Needing a LOR from a DO....

[MonaLisa555]

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I have not personally shadowed a DO, but from what I hear, most DO's are willing to write letters without hesitation. Now, I am approaching this by first looking up DO's in the yellow pages (there were only a handful). Does anyone know of the best way to approach a doctor into asking him for a letter? (ie. calling their office, sending out letters, going there personally first, asking to shadow/volunteer at their office). I know this letter is pretty important, so I need to get the ball rolling... 👍

 

[dr.z]

I have applied to schools without DO letters. I have been accepted at 2 places that didn't require DO letters. I do think it will help with application process since you can apply to broader range of schools.

As far as getting a letter from a doctor, you should get to know them personally before getting one. I think you can find local DOs by going to AOA or AACOM web site.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I have not personally shadowed a DO, but from what I hear, most DO's are willing to write letters without hesitation. Now, I am approaching this by first looking up DO's in the yellow pages (there were only a handful). Does anyone know of the best way to approach a doctor into asking him for a letter? (ie. calling their office, sending out letters, going there personally first, asking to shadow/volunteer at their office). I know this letter is pretty important, so I need to get the ball rolling... 👍

I'd probably at least shadow a couple of times. Look on the AOA website or your local state osteopathic association website.

 

[Slitherin]

The schools I am applying to don't require a letter from a DO but you must shadow one. Regardless, What do you know about the DO profession? This question will probably arise and if you have not shadowed one how will you answer. You shoul shadow at least one DO for a couple of days preferably. If this is too dificult to arrange you should re-examine your priorities.

 

[OSUdoc08]

The schools I am applying to don't require a letter from a DO but you must shadow one. Regardless, What do you know about the DO profession? This question will probably arise and if you have not shadowed one how will you answer. You shoul shadow at least one DO for a couple of days preferably. If this is too dificult to arrange you should re-examine your priorities.

What schools require DO shadowing? I've never heard of this.

 

[Jcrown]

What is the best approach to getting a DO to allow you to shadow that you have had no prior contact with. Should you just look them up in the yellow pages, call, and ask? Or would that be kind of weird?

 

[Fenrezz]

What is the best approach to getting a DO to allow you to shadow that you have had no prior contact with. Should you just look them up in the yellow pages, call, and ask? Or would that be kind of weird?

Just call and ask. You're going to be talking to his/her office secratary anyway. She'll pas on the message and if he's interested, he'll either pick up the phone or contact you some other way. If not, call someone else.

It's a hard call to make, believe me I know, but sometimes you get lucky and get a really great person. I still keep in touch with my LOR writer 3 years later, and did my very first rotation with him.

Sometimes the doctors lists on insurance plans include the school they graduated from. You might check there to see if there's a doctor that went to a school you might be interested in. A letter from an alumnus doesn't suck.

 

[crys20]

Yes, just call. You will talk to an office manager or a secretary or someone like that, as mentioned. They will set it up for you most likely. It does suck, I'm not going to lie and sometimes shadowing sucks as well....But something you sort of just have to do to get the letter.

 

[MHC]

Yep. Find a list of DO's and start calling. That's what I did, found a great guy who let me come in and observe for the day, and he wrote me a great letter. Just tell them you are applying to DO school and would like to come in and observe. The nice/available ones will say yes. If you have a good time and seem to get along, ask if you can get a letter of rec. Hopefully they will just offer one, as they where once just like you, an applicant.