Shadowing as Told by an Introvert

I know this struggle. Emailing and calling a complete stranger to ask about shadowing is something that scares me. I am a really introverted person and want act like Jim Halpert (smh for those who don't get it... just see below) at the first instance of contact.


Even when meeting a PA for the first time, my hands get all clammy and I get nervous about how to act and what to do and not to do and OH GOD THIS IS SCARY.

Have no fear! If I could get over the terror, so can you, dear reader!

First and foremost, interacting with complete strangers is part of working in medicine- it's something you have to do. With time it gets easier. Find something to calm your nerves... for me it's taking deep breaths (no joke) and remembering that you love medicine (I hope) and that this is an amazing experience!

OK... now for the good stuff.

How to get in contact with people to shadow

This really depends on where you live. If you're lucky like myself, your home institution is linked up to a PA program. In this case, it's a good idea to reach out to the faculty to see if they have resources. 

If this isn't possible, look up your state's PA organization- some are better resources than others. For instance, the GAPA website has a list of available PAs to shadow with, by city. Very nice to have.

Cold calling offices. 

• No idea what to say? Here's my template!
• Hi there! My name is _____ and I am a pre-PA student at _____. I am interested in (insert field of study) and was wondering if you had any PAs at your office/hospital/floor/wherever that accept shadows?
• Always be super polite and courteous! 
• this is the most terrifying option in my opinion. I do it rarely. 

Emailing

• Google is a good tool! Just google "(insert specialty) physician assistants (insert state/city)". 
• Follow the above template and you're good to go!

Asking your providers! If you see a physician, ask if they staff any PAs. If you see a PA, ask them their availability or that of a colleague. Medicine is not practiced in a silo. I promise that somebody knows somebody who you can contact.

Ok, someone agreed to let me come shadow (yay)! How do I prepare?

This is definitely something that is variable based on the setting and the PA themselves.

Some good rules of thumb:

Read up a little on the field of study that you will be shadowing in. 

It's not required that you know everything about that specialty, but having a few good facts and a baseline knowledge on so called "bread and butter" topics is key. It makes it easier for you to ask questions and not feel so lost.

• What's a bread and butter topic? These are things that are the most commonly seen illnesses and treatments in a field. For instance, in spine neurosurgery it is the laminectomy and in vascular surgery, it is phlebectomy or sclerotherapy. For pediatrics, it is growth charts and immunization schedules.

Bring a pen and notebook

OK, not everyone agrees with this, but I love to have something handy with me to write down things I either don't know and want to look up, or things I react to. It is important to be able to recount how you felt during your shadowing.

Also, it's always really awkward when the provider asks you for a pen and you don't have one. 

 Dress to impress

People never know what is/isn't appropriate for shadowing. The best rule of thumb is to ask your PA what their office/hospital/clinic attire is and what you should wear and/or bring with you.

The most common answers to this question are:

• Business causal- this has always seemed so vague to me. WTF does it even mean????


• Nice pants (men and women) and a dress top or blouse
• FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NO DENIM OR RUNNING SHOES
• You can never be overdressed. It's better to shoot too high than too low. 
• Examples here and here 

• Scrubs- yep pretty self-explanatory. Wear what you have unless told a certain color. Some facilities are more strict than others. 

• Even a white coat (imposter syndrome included)

ASK QUESTIONS! 

This is probably the most important of all. This is, after all, a learning experience.

Last but not least.... say thank you! 

You are taking time out of someone's day to be where you are. Yes, while they may enjoy teaching or remember being in your shoes at one point in their life, shadows sometimes may be a lot for a PA (especially a new grad) to handle. You always want to show your appreciation to the person taking the time to teach you and guide you. Personally, I think this thank you should come in the form of a hand-written (yes I said it) letter. This shows that you in turn took time out of your day to show your appreciation. I know this means a lot to some people and will make you more memorable. 

If you happen to have the privilege of shadowing long term or recieve a rec letter from the PA, try to do something more! I always tend to get donuts or insomnia cookies or something more personal, depending on who the PA is. If they have office staff, it's nice to include them as well!

Happy shadowing!