How many hours did you shadow?

[fatima2]

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How many hours on average are we supposed to shadow a DO?

 

[Slane]

I spent sixteen hours with a surgeon (Eight in the office and eight in the O.R.) and seventy-five hours with a family physician.

 

[missDO]

Not sure of the expected amount...but I personally did 20 with an anesthesiologist and 20 with a family doc (both DOs).

 

[Exalya]

8 with a neurosurgeon and 27 with a family doc. I have one interview so far...

 

[ShinyDome19]

To get my rec. letter from a DO, i shadowed him for only 6 or so hours. But, other than that, I havent technically shadowed any DO's, though my family physician is a DO and my medical director from when i was an EMT was also a DO...So, I have been exposed to their practice for a while.

 

[rddoms]

I shadowed an ENT for 50 hours and then asked for a letter (I had a lot of time when I shadowed this doc). I wanted to be sure that the doc would write me a good letter, so I shadowed for a long time.

 

[Slane]

The longer you spend shadowing a doctor, the better your letter of recommendation will be. It's really hard to write a good letter about someone, detailing their strengths, if you've only spent a couple of hours working with them.

 

[MSUSpartan642]

I spent 50 hours with the MD that I shadowed and 50 hours with the DO. I got LOR from both, so hopefully they will be relatively strong 🙂

 

[Mohammed1989]

I got 4 years of neurology and 1.5 years in the ER and still going
Whoo hoo lol

 

[droogdoc]

I do feel bad for people who have to hunt down DO's just to be able to shadow them for a few hours. It ain't easy.

Being able to work with them all the time as a part of your job cant be beat. I worked with one for like 6 months about 10-12 hours a day 5-6 days a week in the Army!! I'm sure my letter was good, he seemed enthusiastic about writing me one anyway.

 

[JediZero]

Haven't done any shadowing at all, actually. I see this being a problem. Trying to fix that, but chances don't look too great... not too many DOs in California.

Still, Nova and Western are interviewing me, at least, so maybe they don't mind all that much...

 

[forrealz]

It was frustrating, I couldn't find anybody to shadow all summer. When I gave up and finally decided to just apply to the schools that do not require a DO LOR, I fortunately received an invite. Been shadowing for a little more than a month now, I love it! I am so grateful that he took the time to really get to know me. All that waiting and frustration was so worth this experience. This one good thing about the whole application gives me a little hope although I have slim chances of an acceptance anywhere.

 

[Josepee]

I spent around 35 with a DO and 4 with a surgeon. I also have one interview so far. . .

 

[picorna]

i read some people were having problems finding a DO to shadow

i had the same problems. a lot of DOs i found in the area wouldn't or couldn't allow students to shadow. and if they did, i was only in the office for a very short period of time

however, i decided to call around to some local teaching hospitals, and they all were very accommodating (obviously used to students) and i found a really nice pediatric ID specialist to shadow. been with him since may. and i plan on staying with him until i start medical school

not because its required, but because i enjoy being with him and i'm learning quite a deal

so, the point is....if anyone is having problems finding a DO to shadow, try the teaching hospitals in your area

 

[premed541]

I had 180 hours shadowing - 80 with DO's and 100 with MD's and I have interviews everywhere I applied. I didn't realize I had so many hours since they've been adding up since about 2007 - I was really surprised.

 

[Brocimus]

Shadowed a Dermatologist (MD) for about 40 hrs and a Family Practitioner (DO) for about 20. Got letters from both. I think you need at least 20 for the experience to be considered substantial, but just my opinion.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I did 250 with a Vitreo-retinal surgeon and 8 with a corneal refractive. I'm a Freshman at the NSU-COM BS/DO. I also scrubbed in on 80 cases vitrectomy, cataract etc. that's included in the hours.

 

[scpod]

How many hours on average are we supposed to shadow a DO?

Zero. There is no requirement that you ever shadow a DO. I never did and I just got my first two offers to interview for residencies today. Some schools, however, require that you have a DO letter. There is still no requirement that you ever shadow a DO in order to get the letter. Sometimes all it takes to get a letter is to meet with him/her for a lunch one day when s/he isn't too busy.

You may be much better off finding other ways to get medical experience or volunteering for other types of community service. Don't get hung up on this "number of hours" thing. Instead, spend your time improving your app in as many ways as are possible.

 

[HoboCommander]

ZERO under the DO that wrote my letter of rec. Just talked for a couple hours about my application.

 

[lentilfarm]

My experience was mostly over the phone and email because the D.O. was busy when I was supposed to shadow him. He was still very happy to write me a letter.

Other than that, my new doctor is a D.O. It was great when he used OMM to fix my back!

 

[charmedgrad]

Is it alright if we shadow only MDs? I have shadowed MDs but no DOs.🙁

 

[da Vincis World]

I only applied DO and shadowed for about 20 hours with a DO and 4 with an MD.

 

[HopefulDoc1984]

4 hours with my family doc DO. he wrote me a great letter. i got accepted to numerous schools so i guess that is all that matters.

 

[dudechiefboss]

I have found that it is easier to shadow a DO (or any doctor) in the hospital setting rather than the private practice setting. Most patients don't care if someone is observing in the hospital. Primary care in the private practice can be difficult do to personal issues relating to the patient, i.e. depression, cancer diagnosis or loss of a family member.

ER and OR are the easiest places to shadow for both DO and MD.

On a side note, about half of the physicians I have encountered tell me not to become a doctor; I should become an assistant (less responsibility and easier hours). But, the doctors that tell me to stick with it are the ones that most inspire me. The point: shadowing a physician may change your opinion about the field of medicine.