shadowing a D.O. on Monday..need some suggestions plz

[DORK7]

So, I will be shadowing a D.O. family physician on Monday (he's a graduate of OSU and the current president of Canadian osteopathic medicine). He asked me to meet him over lunch and then shadow him in the afternoon. What sort of questions should I ask him? For people who have done shadowing, please give me some advice on how I can make the best of such opportunity (also on the side note, would it be appropriate if I offered to pay for his lunch?)

Thank you for your suggestions

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[DiverDoc]

So, I will be shadowing a D.O. family physician on Monday (he's a graduate of OSU and the current president of Canadian osteopathic medicine). He asked me to meet him over lunch and then shadow him in the afternoon. What sort of questions should I ask him? For people who have done shadowing, please give me some advice on how I can make the best of such opportunity (also on the side note, would it be appropriate if I offered to pay for his lunch?)

Thank you for your suggestions

What I did when I shadowed D.O's was as follows.

I let them do the talking about anything medical, like for ex. He would say " This next patient has a history of blah blah blah" and then i would ask a question or two." When I just followed him around the clinic we chatted about school and general topics... My advice is to be relaxed and not too GUNG HO I WANNA BE A SURGEON attitude all the time. (not to say that you will) but just be eager to learn and let him/her initiate medical related convos and ask questions accordingly

 

[chilon85]

Hey,

Although I have been shadowing a D.O. for a few months, I can completely relate to your situation. I know this may sound obvious, but I think that the questions you ask him should honestly be things that you want to know; which I am sure will naturally come to you during the course of your experience tomorrow so relax and be yourself! That being said, I would definitely ask the general "why did you want to become a doctor, what do you like/dislike the most, etc?" type of questions. I also asked what differences or similarities arose when working with DOs and MDs. Also, the part that stands out the most from the information you have provided about the doctor that you are shadowing is his role as the president. I am sure that you can ask him several questions regarding this subject, i.e. the similarities and differences between Canadian and U.S. medical schools, how he arrived as such a position, etc. You can even ask him questions about any unique cases or patients that he has dealt with.

Lastly, as far as paying for lunch, I suppose that it would be okay if you offered because not doing so can give him the impression that you automatically assumed he would pay. Besides, nothing bad can come out of offering and then actually paying or offering and then having him decline. Anyways, hope this helps and good luck on Monday!

 

[wsucougar]

The main thing is to just be relaxed and thankful to have the oppurtunity. Don't come across as arogant or cocky because you're gonna be a doctor. I work in the ER and 3 of our 12 doctors are DO's and a guy last week job shadowed one and came across to everybody as being really cocky. He walked and talked like he was already a doctor. When he left, the nurses and doctors just made fun of him, and the DO even said that he won't let him shadow anymore. But if you just relax and have a fun outgoing personality it should be a blast.

 

[Kubed]

Like others have said, be relaxed and let him do the talking. Get a feel for when it's a good time to ask him questions (almost universally in front of a patient is never a good time to ask questions). Also recognize that this is your chance to pick his brain about his experiences in med school and being a physician. Ask him about what he doesn't like about medicine or what he would change. If he's the president of a professional organization I bet he'll have some interesting answers. His replies will be a gold mine when you are interviewing and an interviewer asks you a policy question.

About lunch, offer to pay, expect to pay, but don't be surprised if he declines.

 

[ruck]

Bump...

 

[HunterGatherer]

Be sure to give the doctor a deadline for your LOR the day you meet. Bring everything you need to help with the LOR writing process:

-personal statement
-Addressed, stamped envelope
-DEADLINE!!!!
-send a thank you card/reminder as the deadline approaches

I would play the whole lunch paying thing by ear.

 

[nvshelat]

Wear comfortable shoes
Don't ask questions in front of the patients, only outside
Offer to pay for your half - he knows your a student, so he may not let you.

 

[supersash]

ditto to what everyone says!

really just play it by ear. when i shadowed a GP (one day, crazy day of all emergency appts in december), i barely had time to breathe, let alone ask any questions. it was so fast paced, i just tried to take it all in!

when i shadowed an OB/GYN (which was long term and much more indepth), the doctor gave me the chance to ask her questions, as well as had questions for me after we saw a patient. feel the doctor out. if he/she is willing to take the time to lunch with you, and let you shadow, i am sure you'll have the opportunity to ask questions.

liek someone else said: be SURE to get the LOR stuff out of the way at lunch. make everything very clear.

sounds like its going to be an awesome day for you. cant wait to hear about it!

sasha

 

[DORK7]

Thanks alot for your great feedback guys. I'll let you know about it.

 

[Doctorman]

Thanks alot for your great feedback guys. I'll let you know about it.

you never did report back mannn.. how was it?

 

[seismicCHICK]

So, I will be shadowing a D.O. family physician on Monday (he's a graduate of OSU and the current president of Canadian osteopathic medicine). He asked me to meet him over lunch and then shadow him in the afternoon. What sort of questions should I ask him? For people who have done shadowing, please give me some advice on how I can make the best of such opportunity (also on the side note, would it be appropriate if I offered to pay for his lunch?)

Thank you for your suggestions

he'll probably want to know things like how did you hear about osteopathic medicine etc. as far as the questioning on your part goes, i think that it would be relatively safe to ask him questions on things you need clarification on because you're not a specialist or anything so it'd be natural that you don't know too much about it.

when i shadowed, i didn't ask questions unless there was something i saw that i didn't understand/wanted to learn more about. the main thing is to just look interested all the time. make sure you're paying attention to everything he's doing.

 

[seismicCHICK]

he'll probably want to know things like how did you hear about osteopathic medicine etc. as far as the questioning on your part goes, i think that it would be relatively safe to ask him questions on things you need clarification on because you're not a specialist or anything so it'd be natural that you don't know too much about it.

when i shadowed, i didn't ask questions unless there was something i saw that i didn't understand/wanted to learn more about. the main thing is to just look interested all the time. make sure you're paying attention to everything he's doing.

oops.. sorry for the REALLY late response