List DO Family Practice shadowing on AMCAS?

[premedM]

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Hi There,

From searching past posts, it looks like the prevailing wisdom on SDN is not to list DO shadowing hours on AMCAS. However, I am in kind of in a bind. I have shadowed 3 MD's in interesting subspecialities and have an MD letter from a pulmonologist, but really had the best shadowing experience in a low income Family Practice clinic. That physician also happened to be a DO, and the work that she did not include OMM or any osteopathic-specific techniques. I really want to list this experience because it has influenced me greatly, and I will have a lot to talk about if it is brought up in interviews.

I know that I should probably seek out an MD Family Practitioner as well, but with application season looming, I'm worried I may not find a willing FP MD in time, or have as meaningful of an experience.

Is listing DO shadowing on AMCAS really the kiss of death?

All thoughts are appreciated, but especially those of Adcoms @Goro @LizzyM

 

[Catalystik]

From searching past posts, it looks like the prevailing wisdom on SDN is not to list DO shadowing hours on AMCAS. However, I am in kind of in a bind. I have shadowed 3 MD's in interesting subspecialities and have an MD letter from a pulmonologist, but really had the best shadowing experience in a low income Family Practice clinic. That physician also happened to be a DO, and the work that she did not include OMM or any osteopathic-specific techniques. I really want to list this experience because it has influenced me greatly, and I will have a lot to talk about if it is brought up in interviews.

I know that I should probably seek out an MD Family Practitioner as well, but with application season looming, I'm worried I may not find a willing FP MD in time, or have as meaningful of an experience.

Is listing DO shadowing on AMCAS really the kiss of death?

All thoughts are appreciated, but especially those of Adcoms @Goro @LizzyM

You have gained a completely mistaken impression. Listing any physician shadowing on the AMCAS or TMDSAS applications is fine, whether MD or DO. Considering the impact your family physician shadowing experience had on you, you'd be crazy not to list it.

 

[NickNaylor]

No one on the MD side will care, and if you're planning on applying to DO schools it will be helpful as some have policies that require a letter from a DO specifically.

 

[tiedyeddog]

No one cares if a letter is from a DO. Use it.

 

[drdoom12]

I went as far as to get a DO letter of recommendation, and I had a very successful MD application cycle. I wouldn't hesitate to list an experience that obviously had a positive impact on you.

 

[Goro]

Only among ignorant pre-meds, elderly MDs and a few dumb-ass residents haunting these forums.

Is listing DO shadowing on AMCAS really the kiss of death?

 

[premedM]

Thanks everybody! This is a huge load off my mind.

 

[702599]

You have gained a completely mistaken impression. Listing any physician shadowing on the AMCAS or TMDSAS applications is fine, whether MD or DO. Considering the impact your family physician shadowing experience had on you, you'd be crazy not to list it.

Hi @Catalystik

My formal shadowing experience is my weakest part of my application. I'm worried that, despite an otherwise sound and balanced application, that my lack of formal shadowing will significantly harm my chances. I would love to hear anyone's advice on how to make the most out of what I do have, or at the very least, how/where to address this weakness?

The situation:
Although I have about 20 hours of informal shadowing with a GI (there were frequent opportunities where I was stuck by the doctors' side the entirety of my volunteer shift), I only have about 5-6 hours shadowing a physician during a Flying Samaritan clinic, and 12 hours of formal shadowing a pediatrician (could no longer let me shadow cause she was having externs come in).

I also recently started training for my scribe job in April. However I won't be on the actual floor with a physician until early June (by the end of June, I shall have at least 80 hours of shadowing/scribing done). So I do have something at the moment, but it's just a little too late. I'm debating whether I should wait until late June to apply instead, but am leaning towards no because I feel that the benefit <<< cost of pushing submission back. Additionally, while I know this doesn't replace shadowing, I have ~400 hours of hands-on clinical experience (through Clinical Care Volunteer), and 100+ hours of shadowing international physicians in a developing country.

I admit, it is my own fault for not finding domestic shadowing experiences sooner in my pre-med career. I'm currently doing all I can to find another physician to shadow before I submit apps. However with applications opening soon, I'm preparing for the worst case scenario that I won't find someone to shadow in time.

Would love some help/insight on how to proceed with application! Thanks in advance!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi @Catalystik

My formal shadowing experience is my weakest part of my application. I'm worried that, despite an otherwise sound and balanced application, that my lack of formal shadowing will significantly harm my chances. I would love to hear anyone's advice on how to make the most out of what I do have, or at the very least, how/where to address this weakness?

The situation:
Although I have about 20 hours of informal shadowing with a GI (there were frequent opportunities where I was stuck by the doctors' side the entirety of my volunteer shift), I only have about 5-6 hours shadowing a physician during a Flying Samaritan clinic, and 12 hours of formal shadowing a pediatrician (could no longer let me shadow cause she was having externs come in).

I also recently started training for my scribe job in April. However I won't be on the actual floor with a physician until early June (by the end of June, I shall have at least 80 hours of shadowing/scribing done). So I do have something at the moment, but it's just a little too late. I'm debating whether I should wait until late June to apply instead, but am leaning towards no because I feel that the benefit <<< cost of pushing submission back. Additionally, while I know this doesn't replace shadowing, I have ~400 hours of hands-on clinical experience (through Clinical Care Volunteer), and 100+ hours of shadowing international physicians in a developing country.

I admit, it is my own fault for not finding domestic shadowing experiences sooner in my pre-med career. I'm currently doing all I can to find another physician to shadow before I submit apps. However with applications opening soon, I'm preparing for the worst case scenario that I won't find someone to shadow in time.

Would love some help/insight on how to proceed with application! Thanks in advance!

About 50 hours is the average listed. With 37 ish hours of US Shadowing, plus the international experience, I think you'll be fine. If you can get another 13 or so hours through scribing before finishing and submitting the Primary application a few days into June, you can totally relax.

 

[702599]

About 50 hours is the average listed. With 37 ish hours of US Shadowing, plus the international experience, I think you'll be fine. If you can get another 13 or so hours through scribing before finishing and submitting the Primary application a few days into June, you can totally relax.

Thank you for your input! I was worried that my lack of formal shadowing would be harmful. Today I have cold-called/visited a total of 40 offices within a 30 mile radius and have received all no's. Maybe it's because I live in a drastically underserved region of California. I might have to stretch out to a 50 mile radius tomorrow