i wanted to shadow and set up a time with his nurse that schedules for him. It worked out much better than an email cuz the doctors are busy enough to have to read emails. I'd go with a call before an email.... just my .02

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

If its a large teaching institution with residents, medical students, etc... I would go through Hospital Vol and the other 'proper channels' to get your foot in the door. That is just professional courtesy at such a place; those departments are there for a reason.

If its not a mega teaching place.....younger doctor, very short to the point email.. 3-4 lines tops. No resume please. Just mention you are in college and want to shadow to make sure this is what you want to do. If its a rather old doctor, I would take the 'call the nurse' route....

I am still young in all this, but I assure you I would much rather get a short email saying: I'm Joe, at such and such college. I am really interested in going to medical school and wanted to see some medical care first hand. I heard you are an awesome doctor and I just wanted to see if you would mind if I followed you around one day? I am avliable tues and thurs of next week. Thanks. Leave the resume off, I am not interviewing you nor do I really care what grades you have or what you did in HS....just as long as you are not a future unibomber! Also, I would leave out any specifics about wanting to do XYZ speciliaty. 99% of med students change their mind, we dont need to hear what the junior pre-med wants to do in 6 years...small talk when you get here, thats ok.. but dont email it. My opinon would be that I am doing some type of medicine, come hang out and see what my niche happens to be like.

Something like that, but thats my opinon and we know what those are like!


Good Luck.

 

[house vs god]

I emailed three doctors with the following template, and all agreed to meet with me and I shadowed them for a few days:

Dr. X,

Hello, my name is Y. I am a current undergraduate at the University of Z interested in getting my MD/MPH in epidemiology and pediatric medicine. Do you currently practice in a clinical setting? If so, would it be possible to shadow you while you are working with patients? Otherwise do you know of anyone else willing to do this?

Thank you,

Y

 

[txprodigal]

Hello,

I am preparing to find a doctor to shadow, to gain more clinical experience. I am thinking about emailing a doctor (I have yet to decide exactly which one) at the local med center. Could someone give me suggestions about the format of the email I would send to him/her?

Should it be short and sweet, or should I write about myself, and should I include my CV and references?

Are doctors receptive to being emailed like this, or are there more proper avenues that people use to find doctors to shadow?

I've found that it is much more difficult for someone to ignore a phone call than it is to ignore an e-mail, so I have only called doctor's offices.

Besides, when I shadowed a few, the number of e-mails they got on a daily basis was ridiculous, so I knew that if I had e-mailed them, I would have never gotten the opportunity to shadow.