In this episode, Ryan and Rick tackle a question about shadowing experiences and whether it matters that you're shadowing a DO (osteopathic) when interested in going to an MD (allopathic) school. Ryan and Rich also take a step further and talk about how most DO schools stress the importance of shadowing a DO when applying to a DO school.
Once again, Ryan and Rich digged into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you.
The poster, Matt, said that every DO school requires that you shadow a DO. How do allopathic schools view shadowing a DO versus an MD? Matt is applying to both schools.
An MD or DO is your degree from school. Most doctors look at your residency and what you did a residency in. That said, having an MD or DO is essentially meaningless in the practice of medicine.
If you're applying to MD school and shadowing a family practice but have a DO, have him write a letter of recommendation as a practice doc. DO is in the title but Rich doesn't think medical schools really care or think of it as less worthy than it would with MD.
Shadowing is just observing. In itself, it's not as valuable to medical school as some of the healthcare experiences can be.
Letters from doctors you shadowed are not really important as you don't usually have an in-depth relationship. Most schools are not that impressed by a shadowing letter as being all that valuable.
The College Information Book for most schools would say that a letter of recommendation from a DO is strongly recommended. Ryan recommends to take this as a requirement if they say so. DO schools care that you understand the DO philosophy and have shadowed a DO.
Go find somebody to shadow that is going to interest you. Spend quality time with him/her and get a good letter of recommendation after spending some quality time. The letters after their name don't matter. Doctors are doctors. The only difference is that when you're applying to DO school, it's recommended that you shadow a DO so you can observe their OM (Osteopathic Manipulative) medicine or therapy.
