Letter from distant relative?

[ssj4vinh]

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I have the opportunity to shadow my mom's cousin's husband who is a cardiologist. Would it be appropriate to get a letter of recommendation from him? I've never met him and he isn't related directly by blood either, so I feel like this would almost be like shadowing someone I'm not related to. Unfortunately he has the same last name as me. Maybe I could provide an explanation to adcoms?

I've had no success so far in finding other physicians to shadow. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[SN12357]

It's fine for the shadowing. Not fine for a letter. Letters from physicians you shadow are meaningless anyway, so don't worry about it.

 

[Catalystik]

I agree. If you're one of those applicants who needs a physician letter, eventually ask the cardiologist to pass you on to another doc he knows from a different specialty, so you have some variety.