How do you get a DO recommendation?

[rachel711]

if you don't know any DOs that well? any suggetions? since, most schools require or strongly recommend

 

[llort]

rachel 7/11- basically, open up a phone book and find a DO. THen ask if you can shadow him. then when done shadowing, give him all your info and ask him to write a letter for you. if this is too complicated for you, I suggest asking your family doctor or your parents family doctor if they know any DOs. It can be done, you just actually have to put some work into it.
thanks

 

[futuredo32]

I had a difficult time finding a D.O. who would let a pre-med shadow due to hippa laws. If you are close to a D.O. school, the doctors who work at a clinic associated with the school are extremely willing to let students shadow.

 

[kaikai128]

I have found that Emergency departments are generally pretty easy to shadow in. You could find an DO that is in Emergency Medicine, and then shadow @ the hospital that he/she is in. I shadowed in an ED that was approx 1/2 osteopaths.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

I shadowed one of the docs that was on TLC's 'Trauma Life in the ER'

Both schools that I applied/interviewed at told me he that he wrote a pimp-ass LOR.

I shadowed him for like 12 hours total.

 

[NUKid]

I had a difficult time finding a D.O. who would let a pre-med shadow due to hippa laws. If you are close to a D.O. school, the doctors who work at a clinic associated with the school are extremely willing to let students shadow.

They actually have a consent form for this now for west virginia students. Check it out:http://www.wvsom.edu/Admissions/HIPAAForm.pdf

 

[crys20]

I have shadowed several doctors and never found one who wasn't ok w/ shadowing, MD or DO. They're usually pretty good about it, I think DOs especially since they know we need letters.

 

[PublicEnemy]

another idea. this is way to just get a letter, maybe not a great letter, but this is a good method if you're really in a bind and short on time. contact DO's personally, just tell them you're applying and interested in speaking with them about their experiences. not everyone will respond, but many are receptive to this idea and will even offer to meet with you or talk to you about their situation and your process. depending on how it goes, (they know you need a letter) you can ask them if they'd be comfortable providing you an evaluation or recommending you for admission.