Getting recommendations from doctors you shadow?

[rgerber85]

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Hey all (good morning),

Just wondering... is it feasible (aside from my graduate advisors) to get a recommendation or 2 from 1 or 2 of the physicians I shadowed for 80 or so hours?

considering not everyone has the benefit of a graduate degree and having that graduate advisor vouche for your mental aptitude and ability to be able to handle the course load, your strong work ethic, and continued interest in the medical field to practice medicine... etc... etc.. (or w/e bs lol)

And is it commonplace to get a card or a gift for a doctor you shadow? b/c I haven't yet...

 

[Propylene]

I heard that shadowing LORs don't carry too much weight. Something along the lines of they can't really evaluate your ability to succeed in medical school. Maybe someone else can explain it better. Either way be sure to get letters from professors as well.

Doctor's have plenty of money so I bet they'd like a personal gift more than a gift-card, but that's just my opinion 😛

 

[NickNaylor]

Despite the fact that users here seem to think that physician LORs are holy grails, the resident adcom member here says the contrary. Unless you've worked with the physician in another context (e.g., research, volunteering venture, etc.) I would get a LOR from someone else.

As far as gifts, a thank you note should be more than enough. I wouldn't get any actual gifts.

 

[WildEMDoc]

What about for the schools that require LOR's from physicians? My state school does and so does every (I think) DO school, or at least all the ones I will be applying to.

No physicians in my area do any research at all nor have I done any volunteering with direct physician contact that is relevant for them to know me at all.

Shadowing is my only option and the physicians I have shadowed are more than happy to write me a "strong" LOR for the schools that require their LOR.

I think the only thing people seem to not get is that using a physician LOR at a school that doesn't require it will make them seem like a stronger candidate.

 

[ucbsmd]

If they require LOR's from physicians then ones you might have volunteered or worked with if you have hospital/clinic work/volunteer expierence is probably your best bet. Otherwise you'll probably end up going with shadowing ones.