volunteering and shadowing

[nateriver]

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is it good enough just to shadow or is it necessary to volunteer as well, and does it matter if you shadow osteo or allo, as in does it matter which type you shadow based on what type of school you're aiming for?

 

[Strudel19]

Ideally you would want to do both, with more emphasis on volunteering. Both of those activities are good all schools, but many schools place extra weight on volunteering, especially DO schools.

 

[nateriver]

oh alright thank you, and if you dont mind my asking what does the average day of volunteering entail?

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

The point of shadowing is to be able to show that you have some idea of what you're getting into. It doesn't really matter what kind of physician you shadow, although if you're pre-allo you'll ideally want to shadow an MD and if you're pre-osteo you'll want to shadow a DO (I believe for DO schools it's actually a requirement to shadow and get an LOR from a DO). Also, if you're going to make mention of a particular specialty you think you want to do before even setting foot in med school, it'll be a good idea to shadow that specialty so that you don't come off as naive.

The point of volunteering is so that you can convincingly show that you care about other people. Anyone can say "I care about other people", but not everyone has actually done anything to help other people. Actions speak louder than words. It doesn't matter what kind of volunteering you do as long as it's non-controversial. You should be concerned about finding a volunteer activity you'll enjoy, as that way it will say something about you to adcoms, and it'll make getting involved enough to do something notable easier.

 

[nateriver]

ahh, thank you, what was volunteering like for you?

 

[pepocho]

.

 

[freakingoutabit]

oh alright thank you, and if you dont mind my asking what does the average day of volunteering entail?

This varies HUGELY with where you volunteer. In hospitals, most volunteers don't get to do very much. When I was volunteering at a hospital, I was limited to delivering gifts/flowers to patients, taking photos of newborn babies, working in the gift shop -- stuff like that. Volunteering in smaller free clinics will usually give you more patient contact.

If I were you, I would try to volunteer at a hospital or clinic and a place that you're passionate about (the Boys & Girls Club, a homeless shelter, the YMCA, etc.).

 

[deleted407021]

This varies HUGELY with where you volunteer. In hospitals, most volunteers don't get to do very much. When I was volunteering at a hospital, I was limited to delivering gifts/flowers to patients, taking photos of newborn babies, working in the gift shop -- stuff like that. Volunteering in smaller free clinics will usually give you more patient contact.

If I were you, I would try to volunteer at a hospital or clinic and a place that you're passionate about (the Boys & Girls Club, a homeless shelter, the YMCA, etc.).

👍 Try to find a free clinic somewhere. The experience is great and you actually, really get to help people.

 

[nateriver]

thanks for your input guys i think ill try a hospital, just curiously, I've heard horror stories of people being assigned to clean bed pans and peoples nethers when they have "accidents" is this true or just someone being ridiculous?

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

thanks for your input guys i think ill try a hospital, just curiously, I've heard horror stories of people being assigned to clean bed pans and peoples nethers when they have "accidents" is this true or just someone being ridiculous?

I think it used to happen, but these days I'd be surprised if a hospital let a volunteer within 10 feet of a drop of bodily fluid.

 

[nateriver]

I think it used to happen, but these days I'd be surprised if a hospital let a volunteer within 10 feet of a drop of bodily fluid.

alright thanks, i think I'm gonna go with a hospital instead of a smaller clinic, because from what I've heard, and what I've read from people on here, i might get lucky enough to actually get more patient interaction, or at least be able to witness more diagnostic stuff in a hospital setting

 

[deleted407021]

alright thanks, i think I'm gonna go with a hospital instead of a smaller clinic, because from what I've heard, and what I've read from people on here, i might get lucky enough to actually get more patient interaction, or at least be able to witness more diagnostic stuff in a hospital setting

I can guarentee that you would get more interaction in a smaller clinic. We perform labs on site and diagnose everything from anemia to advanced stage cancer. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[nateriver]

I can guarentee that you would get more interaction in a smaller clinic. We perform labs on site and diagnose everything from anemia to advanced stage cancer. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

wow really? thats awesome, i didn't expect to get that much exposure anywhere, i guess ill have to look into both smaller clinics and hospitals and see what the atmosphere looks like, is it rude/inappropriate to ask the person in charge of volunteers at a given place what volunteering at said place entails?

 

[deleted407021]

wow really? thats awesome, i didn't expect to get that much exposure anywhere, i guess ill have to look into both smaller clinics and hospitals and see what the atmosphere looks like, is it rude/inappropriate to ask the person in charge of volunteers at a given place what volunteering at said place entails?

Definitely look into both, because you certainly won't know until you try. It is absolutely acceptable to ask what volunteers do. They don't expect people to get involved in something when they don't have an idea of what they are getting into, plus it is their job to recruit you and answer your questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck!

 

[nateriver]

Definitely look into both, because you certainly won't know until you try. It is absolutely acceptable to ask what volunteers do. They don't expect people to get involved in something when they don't have an idea of what they are getting into, plus it is their job to recruit you and answer your questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck!

than you very much