Shadowing.medschoolcoach.com Reveals What To Consider During Clinical Shadowing

For pre-med students, clinical shadowing is an exciting experience. Whether you’re spending some time with a local doctor, or have the opportunity to go in-depth with pathology shadowing, there’s much to be learned by observing an expert in the field.

To get a well-rounded, valuable experience, you need to go into your clinical shadowing with clear expectations, a little bit of research, and an enthusiasm that allows you to absorb as much as you can. You’ll need to understand the true value of shadowing while taking it upon yourself to ask questions and be curious. At the end of the day, even with a doctor who is assigned to take you through their daily activities, it is all up to you how much you get out of the experience. Here’s what to consider before and during your clinical shadowing.

Why shadow?

It’s always best to go into something knowing what you expect to get out of it. For clinical shadowing, it is important to know what the key benefits are, so that you can make the most of your experience. Most students have two major motivations for clinical shadowing: improving their medical school applications and learning more about the field of medicine. A student who truly wants to become a physician, however, will naturally take an interest in spending time with someone who has been there and done that.

Primarily through observation, clinical shadowing allows students to take a look at the everyday life of a physician in their element. While shadowing, students should have clear expectations so that they can ask the right questions, make good observations and, ultimately, assess whether they really want to become physicians one day.

Questions to ask

With expectations set out, students will be better equipped to ask the kinds of questions that lead to meaningful engagement. Before starting your clinical shadowing, it is helpful to prepare some specific questions that the person you are shadowing can answer. For instance, you may ask a doctor during dermatology shadowing what they like most or least about their job, how they got to where they are today, or for an explanation about a particular skin condition. Preparing questions before a shadowing experience can help you get the most out of it. No doubt, some questions may arise on the spot, but it’s helpful to know what you’re curious about beforehand.

Putting yourself in their shoes

 More than anything, clinical shadowing is a great opportunity to put yourself in a physician’s shoes. During dermatology shadowing or pathology shadowing, for instance, you should reflect on what the career entails and whether it is a good fit for you. Ask yourself what attracts you to that specialty or what you might dislike about it. Consider ways in which the experience was meaningful, and whether or not you enjoyed being around the doctor’s patients. Taking the time to reflect on the outcomes of your shadowing makes you think critically about your motivation for becoming a doctor, which is what shadowing is all about.

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