Finding the Right Shadowing Opportunity

One of the best ways to demonstrate your commitment to medicine in a physical way on your application to medical/other health related schools is by shadowing a physician as a part of your clinical experience.

When reviewing your application, the admissions committee will want to see that you’ve done your research and are sure that a career in medicine is really for you. They’ll want to make sure that you know what you’re signing up for and that you’ve logged enough clinical hours to confidently make the decision to become a physician.

By observing physicians at work, applicants can see how physicians deliver bad news or deal with difficult patients. Applicants will also develop a more realistic understanding of what medicine can and can’t do. Although participating in medical mission work abroad may involve shadowing and is a wonderful form of service learning, it will not adequately provide an applicant with what the practice of medicine will be like in the U.S. Shadowing in the U.S. is an opportunity for prospective physicians to witness firsthand what they are getting into.

Most medical schools recommend that applicants shadow for at least 40 hours in the U.S. The 40 hours do not have to be with one physician or all in one week. In fact, shadowing multiple physicians over several months to years will give applicants an opportunity to explore not only different medical fields, but also to compare different practice settings and different physician styles. The 40 hours of shadowing with an attending physician or a resident is the suggested number of hours that should be completed before submitting your application.

Finding Shadowing Opportunities

Create a List of Specialties That Interest You

Make a list of medical specialties, dentistry, nursing specialties, pharmacy, physical therapy, veterinarian specialties, public health, or optometry, that you’d like to know more about. If you’re really at a loss, start with the basics in your field of choice.

Make Your Connection

Chances are you have a relationship with your own physician, family doctor, or are friends with a physician, and they’d more than likely be thrilled to know that you’re considering a career in their field. Doctors know other doctors, so voice your interests and see what potential connections can be made. Other ways to connect would be using your school alumni directory and LinkedIn resource.

Once You Have a Connection, Ask

The only way you’ll be able to shadow a doctor is if you ask. So, don’t rely on your referral to do all the work for you. Make the effort to call, email, or stop by the office of the physician you’d like to shadow and represent yourself and your interest in the field.

If you’re writing, make sure to be extremely polite and use a formal letter writing style. Attach your resume, so they can see your accomplishments. If you don’t hear back from an email, call or stop by in person. Example letter below can be applied to any field of medicine:

Dear Dr. John Doe,

My name is Peter Smith; I am currently a sophomore physiology major at UCI. I found your email through the UCI neurology faculty website. (Alternative: I was told by [mutual acquaintance] that you often have undergraduate students shadow you during inpatient rounds.) I am interested in the field of neurology and would like the chance to shadow you to see what being a neurologist is like firsthand. I have already completed the necessary HIPAA training. If you are willing, please let me know when and where is convenient for you.

Enjoy the Clinical Experience

You’ll mostly be a silent observer in the office, learning from an attending physician and watching as they conduct their practice. When the time is right, politely ask good questions. Read up on the cases that you see during your time shadowing and bring questions from your readings. Express interest in the field even if you have none (it’ll be good practice for rotations during your third and fourth year as a medical student). Offer to be helpful in any way you can. Many shadowing and clinical experiences turn into opportunities to gain a letter of recommendation.

Send a Thank-You Note

This may be the most important part. After the shadowing experience is over, send a personal, handwritten thank-you note. Demonstrate that you’re an appreciative adult and that you have manners worthy of a profession centered on taking care of others’ health. You have no idea what impact this can leave on people.