<p>Ok so I go to Syracuse University and obviously I'm pre-med. Right down the street is SUNY Upstate Medical School. I was trying to find doctors to shadow and i e-mailed a couple of professors (like 8) if they would ALLOW me to shadow them. Do you think I was a little too forward or stupid about it? Do you think the professors will think I'm stupid. Maybe I'm just a little scared...</p>
<p>You emailed profs to shadow? Do they also practice medicine? They may – you never know. Being forward can be a good thing… I’d build relationships w/ them first, though, before asking for their help.</p>
<p>they are professors AND doctors. how would i build a relationship if im not in med school yet?</p>
<p>Just because they teach at a medical school does not mean they are currently practicing medicine at a hospital or a practice. I would make sure first. What I did when I shadowed (besides asking around) is just called a few random doctors in the yellow pages. It ended up working out pretty quickly. You could also ask your primary physician.</p>
<p>my physician would be great except that she’s in new jersey and i go to school in syracuse. no, i know for a FACT that they are doctors as well.</p>
<p>Check with your school’s pre-med advisor or career/volunteer service office. Is there a pre-med student organization on campus that can help you make contacts? (If not, start one!) Call the hospital medical staff offices and ask if they know of physcians who allow students to shadow. Also, if you know you physicians at home well enough, they may be willing to write a short note of introduction for you.</p>
<p>Basically, you need connections. Letting you shadow is somewhat of a risk for the doc (HIPAA as well as not knowing how you’ll interact w/ hospital staff and/or px) and, more likely, it can be a bit of a burden for the physician as you can’t help w/ anything (unqualified) and your questions aren’t likely to be particularly impressive (you’re a pre-med). As a result, you may not naturally be the most enjoyable person for the doc to have hanging out w/ him/her all day. This stigma against pre-meds can hurt you if you’re cold-calling. You need to show you are worth the effort for the doc.</p>