Hey to the OSUCOM folks. I'm wondering if any of you think that it would be necessary to shadow a DO. I work as a paramedic and have a decent relationship with the doctors here and several are DO's. I'm positive that I am going to be able to get a good LOR as well. Would you still recommend that I shadow a DO or not? If so, do you have any suggestions on who to shadow in the Tulsa area? Thanks much!
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OSUCOM help
Started by Krazed_Medic
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Since you are asking if it is "necessary", the answer is no. I got accepted without shadowing a DO. My only "shadowing" experience was volunteering at an ER.
I managed to get a good letter from my FP doc who is a DO, but I never shadowed him.
So I would do it only if you had planned on it. If you don't have the time or the desire, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It never came up in my interview.
DrMom may be able to point out some particular docs in Tulsa worth shadowing. It really depends on what kind of doc you want to follow - EM, FP, Rads, etc.
I managed to get a good letter from my FP doc who is a DO, but I never shadowed him.
So I would do it only if you had planned on it. If you don't have the time or the desire, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It never came up in my interview.
DrMom may be able to point out some particular docs in Tulsa worth shadowing. It really depends on what kind of doc you want to follow - EM, FP, Rads, etc.
The big key is getting the DO LOR, since it is required at OSU. They like to see shadowing, but don't seem to be adamant that it be DOs. Their big thing is that you have some idea what you're getting yourself into...since you're a paramedic, I think you can make the case that you have some understanding of what medicine is like.
