Cosign recommendation letter

[mpdoc2]

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Is it OK to ask an attending I worked closely with to have the chair of the department (well known authority in the field) to cosign his recommendation letter? I had very little exposure to the chair...

Thank you

 

[dragonfly99]

People used to do things like this at my med school.
Actually, you should probably personally ask the chair for his recommendation...I mean call his secretary/assistant and ask to set up a short meeting, say 10-15 minutes, to discuss residency. Then you give him your CV, perhaps a personal statement, etc. and pitch why you want to do the specialty. Then you say, "Dr. so and so is writing a recommendation letter for me, but I know it would really help to have your endorsement also".

I personally never had the guts to do stuff like this, but yes, I think it can help your candidacy. Especially in certain specialties like surgery and anesthesia, the name of the person writing the letter matters...actually it's somewhat true for all specialties.

 

[EternalMD]

I don't think that's appropriate at all and in fact could be taken as somewhat offensive to your letter writer. Most chair's know that they have to write letters for students going into their specialty and as such generally have LORs lying around. Sure its nicer to get a more personalized letter but its tough when they aren't around enough to get exposure. Maybe this is a good thing, maybe its not.

But what you're essentially telling your letter writer is that "thanks but I don't think you're important enough so please COSIGN??? it by the chair?" If it were me, I would then refuse to even give the letter in.

 

[dragonfly99]

I think it depends on the relationship the OP has with the letter writer. Many junior faculty know their letter of rec. doesn't carry anywhere near the weight of a full professor or dept. chair (and are not offended by the fact). However, it is a good point...the person MIGHT be offended.

If the OP just asks the chair for a separate LOR, he/she avoids this potential pitfall.

 

[mpdoc2]

thank you for your response, there's three things, first i have a pretty good relationship with my attending (he's said multiple times he would want me to attend his program, but he doesn't have the weight to pull me in), second i don't think the chair has the time to write me a recommendation and he barely knows anything about me so i would rather not get a non-personal recommendation from him, so its really between getting him to cosign my letter or nothing at all. Finally I think that my attending has a good relationship with the chair.

thanks again

 

[VMSmith]

I don't think this is very fair to your attending. You're shifting the responsibility (and your discomfort) of asking the chair for a recommendation onto your attending. You're basically asking him to approach his boss to ask for something entirely for your benefit.

I would recommend asking your attending for advice on the best way to approach the chair to ask for a letter. Your attending might very well arrange things on your behalf, but don't count on it. You need to take responsibility for your own future.

A co-signed letter just seems like a total cop-out to me. I wouldn't be surprised if residency PD's view them that way too.

 

[scab]

thank you for your response, there's three things, first i have a pretty good relationship with my attending (he's said multiple times he would want me to attend his program, but he doesn't have the weight to pull me in), second i don't think the chair has the time to write me a recommendation and he barely knows anything about me so i would rather not get a non-personal recommendation from him, so its really between getting him to cosign my letter or nothing at all. Finally I think that my attending has a good relationship with the chair.

thanks again

a good LOR from someone who KNows YOU is by far better than from a higher up that is not as familiar with you

 

[dacrocytic]

I think it depends on the relationship the OP has with the letter writer. Many junior faculty know their letter of rec. doesn't carry anywhere near the weight of a full professor or dept. chair (and are not offended by the fact). However, it is a good point...the person MIGHT be offended.

If the OP just asks the chair for a separate LOR, he/she avoids this potential pitfall.

does anyone have suggestions on how to get more face time with a dept chair or prof?

 

[TTPHUS]

thank you for your response, there's three things, first i have a pretty good relationship with my attending (he's said multiple times he would want me to attend his program, but he doesn't have the weight to pull me in), second i don't think the chair has the time to write me a recommendation and he barely knows anything about me so i would rather not get a non-personal recommendation from him, so its really between getting him to cosign my letter or nothing at all. Finally I think that my attending has a good relationship with the chair.

thanks again

wouldn't hurt to ask