Medical Can I use a D.O. LoR from PGY2?

[Mr.Smile12]

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I am able to get a letter of rec from a resident in general surgery that is a D.O.. I can't find anyone else to shadow so is this okay? Or would schools not count this as a D.O. LoR?

How long did you meet with/shadow this surgeon?

about 20-25 hours

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

LOR should be from people who know you WELL. Do you think they know you well enough to write you a personal letter of rec? To me I am not sure I could really get to know someone in less than a week.


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[Goro]

These are RARE in what I see, but might be OK, especially in the time of COVID19.

 

[AlteredScale]

I mean I guess if this is all you can get then it's fine. There's two things I see a little iffy here is that 1) they are a resident in surgery so the likelihood that they really are able to assess you may not have been that great. and 2) as a DO letter, it would have been better to see it from the side of a primary care specialty to "notice the DO difference" as it pertains to the use of OMM or anything of that sort.

 

[Goro]

I have a letter of rec from an MD but this is the only D.O. one I have because my summer opportunity got canceled. Would this be okay when applying to D.O. schools? I'm also Canadian so I think they will be stricter on me

This will be fine. Not having a DO LOR won't hurt, but having one will always help.