The doctor I shadowed offered to write my LoR if I draft it myself, and now all I have left is to add the introductory sentences for the doctor, but all the samples letters I've seen were either written by professors or by clinical administrators. I'm looking for a sample LoR written by a doctor so that I can make sure I properly imitate a doctor's style of introduction. (Nothing like "I graduated from so-and-so medical college in so-and-so year....) Any suggestions? Thanks.
Introduction for LoR as written by a doctor
- Thread starter WorldWiz
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Generally, they start with something like this,
It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for WorldWiz, an applicant to your institution. I met and have gotten to know Worldie, as he prefers to be called, when he shadowed me in my nephrology practice in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has been back to visit each summer and it is always a pleasure to have him back with us.
It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for WorldWiz, an applicant to your institution. I met and have gotten to know Worldie, as he prefers to be called, when he shadowed me in my nephrology practice in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has been back to visit each summer and it is always a pleasure to have him back with us.
Hehe. Actually I meant I'm uncertain of the wording that doctors use to introduce themselves, which both LoR-writing books and online articles I've read (including here on SDN) say is necessary. So my best guess is something like, "...I was part of the class of so-and-so year at so-and-so university, and am presently a practicing so-and-so specialist..." though I suspect that I'm still missing several things.
EDIT: Strangely, I re-browsed all the book and article sources I've looked at previously, and I can't find the list that says that a doctor's LoR should include his/her credentials, so I'm starting to think that this may have just been an assumption I came up with from reading several samples. So then do doctors' LoRs not need any credential introductions after all? Thanks.
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I've seen one or two letters like that and they always seem like the doc is spending more time talkin about himself than about the applicant.
The letterhead should be self-explanatory (e.g. where he works, and the specialty area). The initials after the name and perhaps a phrase about the practice setting ("my busy pediatrics office" or "the ICU at Dogtown Memorial Hospital") is enough. Sometimes in the closing paragraph the writer will throw in a bit more biographical information such as, "In my 18 years as a residency director at Dogtown Medical Center, I have seen many talented young physicians and Worldie could hold his own among the best of them" or "Of the dozens of college students who have shadowed me over the past 10 years, I would place Worldie among the top 5% in terms of intellectual muscle and drive." (for someone else he might say "top 5% in compassion and concern for others" or whatever... it seems everyone is in the top 5%
).I've seen one or two letters like that and they always seem like the doc is spending more time talkin about himself than about the applicant.
The letterhead should be self-explanatory (e.g. where he works, and the specialty area). The initials after the name and perhaps a phrase about the practice setting ("my busy pediatrics office" or "the ICU at Dogtown Memorial Hospital") is enough. Sometimes in the closing paragraph the writer will throw in a bit more biographical information such as, "In my 18 years as a residency director at Dogtown Medical Center, I have seen many talented young physicians and Worldie could hold his own among the best of them" or "Of the dozens of college students who have shadowed me over the past 10 years, I would place Worldie among the top 5% in terms of intellectual muscle and drive." (for someone else he might say "top 5% in compassion and concern for others" or whatever... it seems everyone is in the top 5%
That makes sense. Thanks.
