How do I politely say thanks and good bye to physician I am shadowing.

[Tartheheel]

Hi everyone,

I have been shadowing a physician for ~25-30 hours and would now like to shadow a physician of a different specialty. Our understanding was that I could/should shadow as long as I wanted and needed to (we had no fixed timeline). I am thinking that the next time I shadow would be my last time and would like to thank him for the opportunity and let him know that I am considering shadowing in other areas to have a chance to experience other specialties and areas in the hospital.

How can I best thank him for the opportunity and politely let him know that it would be my last day (not because anything bad happened but because I genuinely want to try out other specialties)?

I'd also like to keep doors open for a potential LOR (say when I apply next cycle), although I don't wish to do this as I don't think he knows me well enough (other than resume) to be able to write a good one.

I was thinking about gifting him dark chocolate and an official Thank You greeting card on my last day and just letting him know about my plans. Is that alright or would you recommend that I do something different/in addition?

I appreciate your help. Thanks!

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[flip26]

Hi everyone,

I have been shadowing a physician for ~25-30 hours and would now like to shadow a physician of a different specialty. Our understanding was that I could/should shadow as long as I wanted and needed to (we had no fixed timeline). I am thinking that the next time I shadow would be my last time and would like to thank him for the opportunity and let him know that I am considering shadowing in other areas to have a chance to experience other specialties and areas in the hospital.

How can I best thank him for the opportunity and politely let him know that it would be my last day (not because anything bad happened but because I genuinely want to try out other specialties)?

I'd also like to keep doors open for a potential LOR (say when I apply next cycle), although I don't wish to do this as I don't think he knows me well enough (other than resume) to be able to write a good one.

I was thinking about gifting him dark chocolate and an official Thank You greeting card on my last day and just letting him know about my plans. Is that alright or would you recommend that I do something different/in addition?

I appreciate your help. Thanks!

There is a pre-med myth about LORs from doctors - with extremely few exceptions for allopathic schools, LORs from doctors are worthless...DO is a different animal, but for MD, they simply aren't useful.

Thank him, keep him informed of your progress, and move along...no gift is necessary.

 

[engineeredout]

I've said it before but damn why does it seem like people around here are completely incapable of interacting with the real world without first consulting SDN?

 

[Vido]

I've said it before but damn why does it seem like people around here are completely incapable of interacting with the real world without first consulting SDN?

That's why everyone freaked out when sdn was out for few hours.

anyway for the op just tell the doctor exactly what you told us over here it's not a big deal

 

[flip26]

I've said it before but damn why does it seem like people around here are completely incapable of interacting with the real world without first consulting SDN?

Ehh, some of the people here are quite young and naive in the ways of the world...better to ask the question than not...it at least demonstrates that posters have an inkling that they are not certain of what is the best route...whether they take the advice is another matter altogether...

The misguided belief in the need for a doctor LOR is so deeply ingrained that I don't know if it will ever be discarded...for the OP, this misinformation is at the crux of his question...

 

[p30doc]

tell him it is you not him, and you would like to remain friends

 

[paradisedoc]

You all are being a little harsh...
As an attending physician, while I am very friendly and positive and upbeat when shadowed, it takes time out of my hectic day. I would never be disappointed or hurt when someone completes his or her shadowing of me. I am usually just a bit relieved, even if I have really enjoyed my shadowee.
Therefore, I would say thank you, tell your physician how much he or she has influenced or confirmed your desire to go into medicine, and how much you are looking forward to the opportunity to shadow physicians in other fields. And, by all means, a nice inexpensive gift is appropriate. You might want to bring donuts or coffee in for the office staff as a thank you instead of something just for the doc. We get a lot of gifts. It is nice to thank the staff and I imagine the doc would appreciate that even more. One last note - I like milk chocolate.

 

[linguini]

You all are being a little harsh...
As an attending physician, while I am very friendly and positive and upbeat when shadowed, it takes time out of my hectic day. I would never be disappointed or hurt when someone completes his or her shadowing of me. I am usually just a bit relieved, even if I have really enjoyed my shadowee.
Therefore, I would say thank you, tell your physician how much he or she has influenced or confirmed your desire to go into medicine, and how much you are looking forward to the opportunity to shadow physicians in other fields. And, by all means, a nice inexpensive gift is appropriate. You might want to bring donuts or coffee in for the office staff as a thank you instead of something just for the doc. We get a lot of gifts. It is nice to thank the staff and I imagine the doc would appreciate that even more. One last note - I like milk chocolate.

Harsh? SDN?? NEVER! 🙄

This sounds like solid advice. 👍

 

[flip26]

You all are being a little harsh...
As an attending physician, while I am very friendly and positive and upbeat when shadowed, it takes time out of my hectic day. I would never be disappointed or hurt when someone completes his or her shadowing of me. I am usually just a bit relieved, even if I have really enjoyed my shadowee.
Therefore, I would say thank you, tell your physician how much he or she has influenced or confirmed your desire to go into medicine, and how much you are looking forward to the opportunity to shadow physicians in other fields. And, by all means, a nice inexpensive gift is appropriate. You might want to bring donuts or coffee in for the office staff as a thank you instead of something just for the doc. We get a lot of gifts. It is nice to thank the staff and I imagine the doc would appreciate that even more. One last note - I like milk chocolate.

I applaud you for letting pre-meds shadow. I have had lots of difficulty finding shadowing opportunities in my community - the docs I have contacted are very hesitant - I wish I knew the reason why - but that is the "culture" in my community. And it is not just me - all of the pre-meds I know are experiencing the same problem.

I live in a small university town with a med school, and while that may seem like the ideal place to obtain shadowing opps, I have found the opposite to be true...anybody else finding the same?

Along the same lines: it is REALLY hard lining up clinical volunteering experiences in this town - there are far more volunteers looking for gigs than there are gigs to be had...it is a highly competitive process here...that must be great for the organizations that use volunteers, but it is really tough on people looking for gigs...

 

[s1lver]

I've said it before but damn why does it seem like people around here are completely incapable of interacting with the real world without first consulting SDN?

LOL!

Well, if you study as hard and are as paranoid about everything as about 99% of SDN'ers something must suffer and more often that not, it's lack of (basic) social skills.

 

[cici1]

There is a pre-med myth about LORs from doctors - with extremely few exceptions for allopathic schools, LORs from doctors are worthless...DO is a different animal, but for MD, they simply aren't useful.

Care to explain why it's worthless for MD schools but good for DO? And I know that a few med schools out there recommend (AKA: require) at least one LOR from a physician. Guess you should tell them that. 👍

 

[fahimaz7]

Care to explain why it's worthless for MD schools but good for DO? And I know that a few med schools out there recommend (AKA: require) at least one LOR from a physician. Guess you should tell them that. 👍

I second this. MOST MD schools that I have seen/applied to require a letter of recommendation from a physician.

 

[JackInTheBox]

I second this. MOST MD schools that I have seen/applied to require a letter of recommendation from a physician.

Odd, none of the MD schools I applied to have required a physician letter.

I have heard that some DO schools require DO shadowing or LOR, but that's just anecdotal.

 

[student1799]

How do I politely say thanks and good bye to physician I am shadowing.

You said it yourself: "Politely say thanks and goodbye." That's it.

On the LOR, my reaction is similar to flip26: I think LORs from physician SHADOWING (not all MD LORs) are worth very little, if anything. On the other hand, if you have worked for an MD in a research capacity or something similar that gives them insight into your potential as a physician, THAT would be an MD LOR well worth getting.

 

[fahimaz7]

I know there are also quite a few DO programs that require letters from DO's and they will not accept a letter from an MD

 

[JamesBond15]

None of the MD schools I have applied to (and there are a lot) require an MD letter.

All of the DO schools require either a DO or MD letter (Some DO schools only accept DO letters).

 

[vin5cent0]

Honestly I think a gift and a sincere thank you would do quite well. A short letter might be nice as well, but anything too long and I don't think they'll read it. A nice, simple gift will show your appreciation.

 

[fahimaz7]

Here's the official wording... Take it as you may..


"Three letters of recommendation include one from the Pre-Health Advisory committee from the undergraduate institution and two personal references. It is preferred, but not essential, that one of the personal recommendations come from a physician."

Most of the schools that I have seen (MD) have it worded as such. If a medical school says "preferred", then I try my best to fill their request!

🙂

 

[flip26]

Here's the official wording... Take it as you may..


"Three letters of recommendation include one from the Pre-Health Advisory committee from the undergraduate institution and two personal references. It is preferred, but not essential, that one of the personal recommendations come from a physician."

Most of the schools that I have seen (MD) have it worded as such. If a medical school says "preferred", then I try my best to fill their request!

🙂

Then MCV is the exception. And I think Utah is an exception.

But for these limited exceptions, allo schools do NOT require a physician letter.

And you applied EDP, right, so how many other schools did you even look at. I have looked at 50 allo schools and none of them require a physician letter...

 

[flip26]

I second this. MOST MD schools that I have seen/applied to require a letter of recommendation from a physician.

You applied to one freaking school, dude. That is a sample of n=1.

Why not just say that ALL of the schools you applied to require it? Accurate, and even more dramatic...but simply not applicable to the vast majority of applicants...

And to boot - it isn't even a requirement at MCG, just a preference.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Just to pile on, none of the 28 schools I applied to even hinted that they wanted a letter from a practicing physician.

OP, read what the attending up there told you, and get 'er done.

 

[Tartheheel]

You all are being a little harsh...
As an attending physician, while I am very friendly and positive and upbeat when shadowed, it takes time out of my hectic day. I would never be disappointed or hurt when someone completes his or her shadowing of me. I am usually just a bit relieved, even if I have really enjoyed my shadowee.
Therefore, I would say thank you, tell your physician how much he or she has influenced or confirmed your desire to go into medicine, and how much you are looking forward to the opportunity to shadow physicians in other fields. And, by all means, a nice inexpensive gift is appropriate. You might want to bring donuts or coffee in for the office staff as a thank you instead of something just for the doc. We get a lot of gifts. It is nice to thank the staff and I imagine the doc would appreciate that even more. One last note - I like milk chocolate.

Hi paradisedoc, I really appreciate your helpful advice. I finally get to say that I've heard this "straight from the horse's mouth..." 😀

I will take donuts for everyone, and maybe a chocolate bar and thank you card for the doc. himself. 🙂

 

[Tartheheel]

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

As for the poster(s) who hinted that I might not have a grasp of basic social skills...to be honest, I haven't been in this exact sort of situation, and harboring the sense of premed neuroticism I have developed over the years, I wanted to make sure I followed the 'game'/'protocol' the "right" way; even though I knew the answer deep down (and you can see hints of it in my original post), I needed some sort of confirmation from the more experienced on here. Hopefully other premeds can relate to this sentiment...😳


Thanks again!🙂

 

[alan06]

only 25-30 hrs? that might not be the best way to get the letter of rec from him, since it won't leave him any good impression of you. Also, ADCOM would love to see your commitment and how well the writer know you. I"m a little biased since I shadowed a same doc for 4 years.

 

[mterp45]

Hi everyone,

I have been shadowing a physician for ~25-30 hours and would now like to shadow a physician of a different specialty. Our understanding was that I could/should shadow as long as I wanted and needed to (we had no fixed timeline). I am thinking that the next time I shadow would be my last time and would like to thank him for the opportunity and let him know that I am considering shadowing in other areas to have a chance to experience other specialties and areas in the hospital.

How can I best thank him for the opportunity and politely let him know that it would be my last day (not because anything bad happened but because I genuinely want to try out other specialties)?

I'd also like to keep doors open for a potential LOR (say when I apply next cycle), although I don't wish to do this as I don't think he knows me well enough (other than resume) to be able to write a good one.

I was thinking about gifting him dark chocolate and an official Thank You greeting card on my last day and just letting him know about my plans. Is that alright or would you recommend that I do something different/in addition?

I appreciate your help. Thanks!

Comme on, Dark chocolate? I would only give that to a women. Just tell him he will remain your bottom biatch. I'm sure he will understand and appreciate it.

 

[calnation]

Good byes are always awkward. There's always this epic undertone, "we may never see each other again, ever". And it leaves you feeling like you need a well thought out, gracious, and momentous good bye.

 

[fahimaz7]

Then MCV is the exception. And I think Utah is an exception.

But for these limited exceptions, allo schools do NOT require a physician letter.

And you applied EDP, right, so how many other schools did you even look at. I have looked at 50 allo schools and none of them require a physician letter...

You applied to one freaking school, dude. That is a sample of n=1.

Why not just say that ALL of the schools you applied to require it? Accurate, and even more dramatic...but simply not applicable to the vast majority of applicants...

And to boot - it isn't even a requirement at MCG, just a preference.

Are you guys even looking at my MDapplicants site? I've been in this game for 3 years now and I have applied to >25 schools.

Preferences are requirements in my books. And from what I've heard from several interviews(>10), most schools WANT a letter from a physician and that they will give preference to applicants who have this.

 

[flip26]

Are you guys even looking at my MDapplicants site? I've been in this game for 3 years now and I have applied to >25 schools.

Preferences are requirements in my books. And from what I've heard from several interviews(>10), most schools WANT a letter from a physician and that they will give preference to applicants who have this.

As for your belief that most schools not only want a letter from a doc but will give preference to applicants who provide them, that is total bullspit...

 

[fahimaz7]

As for your belief that most schools not only want a letter from a doc but will give preference to applicants who provide them, that is total bullspit...

Are you an ADCOM member? Is it a far reach to believe that a letter of recommendation from a physician would be a good thing? That the committee might take that into consideration over a professor that sees you in class and never had a medical conversation with you?

I'm glad you know it all... If I see any more questions on this site, I'll forward them to you.

What you want is to argue with me about whether or not it is mandatory to include a letter from a physician. While it's not mandatory, it is often preferred.

Happy? I think you need to take a deep breath and look at why it's preferred in the first place.

 

[flip26]

Are you an ADCOM member? Is it a far reach to believe that a letter of recommendation from a physician would be a good thing? That the committee might take that into consideration over a professor that sees you in class and never had a medical conversation with you?

I'm glad you know it all... If I see any more questions on this site, I'll forward them to you.

What you want is to argue with me about whether or not it is mandatory to include a letter from a physician. While it's not mandatory, it is often preferred.

Happy? I think you need to take a deep breath and look at why it's preferred in the first place.

Ask LizzyM, an SDN adcom, her opinion on this matter, then get back to us...

We have already established these letters are not mandatory with the exception of a handful of allo schools - I am not arguing that point with you - you already had to cede that specious claim in this thread - I am simply telling you that your belief that these LORs are even preferred is unfounded, and to further state that these LORs confer a preference by ADCOMs on the applicant is ridiculous.

Finally, your underlined statement above about these MD LORs being more useful to ADCOMs than professor letters shows that you have ZERO understanding of this part of the application process...truly asinine.

 

[fahimaz7]

Thanks for showing me the light then. If I could only interview again then I would tell my adcom members that they are stupid for wanting a letter from a physician.

Thanks!

Scott

PS. Out of 100+ medical schools, how many total adcom's are there? I'm done with this thread since obviously there isn't a single admissions member that wants to see a recommendation from a physician. If they are provided, they get thrown in the trash.

 

[cici1]

Ask LizzyM, an SDN adcom, her opinion on this matter, then get back to us...

We have already established these letters are not mandatory with the exception of a handful of allo schools - I am not arguing that point with you - you already had to cede that specious claim in this thread - I am simply telling you that your belief that these LORs are even preferred is unfounded, and to further state that these LORs confer a preference by ADCOMs on the applicant is ridiculous.

Funny how you base that off of 1 adcom member. If I quote you previously....

That is a sample of n=1.

😕

 

[Lacheln]

Send him a text: UR gr8 but mving on. Ttyl.

 

[LizzyM]

Are you an ADCOM member?

Yes.

Is it a far reach to believe that a letter of recommendation from a physician would be a good thing?

Yes.

That the committee might take that into consideration over a professor that sees you in class and never had a medical conversation with you?

No.


Some schools want a committee letter or 3 letters from faculty (2 science and one non-science). In those cases, a letter from a physician can hurt you (if it is bad) and won't really help you (because it is superfluous). Most of these "shadowed for 30 hours" come out sounding like you are what might be expected of anyone in polite society to be (respectful, punctual, well groomed) and a bit more (cheerful, inquisitive, bright, quick, energetic). Some schools, feeling the value of these letters is not worth the effort to read them, do not require them. Other schools may use these letters as a way of documenting that you have had some exposure to the practice of medicine. If a school to which you are applying requires or recommends it then it is a good idea to have it but otherwise, don't give it another thought.

 

[flip26]

Funny how you base that off of 1 adcom member. If I quote you previously....



😕

How many adcoms post here? I am most familiar with LizzyM, and she has opined on this many times...

The other poster in this pissin' match posted bullspit about how "most" MD schools require it, and that is simply unfactual as multiple other posters have written here...

NJBMD is heavily involved in admissions at 2 schools - is she technically an adcom? - whatever, ask her about it, too, then get back to us...

n=2

Better yet - work up your list of schools, and check with each of them for their LOR reqs...with a few noted exceptions (Utah, MCG, ?) none of the rest require it...