Suggestions on shadowing & volunteering?

[pseudotexan]

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Do any of you have any advice on how to find a physician that would allow me to shadow them? I have no connections whatsoever with the medical community where I live and I do not have a regular physician of my own to ask. Should I just crack open the yellow pages and call/email around? Is there a better way?

I've actually had two previous shadowing experience, but they don't add up to a remarkable amount of hours to really even mention, and I've lost touch with both docs. One was a military anesthesiologist who allowed me to sit in a on a surgery of his (he has since retired) and another was a primary care physician whose office was constantly so swamped with work they lost track of me. That doc I shadowed a couple times, but maybe for about 3 hrs each time. I found both of those doctors through complete and utter luck.

Also, in regards to volunteering, any suggestions on what AdComs really like to see? I've *worked* in patient care for approx 12 yrs as both a CNA and EMT. Both of those positions have given me more patient contact than you can shake a stick at, and I've worked in so many situations and different types of healthcare facilities that I can pretty much say the only thing I haven't had experience with is Ob/Gyn. I'm sort of stuck with the whole volunteering thing...some schools have told me my work history is more than adequate, since I am non trad and MUST work, but I know not every school will feel this way.

Also, FWIW, I just graduated with my BS in bio this past August, and I plan on taking a class to prep for the Jan 2010 MCAT, in hopes of starting the app cycle this year. So anything I do needs to be soon. I'm open to whatever suggestions you have!

Thanks!

 

[akinetopsia]

Are there any teaching hospitals nearby? A lot of the time if you search shadowing on their website, or look at volunteering, they may have a page or some comments about contacting the appropriate office/persons/physicians to see about shadowing.

 

[njbmd]

Check with your local medical society (even rural areas have these) or AMA chapter. Often you can make arrangements through these two organizations (likely linked together). If there is a pre-med "club" at your school, sometimes, they will arrange shadowing experiences for their members.

 

[NTF]

Try here.

http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange

I set up probably 7 shadowing gigs through this site. Shadowed 2 heme/onc docs, 2 ER docs, a orthopedic surgeon, a pediatrician, and nephrologist. And there were at least 3 other doctors who offered to let me shadow them, but I didn't have the time.

 

[montessori2md]

1) Shadow someone you want to be someday. Figure out who that is by playing around on the internet -maybe look at clinical research going on in your area. Use hospital specialist search/ research trial databases (usually on the website of academic hospitals).

2) Use your EMT and CNA experience -if you don't have any contacts in your area, you could contact a local EMS volunteer group. Go to a health fair/car seat installation/spaghetti dinner fundraiser/hospital fundraiser, and chit chat with someone you're comfortable with, and ask them if they know a doc who would be willing to have someone shadow.

3) Use that information and make contact. I would call and ask to leave a message for Dr. X or ask if Dr. X's nurse could call you when she has time, explaining that you are a student (or whatever you want to call yourself). Once you're talking to a person, VERY briefly explain that you're interested in the work Dr. X is doing, and you would like to talk to him about it when he has time.

4) Volunteer at a CHC/free clinic in your area. All sorts of MDs show up there, and the staff there will know friendly types who will be likely to say yes. Also, being a volunteer will help them want to say yes, as you'll have a connection to something they do, even if they only see a couple of referrals from said clinic. Also, directors of such places tend to busy, but nice folks, so aren't likely to ignore you.

 

[pseudotexan]

Try here.

http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange

I set up probably 7 shadowing gigs through this site. Shadowed 2 heme/onc docs, 2 ER docs, a orthopedic surgeon, a pediatrician, and nephrologist. And there were at least 3 other doctors who offered to let me shadow them, but I didn't have the time.

You= life saver.

Thank you.

 

[pseudotexan]

1) Shadow someone you want to be someday. Figure out who that is by playing around on the internet -maybe look at clinical research going on in your area. Use hospital specialist search/ research trial databases (usually on the website of academic hospitals).

2) Use your EMT and CNA experience -if you don't have any contacts in your area, you could contact a local EMS volunteer group. Go to a health fair/car seat installation/spaghetti dinner fundraiser/hospital fundraiser, and chit chat with someone you're comfortable with, and ask them if they know a doc who would be willing to have someone shadow.

3) Use that information and make contact. I would call and ask to leave a message for Dr. X or ask if Dr. X's nurse could call you when she has time, explaining that you are a student (or whatever you want to call yourself). Once you're talking to a person, VERY briefly explain that you're interested in the work Dr. X is doing, and you would like to talk to him about it when he has time.

4) Volunteer at a CHC/free clinic in your area. All sorts of MDs show up there, and the staff there will know friendly types who will be likely to say yes. Also, being a volunteer will help them want to say yes, as you'll have a connection to something they do, even if they only see a couple of referrals from said clinic. Also, directors of such places tend to busy, but nice folks, so aren't likely to ignore you.

Thank you for the advice. It is greatly appreciated. 🙂

 

[pseudotexan]

Are there any teaching hospitals nearby? A lot of the time if you search shadowing on their website, or look at volunteering, they may have a page or some comments about contacting the appropriate office/persons/physicians to see about shadowing.

Good looking out. I just did a search on the website for one of our teaching hospitals and just got the contact info for the person in charge of the Health Careers Observation Dept. Paydirt! I'll be calling them tomorrow! Thanks!

 

[OldNeuroDoc]

Another good way to find shadowing experience is to use the research angle. Think about a few fields that interest you and look up physician scientists working in those departments in your local hospital. Read some of their papers & case studies, and mention how interesting you find their work when you contact them. Trust me, they will LOVE to hear that you find their research cool. One advantage of going this route is that you're likely to see more clinically/scientifically interesting cases than you would otherwise. (This will give you a lot to talk about on your apps). Once you've done a bit of shadowing, you'll find that things snowball pretty quickly. Doctors are often pretty well connected and have friends in different fields. In my experience, they're usually fine with someone tagging along if that person comes recommended by a friend. Good luck.

 

[EdLongshanks]

http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange

I set up probably 7 shadowing gigs through this site..

Thank you for posting this site. I found the exact shadowing opportunity that I was looking for through this site and also made a contact which will allow further shadowing and possible volunteering in an emergency room.

I was banging my head against a wall until then.

 

[netminder]

Try here.

http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange

I set up probably 7 shadowing gigs through this site. Shadowed 2 heme/onc docs, 2 ER docs, a orthopedic surgeon, a pediatrician, and nephrologist. And there were at least 3 other doctors who offered to let me shadow them, but I didn't have the time.

Nice, nontradfogie.

This is great.