Shadowing a DO

[PerpetualStudent]

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Through my school I am shading an osteopathic physician. The mentorship is only for six visits, but I'd like to keep in contact with him and get a letter of recommendation. Any adivce on what questions to ask? He is focused on alternative medicine and osteopathic manipulation techniques. He appears to be a somewhat anti modern medicine.

 

[Semicolon]

Ask him how he feels about today's healthcare field. Ask him what he feels is an important contribution of osteopathic medicine. Ask him what drew him to become a DO in the first place and how he feels about his decision. Show some interest in the field.

Also, try to agree with his sentiments while you're at it. 😉

A lot of the questions you'll come up with on the spot. At least that happened with me.

 

[nevinleiby]

Ask him how he feels about today's healthcare field. Ask him what he feels is an important contribution of osteopathic medicine. Ask him what drew him to become a DO in the first place and how he feels about his decision. Show some interest in the field.

Also, try to agree with his sentiments while you're at it. 😉

A lot of the questions you'll come up with on the spot. At least that happened with me.

I'd have to agree. I occasionally come with a mental list of questions, but almost always play off the situation.

Personally, I'd try to make darn sure that you try to really get to know him. I found that my shadowing experiences and OMM/acupuncture knowledge to be incredibly helpful for my secondaries and interviews. I didn't need a LOR from the person at that point, as soon as I mention OMM or acupuncture during an interview you can see the green light flick on 👍👍👍

I still stay in close contact with the OMM person that I shadowed. I always update her with my interview/acceptance status =)

Best of

 

[nevinleiby]

I'd recommend finding another doctor to shadow. This guy sounds a little fruitcake.

Hmm...didn't see that part about the anti-modern medicine. Feel it out and seek others if you get a chance =)

 

[213965]

Through my school I am shading an osteopathic physician. The mentorship is only for six visits, but I'd like to keep in contact with him and get a letter of recommendation. Any adivce on what questions to ask? He is focused on alternative medicine and osteopathic manipulation techniques. He appears to be a somewhat anti modern medicine.

If you haven't already established other contacts (DO's) to shadow, or even if you have I would definitely recommend staying on your current path and getting the LOR from him. I can't even tell you how difficult it was to get my DO LOR -- it almost cost me another application cycle. Good luck.

 

[tmntdonjuan]

I've shadowed a DO before. All I can say is it's not different from shadowing an MD. You follow him around. He sees patients. People call him "doctor". It isn't unusual to see a DO who outperforms MD's. I shadowed a DO orthopedic surgeon who is dominating in my hometown. The guy does hip replacements in 20 minutes. 😀