Physician Shadowing

Ok. I searched in this forum and nothing showed up about this topic. So, here I go.

In a few days I have my FIRST REAL physician shadowing experience. ( I say this because I dont count my ambulance rides with paramedics and interactions with doctors in the hospital ).

Im shadowing a hematology/oncology surgeon OFFICIALLY, through my undergrad school program/club.

Any pointers? Advice? Tips??...for the ;;;;first day;;;; lol..

I dont want to screw up, and even though this is not my first specialty of choice (the specialty I wanted was at a diff. time than I could make)....I want to make a good impression and be invited back for more visits with the physician.

Ask questions but don't get in the physician's way either. It all depends on how good your mentor is at teaching. Unfortunately not all physicians are good instructors. Some will hold informal and very informative lectures on the side and in between patient interactions and others will act like you're not even really there and just go on with their typical day. If you have the former, you're lucky and you'll learn a lot, and if you have the latter, you may not find it to be very rewarding.

I say ask questions whenever you find something interesting or want to know more about it but at the same time realize that they're probably very busy and don't have time to explain every little thing in detail. But just be a sponge and absorb all you can. This experience is more about you deciding if medicine in every way that you've built it up to be in your mind is really what its like in real life.

So just have fun and learn as much as you can!

The meeting went really well. The physician I was supposed to shadow was super nice and explained everything as we were going. I was introduced to the patients, and even they made me feel welcomed!!! It was an overall WONDERFUL experience. I want to go back, but I also want to try other physicians with diff. specialties.

I strongly recommend this experience.

Hey maymay!

Wow! I'm happy to read this thread. It's great to see that you got a chance to shadow. God willing I'll get a chance to do so sometime in the near future. I hope you get the chance to do it in the field that interests you most. This way you will be able to do some comparing to see what you truly want to specialize in.
Much luck to you!