Residency Advisor
The fastest way to ruin a great shadowing opportunity is to ask good questions at the wrong time.
Let’s fix that.
You can ask thoughtful, high‑yield questions while shadowing without being annoying, awkward, or “that student.” You just need a clear system: when to ask, what to ask, and how to read the room.
Here’s the playbook you actually need.
Step 1: Set the Ground Rules Up Front
The single most important conversation happens before the first patient encounter.
Say something like this as you start shadowing:
“I’m really interested in learning, and I do have some questions, but I don’t want to interrupt your workflow. When is the best time for me to ask you things—during the day, or should I save them for breaks?”
This does three things immediately:
- Shows you’re respectful of their time
- Gives you explicit permission (and boundaries) for questions
- Lowers your anxiety because you know what’s allowed
If they’re busy, they’ll often say:
- “Quick questions during walking between rooms are fine; bigger ones we’ll do at lunch.”
- “Let’s get through the morning, then we can talk more in the afternoon.”
- “Ask me anything as we go; if I need to focus, I’ll tell you.”
Whatever they say becomes your rulebook for the day.
If you’re shadowing over multiple days, ask again on day 2:
“Yesterday the flow worked well. Anything you’d like me to do differently with questions today?”
That’s professional-level behavior, even as a premed.
Step 2: Learn the “Right Time” to Ask
Content of your question matters—but timing matters more.
Green-Light Times (Ask Freely)
These are usually safe moments to ask thoughtful questions:
- Walking between patient rooms
- After the encounter, outside the room
- During “downtime”: waiting on labs, between cases in the OR, slow clinic moments
- After clinic/in the car/at the end of the shift (great for bigger-picture questions)
- During a clearly teaching-focused moment: when they say “Any questions?” or “What did you think of that case?”
If you’re not sure, you can pre-check with something simple:
“Is now an okay time for a quick question about that last case?”
If they say “Give me 5 minutes” or keep walking without much response, back off. That’s your answer.
Red-Light Times (Don’t Ask)
Avoid asking questions:
- In front of patients unless the physician clearly invites you
- Never ask: “So what’s wrong with him?” or “Why didn’t you order X?” in front of a patient
- While they’re typing notes or placing orders & clearly focused
- When they’re on the phone (especially with other clinicians or family)
- During procedures that require intense concentration (intubation, central lines, complex surgery)
- When they sound or look rushed, stressed, or behind schedule
If you’re in the OR, a good rule:
- Early critical steps: mostly observe
- Post-critical parts: more okay to ask
Watch the anesthesiologist and circulating nurse too; if everyone’s quiet and locked in, that’s not your moment.
Step 3: Use This 4-Category Question Framework
Most high‑yield, non-annoying questions fall into four buckets:
- Clinical reasoning (“why”) questions
- Process and workflow questions
- Career and specialty questions
- Reflection and advice questions
Let’s break each down with examples you can literally borrow.
1. Clinical Reasoning Questions (Your Best Friend)
These show you’re thinking, not just collecting trivia.
Examples:
- “You mentioned you were deciding between CT and ultrasound—what factors were you weighing there?”
- “For that chest pain patient, what made you feel more confident it wasn’t cardiac?”
- “You chose med A instead of med B; is that because of side effects, guidelines, or something else?”
How to phrase them so they don’t feel like criticism:
- Start with curiosity, not challenge:
- “I’m trying to understand your thought process…”
- “Can you walk me through how you decided…”
- “As a learner, I’m curious about…”
Avoid:
- “Why didn’t you do X?”
- “Isn’t Y better than Z?” (sounds like you’re testing them)
Instead:
“In school I’ve heard some people use Y for this. How do you think about choosing between Y and Z in practice?”
That framing respects their expertise and still gets you the answer.
2. Process and Workflow Questions
These are safer, quick questions and good when things are busy.
Examples:
- “What’s the usual flow of your clinic day?”
- “How do you prioritize which messages or labs to respond to first?”
- “What parts of your day take the most time that patients don’t really see?”
You can also ask about team roles:
- “What’s the difference between what you do and what the PA/NP does in this clinic?”
- “How do you usually communicate with nurses or consultants when something’s urgent vs. routine?”
These show you understand that medicine is a system, not just one doctor and one patient.
3. Career and Specialty Questions
Great for downtime or end-of-day, not in the middle of a 20-patient morning.
Examples:
- “What made you choose [specialty], and has that changed over time?”
- “What parts of your job give you the most satisfaction?”
- “What’s one thing you wish you’d known before choosing this specialty?”
- “How do you feel about your work-life balance in this field?”
Avoid generic questions they’ve heard a thousand times:
- “So what’s your advice for getting into med school?”
Make it more specific:
“As someone interested in primary care, what do you think would make me a better applicant and future physician?”
4. Reflection and Advice Questions
Save these for when there’s clearly space for a deeper conversation.
Examples:
- “Looking back, what habits helped you the most in med school or residency?”
- “What do you see premeds or students consistently misunderstanding about medicine?”
- “If you were in my position, what would you focus on over the next year?”
These are great end-of-day questions. They often unlock valuable mentorship moments.
Step 4: Ask Fewer, Better Questions
You’re not on a game show. You don’t get points for volume.
The goal isn’t: “Ask as many questions as possible so they see I’m interested.”
The goal is: Ask a few excellent questions that show real thought.
Use this filter before you open your mouth:
The 5‑Second Check:
- Does this question make them think “Good question” instead of “Google that”?
- Can I find this answer easily online?
- Did I try to think it through myself first?
If the answer is:
“I could google this in 10 seconds”
then don’t ask.
Instead, you can combine your own thought process plus a clarifying question:
“I was thinking the difference between X and Y might be [your guess]. Am I thinking about that the right way?”
Now you’re not just consuming information, you’re showing your reasoning.
Examples of Weak vs Strong Questions
Weak:
- “What’s hypertension?” (Googleable and too basic in a clinical context)
- “How much money do you make?” (tone-deaf, inappropriate early on)
- “What’s the MCAT?” (you should know this before shadowing)
Stronger:
- “That patient’s blood pressure was borderline. At what point do you start medication vs. just lifestyle changes?”
- “Do you feel your compensation fairly reflects the workload and training for this specialty?”
- “How did you balance MCAT studying with everything else you were doing at the time?”
Step 5: Read the Room Like a Pro
Shadowing isn’t just medicine; it’s social intelligence training.
You’ll annoy people if you ignore nonverbal signals. Learn to watch for:
Signs It’s a Good Time to Ask
- They slow down walking and look over at you
- They ask you, “Any questions about that?”
- Their tone is relaxed, joking with staff, smiling
- They explain things spontaneously (“We ordered this test because…”)
That’s your opening. Use it.
Signs You Should Back Off
- Short, clipped answers
- Staring at the computer, typing rapidly
- Constantly checking the clock or watch
- Sighing, rubbing temples, or obviously stressed
- Saying things like “We’re really behind today”
If you see that, switch to:
- Silence, observing, and taking mental notes
- Maybe one or two essential clarifying questions, max
- Saving non-urgent questions for later (“I had a couple of questions about this morning if there’s time later.”)
You’re not just there to learn medicine; you’re also learning how to function gracefully in a high-pressure environment.
Step 6: Handle Patient Interactions the Right Way
You need to be extra careful with questions that touch on patient care.
What You Can Ask (After the Visit)
Safe topics:
- “What was the main problem you were treating in that visit?”
- “How did you decide how much information to share with the patient today?”
- “Was there something you were worried about that you didn’t say out loud?”
Gray-area topics (ask gently and privately):
- “You mentioned possible cancer with that patient. How do you decide how directly to talk about that early on?”
- “It seemed like the patient disagreed about starting medication. How do you handle that sort of resistance long-term?”
Never:
- Question the doctor’s plan in front of the patient
- Suggest an alternative in the room (“What about trying X?”)
- Ask the patient medical questions for your own curiosity unless the doctor invites it
If the physician prompts you to speak, keep it basic and defer back:
“I’m still early in my training, but I’m here to learn from Dr. Smith and observe today.”
Step 7: Build Trust Over Time
If you’re shadowing the same doctor multiple times, your questions can evolve.
Day 1–2:
- Focus on basic workflow, their specialty, big-picture reasoning
- Don’t dominate their time; keep it light and respectful
Day 3+:
- You can connect today’s case with yesterday’s:
- “Yesterday we saw a similar complaint. What made this one higher risk?”
- You can circle back:
- “Last week you mentioned [topic]. I read a bit about it—can I ask you a follow-up question?”
That’s how you transition from “random premed” to “serious learner they might want to mentor.”
Step 8: Sample Scripts You Can Steal
Use or adapt these word-for-word.
To Set Expectations at the Start
- “I really appreciate you letting me shadow. I’m here mostly to observe, but I do have some questions. When is a good time to ask them so I’m not in the way?”
To Ask a Clinical Reasoning Question
- “I’m curious about how you were thinking through that case. What were the main things on your mind when you decided to order that test?”
To Gauge Timing
- “I have a question about that last patient—should I save it for later, or is now okay?”
To Ask a Career Question
- “I’m trying to figure out what kind of medicine might fit me someday. What made you feel like [specialty] was the right fit for you?”
To Wrap Up the Day
- “Thanks again for letting me shadow. Was the way I asked questions today okay, or is there anything you’d like me to do differently next time?”
That last question is gold. It invites feedback and shows maturity.
Step 9: Know the Line Between Curious and Clingy
Shadowing is not a hostage situation. Don’t turn it into one.
Avoid:
- Following them into clearly private spaces (bathroom, personal phone calls, closed-door meetings)
- Firing off a question every single time there’s 3 seconds of silence
- Staying past when they clearly need to go home
- Emailing them multiple long follow-ups after each shadowing day
Aim for:
- Quality over quantity
- A quick, sincere thank-you message that mentions one specific thing you learned
- Occasional, respectful follow-up months later if you built real rapport (especially if you’ll ask for a letter)
The Bottom Line
You don’t impress physicians by being the loudest or most talkative student in the room. You impress them by being:
- Curious,
- Observant,
- Respectful of time and context,
- And capable of asking smart, well-timed questions.
Do this right and you won’t just avoid annoying anyone—you’ll stand out as the kind of learner people want to teach.
Today’s next step:
Write down 5–7 thoughtful questions from the four categories (clinical reasoning, workflow, career, reflection) that genuinely interest you. Bring that list to your next shadowing day and use it as your menu, choosing only 2–3 to ask when the timing’s right.
