Emailing about summer research

[alwaysaangel]

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So I am a first year starting to set up my plans for the summer. I am trying to get a research or shadowing position at a hospital in another state, and I was given a contact by a doctor at my school's hospital. I was hoping someone could give me some advice on what to include in the email. Its not exactly a coldcall since I have the connection that knows him and she told me to drop her name, but I'm having a hard time writing it.

Here is what I have so far:

Dear Dr. ______,

I am a 1st year medical student at University of California, Irvine who is very interested in emergency medicine. I know Dr. _________ in our emergency department and when I spoke to her about potential EM summer opportunities in _________ she gave me your email and suggested I contact you.

I am going to spend the majority of my summer (6-8 weeks) in _______ and am hoping to spend this time gaining exposure to the field of emergency medicine. I am looking for any opportunities that are related to emergency medicine, whether its shadowing or research, as I believe either of these will provide me with valuable insight into the field. I was wondering if you would be willing to ask around among your colleagues and see if there is anything at ___________ hospital that I could be involved in.

I am a determined, hard-working, detail oriented person and I learn quickly. I won't be doing anything else for that period of my summer so I can offer 40+ hours a week to a research project if someone could use me. I am enthusiastic about emergency medicine and would be excited about any opportunity that I may be able to take on at your hospital.

Thank you.

Any comments/changes/suggestions would be very helpful. I want to make a good first impression if I'm hoping this guy will let me come there for summer.

Also, when this is a very brief "could you ask around and see if anyone will take on or could use the help of a 1st/2nd year med student" - should I include a resume at this point or wait until he refers me to someone who can use me.

 

[KECKington]

So I am a first year starting to set up my plans for the summer. I am trying to get a research or shadowing position at a hospital in another state, and I was given a contact by a doctor at my school's hospital. I was hoping someone could give me some advice on what to include in the email. Its not exactly a coldcall since I have the connection that knows him and she told me to drop her name, but I'm having a hard time writing it.

Here is what I have so far:


Any comments/changes/suggestions would be very helpful. I want to make a good first impression if I'm hoping this guy will let me come there for summer.

Also, when this is a very brief "could you ask around and see if anyone will take on or could use the help of a 1st/2nd year med student" - should I include a resume at this point or wait until he refers me to someone who can use me.

First off I would not leave a bunch of empty lines in your letter and fill it with real words as when reading it it just seems to break a sentence and leave stuff out. Also you may want to work on some phrases as it appears that you are kind of desperate (which you may be) and it seems to me that you are kind of a-- kissing and sound a bit overconfident for your level.

On the good side you had some good points like you "are interested in EM". That is important to say.

 

[pseudoknot]

First off I would not leave a bunch of empty lines in your letter and fill it with real words as when reading it it just seems to break a sentence and leave stuff out. Also you may want to work on some phrases as it appears that you are kind of desperate (which you may be) and it seems to me that you are kind of a-- kissing and sound a bit overconfident for your level.

On the good side you had some good points like you "are interested in EM". That is important to say.

How can a person seem desperate and overconfident at the same time? I didn't think the OP's letter was all that bad. I doubt it makes such a huge difference, since either the person is or is not interested in taking a student. It's not like writing a personal statement for a competitive application process.

 

[RxnMan]

Too long. Nobody will read it. Try this:

...Dear Dr. ______,

I am a 1st year medical student at UC Irvine and I am interested in emergency medicine. Dr. _________ suggested I contact you about potential EM summer research opportunities in _________.

I am able to meet with you (insert 3 dates in the next two weeks you're available).

Thank you,

alwaysaangel
(insert your contact info here)

Make sure your subject line is pretty explanatory - "Med student looking for summer research opportunity" or similar.

You can give this doc more details when you meet them. If you got referred to this doc, chances are they've had similar student requests. Giving them 3 times makes it much more likely that they'll respond. Short emails are generally read. In 2 sentences you establish who you are, where you are in your training, why you are contacting them, and how you know them. Done.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Too long. Nobody will read it. Try this:

Make sure your subject line is pretty explanatory - "Med student looking for summer research opportunity" or similar.

You can give this doc more details when you meet them. If you got referred to this doc, chances are they've had similar student requests. Giving them 3 times makes it much more likely that they'll respond. Short emails are generally read. In 2 sentences you establish who you are, where you are in your training, why you are contacting them, and how you know them. Done.

Ok great thanks - this is basically what I was trying to find out. Longer like a cover letter or short and to the point.

I can't however give him dates to meet him since the place I am trying to set this up for is in a different state, so I'll just leave it open for how he wants to contact me to set things up.

 

[KECKington]

Ok great thanks - this is basically what I was trying to find out. Longer like a cover letter or short and to the point.

I can't however give him dates to meet him since the place I am trying to set this up for is in a different state, so I'll just leave it open for how he wants to contact me to set things up.

Its better for a shorter one. Even if you gave him dates it really wouldnt matter as you must go along with his schedule, he doesnt follow yours, I mean you arent doing HIM any favors.

G'Luck!

 

[dilated]

Too long. Nobody will read it.

Word. All the attendings seem to read emails on their blackberries now with like a 3 sentence attention span (even if you know the person). Get something brief and cast a wide net, when you see people interested enough to respond you can hit them with a more detailed response.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Word. All the attendings seem to read emails on their blackberries now with like a 3 sentence attention span (even if you know the person). Get something brief and cast a wide net, when you see people interested enough to respond you can hit them with a more detailed response.

Well there is no wide net - this isn't a cold call. The attending I know is going to mention me to this guy and he's the only person I'm contacting in the state I'm trying to go to for the summer - which is why my initial instinct was to add a little more info.

 

[OncoCaP]

Well there is no wide net - this isn't a cold call. The attending I know is going to mention me to this guy and he's the only person I'm contacting in the state I'm trying to go to for the summer - which is why my initial instinct was to add a little more info.

If you have specific instructions on what to write, then write it per spec. If you have a contact, why not ask them how long to make it and what to include?

If can't get the attending on the phone, etc., then consider this: it really doesn't matter if it's a cold call or not. Chances are, these guys and gals have very little time. How much do you read when you don't have time ... nothing. They glance and reply (if you're lucky). Just send a very brief note with who you are and what you want (very briefly). They will point you to the right person and then you can send your CV with a bit longer explanation, if necessary.

 

[Slide]

Well there is no wide net - this isn't a cold call. The attending I know is going to mention me to this guy and he's the only person I'm contacting in the state I'm trying to go to for the summer - which is why my initial instinct was to add a little more info.

I agree with the other posters; short and sweet and straight to the point. If the attending knows you, there's no need to add more info than to set up a meeting. The attending's referral based upon him knowing you personally is enough. Even if not, most of everything is going to be hammered out when you meet with him and do the paperwork afterwards. These days e-mail attention-span is limited to maybe like 20 seconds per e-mail.

 

[KECKington]

Well there is no wide net - this isn't a cold call. The attending I know is going to mention me to this guy and he's the only person I'm contacting in the state I'm trying to go to for the summer - which is why my initial instinct was to add a little more info.

I hate to say your instincts are wrong. Just get quick to the point and stop wasting their time. If you do this they will think you are more professional than normal and may even accept you to do the research. Like the others said "short and sweet".

 

[RxnMan]

...which is why my initial instinct was to add a little more info.

If you really want to do this, then attach a current CV. The attending can read it if they want to.

 

[thebeatblitz]

If you're getting referred, you don't need an essay in your email. Have you received email responses from these dudes/dudettes before? Mine are usually:

"ok pls call tmrw 2pm"
"thanks"
"will try, let me know"

Brevity is key; just attach your CV is you've got some experience.

 

[KECKington]

If you're getting referred, you don't need an essay in your email. Have you received email responses from these dudes/dudettes before? Mine are usually:

"ok pls call tmrw 2pm"
"thanks"
"will try, let me know"

Brevity is key; just attach your CV is you've got some experience.

I am sure he has some experience in research, I mean we were all serious and smart undergrad students!😎

 

[socrates89]

yea but could be shorter and more to the point

 

[DrZeke]

Too long. Nobody will read it. Try this:

Make sure your subject line is pretty explanatory - "Med student looking for summer research opportunity" or similar.

You can give this doc more details when you meet them. If you got referred to this doc, chances are they've had similar student requests. Giving them 3 times makes it much more likely that they'll respond. Short emails are generally read. In 2 sentences you establish who you are, where you are in your training, why you are contacting them, and how you know them. Done.

Regarding your meeting.... If you have restrictions on your schedule, just say that you would rather meet in the afternoon and for them to contact you to set up a meeting at "their earliest convenience". Specific dates almost sound like they are the one who is eager to meet with you, when it's really the other way around 🙂