I don't really understand how you could be applying for FM residency (or any residency at all) if you are not a final-year medical student and thus eligible to do a sub-i rotation or at least an elective rotation in FM. Can you clarify this?
As a general statement, if one is applying to a field, they should have at least one letter from an attending in that field to comment upon their perceived aptitude and suitability for that specialty. For FM, most programs will be satisfied with one letter from FM, and the others can be from other specialties. For other specialties (surgery comes to mind), they would expect all the LORs to come from that specialty.
I'm an IMG and I'm a 4th year student, but with how my schedule turned out my only available chance to do a sub I in FM is in 2011, as one of my last electives before graduation.
My first rotation was FM, and I spent 2 weeks with on physician and another 4 weeks in a clinic setting run by a husband/wife combo.
The first attending stated that he felt that he couldnt write a letter for anyone he only did 2 weeks worth of rotating with. the other two are out of the country until November, so I can not contact them for a letter. Thats why I have no letters for FM.
What I do have is 3 IM lors and 1 Peds lor.
I've assigned the 3 IM lors to the programs I'm applying to, but the 1 peds one I have not yet, b/c i just found out that she gave me a B in the rotation, which I don't understand why. So I'm hesitant about using her letter until I speak with her, which should be tomorrow. Shes already mailed the letter so it should be uploaded and stuff without problems but I just haven't assigned it yet.
So, back to my original question. Is it terrible that I dont have an FM LOR, or is it still ok? Should I try to ask that one attending again, I feel like if I asked him a few more times he'll give in and write me one, but I wouldn't know how strong it would be.