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Shadowing a DO Physician

Started by Clarus
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Clarus

Clarus

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I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
 
Clarus said:
I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
Click to expand...

Keep trying! I e-mailed and called over 100 DO physicians to find one to shadow. It seems inevitable at first, but it's a numbers game. The more physicians you contact, the higher likelihood one will say yes.

Also, from what I noticed, the most willing physicians were hospitalists. I'd recommend going to "doctorsthatdo.org" and search for the "hospitalist" physicians and contact them first.
 
MADD!!! said:
Keep trying! I e-mailed and called over 100 DO physicians to find one to shadow. It seems inevitable at first, but it's a numbers game. The more physicians you contact, the higher likelihood one will say yes.

Also, from what I noticed, the most willing physicians were hospitalists. I'd recommend going to "doctorsthatdo.org" and search for the "hospitalist" physicians and contact them first.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yeah, I have been doing that so far. I think I'm just going to call them directly, versus going through the receptionists and whatnot.
 
Finding physicians is very difficult. I contacted my local DO School and got an opportunity to shadow one. This is what AACOMAS recommends. I am also applying to Optometry and Podiatry and having a hell of a horrible time trying to shadow some of those specialties
 
Clarus said:
Thanks! Yeah, I have been doing that so far. I think I'm just going to call them directly, versus going through the receptionists and whatnot.
Click to expand...

E-mail! Most times I call its the receptionists, and they really don't know! The doctors do check their e-mails, and they can only answer your question.
 
Also funny story, the DO I am shadowing is someone who I actually contacted by Facebook messaging their business page. Be creative. Another route was also some physicians list their private contacts on Yelp when addressing complaining Yelpers, so you can use that contact info to ask them directly too. You never know...
 
Keep calling / emailing. It took me over 140 emails / contacting / calling to finally find one. Reach out as far as you're willing to go.
 
Use the iLearn Mentor Program offered by the AOA! Just google it! You sign up as a mentee and can narrow your search results to specialty, state, and even the DO school they attended.

I contacted about 25-30 DO's through it. About 10-15 answered me. Out of those, about 3 said they dont allow undergrad shadowers, but would love to talk on the phone still.
The rest said yes they would allow me.

Well, I shadowed 4 of them in the past year. 3 of them wrote my letters.

Everyone has a different experience, I happened to catch the right doctors at a lucky time.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
Clarus said:
I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
Click to expand...
I went down my entire local AOA list before I found one willing to take my poor soul in.
 
I'm feel like I'm very lucky one. Got it on the first try. The first DO I contact and first DPM I contact allow me to shadow and give me the LOR as well.

But anyways, goes straight to their office and ask them. Sometimes call and emails may not work
 
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lnguyen1412 said:
I'm feel like I'm very lucky one. Got it on the first try. The first DO I contact and first DPM I contact allow me to shadow and give me the LOR as well.

But anyways, goes straight to their office and ask them. Sometimes call and emails may not work
Click to expand...

That has never worked for me with any physician. The majority of the time when I mentioned the word "shadowing" the receptionists would all but run me off. It is 10x easier with the actual physicians, most want to help or don't care at all. The difficulty is getting past the pissed off receptionists.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Sometimes it is about knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone.

When I couldn't get anyone to return my calls and emails I looked up if there were any DOs in the hospitals near me. I started volunteering at one of these hospitals, doing your non-clinical generic gift shop volunteer stuff. I met all kinds of professionals who introduced me to other people, and sought advice from everyone (you always have something to learn from nurses and techs and everyone alike). I made sure to let them know that I was applying to medical school and the word spread quickly, and a DO approached me after a few weeks to to see if I needed anything. The rest is history, I got to shadow her for about a year and got an awesome recommendation, and she plugged me in with other docs to talk to and eventually shadow.

Go meet people who know people. Talk to them and show your intentions. They've been in our shoes and will want to help you. 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
Agree with contacting physicians through the iLearn mentor program. I found a DO with crazy resume that way. The next priority would be to contact smaller private offices with older DOs. I find those to be more welcoming. I had no luck with hospitals because the red tape with hospitals is just huge a pain in the ...
 
Last edited:
Clarus said:
I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
Click to expand...
It's hard but possible. It will eliminate you from some schools if you don't and maybe hurt you at others,but then for some it's of less importance. It's sort of like asking how much work is it worth to you to add a few guaranteed points to your MCAT just by doing work. It could be the thing that puts you over the acceptance hurdle vs being on a wait list or not matter much.

There are tons of suggestions on SDN.

Good luck
 
Clarus said:
I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
Click to expand...

One thing that worked for me is contacting my state's osteopathic association. They're setting me up with my second shadowing experience after I got lucky and stumbled upon my first. It's definitely worth a shot. Google "[state] osteopathic assocation" and see if they have a contact email on their site. Explain you're a student looking for a DO to shadow and if they might have someone who is interested in having you.
 
kelminak said:
One thing that worked for me is contacting my state's osteopathic association. They're setting me up with my second shadowing experience after I got lucky and stumbled upon my first. It's definitely worth a shot. Google "[state] osteopathic assocation" and see if they have a contact email on their site. Explain you're a student looking for a DO to shadow and if they might have someone who is interested in having you.
Click to expand...

The doctors that do website is also a great way to find local doctors. I called around 5 in my area and was able to set up a couple days next week at an actual office that specializes only in OMM. Also. someone made the recommendation in another thread but always request to speak with the office manager and I find calling in the afternoon works best. Most have been very receptive to calling.

It's funny that the only DO I'm really having trouble with is my PCP. He was really helpful and said he would love me to come in and probably write a letter but for some reason their manager kept asking me if I was wanting to become a PA or NP. I haven't heard anything back from them. I need to call back tomorrow.
 
fhussain9 said:
How are you guys finding physician emails??? It seems impossible for me..
Click to expand...

Check the clinic's research web page. If they have published research then their emails should be on there.


OP: if you're interested in becoming a scribe, then do that and if you work in the ER, chances are you'll get to know a few DOs.
 
Are you in driving distance of Erie or Middletown? If so, go visit LECOM or Touro-MT. Chat up the DO faculty there.

Clarus said:
I don't know why but it has literally been impossible for me to find a DO physician to shadow in Western NY. I have a called a dozen offices and sent a million emails and none of the practices or offices allow undergraduate students to shadow a physician at the practice. They don't even look into it, they just shut me out completely.

I need some help on this ASAP!
Click to expand...
 
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Goro said:
Are you in driving distance of Erie or Middletown? If so, go visit LECOM or Touro-MT. Chat up the DO faculty there.
Click to expand...

Close to Erie, since I'm in Buffalo. But I'd rather try for a long term experience rather than just a few trips to a school there. Commuting 2 hours a day does not seem like the ideal.
 
Clarus said:
Close to Erie, since I'm in Buffalo. But I'd rather try for a long term experience rather than just a few trips to a school there. Commuting 2 hours a day does not seem like the ideal.
Click to expand...
Have you considered contacting them expressing and interest and seeing if they might just have a list of DO's in your area that would be willing to let you shadow? Just a thought.
 
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