A Few ?'s

[FutureDocHopefl]

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i've been calling all around the local areas for DO's to shadow, but they won't let me shadow them because of privacy acts. anyone have suggestions on how to get a DO to shadow?


there are a few sci courses that i really want to take in order to boost the sci GPA, will the courses still be factored into the sci GPA even if my university won't accept them as a sci class or even a class for that matter?


thanks! 😀

 

[MJB]

I am having one heck of a time getting in to shadow DO's as well.

 

[GAdoc]

I am having one heck of a time getting in to shadow DO's as well.

The best way to do this is to just know somebody. If you have any connections that may help. If not, try contacting the AOA and see if they could recommend someone near your area. If you live near an osteopathic college, consider e-mailing some accepted students to see who they shadowed.

You could also consider applying to a college that doesn't require a letter from a DO (this is what I did). Its much easier to shadow an MD simply because there are so many! So if you shadow some rural, primary care MD, it should have the same effect as shadowing a DO except at real die-hard DO schools.

I interviewed at GA-PCOM with several girls from North Carolina. They all drove from all over N.C. to use the SAME DO!!! There are so few DOs in N.C. I guess. Anyway, I got in without having even shadowed a DO.

I can't help you with your GPA question. I will say, the grades you turn in for your AACOMAS application require all transcripts, so they will consider grades from all your schools even if your primary school doesn't consider them as part of your GPA.

 

[FutureDocHopefl]

Awesome, thanks again! SDN'ers rock! 😎

 

[MJB]

My biggest problem has been pretty much just getting in touch with their office managers.

The one I really thought would be great to work with has completely ignored me...doesn't make me think much of him or his practice.

It's looking more and more like I will get to shadow a DO that's in gas...so that will be awesome.

There are like 50 DO's practicing withing 20 miles of my house...it's just a matter of finding one or 2 that can help me out!

🙂

 

[Hoberto]

Search the AOA Mentor Program for someone to shadow and question. Just fill in state and click search.

Very simple.

AOA Mentor Search

 

[TerpDO]

I know finding a DO to shadow is tough but I had gone through that just myself.

I thought I got what I needed when I cold called a family doctor in my area and ended up shadowing her for a few days. After the few days she told me that due to privacy issues I could no longer observe patients with her, however she still offered to write me a letter. I thought that was great. 2 months later, no letter. I believed I had a good relationship with the doctor so I have no idea what happened. I tried once to email her and I called her office once but I never got any reply. I have moved on since then.

I have since spoken to a few other D.O. by calling their offices randomly and I think it is a good idea to seek out the ones that are A) primary care physicians or B) specialize in manipulative therapy or C) happen to specialize in the area of your interest. In other words don't shadow a D.O. radiologist if that's not what you are interested in, you won't have much to talk about at all.

Persistance is key, I have had several doctors not return messages that I have left with their secretaries. I spoken to one that was really nice, he was busy so could not allow me to shadow but referred me to another D.O. out of my area that is willing to write me a letter. You never know where you will find a lead. The worst case scenario is to apply to the schools that don't have this requirement, one of my good friends got 2-3 interviews and was accepted to Kirksville without any contact with a D.O.

Anything is possible so best of luck to you!

 

[Hoberto]

You might have trouble if you are in a state with few DOs, though.

There are some listed for MO and IA. It works best if you just put in your state.

Once you find someone near you, just select that mentor and fill out the requested info. This is a FANTASTIC service because the docs have chosen to be mentors and want to help you. You aren't bothering them and they expect to be contacted by people looking to learn more about osteopathic physicians. I used this just to get a couple of shadowing experiences. So, don't feel like finding a mentor from this resource has to mean years long relationship.

 

[pokeytu]

also you can get around the privacy limitations if you shadow a DO that works at a hospital. Most hospitals have some type of training you go through to volunteer and if you will sit through the training session you are usually able to observe anything in the hospital.

 

[Boner]

If you absolutely cannot find a DO to shadow, the next best thing is to contact a DO in your area and try to set up an "interview." Explain your situation and how you need a letter from a DO for applications. Ask to set up an "interview" where you and the DO can have a long conversation so he/she can get to know you and such. Most DO's who are not receptive to shadowing because of privacy issues will at least be willing to chat for an hour during lunch to help you out. This is exactly what the AOA recommended to me when I could not find a DO to shadow (I ended up finding a really great DO to shadow in the end), so I will save anyone an e-mail.

 

[DOctorJay]

If you're lucky enough to live near a DO school I'd try to contact a doc that works for the school as they should be more sympathetic to this request and their patients would be used to seeing students around.

The above post about setting up an "interview" is an excellent idea as well.

-J

 

[PublicEnemy]

I agree with the above posters. I did exactly the same thing, When I was applying, I contacted several physicians at my school and just spoke to them, over the phone, met them at their at their offices, asked them to talk to me about the school and their experiences as a physician, and then I got into me as an applicant and how I was interested in shadowing and how I could be helped with a letter. I was able to meet a lot of docs, shadow a good amount and get a few letters this way. Not everyone responds, and docs are pretty busy and getting through their staff can be an obstacle, but you have to keep trying. If you can get email addresses, thats usually a good way to go, since most of them view their own messages and will likely respond sooner.

 

[fitnessexpert]

Contact SMALL county hospitals. They are much more relaxed than larger hospitals. When I say more relaxed I mean I get to go out to lunch with hospital admins, nurses, MDs, and DOs. I should know because I work at a large hospital and they wouldn't even let me shadow a DO. I have shadowed a rural DO for a year and a half. He does stuff with hospice, ER, Sports Med., and Med. Examiner that he has graciously allowed me to participate in. I have to travel a little bit but it is SOOOOOOOOOOO worth the $4.00 a gallon in gas.
Good LUCK!!!!

 

[OSUdoc08]

i've been calling all around the local areas for DO's to shadow, but they won't let me shadow them because of privacy acts. anyone have suggestions on how to get a DO to shadow?


there are a few sci courses that i really want to take in order to boost the sci GPA, will the courses still be factored into the sci GPA even if my university won't accept them as a sci class or even a class for that matter?


thanks! 😀

Call your local state osteopathic association or local osteopathic medical school for a list of physicians that take on students.

They will count if they are science courses. It doesn't matter what your university thinks.