Letter of rec from a podiatrist

[diskhmergrl]

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So last summer I came into a private office to shadow a podiatrist, but there was also another podiatrist (they share the office) so I ended up shadowing both of them in the summer. I shadowed the first podiatrist more often in the summer and when the school year began I ended up only shadowing him every other month. It just turned out that way, where his schedule worked best with mine. So it's been almost a year, so the first podiatrist knows he'll need to write my letter of rec soon, but now I'm wondering if I should ask the 2nd podiatrist for a letter of rec? I mean when I come into the office to shadow the first podiatrist, I do see the other one sometimes. I kind of don't want to ask him since all the schools only require one letter of rec, but does having one more letter of rec from a podiatrist look better on my application?

And another question... I don't plan to apply for podiatry school for this coming up cycle (for the class of 2016), but I'm planning to take a year off after college. So I don't need to ask for my letter of rec yet, so would it be better to continue to shadow him for the next year then ask him next year for a letter? Or should I just go ahead and ask for a letter now?

 

[Sabin]

😛

 

[doctorpod]

Don't quote me on this, but I think Temple Requires 2 letters of Rec (but the other just has to be a health care professional).

I think most physicians realize that people who shadow will need them down the road. I shadowed my mentor for 3 and a half years before asking him! But then again, I started shadowing in High school 🙂

I would ask them before the cycle begins, as to give them time to write it.

Temple does require 2 LOR from physicians, and one must be from a podiatrist.

 

[dtrack22]

I believe Western asks for two letters as well? I can't remember now but there had to be a reason I shadowed the second podiatrist.

If the schools require two, ask the other pod for one. They all know why you are there and would most likely write you a letter after only a couple mornings/afternoons of shadowing. If schools don't require two letters then don't worry about getting two. Admissions won't care as long as your GPA and MCAT are within reason.

Ask for the letter now, keep it, and submit it when you need to. If you feel bad about taking your letter and leaving (stop shadowing), don't.

 

[diskhmergrl]

I believe Western asks for two letters as well? I can't remember now but there had to be a reason I shadowed the second podiatrist.

If the schools require two, ask the other pod for one. They all know why you are there and would most likely write you a letter after only a couple mornings/afternoons of shadowing. If schools don't require two letters then don't worry about getting two. Admissions won't care as long as your GPA and MCAT are within reason.

Ask for the letter now, keep it, and submit it when you need to. If you feel bad about taking your letter and leaving (stop shadowing), don't.

I'm pretty sure most of the schools require only one letter of rec from a podiatrist and I am pretty sure that Western wants two from professors. And yeah you pretty much hit the mark on that last sentence! I kinda would feel bad about asking a letter of rec from him a year earlier than I need it and then not showing up anymore after that =/ my podiatrist isn't bad or anything, I just want to check out other podiatry specialties. but you guys are right in that when people come in to shadow them, they'll expect to write a letter in the end.

thanks for all the info and help!

 

[diskhmergrl]

I have another question, so my podiatrist says that I won't be able to shadow him while he does surgery because of liability issues or what not. Is this true? I'm not sure, but I vaguely remember reading a few people mentioning to shadow podiatrists doing different procedures such as surgery. How can they can shadow if we're not allowed to be in the same operating room?

 

[dyk343]

I can confirm that temple wants two letters of rec from a podiatrist. They would not offer me an acceptance until I sent them another letter.

 

[dtrack22]

I have another question, so my podiatrist says that I won't be able to shadow him while he does surgery because of liability issues or what not. Is this true? I'm not sure, but I vaguely remember reading a few people mentioning to shadow podiatrists doing different procedures such as surgery. How can they can shadow if we're not allowed to be in the same operating room?

If you really aren't able to "observe" (remember observe does NOT mean scrub) then it would have something to do with Hospital bylaws. It shouldn't be a problem though. Ask him how reps are able to get into the OR...

 

[347932]

Ask him how reps are able to get into the OR...

Most companies that require their reps to be in the operating room carry some kind of malpractice insurance for those reps. If the hospital doesn't allow non Pod students to observe in the OR, they just don't. It is like that here where I am.

 

[dtrack22]

Most companies that require their reps to be in the operating room carry some kind of malpractice insurance for those reps. If the hospital doesn't allow non Pod students to observe in the OR, they just don't. It is like that here where I am.

Not all companies do though...and their reps get into ORs just fine

 

[diskhmergrl]

I can confirm that temple wants two letters of rec from a podiatrist. They would not offer me an acceptance until I sent them another letter.

Hmm I see.. So I guess I will ask for that second letter haha


Man that really sucks that we can't see some surgical procedures.. O well fair enough, I can wait till I get into pod school =]

 

[PADPM]

If you really aren't able to "observe" (remember observe does NOT mean scrub) then it would have something to do with Hospital bylaws. It shouldn't be a problem though. Ask him how reps are able to get into the OR...

I wouldn't challenge the doctor by asking him that question. That's confrontational. If that's what he says, you must take it for face value. Some hospitals do have that policy, and obviously reps have an exception because they have a role and aren't there for simple observation.

 

[dyk343]

Hmm I see.. So I guess I will ask for that second letter haha


Man that really sucks that we can't see some surgical procedures.. O well fair enough, I can wait till I get into pod school =]

Maybe you could call other podiatrists in the area? Mention (politely) that you want to shadow a few surgical cases?

I sympathize with you on the difficulty of finding a podiatrist to let you shadow, its awkward asking to shadow someone. But just suck it up and get done what needs to be done. As you have likely saw already its a fun experience once you get to know the doctor a little better. Good luck.

 

[347932]

Not all companies do though...and their reps get into ORs just fine

Which companies don't provide this to their reps, because I don't know any.

 

[dtrack22]

American Medical Concepts

There are more but listing off a handful of companies that you've never heard of or worked with (unless you've had reps from every co in the country?) would be pointless.

 

[347932]

American Medical Concepts

There are more but listing off a handful of companies that you've never heard of or worked with (unless you've had reps from every co in the country?) would be pointless.

OK, I just never heard that before.

 

[dtrack22]

The malpractice/rep rule is probably a geography thing