question about finding a DO to shadow

[Jack Swift]

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Well it wasnt until this semester that I found out that most osteopathic schools require a DO letter. The way I went about finding one was to contact the AOA via email about shadowing. They responsed with a link to the state osteopathic association, I contacted them via email and they gave me the number to my local osteopathic association. I called them and they said they would look for a DO for me to shadow. This was in mid to late february. They havent found me one yet. I've called about every two weeks and they keep saying they are still looking.

My question is should I start calling DOs from the phone book on my own? I just dont want to be in the position of finding one on my own and then the local osteopathic assiciation finding one for me.
I also dont want to tell them to stop looking for a DO for me because it may be possible that I cant find one on my own. I'm getting kinda nervous about this because it's getting toward the 2007 application cycle.

thanks for the help

 

[JasonUD]

I looked through my parents insurance book and wrote letters to a few DO's telling them that I want to be a DO and that most schools require that I have a letter of rec. from one. 1 of them responded to me and let me work for him for the summer and he wrote me a great LOR.

 

[UltimateDO]

Well it wasnt until this semester that I found out that most osteopathic schools require a DO letter. The way I went about finding one was to contact the AOA via email about shadowing. They responsed with a link to the state osteopathic association, I contacted them via email and they gave me the number to my local osteopathic association. I called them and they said they would look for a DO for me to shadow. This was in mid to late february. They havent found me one yet. I've called about every two weeks and they keep saying they are still looking.

My question is should I start calling DOs from the phone book on my own? I just dont want to be in the position of finding one on my own and then the local osteopathic assiciation finding one for me.
I also dont want to tell them to stop looking for a DO for me because it may be possible that I cant find one on my own. I'm getting kinda nervous about this because it's getting toward the 2007 application cycle.

thanks for the help

I would try to find one for yourself. If you find one great, you have a backup from the local OMA. If not, hopefully they can come through for you. Good luck!

 

[HunterGatherer]

What major city do you live in or next to? Please forgive me if you told me already.

 

[Spankete87]

I would just call/email around. If you're getting worried about them not finding one for you, take charge of it yourself. Then you will KNOW that you're trying to look. If you find someone, fantastic. If they find someone as well, then just shadow both (if you have time)! It never hurts to have more things on your resume....

I personally did not know that you could contact your local osteopathic association to help you find someone to shadow until after I had already found someone to shadow. I just looked in the phonebook and on the net for anyone in the vicinity that had a D.O. after their name and either called or emailed them. I found someone to shadow and he wrote me a great LOR. 🙂

 

[Jack Swift]

I had time to call like 7 places today. I usually talked to the receptionist and would leave a message for the doctor about shadowing. But I have feeling that they wouldnt call back because I called some places back in February and never got a call back. How many places did you guys have to call before you found a doctor who was willing to be shadowed?

 

[scpod]

I had time to call like 7 places today. I usually talked to the receptionist and would leave a message for the doctor about shadowing. But I have feeling that they wouldnt call back because I called some places back in February and never got a call back. How many places did you guys have to call before you found a doctor who was willing to be shadowed?

I would try snail mail, with at least fifteen choices the first time around. If you don't get results in two weeks, then do it all over again. Keep in mind that, depending on the area of the country you live in (thus the number of DOs available), you may have to be willing to travel a hundred miles or more. If you really want it, you can do it.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I sent you a PM. I really hope it helps out. It's not much of a time commitment to have one less thing to worry about when applying. You live in decent location to find some DOs if you go to the right place.

Let me know how it goes. 👍

 

[cadence]

Are there any MD's you know fairly well? Ask them if they know any DO's who might be willing to take you in or if they know somebody who knows somebody.

 

[Luv2Dance]

i found one to shadow by going to the official "american osteopathic association" website (just google it) and clicked on the link that said "find a D. O. in your area, and picked a random D. O. to shadow. he turned out to be a really cool guy and wrote the best LOR without me doing much. He said he just recently graduated so he still remembered the whole application process. I only shadowed him for a day and in the LOR he made it sound like we've known each other for months. So try the AOA website and look up someone who recently graduated, chances are they will be more sympathetic and understanding.