AOA mentor request: 1 shot?

[amakhosidlo]

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This past September I submitted a request through the AOA's mentor program to get set up with a good D.O in the area to talk to/shadow.

I selected fields I thought would be interesting, but the docs that respond turned out to be...not exactly encouraging? I'm at a loss for a euphemism to describe them. I ended up playing phone tag with one's assistant for 3 weeks, and the other turned out to be a self-absorbed tool with no time to talk to me about anything other than his business model and risk management.

I still want to shadow and get a letter though, and I'm wondering if multiple submissions can be made to the mentor system, or if it's a one shot deal.
Part of the problem that complicates my situation is that I'm in a part of the country with a very low density of D.O's...

Any suggestions? I already have an M.D letter, but I know some schools require a letter from a D.O...

 

[FutureDrB]

I'm pretty sure the letter does not need to come from an AOA mentor physician. Or do you just want it to come from one?

My advice would be to pickup the phone and call up some DO's. I bet there are more in your area than you think.

Tell them your situation and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

That's what I did!

 

[p30doc]

Worse comes to worse, if u can't get a DO letter, don't apply to schools that require one. Not many schools require it, most will take a DO or MD letter. I applied with only a MD letter.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

This past September I submitted a request through the AOA's mentor program to get set up with a good D.O in the area to talk to/shadow.

I selected fields I thought would be interesting, but the docs that respond turned out to be...not exactly encouraging? I'm at a loss for a euphemism to describe them. I ended up playing phone tag with one's assistant for 3 weeks, and the other turned out to be a self-absorbed tool with no time to talk to me about anything other than his business model and risk management.

I still want to shadow and get a letter though, and I'm wondering if multiple submissions can be made to the mentor system, or if it's a one shot deal.
Part of the problem that complicates my situation is that I'm in a part of the country with a very low density of D.O's...

Any suggestions? I already have an M.D letter, but I know some schools require a letter from a D.O...

Yeah my experience with the AOA mentor service was similarly frustrating. Cold calling DOs didn't really get me anywhere either (and it wasn't for lack of trying; I called a few dozen). Ultimately, what worked for me was mailing inquiries about shadowing to a set of DOs gleaned from the AOA database of my area. (Seemingly doctors' offices take written correspondence more seriously - I would imagine it looks more authoritative and it's probably easier to them to keep track of and respond to.) While this did get me into a few DO offices to shadow, my problems didn't end there - I still had to deal with a couple of docs who didn't want to write recommendation letters after I had shadowed and so on. Long story short, I had to apply with an MD letter in the end.

Basically, be prepared for this to turn into a process that will seem longer and more complicated than it actually should be.

 

[Jessica Stone]

Guys, I've been reading this and it sounds similar to my experience. I'm kind of surprised by how difficult DOs make it for you to shadow them 🙁. Given the fact that most DO medical schools require a recommendation letter from a DO and the fact that the DO degree is not as well known as an MD degree, you'd think that the OAO or DO's in general would go out of the way to be more receptive to be shadowed but in my experience , I have a much easier time shadowing an MD than a DO. I guess when it comes down to it, DOs are as busy if not busier than their MD counterparts 🙄

 

[ilovefishing]

I requested all of the DO's available through the mentor program who were in Vegas and got "you've been accepted" or "you've been declined" emails within a few hours (more of the latter though 🙁). Every last one of them said they would not want a shadow. I asked each of them a little about their background and if they had any advice for me. Can you believe one doctor said "Don't do drugs, enough said..." Not sure how that was supposed to help me, but ok. About an hour ago I requested ALL of the DOs available in California (well over 100) and already have 2 pages of emails. Obviously I can't shadow them, but maybe they can give me some good insight.

 

[ilovefishing]

Yeah my experience with the AOA mentor service was similarly frustrating. Cold calling DOs didn't really get me anywhere either (and it wasn't for lack of trying; I called a few dozen). Ultimately, what worked for me was mailing inquiries about shadowing to a set of DOs gleaned from the AOA database of my area. (Seemingly doctors' offices take written correspondence more seriously - I would imagine it looks more authoritative and it's probably easier to them to keep track of and respond to.) While this did get me into a few DO offices to shadow, my problems didn't end there - I still had to deal with a couple of docs who didn't want to write recommendation letters after I had shadowed and so on. Long story short, I had to apply with an MD letter in the end.

Basically, be prepared for this to turn into a process that will seem longer and more complicated than it actually should be.

hmmm... I'll have to try writing them letters. Never thought of that!

 

[ilovefishing]

Oh great, 3 doctors in California so far have offered to let me shadow them. Too bad I'm not there 🙁

 

[Jessica Stone]

I asked each of them a little about their background and if they had any advice for me. Can you believe one doctor said "Don't do drugs, enough said..." Not sure how that was supposed to help me, but ok. [\quote]

Well, depending on how old he is, he may have thought that our generation are all a bunch of stoned hippies 😀 Besides, that's good advise - I just think that's it stupid that DO schools require a recommendation letter from a DO. If all DO are like that, they'll probably write recommendation letters that ends with the line: "I feel applicant X would make an excellent physicians since she promised me that she doesn't use drugs"

 

[p30doc]

Hopefully we will all remember what it was like to be a pre-med, and be helpful when people ask to shadow. I don't know how many requests these doctors get, but I can see how after a point it would be bothersome.

 

[Semicolon]

Something must happen somewhere in the progression from pre-med to doctor that turns some of them into ***holes. 🙄

I certainly hope I don't end up that way (unless it truly is because they're so overwhelmed...).

 

[ODorDO]

Oh great, 3 doctors in California so far have offered to let me shadow them. Too bad I'm not there 🙁

why did you send out so many requests if you weren't planning to shadow them? Wont' physcians (DOs) eventually feel that AOA mentor program spams their e-mail boxes if we all do what ilovefishing did? I only sent out requests to the doctors i can actually shadow (20 mi drive), and i got 2 out of 5 said yes.

 

[bocciball]

I just did a google search for Osteopathic Doctors in my area. A bunch came up and then I proceeded to call each office and ask if I could shadow. The first physician I called did not allow people to shadow him. The second physician allowed me to shadow him, which I am still shadowing 150+ hours later.

It's not difficult to find someone to shadow if you're motivated. Be personable and pick up the phone. A doctor can't make clear judgments about your demeanor, responsibility, and seriousness about shadowing through an e-mail. You need to call him/her and then sit down and discuss your goals and desire to pursue the osteopathic philosophy.

Also, please make it clear to the physician that you are going to spend more than a few days shadowing. Most physicians dislike students who spend less than fifty hours shadowing that request reference letters.

Just my $0.02

 

[ilovefishing]

why did you send out so many requests if you weren't planning to shadow them? Wont' physcians (DOs) eventually feel that AOA mentor program spams their e-mail boxes if we all do what ilovefishing did? I only sent out requests to the doctors i can actually shadow (20 mi drive), and i got 2 out of 5 said yes.

Like I said before, I sent out emails so that I can talk with the doctors and see what advice and opinions they have about being a DO. I have plenty of questions to ask that do not need a face-to-face meeting to be asked. Also, many of the people I emailed specifically said that they were only available to talk through email. It's not like I sent out all these requests just to see what would happen.

 

[Premed Worrier]

The mentoring thing worked like a charm for me. I think I sent an email to three doctors. One was willing to just write a letter, one didn't reply, and the other wrote a letter and let me shadow, pretty good deal I thought. I did the cold calling thing for an MD physician though and it worked also, just a lot less selective obviously.

 

[cliquesh]

You can also try the "find a DO" search on that same website, and just call DOs at random. That's what I did.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Also, please make it clear to the physician that you are going to spend more than a few days shadowing. Most physicians dislike students who spend less than fifty hours shadowing that request reference letters.

I don't recommend being presumptuous and "making it clear" about anything. You should ASK and BE GRATEFUL for the time you are ALLOWED to come into someone's workplace and gain some invaluable experience.

While it may be true that some docs don't want to write a letter for a brief experience, you shouldn't let this stop you from shadowing a particular doc. Even 4-8 hours of experience can be very valuable, regardless of not getting a letter out of it. Just try to find another doc to get a letter from.

Now, if the doc ASKS you how much you'd like to shadow, try to feel him/her out, say what your ideal situation would be, but make sure to say you're grateful for any time they're willing to allow.

My point is to be tactful. Most of us know how difficult it can be to find a willing doc to shadow. Just imagine how many are thinking "meh...I gueeeeess I can let this guy..." then you bust out with "I want to hang around 24-7 for a week." Now you just scared away the squirrel you were so desperately trying to get to eat out of your hand. 😉

 

[Semicolon]

I don't recommend being presumptuous and "making it clear" about anything. You should ASK and BE GRATEFUL for the time you are ALLOWED to come into someone's workplace and gain some invaluable experience.

While it may be true that some docs don't want to write a letter for a brief experience, you shouldn't let this stop you from shadowing a particular doc. Even 4-8 hours of experience can be very valuable, regardless of not getting a letter out of it. Just try to find another doc to get a letter from.

Now, if the doc ASKS you how much you'd like to shadow, try to feel him/her out, say what your ideal situation would be, but make sure to say you're grateful for any time they're willing to allow.

My point is to be tactful. Most of us know how difficult it can be to find a willing doc to shadow. Just imagine how many are thinking "meh...I gueeeeess I can let this guy..." then you bust out with "I want to hang around 24-7 for a week." Now you just scared away the squirrel you were so desperately trying to get to eat out of your hand. 😉

*ahem* 😀

(Please don't ban me.) 👍