In this episode, Tiffany and Adrienne walk through shadowing from two pre-AA perspectives: how they found anesthesia observation hours, where to look, how to frame a request that gets a "yes," and how to show up once you're in the room.
IN THIS EPISODE
00:52 — The shadowing question that shows up constantly in pre-AA spaces
01:42 — 24 jurisdictions: why this is a structural access gap, not a personal failure
03:03 — Where to look first: hospitals, volunteer offices, and your state AA board
03:51 — AA programs that facilitate shadowing + the info-session pro tip
04:26 — Shadowing other anesthesia providers (MD/DO, CRNA): not a consolation prize
05:20 — Networking shadowing at the AAAA Conference
05:53 — The four things to confirm before you send a single email
06:32 — Building a prep kit so you can reply fast when someone says yes
08:12 — Read this before day one: Anesthesia Made Easy
09:57 — No responses for months: what to do next
10:54 — Teaching hospitals, the Department of Anesthesiology, and matching their language
12:13 — Why ambulatory surgery centers are underrated
12:53 — Using LinkedIn the right way
14:08 — Shadowing vs. clinical experience: the distinction that matters
17:01 — The 5-part structured request framework
18:46 — A sample shadowing email, start to finish
20:50 — The frustrated "please let me shadow" post, said with empathy
23:05 — The travel reality of a regionalized profession
25:01 — OR etiquette: don't touch anything blue
26:31 — Sarah Whitfield's shadowing prep guide on body language
27:32 — Asking specific questions that get real answers
28:27 — Why you forget the details within 48 hours, and what to do about it
29:17 — Contact info, signed forms, and the 24-hour thank-you email
29:51 — Key takeaways
31:58 — Next time: volunteering in the pre-AA context
RESOURCES MENTIONED
- Anesthesia Made Easy by Jeff Steiner — a digestible first pass on induction, maintenance, emergence, medications, and monitoring.
- Sarah Whitfield's Shadowing Prep Guide — practicing CAA at AspiringCAA.com, on shadowing etiquette and body language.
- AAAA Conference — covered in earlier Pre-AA Pathways episodes; an in-person route to shadowing connections.
- Episode 7 (All Things Clinical Experience) — the deeper breakdown of shadowing vs. clinical experience vs. patient care experience.
CONNECT WITH US
Sent a shadowing request that went nowhere? Run it against the 5-part framework and DM us what you'd change — we read everything. And tell us the state you're applying from.
Instagram: @PreAAPathways
TikTok: @PreAAPathways
YouTube: @PreAAPathways
Web: preaapathways.com
COMING UP NEXT — EPISODE 9
Volunteering in the pre-AA context: what it actually looks like, how it's distinct from clinical experience and shadowing, and why programs keep mentioning it.
DISCLAIMER
Both hosts are pre-AA applicants in the current CASAA cycle, not program-accepted CAAs. Nothing in this episode is application advice, admissions guidance, or a guarantee of outcomes. Logistical details should be verified directly with the source. Pre-AA Pathways is not affiliated with CASAA, AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.
Pre-AA Pathways — Turning ambition into admission.
Music Attribution: QL9LXCGP5Y9BUTTD
