Can't find any DO's to shadow

[JugglesMed]

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I've tried like 10 different DO doctors and non of them call me back.
There's not very many DO's so it's hard to find one to shadow.
I've shadowed 5 MD's and it's so much easier to find a MD to shadow.

Getting worried I won't have much DO experience if I get an interview.

 

[Scrublife17]

I’m in the same boat too.. everyone I try contacting hasn’t gotten back to me.

 

[Anaphase]

Have you tried the hospital? I couldn’t find a DO that called me back either so I went to the hospital and filled a bunch of paperwork to shadow and then they helped me find a DO that works there and put me in contact with him.

 

[Scrublife17]

Have you tried the hospital? I couldn’t find a DO that called me back either so I went to the hospital and filled a bunch of paperwork to shadow and then they helped me find a DO that works there and put me in contact with him.

Hmm maybe I will try that. Where in the hospital did you go or who did you contact? How long did this process take you?

 

[dial1010usa]

I've tried like 10 different DO doctors and non of them call me back.
There's not very many DO's so it's hard to find one to shadow.
I've shadowed 5 MD's and it's so much easier to find a MD to shadow.

Getting worried I won't have much DO experience if I get an interview.

Ask your MD if they have any DO friend. It's all connections.
When you are saying you can't find DO, its better to mention your state and area so someone can help if they know any DO.

 

[Anaphase]

Hmm maybe I will try that. Where in the hospital did you go or who did you contact? How long did this process take you?

Well one of the DO offices that I called told me I had to go through the hospital administration before I could even shadow this specific DO since he was affiliated with the hospital. SO I went to administration and one of the people there gave me the paperwork and asked what specialty I wanted and she helped me find one!

 

[PapaGuava]

I've tried like 10 different DO doctors and non of them call me back.
There's not very many DO's so it's hard to find one to shadow.
I've shadowed 5 MD's and it's so much easier to find a MD to shadow.

Getting worried I won't have much DO experience if I get an interview.

Have you tried just basic clinics or DO practices? In my case, I just marked a few offices on a map and visited a few of them in person. Eventually, one of them will be interested if the DO isn't occupied having other medical students shadow him. This also helps because you don't have to deal with any hospital administration.

 

[de Ribas]

Hmm maybe I will try that. Where in the hospital did you go or who did you contact? How long did this process take you?

Human Resources of course. Most of hospitals I looked at have a specific section for students to shadow, observe, volunteer or internship and they handle all of that. You contact them, set your preferences and they ask their doctors for availability.

If doctors work for a hospital or large network, you cant really set it up just with a doctor. You have to be approved by the hospital administration too.

I shadowed my friend MD, even he couldn't let me shadow unless I have been approved by the administration.

It's not that hard.

Go to website of hospitals or clinics where you would like to shadow and go to Providers page and see if and how many DOs they have employed. Then contact HR.

 

[Scrublife17]

Human Resources of course. Most of hospitals I looked at have a specific section for students to shadow, observe, volunteer or internship and they handle all of that. You contact them, set your preferences and they ask their doctors for availability.

If doctors work for a hospital or large network, you cant really set it up just with a doctor. You have to be approved by the hospital administration too.

I shadowed my friend MD, even he couldn't let me shadow unless I have been approved by the administration.

It's not that hard.

Go to websited of hospitals or clinics where you would like to shadow and go to Providers page and see if and how many DOs they have employed. Then contact HR.

Thank you!! I’ll definitely try doing this!

 

[gensurghopeful]

If stats are good enough, it won't even matter.

 

[Scrublife17]

If stats are good enough, it won't even matter.

It’ll probably matter though for schools that require a letter of rec right?

 

[rg2o3]

It’ll probably matter though for schools that require a letter of rec right?

Right. If the school requires it, you won’t get looked at without it.

 

[rg2o3]

It’ll probably matter though for schools that require a letter of rec right?

Right. If the school requires it, you won’t get looked at without it.

 

[gensurghopeful]

It’ll probably matter though for schools that require a letter of rec right?

Yes, but it's smart to apply to 15+ schools and in that case you'll net an acceptance somewhere with a 3.4+ GPA and a 502+ MCAT
Obviously yeah, don't waste money on required DO letter schools, but tbh it's not as many as you'd think (IMO all should require)

 

[rg2o3]

Yes, but it's smart to apply to 15+ schools and in that case you'll net an acceptance somewhere with a 3.4+ GPA and a 502+ MCAT
Obviously yeah, don't waste money on required DO letter schools, but tbh it's not as many as you'd think (IMO all should require)

Why do you think all should require?

 

[Scrublife17]

Yes, but it's smart to apply to 15+ schools and in that case you'll net an acceptance somewhere with a 3.4+ GPA and a 502+ MCAT
Obviously yeah, don't waste money on required DO letter schools, but tbh it's not as many as you'd think (IMO all should require)

Yeah I understand that but I’m applying broadly, my gpa is fine it’s a 3.7 cumulative and science but my mcat isn’t the greatest 501 unbalanced and then 499. I think a DO letter of rec would help my case even at the schools that recommend it and don’t require it.

 

[Isoval]

Doctors That DO | Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine

 

[gensurghopeful]

Why do you think all should require?

Well we know when you apply to medical school you need a doctors letter. More specifically, when you apply MD you will also tend to have an MD letter. And I think if you apply DO you should have a DO letter. That simple.

 

[gensurghopeful]

Yeah I understand that but I’m applying broadly, my gpa is fine it’s a 3.7 cumulative and science but my mcat isn’t the greatest 501 unbalanced and then 499. I think a DO letter of rec would help my case even at the schools that recommend it and don’t require it.

Drop in MCAT is bad. Apply very broadly, you'll get in somewhere.

 

[rg2o3]

Well we know when you apply to medical school you need a doctors letter. More specifically, when you apply MD you will also tend to have an MD letter. And I think if you apply DO you should have a DO letter. That simple.

Yes, I’m asking why you personally find that’s to be the case. Why do YOU think that should be a requirement. I personally did not have any physician LOR.

 

[gensurghopeful]

Yes, I’m asking why you personally find that’s to be the case. Why do YOU think that should be a requirement. I personally did not have any physician LOR.

I think it shows the extra effort that you really want to become a DO. I think once you see a DO in practice enough, you can pick up some of the extra things they do, that I did not notice when I shadowed allopathic docs.

Nothing crazy obviously - I just think it should be a req, maybe to reduce MD rejects and increase DO wannabe's

 

[rg2o3]

I think it shows the extra effort that you really want to become a DO. I think once you see a DO in practice enough, you can pick up some of the extra things they do, that I did not notice when I shadowed allopathic docs.

Nothing crazy obviously - I just think it should be a req, maybe to reduce MD rejects and increase DO wannabe's

Yeah I agree. I think it shows EXTRA effort. That’s why I don’t think it should be require, but reccomended. That way it will indicate who took that extra step. Also, many parts of the country have minimal DO presence and makes it very difficult to obtain a letter strictly from a DO.

Edit: the second point you made was actually something I have not thought about. Definitely could make an impact in some way.

 

[gensurghopeful]

Yeah I agree. I think it shows EXTRA effort. That’s why I don’t think it should be require, but reccomended. That way it will indicate who took that extra step. Also, many parts of the country have minimal DO presence and makes it very difficult to obtain a letter strictly from a DO.

I guess I am spoiled with DO's, living outside Detroit. MSUCOM has so many DO's in multiple professions around the area and beyond. Worked with at least three off the top of my head - 2 ortho surg and 1 neuro.

 

[abtazz12]

I’m in the same boat too.. everyone I try contacting hasn’t gotten back to me.

Hello, you sent me a PM but for some reason it's not giving me the option to reply. So I thought I'd do it here.

I actually work as a medical assistant at a hospital, which is how I met the doctors. I just sent them an email explaining my situation and they replied that they could help me. So, just gotta be upfront.

 

[Scrublife17]

Drop in MCAT is bad. Apply very broadly, you'll get in somewhere.

Yup that’s the plan...kinda wish I didn’t even take it the second time around. Felt prepared but the chem section went very badly. One school is all it takes!

 

[gensurghopeful]

Yup that’s the plan...kinda wish I didn’t even take it the second time around. Felt prepared but the chem section went very badly. One school is all it takes!

Not sure if I mentioned this to you already, but apply to VCOM as your high GPA/low MCAT is preferable for thier matriculants. I am going to be an OMS1 starting in a month at VCOM-SC and had similiar situation.

 

[Scrublife17]

Not sure if I mentioned this to you already, but apply to VCOM as your high GPA/low MCAT is preferable for thier matriculants. I am going to be an OMS1 starting in a month at VCOM-SC and had similiar situation.

Yes I applied to all three! Hoping to hear back from them!

 

[Sundae806]

Agreed!!! So hard to find a DO. I tried to contact a DO office and they said I have to wait at least 2 months for the shadowing. Plus, have to read two books before I can start with the shadowing. BUT!!! The application period is OVER after two months lol. Having a hard time to find a DO to shadow in San Francisco. Any helps are welcomed!!

 

[gensurghopeful]

Agreed!!! So hard to find a DO. I tried to contact a DO office and they said I have to wait at least 2 months for the shadowing. Plus, have to read two books before I can start with the shadowing. BUT!!! The application period is OVER after two months lol. Having a hard time to find a DO to shadow in San Francisco. Any helps are welcomed!!

I'd still go for it and maybe use it to talk about on secondaries or II's
Probably accept that you won't have an LoR from a DO for primaries, but then again a lot don't
With good stats and an MD letter you'll still get II's at multiple places.