what do you think

[determinedfuture]

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For the past few years I have worked in many Healthcare settings ranging from ER volunteer, Sterile Processing Tech for surgery and a Phlebotomist. However, I would love to shadow a doctor. Unfortunately, many programs I looked into stated that only medical students can shadow. Are there any suggested programs or advice to assist me in finding a doctor to shadow particularly in the Midwest region? Or is thisjust not an option.

 

[el_duderino]

You will be expected to have shadowed a physician. Start calling around. Try some local doctor's offices, all the local hospitals, independent urgent care facilities, etc. Your university's pre-health advisor may have specific contacts.

 

[determinedfuture]

You will be expected to have shadowed a physician. Start calling around. Try some local doctor's offices, all the local hospitals, independent urgent care facilities, etc. Your university's pre-health advisor may have specific contacts.

I will definitely call around and check. I have a few urgent care facilities near my residence

 

[Goro]

Plenty of pre-meds shadow.

Start by asking your own doctor, or your parents'.

For the past few years I have worked in many Healthcare settings ranging from ER volunteer, Sterile Processing Tech for surgery and a Phlebotomist. However, I would love to shadow a doctor. Unfortunately, many programs I looked into stated that only medical students can shadow. Are there any suggested programs or advice to assist me in finding a doctor to shadow particularly in the Midwest region? Or is thisjust not an option.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

If you have those experiences, you probably have interacted with some doctors. See if you can shadow any of them, or ask if they don't have time, if they have anyone they could set up an introduction with.

 

[Feelgood Inc]

Send cold emails to physicians practicing a specialty you are interested in. There's a template somewhere around the forums that addresses what to write to each physician.

 

[acquiescing]

Also, I don't think it's dead on that you HAVE to have shadowed directly. If you think you gained insight into the life of a physician in your other experiences, tailor your shadowing experience accordingly. Remember that you're shadowing BECAUSE you want to know what life is like as a physician and if you could do that every day, not because you are trying to check a box. I had very limited shadowing experience and primarily served as a volunteer. I was able to talk about the patient-doctor interaction that I did see and my cycle has been just fine.

 

[nOchemallday]

I had a lot of similar problems with respect to getting shadowing experience. I called my own Dr.'s offices, my parents', my girlfriend's, ones in the area - all unsuccessful. I was able to get some shadowing with my girlfriend's best friend's uncle and after I shadowed with him asked if he knew anyone else I could shadow. He sent me to his brother. I also was able to shadow my girlfriend's sister's roomate's dad. My best advice is just ask everyone you know. And ask them to ask everyone they know.

Also, I don't think it's dead on that you HAVE to have shadowed directly. If you think you gained insight into the life of a physician in your other experiences, tailor your shadowing experience accordingly. Remember that you're shadowing BECAUSE you want to know what life is like as a physician and if you could do that every day, not because you are trying to check a box. I had very limited shadowing experience and primarily served as a volunteer. I was able to talk about the patient-doctor interaction that I did see and my cycle has been just fine.

As noble as this sounds, you need at least some formal shadowing to check the box. If you can get shadowing experience in a specialty you could see yourself in, that's great! But any shadowing is better than none.

 

[acquiescing]

I had a lot of similar problems with respect to getting shadowing experience. I called my own Dr.'s offices, my parents', my girlfriend's, ones in the area - all unsuccessful. I was able to get some shadowing with my girlfriend's best friend's uncle and after I shadowed with him asked if he knew anyone else I could shadow. He sent me to his brother. I also was able to shadow my girlfriend's sister's roomate's dad. My best advice is just ask everyone you know. And ask them to ask everyone they know.


As noble as this sounds, you need at least some formal shadowing to check the box. If you can get shadowing experience in a specialty you could see yourself in, that's great! But any shadowing is better than none.

I definitely agree you need some sort of shadowing. I just was saying maybe if they can already speak on the interactions, they don't need as extensive of an experience. Because they already have the final result, just need the box checked. But you're right.

 

[determinedfuture]

And I thought I was the only one having problems finding a doctor to shadow lol. I plan on sending a few emails out this week to a few places.