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unable to get a DO to shadow
Started by tennerd
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What is the difficulty in finding the shadowing opps? Are you calling the hospitals directly or are you calling the doctors directly?
Here's a link to help you perhaps: http://regionalmedicalsanjose.com/physicians/index.dot?specialty=familyPractice
Call Touro COM. They are in Alameda and should be able to help you find a DO to shadow
Is their an academic medical center (university hospital) nearby?
Where in the Bay are you? I had trouble too but found a doctor finally. PM me if you want contact info/a list of DOs I contacted.
Give it a go and get the immunizations taken care of if you found a DO locally. I volunteer @ a research lab in the bay and got my immunizations taken care of prior( i know...that two atep PPD takes some effort) but now I found a DO to shadow through kaiser and it feels good to be on the other side. Just keep calling whoever you think you've missed and go in and meet them if you have the opportunity. Every little effort can change some adminstrators mind about you.
Persistence!
Worst comes worst, you should shadow an MD if you don't have a physician LOR yet. If you have good stats (high GPA/MCAT, good ECs), you might just be able to get some interviews from schools that do not explicitly require a DO LOR. This is at least my experience this cycle, though it's better to shadow a DO to maximize your chances (Western-COMP put me on pre-interview hold with DO shadowing, just fyi).
I used the ilearn thing and worked really well for me. From SoCal
Contact some schools you're interested in and see if DO shadowing is required or just recommended. It may not be a big deal, especially if you can explain in a secondary/interview that you researched it on your own and had no opportunities to shadow. If you're really that worried about it though, just keep at it.
If you can't find a DO, shadow an MD. Odds are you'll find a DO working with him and make the connection.
I recommend personally stopping by at the office instead of just calling.
Network. I got numerous (ie >3) different shadowing experiences out of one...
You don't have to start with a DO either. I was able to shadow a DO because I was talking to the MD I was shadowing at the time about DO schools. He/ she was super awesome and talked to his/ her colleague for me (initiated the topic, I did the leg work).
No but I think it would be better if you shadow a DO that's in primary care or does OMT since lot of DO schools focus on making primary care physicians.
