HOW TO SHADOW 101

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Kick_Rocks_

Kick_Rocks_

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I just wanted to post a little help for the many posts I'm seeing about shadowing. I also like to give back to a site that's given so much to me. Although it's slightly late in the cycle to include on applications, it's still something to consider as it will give you further insight in to the world of DO medicine, and give you something to talk about with your interviewers. Plus it is AMAZING!

"But I don't know any DO's to ask"...
--Google is your best friend. Google DO's in your area. Bring your CV, schedule, and a cover letter to their office. More than likely they will be HAPPY to help you as a future physician...(I've shadowed 3 physicians this way).
--Go to AOA's (American Osteopathic Association) iLEARN Mentor Exchange Program (Google it)...literally shows you a list of physicians who WANT to have a student shadow them and you can search by area. (I'm currently shadowing a primary care physician through this method)
--CALL the AOA because they have regional meetings monthly with DO's...and will invite you to attend their next meeting.
--Literally walk through a hospital...go to HR...chat with the volunteers...speak with anyone in the cafeteria...I PROMISE you that showing your face and talking with someone and networking is incredibly more beneficial than sitting on your computer sending out emails to physicians. Meeting you makes it easy for the physician to say YES.

-Just know that it is never to late to network, gain experience, shadow, volunteer etc. Also know that you should be doing ALL of it because you LOVE it not because you need more to add to your CV. If you truly want to be a physician, you'd be doing this as much as possible. I absolutely enjoy shadowing and learning, especially now with more free time. I am not the most qualified candidate this round, and my numbers are average at best, but I know that it's something I love to do and I wish you all the ABSOLUTE best!!!! Without SDN I'd be no where near where I am today, I LOVE YOU GUYS! <3
 
I've always wondered about what to wear.. I'm shadowing a DO Cardiologist in a couple of weeks, and I'm completely lost, and scared that I don't give off an appropriate aura to the patients and/or the doctor.


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I've always wondered about what to wear.. I'm shadowing a DO Cardiologist in a couple of weeks, and I'm completely lost, and scared that I don't give off an appropriate aura to the patients and/or the doctor.
Click to expand...

Male? Semi formal/business casual is good for inpatient

Some Drs call for scrubs

Listen, just ask it can't hurt
 
CUNYguy said:
I've always wondered about what to wear.. I'm shadowing a DO Cardiologist in a couple of weeks, and I'm completely lost, and scared that I don't give off an appropriate aura to the patients and/or the doctor.


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Click to expand...

I looked something like this both times I have shadowed. Remember to wear dress socks and polished dress shoes.
business_casual_-_male4_0.jpeg
Important to make a good impression.
 
I wear a women's pant suit without the jacket and a nice blouse. (Do something similar for males). They will say "business casual" but it's ALWAYS better to go nicer than not. Also, if you're shadowing for a surgery, wear biz casual, but BRING comfy shoes. They will show you to the locker room to change in to scrubs, which is when you'll need comfier shoes!
 
Kick_Rocks_ said:
I wear a women's pant suit without the jacket and a nice blouse. (Do something similar for males). They will say "business casual" but it's ALWAYS better to go nicer than not. Also, if you're shadowing for a surgery, wear biz casual, but BRING comfy shoes. They will show you to the locker room to change in to scrubs, which is when you'll need comfier shoes!
Click to expand...

Spot on :highfive:
 
I got in touch with a physician liaison at a local hospital and she set everything up for me.
 
iowan said:
I got in touch with a physician liaison at a local hospital and she set everything up for me.
Click to expand...

First thing I thought of when I saw your icon is from the episode, "What, she your woman?" For some reason that made me laugh really hard.
 
Any SE Pennsylvanians have any luck? I have 3 emails out on iLearn who haven't responded yet, including 1 right by PCOM. I'll send out another 6 requests this week.

I called 3 of my doctors and got turned down (too busy, legal issues, etc). My dermatologist's practice only allows UPenn students. Paoli Hospital requires 100+ hours of volunteering over 6 months in return for 4 hours of shadowing (too late for this cycle). Einstein-Montgomery promotes their shadowing program on their website and they said no, they stopped for now. I have an application into Penn State Medical Center's shadowing program, but they said it will be hard to find a doctor to do 1 day a week (due to my class schedule), plus there's a 2 month wait time. Fingers crossed. Reading Hospital allows shadowing, but I would have to cold call the doctors. I have an email into St. Mary's on their shadowing program for career changers. York Hospital has a Fall shadowing program with an anesthesiologist for 4 hours. I'll apply. Williamsport Hospital is 3 hours away, but I'll apply too.

I asked an acquaintance's wife who is a DO. He said she had a heck of time years ago finding a DO to shadow as well. She of course does not allow students to shadow either. LOL. I have an appointment with my sister's family med DO for an OMT session. Hopefully, I can talk her into allowing me to shadow her. If not, at least I can put the OMT experience in my application. The MCAT is like a weekend in Disney compared to getting a LOR from a doctor.
 
This is why I got a job as a scribe. It was essentially shadowing every day of my job. Any pre medder who wants to shadow, though, should get hours in early.
 
CUNYguy said:
I've always wondered about what to wear.. I'm shadowing a DO Cardiologist in a couple of weeks, and I'm completely lost, and scared that I don't give off an appropriate aura to the patients and/or the doctor.


Sent from my iPad using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

I always wore a button up and dress pants and was definitely more "professionally" dressed than the doctor on every occasion. At least in my area a tie would make you look like a goofy premed (not that you asked about wearing one but it was something I considered beforehand so I thought I'd mention it.)

Regardless, as long as you aren't wearing a Nickelback t-shirt no one will really give a crap.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
Any SE Pennsylvanians have any luck? I have 3 emails out on iLearn who haven't responded yet, including 1 right by PCOM. I'll send out another 6 requests this week.

I called 3 of my doctors and got turned down (too busy, legal issues, etc). My dermatologist's practice only allows UPenn students. Paoli Hospital requires 100+ hours of volunteering over 6 months in return for 4 hours of shadowing (too late for this cycle). Einstein-Montgomery promotes their shadowing program on their website and they said no, they stopped for now. I have an application into Penn State Medical Center's shadowing program, but they said it will be hard to find a doctor to do 1 day a week (due to my class schedule), plus there's a 2 month wait time. Fingers crossed. Reading Hospital allows shadowing, but I would have to cold call the doctors. I have an email into St. Mary's on their shadowing program for career changers. York Hospital has a Fall shadowing program with an anesthesiologist for 4 hours. I'll apply. Williamsport Hospital is 3 hours away, but I'll apply too.

I asked an acquaintance's wife who is a DO. He said she had a heck of time years ago finding a DO to shadow as well. She of course does not allow students to shadow either. LOL. I have an appointment with my sister's family med DO for an OMT session. Hopefully, I can talk her into allowing me to shadow her. If not, at least I can put the OMT experience in my application. The MCAT is like a weekend in Disney compared to getting a LOR from a doctor.
Click to expand...

Have you tried shadowing primary care physicians...I know that they're not hospital docs but it's a start. Go turn in your CV to some offices, make some phone calls, and go back in to the office. iLearn only has a percentage of DOs in the area and honestly going in and dropping your CV may help. It just seems like you're very hospital heavy, and although shadowing in a hospital is awesome, most of the DOs also have a primary care or office hub that they also report to. Get some cold calls going...it helped me. "Hi my name is shelby, I was calling to inquire about the possibility of shadowing Dr. Blank. I'm currently applying to DO schools and it would be super helpful if I had the chance to speak with Dr. Blank or shadow him. I can email or drop off my CV for him to look at further as well. Any opportunity would help me immensely!!!" Cold calls aren't really "cold calls" when you're a premed student. It makes the physician look better to patients and to higher ups when they have medical students shadowing or inquiring to shadow them,

And by this I mean primary care practice. Small. Neighborhood places. Go in and drop off your resume/CV as well as call later. It literally is a full time job applying to med school and even just shadowing or finding someone to shadow. You can do it though!!! 🙂 keep your head high!
 
Gordon Gekko said:
Any SE Pennsylvanians have any luck? I have 3 emails out on iLearn who haven't responded yet, including 1 right by PCOM. I'll send out another 6 requests this week.

I called 3 of my doctors and got turned down (too busy, legal issues, etc). My dermatologist's practice only allows UPenn students. Paoli Hospital requires 100+ hours of volunteering over 6 months in return for 4 hours of shadowing (too late for this cycle). Einstein-Montgomery promotes their shadowing program on their website and they said no, they stopped for now. I have an application into Penn State Medical Center's shadowing program, but they said it will be hard to find a doctor to do 1 day a week (due to my class schedule), plus there's a 2 month wait time. Fingers crossed. Reading Hospital allows shadowing, but I would have to cold call the doctors. I have an email into St. Mary's on their shadowing program for career changers. York Hospital has a Fall shadowing program with an anesthesiologist for 4 hours. I'll apply. Williamsport Hospital is 3 hours away, but I'll apply too.

I asked an acquaintance's wife who is a DO. He said she had a heck of time years ago finding a DO to shadow as well. She of course does not allow students to shadow either. LOL. I have an appointment with my sister's family med DO for an OMT session. Hopefully, I can talk her into allowing me to shadow her. If not, at least I can put the OMT experience in my application. The MCAT is like a weekend in Disney compared to getting a LOR from a doctor.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice this post the first time I read this thread. I work at Williamsport Hospital and also did my shadowing there. It was really simple, I put in my request to do an observation and eventually I got a call from HR asking specifically what I wanted. I told the woman that I'd like to shadow a DO and soon thereafter she called back with the information for my first day. It was really simple, but three hours is a bit of trip :/
 
Nice idea for a post! I know that shadowing was much more difficult to arrange than I expected. I found that networking through family and friends was helpful in finding doctors willing to let me shadow. One doctor I shadowed was a relative of a friend of a friend. This probably works best in areas where there are many DOs. Cold calling and emailing seemed to work best in the more rural areas (towns of no more than 2500). Good luck to everyone!
 
Lawgiver said:
whats a fax?
Click to expand...

I know, I know - but I found it easier - since they usually didn't have an email up - to just type up a script asking them for the opportunity. Maybe it's just because I feel awk on the phone
 
CharmanderMD said:
I didn't notice this post the first time I read this thread. I work at Williamsport Hospital and also did my shadowing there. It was really simple, I put in my request to do an observation and eventually I got a call from HR asking specifically what I wanted. I told the woman that I'd like to shadow a DO and soon thereafter she called back with the information for my first day. It was really simple, but three hours is a bit of trip :/
Click to expand...
Thanks CharmanderMD. I got another no from a local ENT, so I will definitely give Williamsport a shot. How many days did you shadow for? I could probably stay up there for a few days. I did some weekend work at the Lycoming Landfill and Gov't offices many years ago, so the drive was fine.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
Thanks CharmanderMD. I got another no from a local ENT, so I will definitely give Williamsport a shot. How many days did you shadow for? I could probably stay up there for a few days. I did some weekend work at the Lycoming Landfill and Gov't offices many years ago, so the drive was fine.
Click to expand...

I think they give you a max of 40 hours. Since I was doing post bac work at the time I was only able to shadow for a few hours every Tuesday. After meeting with the doctor the first time he asked me how often I wanted to come so I told him when I was available. The person who contacts you from HR will also ask when you're available so you could tell them that you plan on staying for a few days and would like to get as much shadowing time in as possible. Simply put, everyone was very flexible so you can probably get whatever you want out of it.
 
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