A flowering tree outside of a building (Lisbon, Portugal).

Shadowing

Virtually Shadowing Doctors: 5 Pros and 5 Cons – One Pre-Med’s View

October 13, 2021 4 mins Marissa Jansen

About Marissa

Marissa is a recent graduate of Clemson University where she received her B.S. in Health Sciences. During the summer of 2019, Marissa participated in the Atlantis shadowing program in Trento, Italy, and now works as an Alumni Representative with the company. She is currently applying to medical school where she hopes to become a primary care physician.

As a pre-med student, finding clinical experiences can be difficult, especially since most of us have to juggle school and extracurricular demands. Virtual shadowing has recently increased in popularity due to COVID-19, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider with this option. Listed below are some pros and cons that I weighed before deciding if virtual shadowing was the right opportunity for me that may be helpful for you.

The Pros of Virtually Shadowing a Doctor

A Safe alternative during COVID-19

Virtually shadowing a physician or other healthcare clinician provides a safe alternative for students to gain shadowing experience. Depending on the experience, students are still able to engage with physicians and patients in live time. For those that do not have a live component, videos that explain case studies still give students a chance to increase their exposure into the medical field. For me, this was a great way to learn more about medicine without putting myself or patients at risk. Additionally, if you are someone who is vaccinated and more interested in shadowing in-person, programs like Atlantis are beginning to roll out potential shadowing opportunities in the near future.

You get to observe from a unique perspective

Even before the onset of COVID-19, the transition to telemedicine has long been on the horizon. Virtually shadowing a physician as they conduct telehealth appointments is a unique experience that portrays a glimpse of what the future of medicine may look like. Being able to witness the challenges and benefits that come from telehealth allows students to further develop their understanding of healthcare and will hopefully encourage students to continue to think of creative ways to improve the way that we treat patients.

Convenience and accessibility

Depending on where you are located, it can be hard to find physicians to shadow. As long as you have access to the internet (which can also be found for free at local libraries or learning centers), logging on to observe is quick and easy. Pursuing a career in medicine is difficult, and for students who struggle to find opportunities, participating in virtual shadowing is a great start. Bonus – no added commute time!

Interacting within your comfort zone

Additionally, many students enjoy the fact that they can experience clinical observation from the comfort of their home. Feeling more comfortable may make you more likely to engage in conversation and take the initiative to ask questions!

You are still shadowing!

COVID-19 has made it more difficult than ever to find physicians to shadow. Just because virtual shadowing is different and not as popular does not mean that it cannot provide you the exposure into medicine that you are looking for. As long as you keep an open mind, you are sure to enjoy the experience and learn a thing or two! Some of the best experiences that I have included in my applications have been from my time virtually shadowing a primary care physician in Costa Rica. Click here to find which virtual medical shadowing opportunities are best for you.

The Cons Of Virtually Shadowing a Doctor

High levels of variance

As the interest in virtual shadowing opportunities has increased, so has the variety of programs for students to choose from. The oversaturation in programs causes many students to feel overwhelmed when considering their options. Using Reddit r/premed and other online resources may help you narrow your search!

Decrease in patient interaction

Not all virtual shadowing programs are done live. Instead, many programs are pre-recorded videos for students to watch at their leisure. While this may add to the convenience of virtual shadowing, it does eliminate the possibility of patient engagement.

Stronger substitutes exist

Even with the significant rise in virtual shadowing, it is not as known or valued as other remote alternatives. For students on the fence, I encourage you to look at other substitutes, such as virtual scribing or contact tracing. Unlike shadowing, these are paid experiences that still provide those crucial clinical hours. Additionally, you can check out Atlantis to see what clinical programs they have available for pre-med students.

Not as widely accepted as traditional shadowing

Again, since virtual shadowing is such a new concept, there are some medical schools that do not accept virtual shadowing hours. In a recent study that surveyed 162 medical schools, only 43.9% of schools said that virtual experiences are equal to in-person shadowing. Because of this, make sure that the schools you are interested in are open to virtual opportunities. You can find more information on their school website or through contacting an admissions coordinator.

Predatory programs exist

Most importantly, be careful when selecting your preferred virtual experience. There are some programs that may charge large amounts of money and provide minimal services. Take the time to research and weigh your options before making any decision.

The onset of the pandemic and resulting changing safety procedures and protocols as well as the accelerating rise of technology in medicine have required pre-meds to think about their paths to medical school,and relevant required steps like shadowing, differently, and I hope this list helps you to consider which option is best fit for you.

Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools

John Daines

Atlantis '17
Brigham Young University '19
Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23

Zoey Petitt

Atlantis '17
U. of Arizona '18
Duke MD '23

Yong-hun Kim

Atlantis '17
Stanford '19
Mayo Clinic MD '24

Megan Branson

Atlantis '18
U. of Montana '19
U. of Washington MD '24

Sarah Emerick

Atlantis '19
Eckerd College '20
Indiana U. MD '25

Snow Nwankwo

Atlantis '19
Catholic U. of America '21
Georgetown U. MD '26

Tiffany Hu

Atlantis '16
U. of Maryland '17
U. of Michigan MD '22

Tiffany Hu

Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School

Program:

Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016

Undergraduate:

University of Maryland class of 2017

Admitted medical student at:

University of Michigan Medical School

Major:

Neurobiology

Honors:

Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship

Extracurricular Activities:

American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern

Describe Atlantis in Three Words:

Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.

Why did you choose Atlantis?

I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.

What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?

Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.

What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?

Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.

What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?

I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.

How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?

Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.

Lauren Cox

Atlantis '18
Louisiana Tech '20
U. of Arkansas MD '24

Kayla Riegler

Atlantis '18
U. of Kentucky '20
U. of Kentucky MD '24

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Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering short-term programs (1-10 weeks) over academic breaks for U.S. pre-health undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (1)healthcare exposure, (2)GPA/MCAT, and (3)certain competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.

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