How important is an LOR from a PMR doc?

[PAN627]

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I posted my stats previously, so I won't repeat myself 🙂 but the medical director of the hospital just told us today that the PMR director gives good grades but writes " needs to learn more basic sciences" regardless of how much the student knows. Even if he's going to give the guy an A, they claim he still writes it on the eval! I applied to PMR and have letters from other fields, do I need PMR letter, I'm afraid he's one of those guys who wouldn't help my application!

 

[pete27]

yes. most programs if not all require a PM&R letter!! i've been to mostly every program website (if online) and they all have it as a requirement.

 

[pmr ding]

In our system, a PMR letter helps. Not having one doesn't kill the application, we had this stellar candidate from a top well known ivy league medical school without one who did just fine (this person explained why a PMR letter wasn't in the file, also).

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

I posted my stats previously, so I won't repeat myself 🙂 but the medical director of the hospital just told us today that the PMR director gives good grades but writes " needs to learn more basic sciences" regardless of how much the student knows. Even if he's going to give the guy an A, they claim he still writes it on the eval! I applied to PMR and have letters from other fields, do I need PMR letter, I'm afraid he's one of those guys who wouldn't help my application!

Doesn't mean he'll write in in the LOR, and those comments are not sent to Residency Directors. Show a true interest in PM&R, show up and learn and you'll usually get a stellar PM&R LOR easily.

 

[rehab_sports_dr]

Programs vary, but generally a letter from a PMR doc is pretty important

Some programs may use the lack of a letter (or at least the lack of a rotation) as a screening criteria in choosing which candidates they look at for interviews, so in some cases it is very important

I am not sure that I had one when I applied to residency, but I had other factors that accounted for the lack of a letter. I was able to establish my interest in PMR in other ways.

Bottom line: most programs want some demonstration that you have a sincere interest in PMR, and a letter from a PMR attending is an important proxy to demonstrate that commitment.