<p>Hey guys! I am really interested in shadowing doctors but I don't know who to contact. I am a junior in high school (16 year old) that wants to become a surgeon someday. I am a volunteer at a hospital nearby but I don't know who to contact in order to shadow. Also: is it appropriate to ask the doctor directly? My school has a lot of students with surgeons as parents. I'm completely new to the world of job shadowing and I find it extremely important to see how being a surgeon really is.</p>
<p>You will need to contact individual doctors personally (in person or by phone works best, don’t email) to ask if you can shadow them. AFAIK, there are no organized programs that provide shadowing experiences for high schoolers. (Unless it’s something local to your high school/school district.)</p>
<p>The easiest place to start is by asking doctors you already know–like your pediatrician or family practice doctor. If your family knows any physicians on a personal basis–ask them. Ask your friends if they would mind if you asked their physician parents, then ask the parents if they will allow you to shadow. But please understand that many hospitals have policies that prohibit or restrict the presence of student observers (esp under age 18 student observers) in the OR. Also understand that HIPAA policies prohibit your presence in any patient exam room unless prior written consent is obtained from the patient. </p>
<p>While I understand you’re specifically interested in surgery, don’t limit your shadowing experiences to only surgeons. You will need the opportunity to observe physicians in a wide variety of specialties and medical practices sites to understand the wide variation in medical careers that some under the heading of “doctor”.</p>
<p>And a word of advice from a mom who has 2 in med school–you’re way too far away from a medical career to start picking out specialties. Concentrate on getting into college first. </p>
<p>@Wayoutwestmom Do you think going to those summer scholar’s programs are worth the money? My parents were planning to give me one of their cars and buy a new one for themselves. They said it’s either the summer scholar’s program or a car… My first instinct is “duh, car” but now I’m kind of uneasy. </p>
<p>I vote for “duh–car”</p>
<p>Many of these summer scholar programs are resume fluffers for kids from affluent families. Don’t get me wrong, summer programs can provide some opportunities to do some cool stuff. But, IMO, you would be better off if you took the car and found a summer job (even if it’s bussing at Dennys or slinging burgers at Mickey D’s). Job experience teaches you valuable life skills–things that will be important later on in life (and may help you in dealing with patients during your career as a physician.)</p>
<p>And if you can find a job as day camp counselor or a life guard–something where you have actual responsibility for overseeing others—that’s even better. (Leadership skills!)</p>
<p>True story. When D1 was interviewing for med school, one her interviewers (a trauma surgeon) asked her where she worked. She was a waitress at a high end restaurant and told the surgeon so. They went on to have a rather lengthy conversation about how being a surgeon (or an EM doc) is a whole lot like being a waiter/waitress. (Long hours on your feet; irregular hours; not getting to eat or drink for hours at a time; multi-tasking like crazy; needing great memory skills; eliciting information from strangers quickly; dealing with difficult people under trying circumstance; dealing with negative feedback for things that aren’t your fault. Even getting stiffed occasionally by your patients/customers.)</p>
<p>@wayoutwestmom That’s really interesting! I am a certified lifeguard that will start working during the summer. The only problem is that I won’t get my license till July. Should I start before then and have my mother drive me? I’m in my Junior Year (I’m a year younger than the normal Junior in high school) and I feel like working for only half a summer wouldn’t be too special. </p>
<p>If your mom is willing, then yes, take the job and the ride. Plenty of teens are “young for grade”, and for some, the insurance is so expensive, they put it off. What is very important for teen drivers is supervised experience so if you have or can get a permit, you drive -with mom- to work.</p>
<p>I too will cast the vote for the car. From what I have seen of those summer medical experiences is that they are high fluff/high pay. I don’t think they impress either medical schools or college admissions much. Having a job is valuable life experience. </p>
<p>I am not familiar with current med school admissions, and while I get that some doctor shadowing might be required, I don’t get the push for high school students to do this. It could cause issues with confidentiality and privacy and liability. Watching surgery could be cool, but extra people in the room might be a distraction or an infection risk. It is ok to ask the surgeon, and also your friends’ parents. Some might not mind, but if he/she does, understand it isn’t personal. Since you volunteer at a hospital, try to meet some of them and see if they are friendly to you. </p>
<p>If you wish to shadow, also consider the kinds of practices that would be more conducive to this. An ophthalmology office, where patients remain dressed, and a student can observe, or pediatrics and family practice- where a student might be able to entertain a waiting child- might be a better fit than others. Consider any free clinics where you might not be doing clinical work, but they would like to have help filing charts, answering phones, checking in patients. </p>
<p>My older d was young for her grade too. She got her lifeguard certification and couldn’t work since she was still 15. (City pools all required lifeguards to be at least 16.) Still lifeguarding is great job. If you can possibly arrange it, seriously consider it.</p>
<p>The thing about shadowing so early is that unless you’re planning to apply for BA/MD programs, the clock get reset for activities when you start college. While you can list high school activities on your med school application, it’s generally consider in poor form to do so. (Unless it was something especially significant–think Intel finalist–or unless it’s an activity that you continue doing during college–like should you continue to work as a life guard in college.)</p>
<p>@pennylane2011 I currently have my permit. I will be able to take the driving test for my license in July. I will talk to my mom about this! If anything, I will get a job at the supermarket 10 minutes away. Also: I have seen a lot of high schoolers shadowing doctors and I guess it looks good on a College App? </p>
<p>@wayoutwestmom I’m in the same situation about lifeguarding. I’m not 15 anymore, but I got my certification then. About shadowing, I am planning to apply to BS/MD at UIC and HPME at Northwestern. I will definitely continue shadowing and getting internships throughout college though. If you don’t mind me asking, what undergraduate schools/med schools did/are your children went to/going to?</p>
<p>I’m of the mindset that doing what is important to you is more beneficial to a college app than doing what you think looks good, but then I am neither an admissions representative or a pre-med. I think shadowing doctors has benefits, if it is your interest, but if you do it, get something out of it for you. You can get an idea about the lifestyle, working hours, interacting with patients, and this can tell you if you like it or not. Pay attention to the other health care workers- nurses, techs, PA’s, as these jobs may interest you too. </p>
<p>Thank you @pennylane2011 ! Shadowing doctors is definitely something I would want to do. I want to actually see how the life of a doctor really is… the closes thing I experienced is Grey’s Anatomy and I bet money that that show is not realistic hahah! I wanted to know whether doing it now vs. in college would be best. </p>