How To Find A Doctor To Shadow

After you’re done shadowing—and after you’ve completed your medical training—remember to pay it forward and say “Yes!” when an aspiring physician asks to shadow you!

Shadowing a Doctor

Shadowing a doctor is a great way to find out if a career in medicine might be right for you. It will give you a better understanding of what a doctor’s typical day is like, and give you good experience to talk about in your applications and interviews for medical school. It’s also a great way to gain familiarity with different specialties and medical environments.

How do I find a doctor to shadow?

If you have a relationship with your own doctor(s), or know any doctors, start by asking them. You can also ask your teachers, professors, and premed or academic advisors if they know any doctors that other students have shadowed in the past. If you’re in college, leverage any relationships your school may have with a medical school or hospital on campus. It’s also okay to contact hospitals through their volunteer office, or search online for local doctors with specialties that interest you. Call their office or email them at least a few weeks before you’d like to begin shadowing.

How should I ask them?

Express why you want to shadow this person specifically. Maybe someone recommended them or maybe they practice a specialty that interests you. Briefly tell them where you go to school, any medically related experiences you’ve had, and your goals. Be courteous and professional. Many doctors welcome opportunities to talk to students, so if you get turned down, ask other doctors. Read examples and learn more tips here .

How long should I shadow?

Arrange something that fits both the doctor’s schedule and your level of interest. You may only want to spend one day with them, or you may want to shadow a few hours a week for several weeks or months. If you have the time in the summer or over a break, you may want to shadow full time for an entire week. Find out what the doctor is comfortable with or what has worked well in the past.

What should I wear and what should I bring?

Dress professionally and comfortably: dress pants and a tie for men, dress pants or a dress for women, and closed-toed shoes you can walk in all day. Bring a notebook. Ask questions and take notes in between patients, not in front of them, and prepare some questions ahead of time.

Should I talk to patients?

The doctor is required to introduce you to each patient and explain that you are a premedical student, so expect to talk to patients. Some people may be uncomfortable having you in the room during an examination or the entire appointment, so you may be asked to step out. Other patients may ask you questions about yourself, school or your plans to become a doctor. In either case, it’s important that you keep all patient information private. You may be required to sign a HIPAA compliance document stating that you will not disclose any patient information or details that could lead to patient identification.

What should I do afterwards?

Write a thank you note to give the doctor on your last day that thanks them for their time. If you think it went well, ask for a letter of recommendation right away. Don’t wait until you need it because the experience may not be fresh in the doctor’s mind by that time. Reflect on what you’ve learned from your shadowing experience and write down anything you may want to remember later.

What if I can’t find a shadowing opportunity?

Getting clinical experience is important to confirm that medicine is the right career for you, and to build your application to medical school, but it doesn’t necessarily have to include shadowing. In a 2016 survey of medical school admissions officers conducted by the AAMC, 87% of respondents indicated that they accept an alternate activity instead of clinical shadowing. Check out these alternatives to shadowing , and more ways to get experience here .

Shadowing a Doctor as a Pre-Med Student

Shadowing entails following a doctor during the course of day-to-day work in a clinic, hospital, or operating room.

Shadowing experience is often critical for getting into medical school—and for deciding whether that’s the right path for you in the first place. Read on to find out what you need to know to shadow a doctor.

Why Shadow a Doctor

Shadowing can be useful at various stages of your pre-medical academic career. It can help you during high school as you try to figure out which college programs you’d like to apply to. During college, it can further help you as you choose a major . Shadowing also affords you the hands-on experience and exposure that will (a) give you a sense of what working with patients and their families is like, and (b) demonstrate your dedication to becoming a physician.

How Many Shadowing Hours do you Need for Medical School?

Shadowing allows you to get a clear sense of what it’s like to be a practicing doctor. For this reason, many medical schools across North America have a minimum requirement for shadowing hours. This may vary widely; some schools require 12–24 hours, while others require more than 75 hours. There are schools (particularly in Canada) that do not require any shadowing hours. Regardless of shadowing requirements, some schools maintain that shadowing experiences can make applicants more competitive in the admissions process.

How to Shadow a Doctor

Typically you’ll have to arrange shadowing opportunities yourself. Shadowing can be arranged in half- or full-day stints (typically from four to eight hours). It can be done on single occasions or arranged over multiple days. The length of the shadowing experience depends on the doctor’s clinic hours and availability as well as the student’s preferences and needs. Here’s what you’ll need to know to get started:

Identifying Specialties of Interest

To begin your search for shadowing opportunities, you’ll need to identify specialties of interest. Start by reflecting on whether you are interested in a medical or surgical specialty. Common medical specialties include family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Surgical specialties are typically more procedural; they also tend to be operating room (OR)–based. Some common surgical specialties include general surgery, ophthalmology, thoracic surgery, and otolaryngology.

At this stage, it is common for many students not to have a clear direction about what they want to pursue. As pre-medical students or junior trainees, you’re likely to benefit from shadowing physicians in both medical and surgical specialties to gain exposure and learn about the scope of practice. For this reason, many students during their first and second years of medical school (the pre-clerkship years) will often seek shadowing opportunities in various specialties. As your focus becomes more defined, you should also try to shadow doctors in your particular area(s) of interest.

Finding Shadowing Opportunities

Once you have narrowed your options to a few specialties, start by contacting your college’s pre-med advisor. That person can help you connect with a network of physicians, among whom are likely to be alumni. If you have friends in medical school, you can also ask them to refer you to the physicians they shadowed as pre-meds. Your family doctor may even be able to connect you with colleagues.

Some hospitals, particularly in Canada, have affiliations with medical schools and offer summer programs for students. By pairing high school or college students with mentors, these programs provide terrific opportunities for shadowing experiences. If your school has such a program, avail yourself of it!

Contacting Physicians

Unless you’re arranging shadowing opportunities through a school program, then you’ll need to reach out to physicians directly. Start by sending an email. Use a formal letter-writing style (do not address the doctor by first name or use a greeting such as “Hey”). Introduce yourself, note your stage of training, ask directly to shadow that doctor, and describe what you hope to get out of the experience. You can also outline why you are interested in medicine. Attach your résumé to provide more information about your background and accomplishments. Many doctors enjoy teaching and would be excited to share their journey and experiences with you.

Once the doctor has agreed to allow you to shadow her or him, be sure to confirm some important details about your shadowing experience—including where the clinic or hospital is located as well as the duration of your shadowing experience. You’ll also want to confirm whether there is any paperwork (e.g., patient confidentiality forms and/or student agreement forms) that must be completed prior to shadowing. Parents/guardians may be asked to sign additional forms for minors seeking shadowing opportunities.

How to Make the Most of Your Shadowing Experience

Ensure that you are punctual. If you are shadowing in a clinic, be sure to wear professional attire. If you are going to be shadowing in an OR, confirm with the surgeon where you can obtain scrubs. (These are typically available in the hospital.) You should plan to wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes. Bring a small notebook and writing implements so that you can take notes—but do not write down any confidential patient data or information.

It is important to be respectful to everyone you encounter during your shadowing experience—including patients, their families, administrative staff, and other allied health professionals. It is also important to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest while working with a doctor. Make note of any questions you may have and ask them politely at an appropriate time. (You may have such an opportunity during a break or at the end of the day.)

Before you leave, thank the doctor and the team for having you in. If possible, set up another shadowing experience with the doctor before you leave. If you’re still looking for additional shadowing opportunities, ask your host physician to recommend colleagues you could contact.

What To Do After Shadowing a Doctor

First things first: Send a thank-you email or card to the physician you shadowed. Additionally, keep a journal in which you write any reflections and experiences that stood out to you. Referring back to these experiences can be beneficial when you write your personal statements for medical school . (Again, you’ll want to maintain patient confidentiality, so stay focused on the overall experience.) Make the most of the opportunity to think more about where you’d like to direct your specialized study.

After you’re done shadowing—and after you’ve completed your medical training—remember to pay it forward and say “Yes!” when an aspiring physician asks to shadow you!

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