Shadowing DO outside normal working hours

[mjjdm1985]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Does anyone have any suggestions/experience finding a DO to shadow outside of normal office hours during the week? I have a career where mny working hours coincide with the hours physicians usually work at their practices. I have shadowed two DO's, once apiece, but I had to take annual leave from work to do this which is not something I can normally do. Another DO who works in an emergency room said the hospital would not let me come in even though he tried hard to get me through, and another said he only lets students who are already in medical school shadow him...

 

[sideways]

What are you talking about? You're not marrying the DO. Take a day off work and shadow one.

PS: if the DO likes you, you only need to shadow for a day, and you'll get your letter.

 

[mjjdm1985]

What are you talking about? You're not marrying the DO. Take a day off work and shadow one.

PS: if the DO likes you, you only need to shadow for a day, and you'll get your letter.

Haha really!? I'm not!? Yeah if it comes down to it I will just do that. I am hoping there is a way to shadow one a few times that I haven't thought of so I can get a better letter, like weekend clinics or something.

 

[Isoprop]

The ED is open 24 hours. I was able to shadow from 9 pm to 6 am if I wanted (I didn't, but I had the option).

 

[mjjdm1985]

The ED is open 24 hours. I was able to shadow from 9 pm to 6 am if I wanted (I didn't, but I had the option).

Thanks for the input. Quick followup questions: How did you find a DO to shadow in the ER? Did you have to go through the hospital?

 

[Dr Fraggle]

Some Peds and family practice docs will do late hours once a month or a weekend day once a month. Many docs also round on patients in the hospital during the evening. Also, don't forget about DO hospitalists, ob/Gyn, cardiologists etc often have odd hours. Then there are urgent care docs too. Just start looking up DOs in your area, then call and explain your situation. If they can't help you, they might know of someone who can. You can also try contacting the auxiliary (volunteer office) at your local hospital for assistance.

I guess some docs are willing to write a letter with one volunteer experience, but I personally wouldn't if I were currently a doc. It would make for a weak, impersonal and crappy lor included in an app only to meet a minimum requirement instead of adding substance to the portfolio. But that's my take on it.

 

[mjjdm1985]

Some Peds and family practice docs will do late hours once a month or a weekend day once a month. Many docs also round on patients in the hospital during the evening. Also, don't forget about DO hospitalists, ob/Gyn, cardiologists etc often have odd hours. Then there are urgent care docs too. Just start looking up DOs in your area, then call and explain your situation. If they can't help you, they might know of someone who can. You can also try contacting the auxiliary (volunteer office) at your local hospital for assistance.

I guess some docs are willing to write a letter with one volunteer experience, but I personally wouldn't if I were currently a doc. It would make for a weak, impersonal and crappy lor included in an app only to meet a minimum requirement instead of adding substance to the portfolio. But that's my take on it.

Great ideas. That's been my take on it, too. I know people get letters this way all the time but I would rather avoid it if I can. Thank you!

 

[StarStup]

I also work full time and haven't had to take time off to shadow. The DO I shadow is on-call at the hospital every 3rd weekend, that is when I shadow her. I shadow saturday and sunday when she is doing her rounds- about 4 or 5 hours each day.

 

[Isoprop]

Thanks for the input. Quick followup questions: How did you find a DO to shadow in the ER? Did you have to go through the hospital?

The school is affiliated with a DO school so I just contacted the person who was in charge of med students rotations. He was able to set me up with a few residents, interns, and med students. It helped that it was July so everyone was new.

Another good way is to contact EPs directly through the DO mentoring site.

 

[Isoprop]

I guess some docs are willing to write a letter with one volunteer experience, but I personally wouldn't if I were currently a doc. It would make for a weak, impersonal and crappy lor included in an app only to meet a minimum requirement instead of adding substance to the portfolio. But that's my take on it.

Funny you say that b/c my strongest LOR was from a doc I shadowed for 3 hours. I got accepted w/o a problem.