High School Medical Shadowing: A Guide

#Essentials

Let me set the scene: You're a pretty avid medical enthusiast. You've watched the shows, talked to a few doctors, maybe joined a medical-related club. It's time for that next step, something to get you past the doors of the hospital, but there's only one problem: You are in high school...

It's time to shadow a doctor!

But what exactly is shadowing?

"Job Shadowing" is a term that simply means to follow alongside a professional in a job that excites you. Shadowing is not strictly health related, anyone can and should shadow any profession, but it is especially important going into the medical field. Shadowing should not be confused with "volunteering" which is service-related duty without any personal gain. Instead, by shadowing, you would be following a doctor's day-to-day activites, observing patient interactions, and much more, without performing any aid.

Why medical shadow in high school?

There is no question that becoming a doctor is a long and challenging process! Nearly all pre-med undegradate students rack in hunderds of hours of shadowing to prove to medical schools, and themselves, their dedication to the craft. However, very few high school students do the same. Medical shadowing in high school can serve a few purposes:

• Introduce the medical envirnoment early in your academic career

• Gauge weither medicine is the right track for you

• Learn about the responsibilites of a medical practitioner inside and outside the workspace

• Experience patient interactions

• Inspire further interest in the medical field

• Add unique value to your pre-med resume

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Take some consideration before starting the medical shadowing journey. Medical shadowing can be benificial to all students, however, if you are under 16 the chances of getting an medical opportunity becomes much more limited. Most hospitals and private practices have that age limit for various resasons including maturity in stressful situtations, workplace ediquite, and too few seats of offer.

Furthemore, it's important to remember that shadowing a medical practicioner can be graphic. All the time, emergency situations can arise in a medical setting. If you are not comforable with watching such events, look for less direct opportunites like shadowing a pediatric nurse or maybe a chirporactor.

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Here are a few ways to get started looking for opporunities:

1. Volunteer at a major hospital or health clinic.

It's all about making connections. The best way to start is by getting to the hospital scene. Most hospitals near you will have a "high school volunteering program" or something alone those lines. Take a look at the requirements (usually age 16+) and apply! After you're in, not only will you get that starting experience but you will have a backstage pass into the hospital. You can meet doctors and watch some interactions while performing your basic duties such as filing paperwork or simple patient care. Make sure to start conversations with medical practicioners and build interest because you never know where the next opportunity may come from!

2. Contact a private medical organization or small-scale clinic.

Naturally, we all want shadowing experience in those big name hopsitals like Cleveland Clinic or Memorial Hospital branches. Unfortunatly, thats very unreaslitic for high school students, like yourself. Most of these big-name hospitals have quotas with medical schools for rotations and won't be willing to get you the legal permission to follow under their physicians. Instead, look for small-scale clinics or private healthcare facilities that are independantly run.

These places usually fly under the radar for shadowing and offer just as real of an experience. Contact places that have terms like "family practice" or start with a specific doctors name like "Dr. John Brown Cardiac Care." Most of these places are run by a single doctor with a few secretary who can get you easy access with minimal paperwork. Furthermore, you get one-on-one experience with the doctor and more flexibility of hours than a corprate organizational plan for shadowing.

3. Look for a high-school summer progam.

Some hospitals and universities have their own summer programs designed to offer students unique guided access to the hospital scene. Sounds great, but not very achieveable for the majority of studnets as they tend to offer limited seats and are very competative. However, if you believe you are a competative candidate, it's definitely worth the shot! Look for these on hospital or university websites under the "student programs" or "summer opporunties" tabs. Search for specific key words like "pre-med", "teen shadowing", and "high school."

4. Use your own personal contacts.

This is the best and most worthwhile method of getting those shadowing opportunites. Too often, high school students are reluctant to contact people they already know. Many times, you or your family might know a few doctors! Shoot a text or give them a call and tell them your intentions! You can even ask your personal doctors, dentists and more. Now isn't the time to be worried about how you appear, in fact, many medical professionals are looking for young students like yourself to get involved. Shadowing personal contacts can be a more personal and rewarding experience simply because you feel more comfortable asking questions and the doctor feels more comfortable giving real answers.

Bottom line: medical shadowing in high school isn't easy but, by putting in the time and dedication, opportunites will arise! It's also important to remember that we often romanticize medicine, although it's not for everyone. Sometimes, a shadowing experience won't go how you expect, but that's exactly the point. Take a shot, fall into the profession, and see if it feels right for you!

Check out other #Essentials articles to get started on your journey!