Julia SwarthoutJunior Biological Sciences Major So you’ve decided medical school might be the right path for you: you have the grades, you have the drive, but now what? You might think you know what the life of a physician is like, but often what you see on your annual trip to the doctor’s office or your Grey’s Anatomy binge-watching is only the tip of the iceberg. The best way to find out about everything physicians do is to start shadowing! How to get in contact with doctors:
One of the best, and most obvious, routes to finding a physician to shadow is to ask those that you already know! Think about the physician you’ve visited once a year since you were a kid, the one that healed your broken arm, or the one that gave you medicine every time you got strep throat growing up. Many of them have gotten to know you over the years and would love the opportunity to help you work toward your dreams! Since you are already familiar with these physicians, you will likely be far more comfortable contacting them and asking for their help. As nice as it may be to already have some relationship with physician you want to shadow, DON’T be afraid to reach out to someone that you’ve never met before, especially if you are interested in their specialty. Often times, physician’s emails will be listed on their associated hospital’s webpage. Spend some time looking through hospital directories to find someone that you might be interested in shadowing. If you are hoping to shadow at one of the UPMC hospitals, this link might be helpful to you; you can search by specialty, as well as hospital distance from you. Many hospitals also have programs that work to match students to physicians within their system; generally, students must complete an application in order to partake in this sort of program. This is a great opportunity not only to meet and shadow physicians, but also to become familiar with the hospital network. Not all hospitals offer this program, however, so be sure to search online to see if yours does! So I’ve found some emails: now what? Start out by introducing yourself: where you go to school, your healthcare-related goals, and any shadowing or patient care experiences you’ve had. It is always important to let the physician know what draws you to them and their specialty specifically, and why you think shadowing them will help you to reach your career goals. Upon hearing back from the physician, work together to find a time to shadow that works for both of you. Keep in mind that you may need to move things around in your schedule to fit into theirs. Remember: physicians are incredibly busy people, and if they don’t get back to you right away (or at all), don’t get discouraged! You can always send a follow up email, or look for more physicians in your area/specialty of interest to shadow. Don’t give up just because one person doesn’t get back to you! What kinds of things should I ask the physician during shadowing? Shadowing is the best way to experience the day-to-day life of a physician; this may also be one of the only times you get to see and hear about the realities of the job, and as such, you should be prepared to make the most of this time. These questions are some that I believe are important to think about when deciding to become a physician:
Things to remember when shadowing:
Shadowing can be scary at first, and that is okay! Remember to breathe and try to soak up as much as you can from your experience. Physicians have a lot of knowledge to shed on the subject of, ya know, being a physician, so try to make the most of the time you have with them!
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