Shadowing Question

[lawler4]

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So I have just submitted my primary, but I didn't indicate any shadowing experience on it (only clinical volunteering). However, I plan on trying to shadow doctors actively this summer. If I gain a fair amount of shadowing between now and when I submit my secondaries, would it still help me to describe any shadowing experiences in my secondary? Would it help as much as if it were in my primary? How about for interviews even? I still plan on doing it anyway, I'm just curious as to where I would stand.

Thank you

 

[NickNaylor]

Do you have ANY clinical experience listed on your app? If so, the shadowing may or may not be helpful. If not, you should definitely express that somewhere, though unfortunately I don't know what kind of question would allow you to do that.

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos)

 

[lawler4]

Yes I have about 150 hours of clinical volunteering listed as one of my most meaningful experiences on my app. I'm just worried about the whole debate of clinical volunteering or shadowing being sufficient alone, or are both required.

I've heard some people say explaining it with update letters, but I would be submitting my update letter right around when I would submit my secondary... maybe a little after, which just seems kind of odd. I'm not sure.

At the least, I'll get some good experiences out of it and some conversation for an interview, looking forward to it.

 

[Rezonance]

I think that you will be fine in terms of having your 150 hours of clinical experience, as long as you have this experience, shadowing is not major deal, so no stress!

 

[xxhopefulxx]

I agree with rezonance...150 hours should be good enough.

 

[lawler4]

Thanks guys,

Great to hear that.

 

[altamont850]

Not trying to hijack OP's thread but I'd really like to know how to EFFECTIVELY find physicians to shadow? I've tried all the advice on SDN but most of the physicians in my area either do not respond or find SDN's methods far to inappropriate/abrasive.

I'm doing virtually nothing this summer so I think this would be the ideal time to shadow
(if it helps, I'm in Florida).

This situation is so frustrating.😡

 

[lawler4]

For me, I just went ahead and cold-called, and I was able to get a response. I have a teaching hospital and a pretty large clinic near me though, so I think that helped. If that doesn't work, you could try shadowing a DO with the AOA program (http://cf.osteopathic.org/iLearn/home.cfm). From what I've heard, it's easier to shadow DOs because it's necessary for applying to DO schools, and it's still a great experience that would give you a good idea of what a doctor does and conversation for an interview.

 

[altamont850]

For me, I just went ahead and cold-called, and I was able to get a response. I have a teaching hospital and a pretty large clinic near me though, so I think that helped. If that doesn't work, you could try shadowing a DO with the AOA program (http://cf.osteopathic.org/iLearn/home.cfm). From what I've heard, it's easier to shadow DOs because it's necessary for applying to DO schools, and it's still a great experience that would give you a good idea of what a doctor does and conversation for an interview.

Thanks!