How to maximize your shadowing experience and write about it effectively in your primaries.
When I met with a new client for the 2022-2023 med school application cycle and reviewed his experiences, I was struck by the breadth of his shadowing experiences. His willingness to go to the hospital on the weekends and to be called at all hours just so he could observe a procedure reflected a sincere commitment to learning about medicine. Your application to medical school does not need to prove that you are already a physician. Instead, it should reflect someone who is coachable and eager to learn, who possesses the drive and determination—the potential—to become an excellent physician.
Although the lack of significant responsibilities when shadowing a physician can make it seem less glamorous, taking the time to follow healthcare professionals requires additional effort and initiative because you have to create an opportunity for yourself. It shows that you are comfortable stepping back and just absorbing what medical teams do for their patients, reflecting a willingness to do anything and everything to learn about the medical field.
As you prepare your application for the 2023-2024 med school application cycle, find ways to maximize your shadowing experience so that you can showcase it in your primary application, presenting yourself as a well-rounded med school candidate who understands what going into medicine is really about. Shadowing physicians can provide you with a wealth of experience and stories that you can put to good use in your med school application. Ideally, you find shadowing opportunities in different areas of medicine to gain broad exposure to the field and perhaps identify specialties that interest you.
The benefits of shadowing:
You get to be a sponge and soak up everything from how to interact with a patient to the physician’s responsibilities beyond diagnosing and treating the patient, including the challenges of receiving health insurance authorization and patients’ financial responsibilities.
You can witness a diversity of perspectives and approaches to medicine.
You have the opportunity to develop a relationship with the providers you are shadowing so that when you request a letter of recommendation, they can write an enthusiastic letter that demonstrates how well they know you. (This is particularly important for candidates who want to attend D.O. school because it reflects an interest in learning about what D.Os do and understanding their philosophy.)
Isn’t shadowing a passive experience where I just sit back and observe?
Yes, there are limitations to what you can do, but there are ways to maximize and learn from the experience. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of a shadowing experience and become a participant-observer.
Ask a ton of questions. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. You are shadowing someone who wants to share their passion for medicine with the next generation. Otherwise, they wouldn’t permit you to shadow them. In essence, the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.
Look beyond the physician. Healthcare is not just about what doctors do. A physician works with a team of nurses, therapists, etc. You may want to be the physician on the team, but understanding and appreciating the roles that others play will only make you a better teammate and leader. Patient outcomes are often contingent on the aftercare they receive and not just the success of a medical procedure. Take note of all of the different roles that other healthcare professionals play.
Read the patient’s history and case notes before and after the visit. If the physician you are shadowing will allow you to read the patient file, look at it before the consultation so you have a sense of the patient and their complaint. After the consultation, read the doctor’s case notes to see how they articulate the complaint, advice, and treatment.
Keep a journal of the encounter with the who, what, where, when, and why. You don’t need to record every patient encounter, but there will be interactions that you will want to include in your essays. Write down as much as you can about the experience—the patient’s complaint; the physician’s diagnosis; the treatment plan—along with anything unusual that may have happened. After you describe it, jot down what you learned from the experience. Keep in mind that when you are busy with the application, you will already have notes for patient stories that you can use in the essays
Reflect in your journal about how you felt as you observed the visit. Recording your thoughts and impressions from the patient experience is crucial to gathering good writing material to use in your application. Narrate your experience and describe how you felt. What thoughts ran through your mind?
Play even the most seemingly minor role. Even though you are just shadowing, you can still find ways to contribute even as an observer. For example, if the patient looks nervous, smile and make eye contact to reassure them that they are in good hands. If there are multiple people at the consult and the situation becomes stressful, it may be helpful to talk to the family member or friend and distract them so that the physician can focus on the patient. This can be particularly important if you are shadowing a pediatrician.
What should I look for when gathering stories for the application?
Pay attention to the patient’s body language. Do they look scared? Proud? Happy? How can you tell? Does their face look tense or relaxed? Are their shoulders hunched? Do they sit forward or lean back stiffly in their chair?
How does the physician establish trust with the patient and assuage their fears? Does the physician ask other, ordinary questions about the patient’s life and interests?
Observe the physician’s body language. Where does the physician stand? Do they sit down? Do they pat the patient’s shoulder or knee?
How do I find doctors to shadow?
Start with family and friends: talk to your physician about your interest in medicine and see if they will help you network. If they are unable to let you shadow, ask them if they have a colleague who may be willing. Remember, it never hurts to ask because they can always politely say no!
Ask your volunteer coordinator: if you volunteer with a health organization, ask the coordinators if they can connect you to people open to allowing you to shadow them.
Reach out to local hospitals and medical schools: some schools and hospitals have lists of preceptors open to being shadowed.
For more information on finding someone to shadow:
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