Struggling with finding shadowing

Meganerd2012 · Apr 23, 2024

I’ve been looking for shadowing opportunities for the past year and have had no luck. I’ve cold called/emailed/gone to offices with a cover letter and resume, asked my PCP, and contacted Graduate Medical Education offices as well.

I’ve gotten an opportunity to help a physician with physicals with other pre-health and health students. Would this count as shadowing even though I would be functioning mostly as an MA?

I’m feeling really discouraged and honestly about to quit premed. I don’t have anyone in my family in healthcare that can help me in this process or help with networking. I feel like the next step is to do paid shadowing through the various programs which is more than I can afford, but I don’t think I have another choice.

Sorry for the long post, kinda needed to vent.

WildWing · Apr 23, 2024

If you are still in undergrad, your pre-health advising office may have a list of alumni that allow students to shadow.

Mr.Smile12 · Apr 23, 2024

Look into Activity Finder - Find Extracurriculars for Med School Application | Activity Finder

Moko · Apr 23, 2024

Meganerd2012 said:
I’ve been looking for shadowing opportunities for the past year and have had no luck. I’ve cold called/emailed/gone to offices with a cover letter and resume, asked my PCP, and contacted Graduate Medical Education offices as well. ... I’m feeling really discouraged and honestly about to quit premed. I don’t have anyone in my family in healthcare that can help me in this process or help with networking. I feel like the next step is to do paid shadowing through the various programs which is more than I can afford, but I don’t think I have another choice.

In addition to the above suggestions, some schools have their clerkship director emails available online. If you haven't already tried emailing those people, it's worth a try!

Keywords to try: [specialty] + [clerkship / subinternship / acting internship rotation] + [nearby medical school]

Premed students not infrequently cold-email my site's clerkship director who then refers students to those of us who are open to shadowing. Maybe this method will prove fruitful for you as well. And chin up, it only takes one yes!

Meganerd2012 · Apr 23, 2024

WildWing said:
If you are still in undergrad, your pre-health advising office may have a list of alumni that allow students to shadow.

I'm not (graduated in 2021), but I'll reach out to see if they have a better list than the one I have access to through the portal.

Meganerd2012 · Apr 23, 2024

Mr.Smile12 said:
Look into Activity Finder - Find Extracurriculars for Med School Application | Activity Finder

Thank you! Is it still OK to use virtual shadowing as shadowing?

Meganerd2012 · Apr 23, 2024

Moko said:
In addition to the above suggestions, some schools have their clerkship director emails available online. If you haven't already tried emailing those people, it's worth a try!

Keywords to try: [specialty] + [clerkship / subinternship / acting internship rotation] + [nearby medical school]

Premed students not infrequently cold-email my site's clerkship director who then refers students to those of us who are open to shadowing. Maybe this method will prove fruitful for you as well. And chin up, it only takes one yes!

Thank you! I've reached out to them. Hoping it will prove fruitful.

Mr.Smile12 · Apr 23, 2024

Meganerd2012 said:
Thank you! Is it still OK to use virtual shadowing as shadowing?

In person is preferred. Otherwise you could read our profile articles of professionals.

chssoccer7 · Apr 24, 2024

Meganerd2012 said:
I’ve been looking for shadowing opportunities for the past year and have had no luck. I’ve cold called/emailed/gone to offices with a cover letter and resume, asked my PCP, and contacted Graduate Medical Education offices as well.

I’ve gotten an opportunity to help a physician with physicals with other pre-health and health students. Would this count as shadowing even though I would be functioning mostly as an MA?

I’m feeling really discouraged and honestly about to quit premed. I don’t have anyone in my family in healthcare that can help me in this process or help with networking. I feel like the next step is to do paid shadowing through the various programs which is more than I can afford, but I don’t think I have another choice.

Sorry for the long post, kinda needed to vent.

If there are hospital systems near you, you can look up their employee directory on their website and email physicians in the specialty you want to shadow directly. This is how I got mine.

Mr.Smile12 · Apr 24, 2024

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