Guide to Shadowing - Compiled by the Learning Community Student Leaders
Shadowing experiences are an excellent way for students to get exposure to different areas of medicine. Shadowing is not a requirement, and students will not be viewed differently if you shadowed more or less in preclinical years. It can only benefit you by opening your eyes to other fields and giving you clinical experience. The first and second years of medical school are packed full, so you will want to consider how to best balance your time.
The following resources are suggestions for finding shadowing opportunities.
- Mentor database located in Blackboard
- Peer recommendations
- Faculty Advisor
- Specialty Advisors
- Course Directors/Lecturers
- Residents
The mentor database on Blackboard is a comprehensive database of over 200 faculty across the institution that have self-identified interest in working with students. You can search by experience (shadowing, career conversation, etc), by department, and/or by mentorship interest. Mentors opt into the database on a yearly basis and have continued interest in working with students.
Asking your upperclassmen peers (M3/4s) is a great way to find a faculty member who will provide you a meaningful experience. They have experienced shadowing experiences recently and can let you know who is really the best.
Faculty advisors and specialty advisors are also a great resource. They have had experiences and may recommend great mentors. Specialty advisors are good if you have a specific area of interest. Your faculty advisors are great at this as well, but can also help you hone down your areas of interest if you are undecided what to do. The MedInfo app has a section dedicated to Career Planning Services and provides you with the names of specialty advisors in many of the specialties you might be interested in (link).
Think about what experiences you are having in your courses as well. Perhaps you have been enjoying a course/specific topic or there was a lecturer that piqued your interest. You can reach out to those faculty who have many connections within the health system. Great connections have been made this way.
Students should also feel free to reach out/follow residents as well! Often, there is a smaller age difference than a student vs. attending which therefore makes students a bit more comfortable reaching out, and asking questions while shadowing. It is less formal but an equally valuable experience.
Finally, searching the Mount Sinai website can help you identify specific faculty members/physicians who are clinicians in the area you may be interested in as well as enabling you to see what research they may be engaged in.
Not sure where to start or what you’re interested in? If you don’t have a specific area of interest and are just beginning to explore, that’s ok! Discussions with your peers and Faculty Advisor will help you narrow down and identify seasoned mentors who are excited to work with students, regardless of interest.
Drafting a communication
A blind reach out can be scary. Here are a few tips of what to include:
- Address the email professionally.
- Identify who you are
- List how you found their name
- Indicate why you interested in shadowing with them
- Identify your availability and ask theirs (make sure you do not have any mandatory classes)
- Sign the email
Example email:
Dear Dr. XXX,
My name is Jane student and I am a first year medical student at ISMMS. I found you in the medical student mentor database. I am very interested in learning more about the visiting doctor’s program and would like to set up a shadowing experience with you.
I am free every Tuesday afternoon after 1 PM and on Friday mornings, and have additional flexibility around my courses. Please let me know your availability and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for for you time,
Jane Student
Tips:
- Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back, as faculty are very busy.
- If you don’t hear from them within 1-week, send a polite follow up.
- If you don’t hear back after the follow-up, go back to your resources and identify a new faculty member -- there are many who are very excited to partner with students.
Expectations for students shadowing in a clinical setting
- Prepare questions ahead of time
- Dress business casual, with comfortable shoes
- Be on time!
- Bring a notebook
- Ask questions and take notes (in between patients and not in front of them)
- Manage your expectations
- You will be identified as a medical student in front of patients
- You may be asked to leave the room if the patient asks
- Be responsive to any communications from the faculty member in a timely manner
- Send a post-shadowing thank you note
Tips:
If possible, students should observe and try to help out in any way possible, even with minor things. This can go a long way so don’t be afraid to ask if there’s anything they can help with as they shadow the attending! Even getting gloves is helpful at times.