Why is it so difficult to find a DO to shadow?

[foodie08]

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[MADD!!!]

Send e-mails to them, don't call the office. (Direct e-mail to physicians is best if possible... also FB message through their FB page if they have one). Use Doctorsthatdo.org to help find DO's in the area. Good luck!

 

[foodie08]

@MADD!!!
I've sent direct emails to docs I can find an email listed for, which is rare for clinics and hospitals. I have used doctorsthatdo to find DOs in the area, but the website lists their office number which leads to a sad conversation with the office manger.

Is it appropriate to contact docs via Facebook? Seems slightly stalkerish.

Not sure what else to do. I feel like I'm running out of ideas to contact doctors 🙁

 

[Magus5454]

How I found mine was just pure luck. Was buying my house in June...turns out the realtor was also an NP. Asked if she knew any DOs Turns out her brother was one and he ran a family practice clinic about 30 minutes away got in shadowing time and a letter.

Keep looking OP you'll find one!

 

[MADD!!!]

@MADD!!!
I've sent direct emails to docs I can find an email listed for, which is rare for clinics and hospitals. I have used doctorsthatdo to find DOs in the area, but the website lists their office number which leads to a sad conversation with the office manger.

Is it appropriate to contact docs via Facebook? Seems slightly stalkerish.

Not sure what else to do. I feel like I'm running out of ideas to contact doctors 🙁

Don't give up! Calling the office yielded the poorest results for me. YES! Stalk them. Loll if anything they might like it. I actually called one through Yelp (He had his cell number listed for emergencies). He didn't give me a spot, but he was nice enough to point me in a right direction. And BTW out of all the calls and e-mails I ended up getting it from the person I FB messaged. Loll.

Also, I'd recommend finding private offices rather than hospitals. Hospitals have too much drama with background checks etc. etc. to get you "cleared" just to go shadow someone. Private office they just say "hey, come in Tuesday and wear a white coat." loll. It's random, but trust me you'll find one, especially in Michigan!

Also, best to shadow a FM or IM. Easier to get access of in terms of them having private offices and works better with apps too.

 

[kamakazi5]

See if there are any neuromuscular medicine clinics in you area. I called to one in my area and they were very receptive to shadowing.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Keep trying, expand your geographical area. Travelling a little is worth it.

 

[Jdp00921]

I respectfully disagree with emailing and especially with sending a Facebook message. Sending a message via Facebook messenger just seems creepy and weird and an email is too easy for a physician or his/her secretary to turn down. Go to a DO's office and ask the receptionist if she can ask the doc if he has a few minutes to speak. If yes, great, if no, then tell the receptionist what it's regarding and leave your cell phone number. Worst that can happen is you never hear back. Overall, if I were a physician, I would appreciate a pre-medical student coming to my office to introduce him/herself. Also, it gives the doc a sneak peek of the person they are potentially letting near their patients.

Good Luck!

Edit - I have always had pretty good luck with this method... I should have mentioned this in the first place!

 

[Jaxey]

Do you have a pre-med advisor at your undergrad? Many schools have a list of physicians that they can connect you with for shadowing.

 

[TrackIsLife95]

Go to a DO's office and ask the receptionist if she can ask the doc if he has a few minutes to speak. If yes, great, if no, then tell the receptionist what it's regarding and leave your cell phone number. Worst that can happen is you never hear back.

I second this. That's how I found the D.O. I shadowed. I looked on DoctorsthatDO, made a list, and started stopping by each one to ask to shadow (dress appropriately). Worked by the third one on the list. Of course you'll get some no's, but all you need is one yes.

 

[BTC0821]

Dress nicely and stop by doctors offices. I made a weekend of it and found a few saying yes though most said no or never saw me. Talk to HR at a hospital, they can set you up since they know the doctors and can put in a good word if you can give them a reason to.

 

[CoomassieBlue57]

Put yourself in the shoes of a practicing physician. Would you want some weird college student emailing and calling you to shadow you and give them a letter of recommendation, only to never hear from them again.

What are your interests? Do you play music? Play sports? Ride motorcycles? Paintball? Martial arts? Scuba diving? Basically any activity that is done with other people.
Now ask around within these groups to see if anyone has a connection with a DO. I guarantee someone that participates in this activity has a friend, family member, etc., or is a DO that takes part in an activity you do. And guess what? This is a personal connection that can evolve into more than a single shadowing experience.

I say this from personal experience because I had met a person through an activity I routinely participate in. At the time I met this person I didn't even know this person was a physician let alone a DO until several encounters later when they asked what my career plans were. I ended up with tons of shadowing experience and a strong letter of recommendation. This isn't directly for OP but for others reading this thread as well, my point is don't be some weird premed. You need to be able to socialize and make connections.

 

[MADD!!!]

this is how i got mine. coldcalling gatekeepers in offices is a waste of time. someone has to pity you

It’s just random in my opinion. The physician that I shadowed is ALWAYS busy. Walking into her office would’ve ended poorly as the front staff would’ve said “she’s too busy” and rightly so. But on FB, she controls her FB Page so she logs on whenever she has free time. Coincidentally, she was online on FB when I messaged her and she replied ASAP. I’m like wow.... I wasn’t even sure if it was her or an assistant.

P.S. She didn’t immediately give me the spot. She told me to fax my resume over first then I followed up with phone calls to see what she decided. Point is I got my foot in the door with this.

 

[SpartanDOnoharm]

Send me a PM, depending on your location or if you're willing to drive I could guide you to some DO's to shadow.

 

[rigal]

I'm also looking for DO's to shadow during Christmas break. I'm from the NE area (MA, RI, CT..).


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[DO2015CA]

Put yourself in the shoes of a practicing physician. Would you want some weird college student emailing and calling you to shadow you and give them a letter of recommendation, only to never hear from them again.

What are your interests? Do you play music? Play sports? Ride motorcycles? Paintball? Martial arts? Scuba diving? Basically any activity that is done with other people.
Now ask around within these groups to see if anyone has a connection with a DO. I guarantee someone that participates in this activity has a friend, family member, etc., or is a DO that takes part in an activity you do. And guess what? This is a personal connection that can evolve into more than a single shadowing experience.

I say this from personal experience because I had met a person through an activity I routinely participate in. At the time I met this person I didn't even know this person was a physician let alone a DO until several encounters later when they asked what my career plans were. I ended up with tons of shadowing experience and a strong letter of recommendation. This isn't directly for OP but for others reading this thread as well, my point is don't be some weird premed. You need to be able to socialize and make connections.

This is a little extreme. There are DOs that understand it’s a requirement and it was a pain for them. For places like California there aren’t enough DOs in my area to have been able to do what you suggest. It all depends where you are.

 

[TurtleyReady4Med]

So difficult to find! I ended up giving up but it can hurt which schools invite you for interviews. After trying about 30 DOs, I gave up.

 

[UTsksk]

Had difficulty with this when I was pre-med and still have some difficulty as a 4th year finding elective rotations. One of my mentors always takes students for this very reason and I'm planning to do the same when I'm finished. It's a shame how docs seem to forget how difficult it was for them when they were pre-meds.

 

[814965]

You'll find that they'll be much more inclined to take you if they get something from it in return. Get a job or volunteer in a hospital or clinic where you know DOs are working, try to get to know one of them, and ask them if you can shadow. Contact a DO school close to you and ask if they can direct you to any alumni willing to take students. Find out if any faculty at any colleges near you are DOs and ask to participate in their research. Call or email private offices with DOs and ask if they're hiring - offer to work as a scribe or receptionist on a volunteer basis if you have to. These are all ways that friends of mine have found doctors to shadow.

 

[foodie08]

Thank you all for your responses! So far still no luck but hopefully it'll pan out in the next 5-6 months. My only shot at med schools are DO schools and a letter would allow me to cast a wider net of schools.

 

[MADD!!!]

Thank you all for your responses! So far still no luck but hopefully it'll pan out in the next 5-6 months. My only shot at med schools are DO schools and a letter would allow me to cast a wider net of schools.

It’ll work out! Holiday season is also tougher since a lot of docs go on vacation and there’s other stuff going on.