Blog Post Focus
The purpose of this blog post will be to discuss some thoughts on alternatives to shadowing experiences. Shadowing is a great opportunity to gain exposure to medical practice, but not the only way to do that. Some other opportunities can give exposure to the medical field and can be more engaging than shadowing.
Introduction – Alternative Ways to Get Medical Exposure than Shadowing
While shadowing is probably the route for most students to gain real exposure to medical practice, it isn’t the only way one can get experience. In addition to shadowing, you can find volunteer or paid positions for clinical exposure. Any of the following can be ways to observe or even participate in some healthcare activities or related activities.
However, I would recommend shadowing as it should be relatively low-stress and should be available to anyone; if you have any questions, reach out to your advisement office or any medical schools you are interested in applying to for their take on this issue.
Different Ways to get Clinical Experience: Alternative to Shadowing
Any hospital volunteering, such as community health events through the hospital, which may include taking blood pressure, recording BMI, handing out health flyers, and helping providers and patients in the community.
Any hospital or clinic job opportunities, which provide direct patient care and still enable you to do some shadowing indirectly, all while being paid. These may include such positions as patient transport, being an orderly, a medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, or being a scribe.
Some other health-related experiences may include being a first responder, an EMT, hospice volunteer, nursing home volunteer, or caretaker.
Conclusion: There Are More Ways to Get Experience Than Shadowing
Shadowing is the classic experience for aspiring medical student to gain medical exposure. However, shadowing is not the only way aspiring medical students may gain clinical exposure. There are other opportunities that may be more engaging and that may even be paid. These all can help one decide whether or not to pursue medicine and can bolster an application to medical school.
Links: Sites with Alternatives for Shadowing
See the following link to the AAMC, where they describe that most school admissions committees accept alternative activities to clinical shadowing and what these alternative activities should show—mainly, an understanding of the work responsibilities of physicians and a strong character.
Also, see the following link to St. Lawrence University, which discusses obtaining clinical experience and discusses what these experiences may entail.
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