Having trouble finding an DO/MD to shadow?

[detu]

Hello,

I'm currently in the Orange County area and am looking into finding MDs and DOs to shadow. I've called some offices, emailed as many MDs and DOs as I can, and also tried to find shadowing opportunities through my school and local hospitals. However, I'm not having much luck because no physicians have allowed me a shadowing opportunity yet.

Does anyone have any advice on getting MD and OD shadowing experience? I've read past threads on this matter and and have tried to be persistent but am still having no luck. Any help/advice would be great, thanks!

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[TreadLightly]

http://www.opsc.org/

Call these guys. Tell them you're a student and you're applying to DO schools and you're looking for contact info for docs that are willing to let you shadow. They might give you a few names and you can ask those docs for other contacts to find the specialists you're looking for.

http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm?pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange

Click "I want to find a mentor" and sign up. Message all of the docs in your area introducing yourself and ask if they are willing to answer your questions and let you shadow. I messaged about 8 and got a few responses back but it could take up to a month for them to get back to you. Do it now so you might have something in a couple of weeks. These doctors are willing to help students if they can which is why they signed up to be a mentor. Not all of them are in the OC area but most are within 30 miles. If one contacts you but is too far away to shadow, ask if they have friends closer to you to shadow. You can still keep in touch with your mentor for questions about becoming a DO, etc - they are knowledgeable. Good luck.

 

[iWillOneDay]

I went on www.osteopathic.org to find DOs in my area and sent them a letter indicating I want to shadow and etc. All different specialties.
Got 2 calls and 4-5 emails back.
I wanted to see OMM so I didn't shadow the one who called (I should have.... dumb me..... she was a FM).
another one called and he gave me his email to contact him further, but he never responded.
3-4 emails were saying they don't allow shadowing at the moment.
1 email was DING DING DING. A DO who practices OMM.
I drove 1.5-2hr one way, 3-3.5hr total, to go to her office to shadow.

I didn't want to cold call people. I'm just not that kind of person....
So my point is,
go see who is around you and send them a detailed letter.
I send about 20-25.
half of them were returned back.

I was planning on sending another 15 when I heard from the DO i shadowed.
Didn't get a LOR from her though because I only shadowed her 2 days for total of 11 hrs and she didn't respond back to my email that I sent ~8 months later... (my fault....)

Just one way that worked for me.
it might not work with other and seem too cold.

 

[gocougs339]

I would suggest going to Google maps and searching "family practice physicians" in your area and then start calling offices. Cold calling sucks but it's the quickest way to find a physician to shadow. I called two offices, it took 15 minutes to find a doctor to shadow. I called on a Friday and started shadowing for 2 weeks the following Monday. I had a great letter of recommendation less than a month later. You can write letters or emails, but you could end up waiting weeks to hear back.

If you're applying to DO schools look for a DO doctor first because some schools require or strongly recommend a letter from a DO. Also, I suggested FP physicians for two reasons. 1. Many FP doctors have their own practice, which means it's up to them if they want to let you shadow, not someone higher up or a corporate policy. 2. If you shadow a DO there is a good chance you'll actually get to see OMM in practice.

 

[DocWinter]

doctor eye I there is are hello

 

[DarkMatter0]

Agree with TreadLightly and IWillOneDay. I had success with the osteopathic Imentor program. Also, if you have a specific school in mind, contact their alumni affairs office and see if they would allow you to contact one of their graduates near your area.

 

[thecube13]

I would suggest going to Google maps and searching "family practice physicians" in your area and then start calling offices. Cold calling sucks but it's the quickest way to find a physician to shadow. I called two offices, it took 15 minutes to find a doctor to shadow. I called on a Friday and started shadowing for 2 weeks the following Monday. I had a great letter of recommendation less than a month later. You can write letters or emails, but you could end up waiting weeks to hear back.

If you're applying to DO schools look for a DO doctor first because some schools require or strongly recommend a letter from a DO. Also, I suggested FP physicians for two reasons. 1. Many FP doctors have their own practice, which means it's up to them if they want to let you shadow, not someone higher up or a corporate policy. 2. If you shadow a DO there is a good chance you'll actually get to see OMM in practice.

Could you tell me who you called? I have been calling at least 20 different DOs with no luck and am getting desperate!

 

[dr.grenouille]

I had the exact same experience as you! I called many DOs in the area and not one returned my calls. I got lucky finally when I looked up the fellows at one of the university hospitals in my area to see if any of them were DOs. I found one, emailed her and she replied almost right away! This was a month ago and I've shadowed her twice now AND she wants to write me a recommendation letter! I would suggest looking up fellows and residents at UCLA maybe? Or any other teaching hospital nearby. Good luck!

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

I also cold called offices. Usually an office manager took my info, asked the doctor, then called me back with a yes or no. I have had a lot of luck with this method. I've also dressed up and gone in to offices and asked the managers if they could see if any of the doctors were willing to let me shadow them. E-mailing the doctors themselves has not worked for me. Get in contact with their offices.

 

[fourandtwo]

PM me. I live in the Orange County area as well. And the physician I shadow (DO) happily accepts students


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[thecube13]

PM me. I live in the Orange County area as well. And the physician I shadow (DO) happily accepts students


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PMed you! (I think? Not 100% sure how to use this site yet)

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Hello,

I'm currently in the Orange County area and am looking into finding MDs and DOs to shadow. I've called some offices, emailed as many MDs and DOs as I can, and also tried to find shadowing opportunities through my school and local hospitals. However, I'm not having much luck because no physicians have allowed me a shadowing opportunity yet.

Does anyone have any advice on getting MD and OD shadowing experience? I've read past threads on this matter and and have tried to be persistent but am still having no luck. Any help/advice would be great, thanks!

Tried to send you a PM but your security settings blocked it. PM me

Edit: I see , this is an annoying necro-bump


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