How To Make The Most of Your Shadowing Experience In 6 Steps
Having the opportunity to shadow a doctor and other healthcare professionals is the best way of disovering what a career in medicine entails and whether it is the right fit for you. Medical school admissions boards favor applicants who have shadowed physicians, but it’s important to be able to talk about shadowing as something other than a fly on the wall experience. For six weeks I had the opportunity to shadow over thirty different medical professions and specialties for one hundred twenty hours at a private hospital in Sevilla. From my first whirlwind day in the operating theater seeing everything from plastic surgeries to C-sections, to my last day saying goodbye to the general physician I connected with the most, I am forever grateful for the time I spent learning at Hospital Infantil Luisa. Not everyone has a great shadowing experience however, because of ambiguity in the cultural code of what is acceptable to do and what is not. I have here a brief list of things to do to make the most of your shadowing experience based on what I’ve learned here in Spain.
1). Introduce yourself and smile
I know this may seem like common knowledge, but you would be surprised how many students I saw enter the physicians room without saying anything. Smiling and giving a short introduction is one of the easiest things you can do to start off on the right foot. It might be especially intimidating if the doctor you are shadowing does not speak English and you are forced to introduce yourself in Spanish to the best of your ability. Regardless, be fearless and make that introduction, I can assure you she/he will be impressed by stepping out of your cultural comfort zone.
2). Bring a small notebook and write things down
While shadowing, you will see many different things- procedures, patients, meetings, diseases, etc. By the end of the internship it can feel overwhelming and things you’ve seen can begin to blur together. To make sure you remember all the important moments, jot them down in a little notebook that fit in your scrubs! Write down the names of the doctors shadowed, their specialty, any particular moment that was interesting, or anything new such as terms you were not familiar with. These small notes will become especially useful when preparing for your medical school interviews.
I see that often times people are afraid to ask questions unless they are important or relevant in fear of what the doctor will think. You are here to learn and the doctor you are shadowing knows that. There are however appropriate times to ask, for example, it is not a good idea to ask a question while the doctor is in the middle of talking to a patient or coworker. Wait for an opportune time to ask, such as in between patients or during some down time. Some appropriate questions to ask would be about what you see during your time there, the hours your mentor typically works, challenges they have had in their field, and why did they choose their particular field. This type of honest information about the career you are planning on passionately pursing is something you should take advantage of.
4.) Be Adaptable and Flexible
You may go in one day expecting to shadow an emergency medicine physician but end up in neonatal intensive care unit for whatever reason (as this happened to me). If you look at every second you have while shadowing as a learning opportunity, you will have the chance to discover more about yourself and the aspects of the medical profession you may have never looked into before. Being adaptable and flexible is key to having an enjoyable experience because you never know what new door will open for you.
Your mentors took time out of their day to see and teach you during their working hours, so it is important to keep in touch with those who have helped you out throughout your medical journey. Your experience does not just end on the last day of your internship- stay in touch with the hospital and program faculty.
Do not forget to mention your direct medical work experience in your personal essay and interview; it really will help you stand out. Medial college admissions panels will read hundreds of applications, and by giving details about your practical experience, what you saw that was different while aboard, and how you applied what you learned will set you apart. Be sure to highlight the good and bad moments, and follow through by using this experience to make you a better health professional candidate.
