How to find Job Shadowing opportunities?

[Jamie]

I am currently waitlisted a UWO and since its almost July, I probably won't get an offer of admission this year. I will be applying again during the next admission cycle and will be working for this upcoming year. Since my job doesn't start till mid august, I was thinking of volunteering for a job shadowing with a doctor. I was wondering if anyone has experience with job shadowing, such as how to find a supervisor and the daily duties you perform. Thanks

[Jamer]

Easiest: 1) Find a friend/whoever whos parent/friend/whatever is a doctor. Ask them.
Harder: 2) Get the contacts of some doctors. Ask all of them and be happy if 1 says yes
Hardest: 3) Sneakily stalk a doctor while they're on shift

[supafield]

haha, the two I used were both friends of some sort....

Solicit your friends to see if there are any doctors anywhere in their extended families that you can hopefully get set up with.... generally I've found doctors are hesitant to take people other than med students....

And even if you can't find a "shadowing" position there's tonnes of good volunteering opportunities in the hospital otherwise... that may eventually give you exposure and contact with doctors....

[ghostgirl123]

Originally Posted by Jamer

Easiest: 1) Find a friend/whoever whos parent/friend/whatever is a doctor. Ask them.
Harder: 2) Get the contacts of some doctors. Ask all of them and be happy if 1 says yes
Hardest: 3) Sneakily stalk a doctor while they're on shift

Ha! I can picture it: darting between carts, hiding underneath gurneys, peeking into exam rooms...while wearing a hospital mask, "mission impossible" theme playing in the background. do do do doo.


jokes aside. Jamie, are you volunteering at a hospital right now? if you are, maybe you can ask the volunteer coordinator. I know for the hospital I volunteer at, sometimes doctors need someone to do paperwork stuff, who knows, maybe if you ask nicely, they'll let you shadow.(and it'll be easier if it's a teaching hospital)

[Jamie]

I don't know anyone close that has a doctor in the family....

I do currently volunteer at a hospital but I only work 4-8 hours per week. I was hoping to get a shadowing position for a straight 2 month period working 4-6 hours a day.

Thanks ghostgirl, I will try asking the volunteer coordinator but she generally takes weeks to reply and set something up...

[Jamer]

Yeah, that's not going to happen. Especially if you don't know anyone.

Most doctors don't work every day of the week--they have other interests (research, admin, whatever) other than working with patients all day, every day.

Plus, what kind of doctor would be willing to give someone that kind of time committment without knowing them? I don't know if I'd want to work with a doctor like that...they'd have to be kind of bonkers.

It's all about connections. Previous health care related jobs: ask if they know anyone; people who you are in contact with during this volunteering: ask if you know anyone. Lower your standards though, I can borderline guarentee you're not going to get that kind of time

In addition, you're not the only one who wants shadowing. Every time I get a chance my doc says I should thank them graciously because a) they don't have to, and b) other neurotic premeds + residents are begging to get opportunities.

[ploughboy]

Originally Posted by Jamie

I do currently volunteer at a hospital but I only work 4-8 hours per week. I was hoping to get a shadowing position for a straight 2 month period working 4-6 hours a day.

Thanks ghostgirl, I will try asking the volunteer coordinator but she generally takes weeks to reply and set something up...

1) You're physically in the hospital 4-8 hours per week already.

2) There's a two-month time-frame where you can be in the hospital every day.

3) The volunteer co-ordinator (presumably) is also physically present in the hospital.

4) Step 4 is up to you...

[supafield]

Also, you really don't need to shadow a doctor for 2 months nearly full-time.... a few days or a week with one physician doing the basic routine will give you a good idea of what they're about..... and you have to think about how busy most physicians already are.....

[Jamer]

Originally Posted by supafield

Also, you really don't need to shadow a doctor for 2 months nearly full-time.... a few days or a week with one physician doing the basic routine will give you a good idea of what they're about..... and you have to think about how busy most physicians already are.....

QFT

I've only done 2 days worth ~9 hours with a couple of geriatricians and I've got the idea. All 3 patients had a form of dementia and they did the same **** for all 3 of them. Spending 200+ hours watching would be horribly unnecessary

[unknown user 7]

Originally Posted by aranndil

I am in the same boat - I do not have any relatives (except one in Toronto) who are physicians and my mother is a nurse, but I feel bad asking her to arrange anything for her.

I begged my family doctor to let me shadow her, and she said she would think about it. hopefully that works.

Didn't you shadow a doc at a hospital last year?