I have been working with my dad for quite a while now, he owns his own private practice. I am wondering if i could include the hours I have shadowed him in my application? would it set me back? or should I complete some hours quickly at some other office and include both? its almost May and i doubt I will be able to shadow another dentist in time.
Shadowing My Dad?
- Thread starter bbabalu
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I have been shadowing my dad too...curious to know the answer to this as well.
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Definitely get some other shadowing hours in. I know you're limited on time, but only having shadowing hours from a relative will make it look like you're not willing to experience dentistry outside of your comfort zone (I was told this early on when I was working at my uncle's office). At the least, you could go shadow a couple of specialists that your dad refers to.
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(Sorry if I am hijacking this thread)
But I would have no problem observing lots of other dentists...would it still be worth it to write down my double digit hours of observing my dad? Is this even allowed?
Next question.
I had a meeting with a friend of mine (one of the deans of admissions at my prospective school) and he told me that you should try to observe a public health, private practice and academic dentist. I have learned from reading here that observing all the specialties is good too. I would have no problem observing some of the specialized dentists at the school...would this be frowned upon if all my my "specialty shadowing hours" were all in academics?
But I would have no problem observing lots of other dentists...would it still be worth it to write down my double digit hours of observing my dad? Is this even allowed?
Next question.
I had a meeting with a friend of mine (one of the deans of admissions at my prospective school) and he told me that you should try to observe a public health, private practice and academic dentist. I have learned from reading here that observing all the specialties is good too. I would have no problem observing some of the specialized dentists at the school...would this be frowned upon if all my my "specialty shadowing hours" were all in academics?
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I would also suggest shadowing another dentist if at all possible. I think it's totally fine that you have shadowed your dad but I would try and diversify a bit outside of the family because things can be very different I'm sure.
To answer the above question, I really doubt it would be frowned upon. When you start really dissecting shadowing to that extreme, you're over-analyzing. I really doubt that would ever hold you back. I didn't even shadow a specialist and I was never asked why not once. I think schools like shadowing but you dont have to go to the extreme either. They just want you to know how an office works and that you want to be in this profession for sure.
To answer the above question, I really doubt it would be frowned upon. When you start really dissecting shadowing to that extreme, you're over-analyzing. I really doubt that would ever hold you back. I didn't even shadow a specialist and I was never asked why not once. I think schools like shadowing but you dont have to go to the extreme either. They just want you to know how an office works and that you want to be in this profession for sure.
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While I can not give you an answer to what should be done and what schools look for exactly, but in my opinion and what I did was to shadow General Practitioners and if you can shadow some specialists. I ran into questions during my interviews in 2007 where I basically shadowed my father (Orthodontist) and a few of his specialist friends (OMFS + Prosthodontic + Endodontist). Two schools questioned that I did not shadow a GP and to them that was very important because it gives a more versatile experience. I agreed to some extent but I went ahead with their request. I do not think there is a problem shadowing a parent but I think if you have a chance throw in some specialty shadowing so you demonstrate that you have been exposed to different levels of the profession.
Good Luck.
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I shadowed and worked with my Dad! Definitely include it! I only shadowed other specialties a hand full of hours. The bulk was with my father (GP). No one cared in my interviews!
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Most of my experiences in a dental clinic came with shadowing my uncle. I definitely included those hours.
However, I needed a recommendation letter from a practicing dentist. So, for that, I found another dentist to shadow just for a bit who could write me a letter. I did this because getting a letter of recommendation from any family member is usually not "valued" and could even seem unprofessional.
But I'm glad that I did shadow my uncle because he allowed me to do a lot of things that any other dentist would not let me do (since I am not exactly a dental assistant).
However, I needed a recommendation letter from a practicing dentist. So, for that, I found another dentist to shadow just for a bit who could write me a letter. I did this because getting a letter of recommendation from any family member is usually not "valued" and could even seem unprofessional.
But I'm glad that I did shadow my uncle because he allowed me to do a lot of things that any other dentist would not let me do (since I am not exactly a dental assistant).
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I shadowed my mum who is an academic (professor who is published and continues to publish articles), GP who owns her own private practice, with a public health degree (who does a lot of community work). With that I have been allowed access to so many fun things, most recently a symposium on health disparities at the Swiss Embassy and lots of fun community serivce outings.
The beauty of having a parent in dentistry is that you have lots of dentists in other specialites who will automatically let you shadow. I have been able to shadow in most of the dental specialities. I have been able to do fun research at major research institutions because of this connection and all of these other dentists are not actually related (but a good friends).
Embrace the connection, just don't rely on it and use your daddy's friends. Trust me you will have a different experience than someone who just comes in without that connection.
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you guys are making a big deal of nothing. There are schools that REQUIRE a LOR from a dentist, and in which case, that dentist CAN NOT be a relative.... so obviously you HAVE to do shadowing with a non-family dentist ... end of story
For the schools that don't have the dentist-LOR requirement, then it doesn't matter what you tell them, I don't think it matters to them where you got your shadowing hours from, just as long as you have some hours.
As for reporting the shadowing hours you've done, I say do it, it is considered "dental exposure"... who cares if it came from your dad or mother, its still exposure to the field.
I shadowed my sister back in 2007, 2008, and little 2009, and last January, I started to shadow some other dentist because I needed an LOR. I didn't exactly record how many hours I did but I am estimating between 40-50 with the new dentist and approx 100+ with my sister.
For the schools that don't have the dentist-LOR requirement, then it doesn't matter what you tell them, I don't think it matters to them where you got your shadowing hours from, just as long as you have some hours.
As for reporting the shadowing hours you've done, I say do it, it is considered "dental exposure"... who cares if it came from your dad or mother, its still exposure to the field.
I shadowed my sister back in 2007, 2008, and little 2009, and last January, I started to shadow some other dentist because I needed an LOR. I didn't exactly record how many hours I did but I am estimating between 40-50 with the new dentist and approx 100+ with my sister.
