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Observerships


Guest physiology

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Guest physiology

Do current medical students at UBC do this a lot?

 

I know that you have your weekly visit with a designated FP, but do most students in 1st and 2nd year set up observerships with specialists as well?

 

Aren't there liability and patient confidentiality issues that make doing this very difficult?

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Guest Ian Wong

There is at least one or two free mornings/afternoons within each week in the first two years where you could set stuff up if you want. I don't think too many students take advantage of this, but it is available if you want it; that time in the week is pretty useful for other things (doing PBL, any daytime things like doctor/dentist visits, banking, etc). We have access to a list of Vancouver physicians who have indicated that they would be willing to host med students for shadowing/observerships.

 

As a medical student, you gain a temporary license from the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons; at that point, it's between your physician preceptor, and his/her patients, as to how much you are able to see and do. Each med student is also hooked up into a mentor group with a physician as its leader, and this can be another way to make contacts. One friend who got a plastic surgeon as her mentor was regularly scrubbing into cases during her first two years in her free time.

 

Ian

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Guest Makunouchi

Yes, I've heard about this list that you are given in 1st year. How many physicians are on this list, and is there ample opportunity for all students?

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Guest Ian Wong

I believe there's representation from virtually all, if not all specialties. This is Vancouver after all. :) I didn't take advantage of it, but in retrospect wish that I had. You should have no difficulty finding a physician in a given specialty seeing as the majority of your classmates will probably be like me, and not take the time to do these mini-observerships.

 

Even if physicians aren't listed in the book, you can almost certainly use the connections you make to find someone yourself; ie. if you spent a few mornings with a general surgeon, I'm sure he/she would be more than happy to introduce you to some of his/her Orthopedic Surgery colleagues etc.

 

Ian

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Guest physiology

Hello Ian,

 

how extensive would these observerships be? Do you think the physicians would allow you to give flu shots, or take blood, or help them do physical examinations on patients?

 

Or is just strictly shadowing?

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Guest Ian Wong

Like I said earlier, it depends entirely on your preceptor, and more importantly, on his/her patients.

As a medical student, you gain a temporary license from the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons; at that point, it's between your physician preceptor, and his/her patients, as to how much you are able to see and do. Each med student is also hooked up into a mentor group with a physician as its leader, and this can be another way to make contacts. One friend who got a plastic surgeon as her mentor was regularly scrubbing into cases during her first two years in her free time.
Ian
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