Mention specific procedures in shadowing letter?

[skeletor06]

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I shadowed a D.O. family physician for 20 hours, and helped the physician with several well-woman examinations (placing test swabs in vials for testing, cleaning up the area, maintaining sterile area), etc. during that time. I'm now writing my own letter of recommendation, which the physician will look over, change if she wants to, and sign before sending it off.

Is it okay to mention that I assisted on these well-woman exams? I don't want to toot my own horn here, and it's not like I did anything that difficult, but I thought mentioning it might speak to my ability to be mature and dependable, or something. Any thoughts?

 

[medickdb]

I shadowed a D.O. family physician for 20 hours, and helped the physician with several well-woman examinations (placing test swabs in vials for testing, cleaning up the area, maintaining sterile area), etc. during that time. I'm now writing my own letter of recommendation, which the physician will look over, change if she wants to, and sign before sending it off.

Is it okay to mention that I assisted on these well-woman exams? I don't want to toot my own horn here, and it's not like I did anything that difficult, but I thought mentioning it might speak to my ability to be mature and dependable, or something. Any thoughts?

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see someone writing a letter of recommendation including such things. You could include that you had the opportunity to observe a well-woman visit during your shadowing opportunity, but I wouldn't include a list of tasks.

 

[TheDarkKnightReturns]

I shadowed a D.O. family physician for 20 hours, and helped the physician with several well-woman examinations (placing test swabs in vials for testing, cleaning up the area, maintaining sterile area), etc. during that time. I'm now writing my own letter of recommendation, which the physician will look over, change if she wants to, and sign before sending it off.

Is it okay to mention that I assisted on these well-woman exams? I don't want to toot my own horn here, and it's not like I did anything that difficult, but I thought mentioning it might speak to my ability to be mature and dependable, or something. Any thoughts?

This feels like a major breach in confidentiality. I am unsure if things have changed but it was the standard to not see a LOR or have any part in writing it and to do so would be against the norm.

Setting this aside, I have written LOR before and I have included certain examples but nothing as specific as you have suggested. I would go with the broader term of "he/she assisted me in procedures which showed" etc. If you are truly unsure you can add it and the physician will simply take it out. However, I would advise to leave the specifics out.

 

[skeletor06]

I understand your concern, but after doing a lot of research on the topic on SDN, the consensus seems to be that since I am drafting a letter, sending it to the physician, and she is changing it and altering it as she sees fit (without my input), it should be fine. I also spoke with a family member who has owned a staffing firm for 25 years, and she stated unequivocally that she would be fine with someone doing this and sending it to her, either as a referee or as a potential employer. And to be completely honest, either way, I don't really have a choice.

I appreciate the help with the specifics, and I'll just leave them out.

 

[kinzav]

I was really close with my LOR givers and of the 3, two of them gave to me to proofread before they sent it off. You probably shouldn't mention this to anyone, lol, but it seems like a good sign to me (unless it's just cause they're busy).

Also, I'd say something more along the lines of "I attended a wide range of procedures...etc." like batman said.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Dark Knight: It is common for students to read their LORs and even draft their own to have it edited by the letter writer. I've heard of a lot of people doing this nowadays.
OP: Like others have said, I'd leave the specifics out and mention that you 'oversaw various procedures' or something along those lines.