Importance of Shadowing and Clinical Experiences

Virgenal Owens is a 2020 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia and will be starting Orthopedic Surgery residency at Carolinas Medical Center. You can follow him on instagram, twitter, and linkedin.

Physician shadowing is a process where a pre-medical student observes the role and actions of a physician in a clinical or surgical setting. Not only is this vital to beginning to understand what it means to be a doctor, but it has also become a requirement for virtually every medical school’s admission process.

Shadowing allows a pre-medical student to see how a physician interacts with patients, how they make decisions, the importance of their particular specialty, and it will enable the student to begin deciding if the medicine is a career path that is right for them.

Shadowing should not be thought of as a purely observational process, as the student should ask the physician questions about the medical field. These questions can include:

Why did you decide to be a physician?
What did it take for you to become a physician?
What do you like most and least about the profession?
Would you become a physician again?
Are you able to balance life (traveling, interacting with family & friends, etc.) with being a physician?

Shadowing is also an opportunity for the student to ask themselves these questions as well. These questions can include:

Could I see myself doing this every day?
Do I enjoy talking to patients?
Did my shadowing experience motivate me more or less to become a physician?
What did I like and dislike about my shadowing experience?

Mentorship is also a crucial aspect of shadowing. Interacting with a physician is a powerful way to gain connections and insight into the process as a whole. It is also a means to achieve research opportunities, as well as letters of recommendation for other shadowing opportunities and even medical school. The better a physician knows you, the better they can advocate for you on your behalf.

There are several ways to seek out shadowing opportunities. These include:

The simplest is to ask people you know: Family, friends, even your family doctor. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and by simply asking around, you can often find out about opportunities.
Ask your pre-medical counselor about opportunities
Contacting a hospital directly with questions regarding any shadowing opportunities
Joining and asking pre-medical undergraduate organizations about shadowing opportunities

After finding a shadowing opportunity, the next step is to let that physician know your interest. This can be done in various ways, including the following:

An initial face-to-face introduction is always an invaluable way of showing interest. Sometimes, however, this may not be possible initially, depending on the physician and their schedule.
Sending them a letter of interest in email format, or even hand-delivering it to their office. Below, we’re attached a Letter of Interest
Calling the physician at their office or their phone

After introducing yourself, always try to set up a day to begin shadowing. If that is not possible, try to set up another time to meet with the physician to discuss shadowing again.

Persistence is key! Many physicians are very busy, so it can be challenging to get in touch with them. Don’t give up! If they don’t respond the first time, wait and then try again, and try once more after that. Hopefully, they will allow you to shadow, but if not, always thank them for their time and ask them if there is anyone else they know who may have shadowing opportunities.

Shadow Request Email:

Dear Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms. {Insert name}:

My name is {Insert name}, and I am currently a [year in school] at the {Insert School}. I am in the process of exploring careers in healthcare and I am very interested in the field of {Insert field of medicine}. I am in the process of seeking out opportunities for shadowing and informational interviewing in order to understand better what it is like to be a __________. I found your e-mail through {insert response} (Or, alternatively, I was given your contact information by your colleague, __________). If you are willing and your hospital/clinic/office allows students to shadow, I would welcome an opportunity to observe you work. I would also value the opportunity to have a short conversation to hear more about your experiences and to get your advice on how to prepare for a career in __________. I realize that you are busy and that your time is valuable.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me by e-mail or phone (###-###- ####). Thank you for your help.

Warm regards,

{Insert Name}

Following up after NO:

Generally, its in your best interest to thank a professional for responding, even if you don’t get the answer you were looking for. It leaves the possibility of other opportunities in the future.

Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. __________,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my e-mail. I understand that it is not possible to shadow with you at this time, but I appreciate that you followed up with me about my request.

I would still welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your experiences as a __________ if that is possible. I also wanted to ask if you would be willing to put me in touch with a colleague or two that might be willing and available to shadow.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my e-mail. I understand that it is not possible to shadow with you at this time, but I appreciate that you followed up with me about my request.

Warm Regards:

{Insert name}