Should I bother Shadowing these Docs?

[HM3]

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So, recently one of my professors referred me to the Osteopathic Center for Children and Families in San Diego. She said it would be great exposure for what I wanted to do. I have been coordinating with their PR person and some red flags were raised to me:

-For one, the main emphasis seems to be Cranial Manipulative Therapy
-The founder is on quackwatch
-They told me she founded Western University COM, which I can't find evidence for
-They recommended I purchased very sketchy books that were also pricey
-It is a complete holistic care facility

Here are some links, although the quackwatch thing does not bother me..it is the vibe I get from being there. So what do you all think of this place? They have told me I could attend all the lectures, but not officially take the courses they offer. I'm just looking for some opinions here.

http://www.osteopathiccenter.org/

 

[And I Was Like]

Just a warning take what you read on quackwatch with a gigantic helping of salt. That website is as unscientific as it comes - for example, the OMM page's most recent article is over 10 years old. Every other article he cites is 16 years old minimum. Don't get me wrong, I think OMM is as worthless as the next rationally thinking individual, but I laughed hard when I read the sources he cites. I wouldn't even consider that website as evidence for anything.

 

[MedicineMike]

Just a warning take what you read on quackwatch with a gigantic helping of salt. That website is as unscientific as it comes - for example, the OMM page's most recent article is over 10 years old. Every other article he cites is 16 years old minimum. Don't get me wrong, I think OMM is as worthless as the next rationally thinking individual, but I laughed hard when I read the sources he cites. I wouldn't even consider that website as evidence for anything.

100% agree.

OP: Why dont you just go to literally any other hospital to shadow?

 

[HM3]

Yes, as I said before I don't really trust the website so much. It seems to have a heavy anti-DO biased as well.

That being said, Craniosacral therapy seems to have no scientific research backing it. It is often seen in a negative light.

 

[HM3]

100% agree.

OP: Why dont you just go to literally any other hospital to shadow?

I could, I have lots of clinical experience. The thing is that I will be applying to osteopathic schools and I thought it might be of some value to experience a place exclusively devoted to osteopathic treatments.

 

[And I Was Like]

I could, I have lots of clinical experience. The thing is that I will be applying to osteopathic schools and I thought it might be of some value to experience a place exclusively devoted to osteopathic treatments.

Most of OMM has no scientific backing. To be honest, go to a hospital and shadow a DO who practices real medicine. Unless you're really into giving expensive massages (OMM), don't bother shadowing OMM providers. Especially because most DO's don't practice and minus one person from the OMM department on the ADCOM no one is going to care.

If you want to impress DO programs shadow a PCP, DO schools were intended to train PCPs.

 

[HM3]

Most of OMM has no scientific backing. To be honest, go to a hospital and shadow a DO who practices real medicine. Unless you're really into giving expensive massages (OMM), don't bother shadowing OMM providers. Especially because most DO's don't practice and minus one person from the OMM department on the ADCOM no one is going to care.

If you want to impress DO programs shadow a PCP, DO schools were intended to train PCPs.

If I already have letters from DO PCPs that I've already worked with/shadowed should I bother? Honestly I can do better things with my time, it's just check marks I am looking for.

 

[And I Was Like]

If I already have letters from DO PCPs that I've already worked with/shadowed should I bother? Honestly I can do better things with my time, it's just check marks I am looking for.

Don't bother. Frankly, shadowing these "doctors" is a waste of time. If you've shadowed a couple docs, you're fine.