To those of you who shadowed a surgeon, how did you arrange it?

[FlatFour]

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I've managed to shadow a lot of specialties already but have hit a road block with orthopedic surgeons. From what I understand medical students who shadow surgeons have insurance in case they somehow compromise the operation. The hospital told me that because I'm an undergrad and don't have this insurance I cannot shadow any surgeons (what a bummer 🙁). Did any of you guys face this issue? Is there a way to work around it?

Thanks.

 

[DRteacher]

I got to scrub in on orthopedic surgeries every day for a whole week while on a medicial mission trip in South America. All the surgeons were from the states and they allowed us students in the OR. The hospitals there lacked the red tape we see here so often. But I did get to shadow an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the states as well. He is the friend of a friend, which made it easier. For that experience, I had to register with the hospital and get a ppd test before hand.

 

[Keladry]

I talked to an anesthesiologist (the father of a kid who had a crush on me in 3rd grade - I was desperate!), who was extraordinarily helpful in putting me in touch with surgeons and setting things up with them. I spent 10 days shadowing several surgeons, mostly orthopedic but also general and colorectal, both in the OR and in their offices. Aside from doing some paperwork, checking in each morning, and wearing scrubs/hair cover/shoe cover/mask, I didn't have any weird requirements/trouble. I guess it just depends on the surgeon/hospital?

 

[Leoz M Jiliums]

Similar to the poster above, I talked to a doc I knew personally, and he set me up for shadowing with a friend of his.

 

[Oso]

I talked to an anesthesiologist (the father of a kid who had a crush on me in 3rd grade - I was desperate!), who was extraordinarily helpful in putting me in touch with surgeons and setting things up with them. I spent 10 days shadowing several surgeons, mostly orthopedic but also general and colorectal, both in the OR and in their offices. Aside from doing some paperwork, checking in each morning, and wearing scrubs/hair cover/shoe cover/mask, I didn't have any weird requirements/trouble. I guess it just depends on the surgeon/hospital?

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

It's especially hard if you don't have any doctors in the family. Even then, you'd have trouble overcoming HIPPA obstacles. Expect to see surgeries only in an office, not a hospital.

 

[bman992]

I knew someone, ask your relatives for help

 

[Served]

Special connection with a family member. The first surgeon I ever shadowed hooked me up with a few other surgeons, and I got to shadow each of them as well. Then they introduced me to more surgeons and anesthesiologists.

 

[Keladry]

Hey, it worked! It was as close as I could get to a doctor in my family? 😛

 

[lmn]

Most people I know got to shadow through family connections, if you don't have them, like myself, you are going to have a MUCH harder time. Your best bet may be working for a long term as a scribe or in an office and hoping those doctors have a connection they are willing to call in for you. Other than that, unless you live in a place where you are extremely lucky that surgeons are open to pre-med shadows, you may be out of luck. Many med students have recommended me to just wait until you get into med school since it becomes so simple and easy to shadow any doctor you want then.

 

[doctorgirldaisy]

My mom is a nurse in the surgery department and got me the gig

 

[mehc012]

Scribing. You get to know all of the consults. I've found 3 surgeons thus far who were willing to let me in the OR.

 

[Wasted Energy]

I set mine up through a hospital volunteering program. I would have to agree with the posters above that if you have ZERO doctors in your extended family/friends' families like myself, then it becomes fairly difficult to make that kind of connection. But I would recommend hospital volunteering departments because many of them already have programs set up because students are required to do the whole HIPAA/ppd test thing just to volunteer.

 

[pDeluxe]

I walked into the doc's clinic to ask directly. Started shadowing in office, then in the OR at an ambulatory surgery center (hospital won't let me anywhere near their OR despite the fact that I volunteered there for 3+ years). Made connections at the surgery center, now I have access to 5+ docs that let me observe. 😎

 

[sharkbyte]

I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon last summer and I also got the opportunity because I know him personally; in fact he actually was the one who suggested it when he found out I'm a pre-med, so I was very fortunate in that regard.

To be honest, I would have no idea how to go about shadowing a surgeon if you don't have a personal connection. If I didn't know the OS I shadowed this summer I wouldn't have had the opportunity, honestly. I think you could try going to a hospital and just getting the contact info of a few OS' and ask them if you can shadow.

 

[meander]

I literally just walked into his practice and asked if I could shadow him. I told him im a premed. He was really nice and just had me submit a PPD form and confidentiality agreement. Shadowed for days and saw arthroscopic procedures and some elbow repairs.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-95-of-grandfathers-got-job-by-walking-right,35621/

 

[Seattlekid95]

Try and see if you have any connections anywhere who could possibly set you up with someone. My dad plays squash with a guy at our level1 trauma hospital, who is in head and neck surgeries. I scrub in every Tuesday!

 

[Womb Raider]

From what I understand medical students who shadow surgeons have insurance in case they somehow compromise the operation. The hospital told me that because I'm an undergrad don't have this insurance I cannot shadow any surgeons (what a bummer 🙁)

Never heard of this.. Just get the doctor on your side. If he wants you to shadow him he'll do all the hoop jumping for you.

Medical students (from my experience) sometimes actually interact with the patients, maybe do a stitch or two at the end of the case. While shadowing, you won't have ANY interaction with the patient, having insurance for shadowing sounds like a joke to me.

 

[LostinLift]

The real question is, why would you want to shadow an orthopedic surgeon? #Hatersgonhate

 

[chillaxbro]

I shadowed an ortho but only during outpatient clinic hours lol

 

[FlatFour]

I literally just walked into his practice and asked if I could shadow him. I told him im a premed. He was really nice and just had me submit a PPD form and confidentiality agreement. Shadowed for days and saw arthroscopic procedures and some elbow repairs.

I might try doing this, I suppose the worst thing that can happen is they'll say they can't help me. Did you know the surgeon at all before coming to him, or was it just a random practice you found on google?

 

[FlatFour]

I set mine up through a hospital volunteering program. I would have to agree with the posters above that if you have ZERO doctors in your extended family/friends' families like myself, then it becomes fairly difficult to make that kind of connection. But I would recommend hospital volunteering departments because many of them already have programs set up because students are required to do the whole HIPAA/ppd test thing just to volunteer.

That's basically how I've been able to shadow other specialties, but like I said they still require insurance for surgeon shadowing.

 

[infinitessimal]

I didn't require any special insurance. I volunteered in several departments at my local hospital (walked in, registered as an official ___ hospital volunteer, got a badge, nothing too fancy), and one of them happened to be an out-patient office for one of the hospital's private surgeons. After a couple months of volunteering with his secretary, I met him and he invited me to observe a few of his surgeries. He also put me in touch with his surgeon colleagues at the same hospital, so I was able to observe a wide range of surgery specialties.

Edit: I do remember having to show proof of a PPD test, and though it was long ago, I'm sure I signed a HIPAA form. But it really wasn't a hassle, and I didn't have to go out of my way for anything. Like others have already mentioned, I think this is the easiest route if you don't have personal connections (I didn't).

 

[FlatFour]

I didn't know the surgeon at all. I searched for orthopedic surgeons on google in my area, and he was one of them. I drove up, talked to the receptionist, talked to him, and came in the next few days. Worst they'll say is no. No loss of dignity involved, since a rejection has nothing to do with your character. It's easier than asking a girl out on a date.

Alright, I think I found my game-plan! Thanks a bunch for the advice, I'm definitely going to try this after finals are done.

 

[FlatFour]

I didn't require any special insurance. I volunteered in several departments at my local hospital (walked in, registered as an official ___ hospital volunteer, got a badge, nothing too fancy), and one of them happened to be an out-patient office for one of the hospital's private surgeons. After a couple months of volunteering with his secretary, I met him and he invited me to observe a few of his surgeries. He also put me in touch with his surgeon colleagues at the same hospital, so I was able to observe a wide range of surgery specialties.

Edit: I do remember having to show proof of a PPD test, and though it was long ago, I'm sure I signed a HIPAA form. But it really wasn't a hassle, and I didn't have to go out of my way for anything. Like others have already mentioned, I think this is the easiest route if you don't have personal connections (I didn't).

I had to complete a PPD and sign HIPAA as well in order to volunteer, but I guess this isn't sufficient to shadow a surgeon at my hospital. It is kind of frustrating having no personal connections, I imagine this whole "getting into med-school" process is a lot simpler to people with docs in the family.

 

[Espadaleader]

I shadowed orthopedic surgeons as a regular hospital volunteer. It was cool. I just talked to the charge nurse, told her I was a pre-med and wanted to see a surgery. She gave me some scrubs and I went in the OR. You can't "scrub in" but you can see a good amount even if you're not you can still get close. Just don't touch the sterile field.

My mom knew this surgeon because he operated on my elderly aunt. She asked him to let me shadow and he wanted to see a CV and personal statement. Really cool guy. I was able to watch surgeries and do scut work which was really cool.

Not being able to see surgeries is BS. You cannot by law "scrub in" but you can be in the room. You might be in the corner standing on a stool but you can be there.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

Connections.

You'll have no luck in big hospitals or clinics.
Contact a low key outpatient clinic, introduce yourself. Ask to speak it the surgeon & tell him you're interested in medicine, specifically surgery.
Worked for me...... Seen >100 outpatient orthopedic surgeries by now

 

[phunky]

Connections through family members.

Surgeons at the hospital I work at.

Hospitals outside the US without red tape.

I've seen more orthopedic surgeries than I can count.

 

[kmp0410]

Start dating a nurse who works a lot with surgeons

 

[QuantumJ]

Never heard of this insurance issue. I looked at local surgery clinics/center whatever and emailed the site my request to shadow. I did this for about 10 different places to get 1 shadowing opportunity. It just takes some persistence when you don't have any connections.

 

[Palmetto40]

I shadowed a Neurosurgeon 3 days a week for about 2.5 months. I scrubbed in for all his surgeries, helped hold clamps, removed stitches/ staples, was there for every patient visit, and went in when he took call. He even let me present a research topic at his state neurosurgical conference. It was really an amazing experience. There are doctors out there that will let you do all of that, you just have to find them.

The hospitals he was at both had a shadowing program where all I had to do to get in the OR was fill out a bs application/test and submit a drug test. I got an ID badge and that was that. I never heard of any insurance protocol that precluded OR shadowing altogether.

It isn't completely fair because my father is a physician so that's how I got in touch with him. Although, everyone knows a physician. I would ask them if they know of any surgical colleague that offers shadowing opportunities to pre-meds. They will know someone. Then ask them to drop your name to said physician and contact the surgeon yourself.

 

[warrior209]

I have been shadowing a neurosurgeon constantly for the last three months and did not really face any roadblocks stopping me from shadowing. I observe the surgery in the OR right behind the surgeon. Only things I had to do were get a TB test, HIPAA cert, and getting some scrubs. The group of hospitals in my area are all teaching hospitals, so that may be a reason they are more lenient than other schools, but I still dont think there should be much holding you back from merely observing a surgery in the OR. Just don't touch anything sterile and you should be good 🙂