Letter of Recommendation Business School Professor?

[psych_psych_psych]

Hi all,
I was curious how much impact a letter of recommendation would be from a prominent figure in the business of medicine. If they commented on the way I viewed problems, my potential to innovate within healthcare, and my character. Do you think that this would be a useful letter for only some specific schools?

I appreciate your opinions as I'm weighing my option to send this out to schools as a supplementary LOR.

Thank you!

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[splik]

What is a "supplementary LOR"? You only get to submit 4 letters (and 3 will usually suffice). Do not submit more than that. It would be fine for one of those letters to be from a B school professor if that person knew you well and was able to describe your attributes. That said, it is possible that some people might react negatively to a letter from someone like this. Most academics don't know anything about the business of medicine and may look at these people (and thus you) with suspicion and distain. Personally, I would only suggest providing this letter if you thought this person was better able to comment on your professional attributes and suitability to thrive as a physician and psychiatrist than other people. You didn't mention whether this person was an MD or just an MBA/DBA? If they are an MD, the letter might carry more weight and be less toxic.

 

[Sushirolls]

Is the LOR for residency or medical school?

Residency, not worth it, no one will care.

 

[psych_psych_psych]

@splik @Sushirolls
Thanks for the input. They aren't an MD, but are well known as a leader in health care reform. I was thinking that at reach schools it might be a unique attribute to bring the lens of systems changes to improve healthcare. The letter would be for residency.

 

[downwithDTB]

If you've sent three clinical, including at least one psychiatist and one non-psychiatrist, I could see this letter being of interest *if it's really good.* The vast majority of LORS are generic and boring: how could they not be? You've worked with someone at most for a few months and they like you... but in no way is every medical student actually a star like they say.

If this person is going to comment on how you have been able to take a particular project, develop it over time (at least a year) and overcome specific barriers and complete something substantial that differentiates you from your peers AND their recommendation and your experiences cohesively jive with your personal statement (rec: interested in healthcare reform and worked on project, ps: I want to do healthcare policy after residency) then some readers at some programs who are trying to identify people who will contribute beyond just being good rank and file docs will be intrigued. Sure, some business haters might dislike it. I would love to see that package myself.

How else would a PD know who might make a good CEO since this is a bit out of their wheelhouse? If you haven't noticed, academic psych depts/hospitals are filling up with doctors who never practice and only do admin and every psychiatist everywhere agrees that we need health care policy changes.

 

[psychattending]

Unless you are selling yourself as having a longterm interest in the business of medicine and my program has an interest in developing people for such a career, then including such a letter is a negative. If both of the two are true, then including it as a fourth letter could be helpful. I would never use such a letter as one of your three baseline clinical letters.

 

[psych_psych_psych]

Thank You @psychattending