Shadowing 101 (The Simpsons Style)
Looking to shadow a physician but unsure of how to start? See below for a few helpful tips!
1 – Look into Specialties
Is there a particular area of medicine that you are most interested in? Such as, Pediatrics
or General Surgery? If so, try to identify a few specialties that you would like to
learn more about. Maybe even write down a few questions you have about the practice
in a notebook to bring with you to your shadowing opportunities.
2 – Link Connections
Many students can obtain their shadowing experience through close family friends or
even their personal care providers. Try contacting family members and friends to see
if they could recommend a provider to shadow.
3 – Contact Local Clinics
Whether you are in Lansing or another area in Michigan, you can contact local clinics
to ask if they offer shadowing experiences. Rather than emailing, try making a phone
call to the clinic and explaining how you are a pre-medical student looking to gain
shadowing experience. You can then work with the person over the phone to provide
more details about yourself if they ask.
This would also be an amazing time to start working on a LinkedIn page and visiting MSU’s Career Services Network for resume review! (https://careernetwork.msu.edu/)
4 – Join Clubs
Joining an MSU student organization is an amazing way to gain volunteering experience
and clinical experience. A few student organizations may offer shadowing if their
focus is towards pre-health. A few clubs to consider include:
- Alpha Epsilon Delta
- Pre-SOMA (Students of Osteopathic Medicine Association)
- Doctors Without Borders
- MEDLIFE
- Women in STEM
- Pre-Medical Associatio
Find clubs here: https://prehealth.natsci.msu.edu/prepare/student-organizations/
5 – Explore Opportunities
MSU may offer a few shadowing opportunities as well!
Check out this shadowing program the College of Human Medicine’s Department of Surgery!
Website: https://surgery.msu.edu/shadowing/index.php
Remember that shadowing is always attainable if you search in the right places! Do not give up if you cannot find any opportunities right away. Good luck!
By,
Kaylee