Getting a Letter from a DO

[jm192]

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I'm looking to apply as soon as possible, and feel I'm already late in the process.

I've never shadowed a DO. I have tons of MD shadowing experience, but it's been more short-term shadowing, and it's been a while in most cases.

And since one school requires it, I figure no need in having an MD with a similar relationship write one as well.

Anyone else been in this spot? Do you find DO's are normally cool with helping with this situation?

Also, one of the schools does not require a letter. Should I have the DO send it anyway? Should I go ahead and submit to speed up getting their secondary and just focus on the letters in asap for the others?

 

[PunkmedGirl]

I'm looking to apply as soon as possible, and feel I'm already late in the process.

I've never shadowed a DO. I have tons of MD shadowing experience, but it's been more short-term shadowing, and it's been a while in most cases.

And since one school requires it, I figure no need in having an MD with a similar relationship write one as well.

Anyone else been in this spot? Do you find DO's are normally cool with helping with this situation?

Also, one of the schools does not require a letter. Should I have the DO send it anyway? Should I go ahead and submit to speed up getting their secondary and just focus on the letters in asap for the others?

Yes, go ahead and submit your primary app because it's going to take a minimum of 4 to 6 wks. I think that's plenty of time to find a DO to shadow. If its not required by the school to have a DO LOR then the MD LOR will be fine.

Look here for some possible DOs to shadow in your area (you have to register) or you look up some DOs inthe phone book.

 

[Exalya]

I'm looking to apply as soon as possible, and feel I'm already late in the process.

I've never shadowed a DO. I have tons of MD shadowing experience, but it's been more short-term shadowing, and it's been a while in most cases.

And since one school requires it, I figure no need in having an MD with a similar relationship write one as well.

Anyone else been in this spot? Do you find DO's are normally cool with helping with this situation?

Also, one of the schools does not require a letter. Should I have the DO send it anyway? Should I go ahead and submit to speed up getting their secondary and just focus on the letters in asap for the others?

That link above is very good. DO's are, in my experience, very cool about the LOR thing. They went through the DO process and many of them keep up with what schools are doing... so they understand that it's important for you to have one. I didn't even have to ask my DO for one after I was done shadowing; he brought up the subject and said he would write one.

 

[dofl]

I shadowed a DO for about 4 weeks and I asked him if he could write the LOR which he agreed to, but he told me to write the letter myself, and then he would put it on official letterhead and sign it. Anybody in a similar situation ?? any advice ?? no idea how to write the LOR.

Thank you

 

[gforce32]

I shadowed a DO for about 4 weeks and I asked him if he could write the LOR which he agreed to, but he told me to write the letter myself, and then he would put it on official letterhead and sign it. Anybody in a similar situation ?? any advice ?? no idea how to write the LOR.

Thank you

yep. i had to do that for myself. this is how i structured my paragraphs from what i gathered online:

1. your relationship with the student-how long you've known then, how you first met, etc.
2. attributes and characteristics about the student (caring, passionate, intelligent--asks great questions, etc.) and how you'd make a great osteopathic physician
3. conclude with positive remarks and "I would highly recommend....."

hope that helps 👍

 

[dofl]

thank you for the quick reply; I am starting to organize the content and paragraphs in a similar manner as you described, and looking at some examples online as well.

thank you

 

[jm192]

How long have those of you that have gotten a last minute letter shadowed?

I have class 8-1230 MWF
8-11; 1245-245 T/R

Do you think a physician will be cool with 1-4.

I used the link, there's only one in my area. Coincidentally enough, I called his office earlier today, and he was out. He's supposed to call me back Monday. Should I go ahead and contact him via the website? Explain my situation and that I'd like to request a letter? Or do you think that comes across wrong?

 

[scaredoflife]

I would do more of a face to face, because doctors like face to face interaction. Using the internet might not get his attention quick enough. They are very busy, and my guy is taking forever to write my D.O. I am going to have to pressure again by calling this week.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

My experience approaching DOs to shadow was phenomenal. Not to slight their colleagues but compared with the MDs that I met these men and women were very receptive. I initiated contact by email first and in time all (3) replied. I had excellent experiences with them in clinic and on the hospital floors for inpatient rounds. All went out of their way to demostrate OMM and the letter that I eventually received was probably my best recommendation. Just do your research, find a DO in the phone book or online in a hospital's physician directory. They're everywhere even if only in small numbers and I'm pretty sure that it's something of an ego boost for them to be asked.

If you have any doubt about whether a core philosophy makes a difference it will be clear after some time spent in the trenches with a DO that it's no trivial distinction.

 

[shin2na86]

I'm kinda in a same situation.. I have not submitted my primary application yet and never shadowed DO before. Since I don't have DO LOR in hand, I was going to apply to those schools that do not REQUIRE DO letters. However, I have DPM (podiatrist)'s letter instead of MD's (I have worked for a podiatrist for a year).

Do you think DO schools would accept a DPM's letter instead of a MD's letter? If it's not acceptable, as someone said, I will have to find a DO to shadow asap. So when you shadow a physician, how long or how many hours of shadowing is appropriate for both me and a physician? 4,5 hrs a day for a week..? or longer?

Oh, another question, does ACCOMAS accepts transcripts via Interfolio? I have transcripts uploaded on Interfolio that I used for another appliation system and was just wondering if they would accept them..

 

[CardioPlus]

I'm kinda in a same situation.. I have not submitted my primary application yet and never shadowed DO before. Since I don't have DO LOR in hand, I was going to apply to those schools that do not REQUIRE DO letters. However, I have DPM (podiatrist)'s letter instead of MD's (I have worked for a podiatrist for a year).

Do you think DO schools would accept a DPM's letter instead of a MD's letter? If it's not acceptable, as someone said, I will have to find a DO to shadow asap. So when you shadow a physician, how long or how many hours of shadowing is appropriate for both me and a physician? 4,5 hrs a day for a week..? or longer?

Oh, another question, does ACCOMAS accepts transcripts via Interfolio? I have transcripts uploaded on Interfolio that I used for another appliation system and was just wondering if they would accept them..

1st off, def get your primary submitted ASAP because right now the wait time to get verified is almost 2 months. Also, unlike AMCAS, AACOMAS does not handle your letters of recommendation. So you would have to have Interfolio send the letters to the schools you are applying to directly.

Secondly, schools will not accept a DPM letter in lieu of an MD letter (as DPM isn't considered a "physician" just like you couldn't replace an MD/DO letter with a DDS letter, etc) so you should def find a DO to shadow. It will not only let you apply to more schools that require the DO letter, but also will show your interest in the osteopathic profession. I would say get 20 hrs shadowing all together and you should be fine.

Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions! (Don't forget to get that primary in ASAP tho)🙂

 

[pkpHawks87]

Im in a similar situation.. I just started corresponding with a D.O this past week, he was incredibly helpful and even offered to write a letter before I had the chance to even shadow him!! But, he is a co-worker of some family of mine so I guess that helps. 😉

 

[HoboCommander]

You don't have to shadow to get a DO recommendation. I just went to visit a DO and he wrote the recommendation on the spot, was finished in about 2 hours.

 

[jm192]

I really hate to bother anyone about these things, but there's no way around it 🙁

I called 2 last week, both have called me back now. One called today, and asked about why I was wanting to see him, and I told him I was applying, hadn't shadowed any osteopathic physicians, AND that I needed to get a letter. About 5 minutes later, I felt like an arse, was I out of line?

 

[scaredoflife]

If you said it just as you wrote, then it was a bit harsh. I would have been like, "thank you for replying back quickly. I am currently in process of applying to D.O. medical schools, and in-order to send my secondaries out I need a recommendation letter by an osteopathic physician. I was wondering if you could meet up with me and go over my resume, and discuss my aspirations for medical school and write me an LOR." And maybe also say something about how you would be interested in shadowing as well.
IDK hope this helps.

Don't fret because many of them went through this as well, so they should understand your pain.