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How to Find Physician Shadowing Opportunities (Even When You Don’t Know Any Doctors)
Articles
August 31, 2024
Shadowing a physician is an important part of the premedical experience. In addition to strengthening your medical school application, shadowing lets you get a good look at the daily life of doctors. This helps you confirm your interest in medicine, and it also allows you to start exploring different medical specialties.
Finding shadowing opportunities is usually a matter of leveraging personal connections. But what if you don’t know any doctors or have any relatives working in the medical field? Don’t worry! There are several effective strategies you can use to find doctor shadowing opportunities. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
Start with Your School’s Resources
If you’re still in undergrad (or if you’re enrolled in a post-bacc or special master’s program), your university should have premed support resources available that can link you with shadowing opportunities. Your first port of call should be a premed advisor. Advisors will often have a list of physicians who have previously hosted students for shadowing. They can also provide advice on how to approach doctors and what to expect.
Next, try your school’s career center. They may have connections with local hospitals or clinics that offer shadowing programs, or they may be able to connect you with alumni who are practicing physicians. Networking events aimed at premed or healthcare students may also be another opportunity: attending these and talking with physicians or hospital administrators could help you get your foot in the door.
If your school has a premed club, you can also try joining that. It’s a great way to network with other students who may already have completed shadowing experiences. Getting to know fellow premeds gives you an opportunity to hear about their experiences and possibly even get referred to doctors they’ve shadowed.
Reach Out to Local Hospitals and Clinics
Local hospitals and clinics are often open to accommodating premed students who wish to shadow. Start by researching local healthcare facilities in your area. Larger hospitals often have formal shadowing programs. Check hospital websites to see if such programs are available, and to find out contact or application details.
Smaller clinics might be open to arranging something more informally; you’ll probably need to e-mail or call them to inquire. When cold-contacting clinics, be polite, professional, and clear about your intentions. Mention that you’re a premed student seeking doctor shadowing opportunities. Prepare a brief resume and a cover letter that explains your interest in medicine, so you can provide it if they ask for it.
Utilize Online Shadowing Platforms
In response to the growing demand for shadowing experiences – and to the disruption to in-person shadowing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – several online platforms have emerged that connect premed students with physicians via Zoom and other services. These can be particularly useful if in-person shadowing is challenging due to geographical or time constraints. While not a substitute for in-person experiences, virtual shadowing experiences can still lead to important insights.
There are also a limited number of websites for premeds that offer to connect you with in-person shadowing opportunities. Do your due diligence when considering these sites: check Reddit and other premedical forums to confirm with others that they’re legitimate.
Volunteer at Healthcare Facilities
While not the same as shadowing, volunteering in a healthcare setting can help you build relationships with medical staff, including physicians who may later invite you to shadow them. Many hospitals have volunteer programs, and once you’ve established yourself in a volunteer position, you can express your interest in shadowing to the medical staff.
Volunteering at a free clinic or community health center can also provide opportunities to interact with physicians. These environments are often more personal, and once you establish trust, doctors may be more likely to allow you to shadow them.
Prepare for Rejections and Persist
Finally, be prepared for some rejection. Not every doctor will have the time or willingness to allow a student to shadow them, especially in the post-COVID-19 era where healthcare settings are more cautious. However, persistence is key. Keep reaching out, refining your approach, and expanding your network.
Finding physician shadowing opportunities without personal connections may seem like a tall order at first, but it’s entirely achievable with a strategic approach. Use the resources available to you, network effectively, and be persistent. Each shadowing experience will not only strengthen your medical school application but also confirm your passion for a career in medicine. Good luck on your journey!
Shadowing a physician is an important part of the premedical experience. In addition to strengthening your medical school application, shadowing lets you get a good look at the daily life of doctors. This helps you confirm your interest in medicine, and it also allows you to start exploring different medical specialties.
Finding shadowing opportunities is usually a matter of leveraging personal connections. But what if you don’t know any doctors or have any relatives working in the medical field? Don’t worry! There are several effective strategies you can use to find doctor shadowing opportunities. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
Start with Your School’s Resources
If you’re still in undergrad (or if you’re enrolled in a post-bacc or special master’s program), your university should have premed support resources available that can link you with shadowing opportunities. Your first port of call should be a premed advisor. Advisors will often have a list of physicians who have previously hosted students for shadowing. They can also provide advice on how to approach doctors and what to expect.
Next, try your school’s career center. They may have connections with local hospitals or clinics that offer shadowing programs, or they may be able to connect you with alumni who are practicing physicians. Networking events aimed at premed or healthcare students may also be another opportunity: attending these and talking with physicians or hospital administrators could help you get your foot in the door.
If your school has a premed club, you can also try joining that. It’s a great way to network with other students who may already have completed shadowing experiences. Getting to know fellow premeds gives you an opportunity to hear about their experiences and possibly even get referred to doctors they’ve shadowed.
Reach Out to Local Hospitals and Clinics
Local hospitals and clinics are often open to accommodating premed students who wish to shadow. Start by researching local healthcare facilities in your area. Larger hospitals often have formal shadowing programs. Check hospital websites to see if such programs are available, and to find out contact or application details.
Smaller clinics might be open to arranging something more informally; you’ll probably need to e-mail or call them to inquire. When cold-contacting clinics, be polite, professional, and clear about your intentions. Mention that you’re a premed student seeking doctor shadowing opportunities. Prepare a brief resume and a cover letter that explains your interest in medicine, so you can provide it if they ask for it.
Utilize Online Shadowing Platforms
In response to the growing demand for shadowing experiences – and to the disruption to in-person shadowing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – several online platforms have emerged that connect premed students with physicians via Zoom and other services. These can be particularly useful if in-person shadowing is challenging due to geographical or time constraints. While not a substitute for in-person experiences, virtual shadowing experiences can still lead to important insights.
There are also a limited number of websites for premeds that offer to connect you with in-person shadowing opportunities. Do your due diligence when considering these sites: check Reddit and other premedical forums to confirm with others that they’re legitimate.
Volunteer at Healthcare Facilities
While not the same as shadowing, volunteering in a healthcare setting can help you build relationships with medical staff, including physicians who may later invite you to shadow them. Many hospitals have volunteer programs, and once you’ve established yourself in a volunteer position, you can express your interest in shadowing to the medical staff.
Volunteering at a free clinic or community health center can also provide opportunities to interact with physicians. These environments are often more personal, and once you establish trust, doctors may be more likely to allow you to shadow them.
Prepare for Rejections and Persist
Finally, be prepared for some rejection. Not every doctor will have the time or willingness to allow a student to shadow them, especially in the post-COVID-19 era where healthcare settings are more cautious. However, persistence is key. Keep reaching out, refining your approach, and expanding your network.
Finding physician shadowing opportunities without personal connections may seem like a tall order at first, but it’s entirely achievable with a strategic approach. Use the resources available to you, network effectively, and be persistent. Each shadowing experience will not only strengthen your medical school application but also confirm your passion for a career in medicine. Good luck on your journey!