How long should you shadow....

[mthomas2]

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How long should you shadow an optometrist? I've been shadowing this optometrist for a month an a half, one day a week for four hours per day. All I do is observe the entire time and it's interesting but repetitive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it but I wish I was doing more. Should I continue or move on to another optometrist or maybe even an ophthalmologist?

 

[ariel winter]

most people dont shadow OD's for any more than what you have already. it's plenty in my opinion. 👍

How long should you shadow an optometrist? I've been shadowing this optometrist for a month an a half, one day a week for four hours per day. All I do is observe the entire time and it's interesting but repetitive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it but I wish I was doing more. Should I continue or move on to another optometrist or maybe even an ophthalmologist?

 

[cpw]

sounds like plenty to me 🙂 you know what you're in for and you have someone who knows you well enough to write you a good LOR

Good luck !!

 

[rkl_OD2be]

How long should you shadow an optometrist? I've been shadowing this optometrist for a month an a half, one day a week for four hours per day. All I do is observe the entire time and it's interesting but repetitive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it but I wish I was doing more. Should I continue or move on to another optometrist or maybe even an ophthalmologist?

I shadowed two different ODs. The first one was my childhood eye doctor. He was semi-retired, seeing pts only Mon-Wed (3 in the am; 4 in the pm each day). The pace was *EXTREMELY* laid back, but I learned quite a bit. He had a "noshow" that day, and we used that time so that I could "play doctor" and talked me through a refraction, exam with ophthalmoscope, exam w/slit lamp, and measuring the curvature of the eye (with an "old-school" aparatus). I learned a lot that day, and wrote about it in my essays for application.

The other OD I shadowed was my current eye dr. He's been practicing for 10-12 years in a small group. I spent a day in his practice as well. During the morning, I spent time in the in-house lab watching several pairs of glasses being fabricated, and observed the techs as they did the pre-tests to all the pts before they're seen by the OD. During the afternoon, I watched the Dr. and saw what he did, etc.

Since I only spent 2 days shadowing the docs, I was afraid that this would be a "weak spot" in my applications. It is difficult for someone who is working full time to find time to shadow when the optometry offices are open. When I was asked about this during my interviews, first, I explained everything I learned those two days, and then told them of my difficulty finding the time to shadow more. Since I was accepted at both schools I applied at, it wasn't much of an issue.

I'd say that you have an adequate amount of shadowing "under your belt".


rkl_OD2be

 

[sethuel1]

I shadowed intensively (from the first doc's first patient to the last doc's last) for one week in a group practice. Probably spent a good 50 hours there.

It was enough to see a good range of stuff, and enough to make me feel good about my decision to go for it.

 

[mthomas2]

Wow, I thought I had to shadow for a good year! Thanks for everyone's reply!

 

[KHE]

Wow, I thought I had to shadow for a good year! Thanks for everyone's reply!

Let me suggest something for you all.

Most adcoms won't care how many "hours" you shadow.

You will be better off, and you will learn much more about the profession if you shadow a number of different OFFICES rather than shadowing a bunch of different doctors in the same office.

Try to spend a few hours (not days, weeks, months) with:

1) A solo OD
2) An OD who works as part of a group practice
3) An OD who works for/with an ophthalmologist
4) An OD at the mall/Walmart/Costco

 

[in_translation]

Try to spend a few hours (not days, weeks, months) with:

1) A solo OD
2) An OD who works as part of a group practice
3) An OD who works for/with an ophthalmologist
4) An OD at the mall/Walmart/Costco

That's good advice - I shadowed an ophthalmologist and then two ODs in a group practice. When I went for interviews, I was asked if I had shadowed in any sort of a retail/chain environment. I had to say no and then defend myself.

 

[mthomas2]

I tried shadowing at malls or chains, but I was told that I couldn't shadow but that I can apply to be a tech. I didn't want to commit myself like that so i didn't. Anyone else experience the same?

 

[3eb4me]

I tried shadowing at malls or chains, but I was told that I couldn't shadow but that I can apply to be a tech. I didn't want to commit myself like that so i didn't. Anyone else experience the same?

I committed myself for 2.5 years as a part-time tech. How can you be sure you want to be an OD if you only spend 4 hours shadowing a doctor here and there? Plus the LOR will be more meaningful when you work side by side an OD.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I tried shadowing at malls or chains, but I was told that I couldn't shadow but that I can apply to be a tech. I didn't want to commit myself like that so i didn't. Anyone else experience the same?

That's very strange that the OD's in the mall/chain won't let you shadow. Did you talk to the people who run the optical portion (EyeMasters, Lenscrafters, Pearle, etc.) or the optometrist who operate in the space next to them? I can imagine the optical side saying that, but not the OD. I was lucky because one of the doctors I work with in private practice is married to a doctor in a mall location. He was more than happy to let me spend a weekend observing him. On a side note, the tech job would give you some excellent experience... but of course that depends on how it fits in with your life and circumstances. Best of luck to you!

 

[mthomas2]

I committed myself for 2.5 years as a part-time tech. How can you be sure you want to be an OD if you only spend 4 hours shadowing a doctor here and there? Plus the LOR will be more meaningful when you work side by side an OD.

I agree with you 100%. I would love to be a tech but at the time I tried to shadow an OD at a mall it didn't fit in my schedule. However, I've expressed my interest to tech to the private practice OD I am currently shadowing, but I'm not sure if I should keep shadowing different venues first.