Asking LOR from a doctor who is currently doing residency?

[Eureka1]

Hey everyone,

I know most DO schools require a physician letter of recommendation in the application process. I have two friends who are currently in residency right now. Can I ask them to write me a letter since they know me super well? Or does the letter must come from a doctor who is currently attending full time (or part-time)?

I know this is not the best options but is it LEGALLY allowed and accepted? I currently live in Los Angeles metropolitan, and it is so competitive here to even get a doctor's attention. I'm currently volunteering in two different hospitals, and the only people I get to communicate with regularly are RNs and CNAs. The doctors simply walk in, talk to the patients, and then walk out. I really do not know how to get to know them better to ask for a LOR.

I know that there are 6 or 7 DO schools that do not require physician letters during the application process, but these schools tend to be "state biased" and I don't think I have a legit shot coming from Cali. I want to apply to all the DO schools, but the physician letter is the only thing that is hindering my application.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate ANY suggestions you may have.

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[s5260205]

I don't believe there is a specific rule against getting a LOR from residents but this is generally not recommended.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

The life of a resident is different than a physician's and you will see things differently. So I would recommend you stick with a full-time physician for LOR.

 

[Doctor Bob]

Throughout the entire medschool process there will be times you need letters of rec (apply to school, applying to residency, applying to fellowship, etc etc).

These letters should always be from attendings.

 

[Eureka1]

Thanks for the responses. But is it LEGALLY allowed and accepted? From what I understand, a "doctor" technically is not required to do a residency, right? So a MD or DO currently doing residency (or not doing residency at all) is still considered a doctor I assume.

 

[medickdb]

Thanks for the responses. But is it LEGALLY allowed and accepted? From what I understand, a "doctor" technically is not required to do a residency, right? So a MD or DO currently doing residency (or not doing residency at all) is still considered a doctor I assume.

No, it's totally illegal. You'll get five to ten for even attempting such a thing...
🙄

 

[AlteredScale]

Thanks for the responses. But is it LEGALLY allowed and accepted? From what I understand, a "doctor" technically is not required to do a residency, right? So a MD or DO currently doing residency (or not doing residency at all) is still considered a doctor I assume.

Can you ask your friends who are DO residents to hook you up with a shadowing experience with one of their DO attendings?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Hey everyone,

I know most DO schools require a physician letter of recommendation in the application process. I have two friends who are currently in residency right now. Can I ask them to write me a letter since they know me super well? Or does the letter must come from a doctor who is currently attending full time (or part-time)?

I know this is not the best options but is it LEGALLY allowed and accepted? I currently live in Los Angeles metropolitan, and it is so competitive here to even get a doctor's attention. I'm currently volunteering in two different hospitals, and the only people I get to communicate with regularly are RNs and CNAs. The doctors simply walk in, talk to the patients, and then walk out. I really do not know how to get to know them better to ask for a LOR.

I know that there are 6 or 7 DO schools that do not require physician letters during the application process, but these schools tend to be "state biased" and I don't think I have a legit shot coming from Cali. I want to apply to all the DO schools, but the physician letter is the only thing that is hindering my application.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate ANY suggestions you may have.

I used a letter from a second year resident MD, and a DO letter. Nothing came of it (i.e. no one didnt accept the resident letter). I did see one program specifiy that the letter had to be 2nd year or more tho.

 

[Eureka1]

Can you ask your friends who are DO residents to hook you up with a shadowing experience with one of their DO attendings?

They are both doing residencies in the East Coast. Thanks for the idea though.

 

[Eureka1]

I used a letter from a second year resident MD, and a DO letter. Nothing came of it (i.e. no one didnt accept the resident letter). I did see one program specifiy that the letter had to be 2nd year or more tho.

Cool! So it has been done before.

 

[Doctor Bob]

Cool! So it has been done before.

I feel like you are just looking for us to validate what you are already planning to do, regardless of the prevailing opinion.

Yes, they count as letters from doctors... because as graduates of a medical school, the writers are doctors; and because the things they put together are words on paper, they count as letters.
However, it is not considered good form to have letters from residents.

But do what you will. It's your application, not ours.

 

[Eureka1]

I feel like you are just looking for us to validate what you are already planning to do, regardless of the prevailing opinion.

Yes, they count as letters from doctors... because as graduates of a medical school, the writers are doctors; and because the things they put together are words on paper, they count as letters.
However, it is not considered good form to have letters from residents.

But do what you will. It's your application, not ours.

Thank you for your advice Doctor Bob. I do take your advice to heart and deep down I realized that I'm walking a fine line using resident doctors. I guess I just got really tired of all the rejections when I did make phone calls to clinics and hospitals and figured that by meeting the basic requirement it would at least allow me to get passed the "automatic reject because application was incomplete" stage. I will continue to make phone calls to doctors in my area for shadowing experiences and hopefully get to know him/her well enough to get a LOR.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Cool! So it has been done before.

Yes, but I had letters from other physicians. In fact I have a total of 4 physician letters (3 MD, 1 DO). I never sent the resident letter by itself (but I always sent it, the guy knew me for 10+ years and wrote me a good character reference). So take that in context.