Medical Canadian Applying to DO

[Catalystik]

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I am Canadian citizen planning to apply to DO schools this cycle. I have heard it is really important to have shadowing experience.
1) I have shadowing experience with a family doctor but he is an MD. I was wondering if my shadowing exprience should be osteopathic.
2) Also I have some shadowing experience in Iran. I was wondering if its appropriate to also mention that in my application.

Hi, and welcome to SDN.

1) Some DO med schools prefer that you have DO shadowing, but a good number are fine with MD or DO. As to which is which, a careful reading of the following will help:
a) school websites
b) the 2019 (CIB) http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/cib/aacom-cib-2019-all-web.pdf?sfvrsn=95e22597_6
c) a summation of DO school shadowing requirements found on SDN's PreMed-DO Forum (here's an old example of a discussion on the matter: Physician Recommendation letter requirement

Be sure to keep track of which schools require a DO letter of recommendation while doing your research.

If you live in an area where a DO is impossible to locate, for those schools requiring a DO letter, I have read that an occasional applicant has obtained such a letter through phone conversation.

2) So long as the majority of your shadowing isn't international, feel free to list it. If you have a lot of hours in Iran, don't feel compelled to list them all. Be prepared for questions asking you to compare and contrast medical systems in both countries if you decide to include them.