How much diversity do I need when Shadowing?

[bevo83]

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I'm currently shadowing an Optometrist that is part of a group practice (three doctors all together working for a major chain) and I hope to have about 60+ hours of time with this doctor before submitting my application. I also have 50 hours of volunteer time at the urgent care department for a hospital although that was for clinical experience and I did not shadow an optometrist while there. My question is, do I need to shadow another optometrist and is it imperative that the doctor work in something other than group practice (which is the what the doctor I'm currently shadowing is a part of)? Additionally, I've had to move in the past year so I'm no longer within reasonable driving distance of a hospital so shadowing a doctor at a hospital is somewhat impractical for the foreseeable future. How important is it I shadow another doctor and how important is it that said doctor be in a practice other than a major retail chain? Thanks everyone for the help in advance!

 

[pudgie84]

I'm currently shadowing an Optometrist that is part of a group practice (three doctors all together working for a major chain) and I hope to have about 60+ hours of time with this doctor before submitting my application. I also have 50 hours of volunteer time at the urgent care department for a hospital although that was for clinical experience and I did not shadow an optometrist while there. My question is, do I need to shadow another optometrist and is it imperative that the doctor work in something other than group practice (which is the what the doctor I'm currently shadowing is a part of)? Additionally, I've had to move in the past year so I'm no longer within reasonable driving distance of a hospital so shadowing a doctor at a hospital is somewhat impractical for the foreseeable future. How important is it I shadow another doctor and how important is it that said doctor be in a practice other than a major retail chain? Thanks everyone for the help in advance!

some schools place more of an emphasize on variety in shadowing experiences than others. I would check with the schools you are applying to. in general, more variety can't hurt!

 

[Loptometriste]

I do not understand how people on this forum have that many hours shadowing the same doctor. Doctors around here only let me shadow for a morning or afternoon. Enough to see their office and get an idea of the practice. Go shadow somewhere different for a day. I am driving six hours to shadow for a half day at a location of a residency program I am interested in. It all depends how much you want more hours.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

I think that most schools would like you to get an idea of the different modes of practice, so in that respect diversity of shadowing should be important. I think it would be ideal to shadow an OD in a clinic/hospital based setting, a commercial/optical setting, a private practice setting, and an OMD/OD setting.

 

[Loptometriste]

Agreed

 

[OhhDee]

I do not understand how people on this forum have that many hours shadowing the same doctor. Doctors around here only let me shadow for a morning or afternoon. Enough to see their office and get an idea of the practice. Go shadow somewhere different for a day. I am driving six hours to shadow for a half day at a location of a residency program I am interested in. It all depends how much you want more hours.

I'm the same way as you. A full day is the most I have done at any location.

 

[Digitalized]

I do not understand how people on this forum have that many hours shadowing the same doctor. Doctors around here only let me shadow for a morning or afternoon. Enough to see their office and get an idea of the practice. Go shadow somewhere different for a day. I am driving six hours to shadow for a half day at a location of a residency program I am interested in. It all depends how much you want more hours.

Same here. I "shadowed" at a Wal-Mart for like 5 hours and then another day at a private practice. That was pretty much it. It's not that big of a deal.

 

[drumstix]

Same here. I "shadowed" at a Wal-Mart for like 5 hours and then another day at a private practice. That was pretty much it. It's not that big of a deal.

But don't schools want like 30-40+ shadowing hours? How do you say to them you only did 5-10 hours? Don't they want verification and a letter of rec from the optometrist you shadowed? A lot of schools want a LOR from a non-relative practicing optometrist, and the only way I understand that you can get that is through a shadow.. And I assume the doctor will mention in the letter that you shadowed for one day? Don't schools or OptomCAS touch base with these docs to verify a person's claims?

 

[Loptometriste]

But don't schools want like 30-40+ shadowing hours? How do you say to them you only did 5-10 hours? Don't they want verification and a letter of rec from the optometrist you shadowed? A lot of schools want a LOR from a non-relative practicing optometrist, and the only way I understand that you can get that is through a shadow.. And I assume the doctor will mention in the letter that you shadowed for one day? Don't schools or OptomCAS touch base with these docs to verify a person's claims?

Sorry, I did not have that many shadowing hours. I think I had about 8 total?

I worked at Mayo Clinic as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant with several doctors. I asked one of them to write me a letter of recommendation since I knew them both on a business and personal basis. I also worked at a private practice prior to that. Although I could not count these hours as shadowing hours, I did highlight these experiences in my personal statement. I also wrote that I had approximately 3700 hours in the field in my optometric work experience section.

Working really helped me have a better understanding of optometry and the role of an optometrist. I would recommend that you shadow at least a private practice, a commercial setting, and an OMD/OD practice.

Maybe you can volunteer or work at a clinic to gain a relationship with an optometrist for an LOR as well as the experience?

Best of luck in your application!

 

[tbair200]

I shadowed 2 doctors. One in a private and one in a corporate setting. I don't think there is a set number of hours to be honest. I talked to other optometry students and most of them didn't shadow much more than me. One girl worked as an optician so that was pretty unique in my opinion.