DO physician letter requirement

[Sean Lee]

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I understand that just about every DO school requires a letter from a physician, though this physician can be a MD at most places.

I am currently volunteering in a lab under a MD physician, and he is willing to write me a good letter. Because of policy, I cannot shadow him, so my relationship with him is purely that of a boss and a volunteer/employee.

Will a letter from him satisfy the physician letter requirement?

 

[medickdb]

I understand that just about every DO school requires a letter from a physician, though this physician can be a MD at most places.

I am currently volunteering in a lab under a MD physician, and he is willing to write me a good letter. Because of policy, I cannot shadow him, so my relationship with him is purely that of a boss and a volunteer/employee.

Will a letter from him satisfy the physician letter requirement?

I don't know anywhere that says you have to shadow the doctor who writes your letter. That said, most schools will probably want to see some shadowing so they know that you know what a day in the life can be like.

Find a doctor and shadow him or her for a few hours. It isn't difficult.

 

[Sean Lee]

I don't know anywhere that says you have to shadow the doctor who writes your letter. That said, most schools will probably want to see some shadowing so they know that you know what a day in the life can be like.

Find a doctor and shadow him or her for a few hours. It isn't difficult.

I have plenty of shadowing, but I can't get a letter from the doctors I shadowed.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

I have plenty of shadowing, but I can't get a letter from the doctors I shadowed.

Get the letter from the MD you work for as he can write you a good letter and knows you well. The doc you shadow and the one that writes the letter don't need to be the same, even though that's the norm. There are one or two DO schools that are staunch on the DO letter, so watch out for that but yes most are okay with an MD letter.

 

[mmj277]

I got into two of the more competitive programs with only MD letters and no DO letters. It comes down to more why you want to go the DO route over MD at the interview, but like the poster above, there are some schools the adamantly require a DO write you a letter. Check online to see each schools individual requirement! hope my case eases some fears though!

 

[Sean Lee]

I got into two of the more competitive programs with only MD letters and no DO letters. It comes down to more why you want to go the DO route over MD at the interview, but like the poster above, there are some schools the adamantly require a DO write you a letter. Check online to see each schools individual requirement! hope my case eases some fears though!

I know. And the reason can't be just "I don't really have the stats for MD", even though that's probably the majority of DO applicants, myself included.

I just hope that adcoms can be a bit more honest with themselves and the whole process.