Getting a LOR from a Department Head for Dummies

[kdburton]

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I've read on several threads here how important it is (esp for competitive specialties) to get a LOR from the department head at your school for whatever specialty you're planning on applying to... I think I've got a pretty good idea of how to approach factulty members I've worked with for an LOR, but what if you never work with the department head clinically? For instance if I wanted to go into surgery, the department head at my school operates at a different hospital than the two hospitals where I'll be doing my surgery rotiation... I'm assuming most department heads are very busy, so I can't imagine you'd get much face time with them if you're not working with them directly. How does one go about getting an LOR from a department head which they may never work with? Thanks!

 

[Keg]

I've read on several threads here how important it is (esp for competitive specialties) to get a LOR from the department head at your school for whatever specialty you're planning on applying to... I think I've got a pretty good idea of how to approach factulty members I've worked with for an LOR, but what if you never work with the department head clinically? For instance if I wanted to go into surgery, the department head at my school operates at a different hospital than the two hospitals where I'll be doing my surgery rotiation... I'm assuming most department heads are very busy, so I can't imagine you'd get much face time with them if you're not working with them directly. How does one go about getting an LOR from a department head which they may never work with? Thanks!

Email their secretary to schedule an appointment, forward a copy of your eras, resume, personal statement, and any publications/other information you find valuable, and then meet with them. Treat it like a residency interview. They'll write you a form letter punctuated with unique information about you. They do this all the time.