shadowing podiatrist count towards shadowing hours?

[jccalalafc]

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or do the shadowing hours have to be doctors with an MD or DO? thanks!

 

[MedPR]

I'm sure it counts. They still see patients and it can still help you see the profession.

 

[deleted357625]

It would be fine, but I would still advise you to specifically shadow an M.D or D.O. A podiatrist and a M.D/D.O physician are two total different programs. There are a wide range of specialized physicians, and shadowing a specific one or a specific specialty can act as a catalyst for your pursuit or reasoning behind wanting to become a physician yourself.

 

[jccalalafc]

It would be fine, but I would still advise you to specifically shadow an M.D or D.O. A podiatrist and a M.D/D.O physician are two total different programs. There are a wide range of specialized physicians, and shadowing a specific one or a specific specialty can act as a catalyst for your pursuit or reasoning behind wanting to become a physician yourself.

Of course, I'm aware of that. I was just slightly nervous I don't have enough shadowing hours in general, and then I realized I could put shadowing a podiatrist as part of shadowing on my application. I'm still looking for another DO to shadow, hopefully soon since I can get a letter by the time my primary application is verified.

 

[Loudster]

Personally, I would not count it.

 

[MedPR]

Well, it won't act as an equivalent substitute for MD/DO, but it's worth putting on there if only to say that it turned you off to the idea of podiatry. Knowing you don't want to do something helps in knowing you do want to do MD/DO.

 

[deleted357625]

Personally, I would not count it.

You can put it on your app, but of course not count towards the actual shadowing recommended.

 

[mdny]

I've heard that this definitely will help... it can show that you're genuinely interested in whichever program you're applying to... instead of podiatry school.

I never had interest in dentistry, however I shadowed one dentist from my church and it def. confirmed that I'd rather do MD/DO over DDS.
You get the drift...

 

[deleted357625]

I've heard that this definitely will help... it can show that you're genuinely interested in whichever program you're applying to... instead of podiatry school.

I never had interest in dentistry, however I shadowed one dentist from my church and it def. confirmed that I'd rather do MD/DO over DDS.
You get the drift...

👍

 

[sotto voce]

I still don't know why podiatry isn't a part of medicine. Certainly such a diverse profession can make room for feet doctors.

 

[jccalalafc]

I've heard that this definitely will help... it can show that you're genuinely interested in whichever program you're applying to... instead of podiatry school.

I never had interest in dentistry, however I shadowed one dentist from my church and it def. confirmed that I'd rather do MD/DO over DDS.
You get the drift...

Did you mention anywhere that it made you want to do MD/DO over DDS? Like did you mention it in your activity description or anywhere else?

 

[SoulinNeed]

No, that wouldn't count.

 

[jccalalafc]

I still don't know why podiatry isn't a part of medicine. Certainly such a diverse profession can make room for feet doctors.

I would agree with that, considering they learn basically the same material and do residencies as well

 

[Loudster]

Yeah, I could see maybe putting the hours separately on your app. Another option would be to just mention it in your PS. Something along the lines of "in addition to the hours spent shadowing physicians I've also spent considerable time following other health care practitioners. This has further cemented my desires to become a physician...blah blah blah." Ultimately do what you want, it's your application.

Here's my thoughts on it though. If it were my application I wouldn't want something on there that would even potentially suggest that I think podiatrists and md/do is the same thing. It could be taken by an adcom as a sign that you don't know enough about those 2 fields to know the difference. That is obviously not the best thing for them to be thinking.

 

[mdny]

Did you mention anywhere that it made you want to do MD/DO over DDS? Like did you mention it in your activity description or anywhere else?

yes i mentioned that i did a nycpm internship, shadowed a dentist, worked for an optometrist, and volunteered with a physical therapist... and despite all the great experiences i've had with them, my passion lies in general medicine.

 

[poopyhead]

I'm still looking for another DO to shadow, hopefully soon since I can get a letter by the time my primary application is verified.

Another DO? All you need is to shadow 1 DO.

I still don't know why podiatry isn't a part of medicine. Certainly such a diverse profession can make room for feet doctors.

Ortho docs can already do F&A fellowships.

I would agree with that, considering they learn basically the same material and do residencies as well

Apparently not, since they can't sit for the USMLE or apply for ACGME residencies.

 

[mydec]

Its kind'a like asking if shadowing a dentist would count towards shadowing hours. Yes it is great that you are shadowing different types of doctors because it gives you more exposure to the field. If you were interested in going into Podiatry it would count to fill that requirement.

However, if you are planning on going DO, you need to shadow a DO specifically (many schools won't even look at your application if you haven't).

 

[Goro]

You're applying to medical school, so no, seeing what podiatrists do doesn't count.

or do the shadowing hours have to be doctors with an MD or DO? thanks!

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

Ortho docs can already do F&A fellowships.

Apparently not, since they can't sit for the USMLE or apply for ACGME residencies.

Orthopods that do F/A fellowships deal solely with surgical treatment. Podiatrists deal with derm, path, surgery, rad, and biomechanics. No ortho will do all this for you.

Many pod schools have the first two years of didactic work alongside MD/DO students, sooooo theoretically their knowledge is similar. Why would a pod sit for USMLE or ACGME? Their residencies are for podiatry, nothing else.... USMLE and ACGME don't apply to podiatry residencies....

 

[DeDO]

Although it may "count", I doubt it'll be nearly as impressive. Not knocking podiatrists, just saying it's a different field (although very similar)