What I learned from shadowing
by a ShaDO-MD student
1. Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I am a first-generation Latina who graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in December 2025. I majored in biology, and I am interested in becoming a neurologist or neurosurgeon in the future.
2. Before Shado-MD, what challenges did you face when trying to find physician shadowing opportunities?
Before Shado-MD, it was extremely hard for me to find doctors to shadow. I didn’t have any doctors in my family or any doctors that I personally knew, so I really struggled to find shadowing opportunities. I would constantly send cold emails to doctors and most of the time I wouldn’t get a response. It was honestly frustrating because I knew how important shadowing was, but I didn’t really know how to get my foot in the door. Shado-MD helped me a lot.
3. How did you first hear about Shado-MD?
The first time I heard about Shado-MD was through my email. When I read about it, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for what I needed, especially because I was struggling to find shadowing on my own. I signed up immediately. I also really liked that they checked in on my progress because it made me feel like I wasn’t doing everything by myself. It was really nice and thoughtful to have people helping me along the way and making sure I was actually getting the most out of the experience.
4. What specialty or specialties did you shadow through Shado-MD?
The specialties that I shadowed through Shado-MD were pediatric gastroenterology and neonatology. I am also very excited to shadow shock trauma next week.
5. Describe your shadowing day.
My shadowing days were a little different depending on the specialty, but I usually spent my time with the doctors and their healthcare team. In pediatric GI, I was able to sit in on patient visits and see how the doctors talked to children and their families, went over their symptoms and medical history, and created treatment plans. I also got to see how other members of the healthcare team, like pharmacists, social workers, and dental students, all worked together to take care of the patient.
One thing I really liked and learned about pediatric GI was seeing how the doctors looked at the whole patient instead of only focusing on the main reason they came in. They asked about their home life, school, diet, stress, transportation, finances, and other things that could affect their health.
One of the most memorable moments from my shadowing experience was seeing my first C-section. I had never been in an operating room or seen a surgery before, so I was really excited but also nervous about what I was going to see. When I first walked into the operating room and saw the doctors making the incision, I honestly felt a little dizzy because it was something I had never experienced before. But after a few seconds, I started to focus on what was happening and became really interested in seeing how everything worked. I was amazed when I was able to see the uterus and understand what was happening during the delivery. Seeing everything happen in front of me made me realize that I learn really well by watching and experiencing things firsthand. It was definitely a crazy and amazing experience, and I never thought I would get the opportunity to see something like that. I’m really glad I did because it gave me a whole new appreciation for the human body.
6. What did you learn from shadowing that you couldn’t have learned in a classroom?
One of the biggest things I learned from shadowing that I could never really learn in a classroom is how important communication and teamwork are in medicine. In class, you learn the science and all of the medical terminology, but you don’t really see how doctors communicate with patients and their families or how many different people are involved in caring for one patient.
I also learned how important it is to meet patients where they are. During my pediatric GI shadowing, we learned about health literacy and how patients may not understand medical terms the way doctors do. I saw doctors explain things in simpler ways and then ask the patient to explain it back in their own words to make sure they actually understood. That really stuck with me because knowing the information yourself is one thing, but being able to explain it to someone else in a way they understand is just as important.
7. Did your experience help confirm or change your interest in medicine or a particular specialty? How?
My shadowing experiences definitely confirmed that I want to pursue medicine. Seeing everything in person made me realize that this is something I could actually see myself doing in the future. I really enjoyed being around patients, learning from the doctors, and seeing how they think through different situations.
Even though I am still interested in neurology or neurosurgery, shadowing in pediatrics and neonatology also opened my eyes to other areas of medicine. I really enjoyed seeing how doctors work with children and their families and how they have to think about the patient as a whole. Seeing the C-sections and being in the operating room also made me realize how much I enjoy learning through hands-on experiences and seeing the human body in real life. Overall, the experience made me even more excited to continue exploring medicine and figure out exactly what specialty is right for me.
