Help finding a physician to shadow?

[Twilson016]

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Hey guys,
My name is Tyler and I'm fairly new to the site. I recently just toured Touro CA and I was told that my stats look good to them but they want to see me shadow a DO, and preferably have a letter of rec from one. I never expected this to be that big of a challenge but it has proven me wrong. I have contacted multiple DOs who either say they're too busy, or would have a hard time getting it past their administration. Does anyone have any advice for finding a physician to shadow? I'm running out of time to get a significant amount of hours in, so I'm trying to get this set up as soon as possible. Thanks

 

[danny89]

Hey guys,
My name is Tyler and I'm fairly new to the site. I recently just toured Touro CA and I was told that my stats look good to them but they want to see me shadow a DO, and preferably have a letter of rec from one. I never expected this to be that big of a challenge but it has proven me wrong. I have contacted multiple DOs who either say they're too busy, or would have a hard time getting it past their administration. Does anyone have any advice for finding a physician to shadow? I'm running out of time to get a significant amount of hours in, so I'm trying to get this set up as soon as possible. Thanks

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/find-a-do/Pages/default.aspx
http://cf.osteopathic.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange

Breath. The hardest part has passed.

 

[milosavljevic]

My post-bacc program held a DO Workshop that included a panel of 3 Touro CA medical students.

These students suggested that it looks bad if you live near a medical school and don't utilize it's resources. I have been able to shadow a first year student in their OMM lab, and all the professors were very welcoming and nice. I'm planning on setting up time to attend a lecture in the fall as well. I would suggest you try this as a starting point if you can.

Touro CA students also have two community clinics that they help at, so you should also try contacting them to follow around a student there. I'm sure you'll also get exposure to the DO advisors that help at those clinics.

You can check tustudentlife.com for when their Student Run Free Clinic and the Suitcase Clinic are held.

At the very least, it's showing you have an interest in the school, and you'll being doing something while you buy time to find a DO to shadow. Plus, you might get a connection out of talking to professors and medical students, who might be able to put you in contact with someone who understands your need to shadow.

Hope this helps.

 

[milosavljevic]

Also, VA Hospitals have a lot of DOs, at least in Fresno and Palo Alto from what I've found.

 

[Twilson016]

I would love to get more involved with the Touro classes and clinics like you said but I live in Fresno which isn't exactly close, about 3 hours away. You mentioned the VA here in Fresno, which would be a good option but who exactly do you get in contact with to get permission to shadow? My experience with hospitals has been more complicated because they can never seem to get it (or want to try) to get it past their administration. Thanks

 

[milosavljevic]

I would love to get more involved with the Touro classes and clinics like you said but I live in Fresno which isn't exactly close, about 3 hours away. You mentioned the VA here in Fresno, which would be a good option but who exactly do you get in contact with to get permission to shadow? My experience with hospitals has been more complicated because they can never seem to get it (or want to try) to get it past their administration. Thanks

Oops sorry, didn't realize you're living in Fresno. I would go to the hospital and ask for a list of physicians (you should probably specify DO) affiliated with the VA hospital. You could try calling, but I think it's easier to explain what you need in person. You could try going through volunteer services there (it's a pretty easy process to become a volunteer there), and then get connections that way by asking around the staff.

 

[milosavljevic]

You can also look here: http://www.fresno.va.gov/providerinfo/index.asp