Question about Shadowing

[pamolive]

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I just got some invites to fill out secondaries, but I don't really think I have much to write because I haven't really had much experience with osteopathic manipulations. I'm trying to shadow a physician sometime in the next few weeks, so that I can at least have that to write about. If I wait until the beginning of august to get my secondaries in, is that too late?

Also, what is it like shadowing a physician? What types of things do you do? Do you basically just stand there and observe what they are doing? I'm a little nervous about it, to be completely honest. Also, should I dress like I would for an interview? Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Bacchus]

When I shadowed I dressed in a polo, khakis, and shoes as per the physician. Eventually as time went along, she had me do small things during the patient visits. Nothing too extravagant, just things such as take the BP, put on a glove and hold pressure on this spot, lend your hand to this lady so she can squeeze all of the blood out of it while I do this office surgery 😉. It was fulfilling despite not living up to the medical dramas on TV, heh.

 

[Jpc984]

I shadowed both a radiologist and an internist (both D.O.'s). Most of the time, I was just a fly on the wall.

 

[dr.kicia]

august is not too late at all...some schools don't even start interviewing until november so you are fine.
as for shadowing...it all depends on a DO you shadow...i was always wearing jeans or something very casual...but an MD i shadowed for 2 days before was hardcore and made me wear a white coat😱 after yelling at me that she doesn't want to look like she took me off the street 🙄

i shadowed my DO for almost a year...he is a cardiologist. i loved my experiance...his patients were always so sweet and talkative...one of them even asked me to state my opionion on wheter she should get pace maker or not...i was shocked...but my DO was like :"let's see...final test LOL"
he seriously is the best doctor and funniest one i know so it was a pleasure to shadow him.
most of the time you will just stand in the corner and observe but many people like to engage you and they will talk to you and all.

 

[umes]

hey guys, i had a similar question related to shadowing a DO. I went last week to the few DO's that are around the area and found one that was available and willing to allow me to shadow. But this clinic is part of a resident program (both MD and DO) and so the human resources lady assigned me to shadow some resident DO's. Will that make a difference when they write a letter of rec for me? Because according to the aacomas website, the schools require letters from accredited do's. Are residents accredited yet? The director of the program is also a DO but the lady told me that he really doesn't do much clinical work and is mostly involved in directing the program and dealing with administrative duties. Maybe I can get him to co-sign the letter with the resident DO that i shadow?

 

[Jpc984]

I don't think so. I think it is a better experience... They are younger and closer to the app process.

 

[GreenShirt]

I'd recomend reading up on Osteopathic Medicine to increase your knowledge about the profession and give you a better base from which to write your secondaries. Depending on the type of specialist you shadow, you may not see manipulation or much difference compared to an MD (although you should ask questions of the DO about how they incorporate osteopathic philosophy into their practice). Shadowing usually consists of standing in the corner and observing, which can be boring at times but at least you'll have glimpse at the medical world.

Some books to read:

The DO's by Gevitz

Osteopathic Medicine: A Reformation in Progress, Humphrey and Gallagher.

 

[sultana]

I'm applying through both AMCAS and AACOMAS this year, and though I have a lot of experience shadowing MD's I have only a brief experience with a DO (like two years ago). I am still wanting to learn more about DO practice, though--Is it OK to apply now anyway and get some shadowing experience later on in the summer? Thanks!

 

[dr.kicia]

guys read up on the aacom.org...they have requirements for all schools there...while some school do not require DO lor they all prefare it...also not all schools require that DO is accredited...so i guess a lor from resident would be ok in some cases but i sugest spending 5 minutes and giving your designated schools a call...or email.
Email is better because then you will have an answer in writing😀

for those of you who want to look for a DO to shadow try:
1) emailing Varna who can give you some info or leads to student friendly DOs in your area ( [email protected] )
this method wasn't very helpful for me but if you have time do it.

2)use a website of any insurance company to find a provider in your area...you can even search by speciality and then call or email a DO of your choice (i recomend this approach over using or AOA info which often is outdated)

3) go on line and search for all the bigger hospitals in your area...check if they have DOs there and sometimes they may have also an email to a DO listed. That is how i found my DO. I got his email of off the university affiliated hospital web...sometimes a DO may be also a professor at that school (which was in my case) so his email was right there...

DO shadowing is more then just gettin g a LOR...trust me you will want to do it and it will totally change your perspective on a lot of things related to medicine. I think out of all my experiances shadowing my DO was the best thing i did...it made me even more certain of how much osteopathic medicine was what i wanted.

 

[MossPoh]

And for me shadowing DOs just made me realize that they were pretty much the same as the MDs. Many came from more rural backgrounds where I am, but there was virtually no difference. One guy did OMM on a nurse because she asked him...but it was kind of a novelty thing I think. I've shadowed DO Cards, Pulmonologist, EM, Rads, and GI....I wasn't questing for a letter, but they almost all volunteered to right one for me.

The dress code thign changes. I wore scrubs sometimes, or a white coat to make the patient feel more comfortable...but other times it was just the collared shirt and kakhis kind of get up.

Don't look too much into it. Just do it and have fun. You really don't need to read any special stuff. Just follow around, watch, ask the occasional question outside, and enjoy. Shadowing isn't about recommendations, or even MD vs DO. It is about making sure this is what you want for your life.