is this ok way to ask my doc to shadow him?

[Ayuka001]

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Ok so I feel a little iffy/embarrased about asking one of my family doctors (a DO) to shadow him. I've been going to him ever since like elementary school till like 10th grade. But the thing is I haven't gone to him in a few years b/c I changed insurance and his office just wasn't accepting that type. Though I have been in his office once or twice to ask for a letter for school b/c I have a specific health issue, which I think he'll remember me by lol.

So I was planning to go to his office for a general checkup and pop the question if i could shadow him. Should I bring my resume, grades, etc.?
I know I can't call him b/c his assistants will just disregard my call or not even know what I'm talking about. They might also forget I called since he's not at his office much b/c he works at hospital also. So I have to meet him face to face, and I think only way is if I come in as a patient and then ask.


Please give me some advice on what I should say and bring. I'm only a 2nd year and planning to apply 3rd or 4th year so should i ask him for a letter now or not? Im just afraid he'll be like "oh so you haven't been to my office in years and now you come just cuse you need a letter" T_T
But if he says ok I know he can write me a great letter b/c he's a great and super nice doctor 🙂
Thank You!!

 

[TopQuark]

It is my understanding that you should not shadow or get a letter from your family doctor.

I'll second this, but since you aren't technically his patient at the moment I don't see anything wrong with you calling his office and asking to shadow him.

Although, if he's so busy that he never gets back to you even after you try a couple times then he's probably not the best doctor to shadow and then depend on for a rec letter later. I don't think he'll care too much that you haven't seen him for awhile. He's had to go through the app process and should know the drill. The doc I shadowed had never met me before, but was very nice and happy to help. If it doesn't work with this doc there's plenty more out there, and you still have plenty of time.

 

[nlax30]

I wouldn't necessarily make an appointment as a patient with the intent to ask if you could shadow when he comes in, just poor form in my opinion.

Either call and leave a message with the office, messages DO get to the doctor, or stop by the office with a copy of your personal statement and/or CV and leave it at the office so that they can hand it to him with a letter or something asking to shadow.

 

[da Vincis World]

It is my understanding that you should not shadow or get a letter from your family doctor.

Where did you get that understanding? What is wrong with shadowing your doctor?

 

[TopQuark]

There could be a conflict of interests. Though not quite as bad, schools don't want a rec from your doctor for the same reasons they don't want to get one from a family member or close family friend.

They want an objective as possible appraisal from a professional in the field.

 

[beachblonde]

It is my understanding that you should not shadow or get a letter from your family doctor.

a family doctor is fine, but a doctor in your family is not. and no, they are not necessarily the same thing.

OP, shadowing this guy is fine, but don't ask during an appointment. I recommend writing a letter, attach your resume/CV, and then call for followup. if he's as nice as you say, he'll be happy to let you shadow. I used to shadow my orthopedic surgeon, and I had the arrangement with him that I'd pop in for my appointment, get looked at, and then follow him around the rest of the day. but this was before I had a car and he was being nice to me!

 

[jm192]

Ok so I feel a little iffy/embarrased about asking one of my family doctors (a DO) to shadow him. I've been going to him ever since like elementary school till like 10th grade. But the thing is I haven't gone to him in a few years b/c I changed insurance and his office just wasn't accepting that type. Though I have been in his office once or twice to ask for a letter for school b/c I have a specific health issue, which I think he'll remember me by lol.

So I was planning to go to his office for a general checkup and pop the question if i could shadow him. Should I bring my resume, grades, etc.?
I know I can't call him b/c his assistants will just disregard my call or not even know what I'm talking about. They might also forget I called since he's not at his office much b/c he works at hospital also. So I have to meet him face to face, and I think only way is if I come in as a patient and then ask.


Please give me some advice on what I should say and bring. I'm only a 2nd year and planning to apply 3rd or 4th year so should i ask him for a letter now or not? Im just afraid he'll be like "oh so you haven't been to my office in years and now you come just cuse you need a letter" T_T
But if he says ok I know he can write me a great letter b/c he's a great and super nice doctor 🙂
Thank You!!

I actually called one of the local DO's and left a message with the receptionist that I'd like to shadow him sometime. She took down my info, he called me back a few days later, and all went well. Most doctors are nice people in general. The DO's I've met seem especially warm and friendly.

I think it's a waste of his time AND yours to go through a check up to set up a shadowing time. Someone may really need to see him for something. I'm not saying you're some horrible person for thinking of it, just don't do it.

Call the office, tell them what's up, odds are he'll help. Most DO's at some point went through a similar process, and are glad to help. Just, PLEASE don't do the appointment thing lol.

 

[tmcleavor]

1111

 

[LRAccord624]

I don't know if you are just interested in primary care or if you have thought about if you want to do peds or anything like that, but you might want to think about a specific type of doctor that you could see yourself becoming, and then search your local hospital website for those doctors and ask them.

I know sometimes it is more comfortable to ask a doctor that you already know, but I too think it is a bad idea to shadow a doctor who has seen you as a patient.

I have been interested in pediatric infectious disease, so I contacted an ID physician at a nearby children's hospital. She was very nice and I shadowed her for a few days. While at the hospital I was able to meet other doctors and ended up shadowing a general pediatrician, in the PICU, and a ped. neurologist, as well as volunteer/shadow in a clinical oncology research center... ALL from emailing/calling this one doctor that I had no previous experience with.

So don't be shy and limit yourself to a doctor that you know well. All doctors have been in our position and most are enthusiastic about helping us out. Oh and two of the doctors I shadowed wrote LORs for me... one of them hand-delivered it to a medical school I applied to because he went to school there. Just sayin, there are some cool, unexpected opportunities out there!

 

[175961]

Where did you get that understanding? What is wrong with shadowing your doctor?

some schools actually say "a letter from your family doctor will not fulfill this requirement" when talking about the LORs. as someone mentioned, it can present a conflict of interest

 

[Ayuka001]

Thank you for everyone's responses!

can you please advise me: I'm a currently a second year and if I don't apply until my 4th year it is to early to shadow and ask for a LOR now? or can i shadow now and come back sometime later and ask for that doc for LOR?

 

[175961]

Thank you for everyone's responses!

can you please advise me: I'm a currently a second year and if I don't apply until my 4th year it is to early to shadow and ask for a LOR now? or can i shadow now and come back sometime later and ask for that doc for LOR?

it can sometimes depend on the school. some schools dont want letters that are more than three years old, some may want letters no older than 2 years old. you will likely start getting ready to apply toward the end of your third year so its not too far away to get a letter. you can shadow now and get a letter and it shouldnt be a problem at all. check the websites of the schools that you are interested in....they usually give some specific parameters about letters. plus, info from the school is straight from the horses mouth (rather than word of mouth passed around) good luck