Hi everyone! I contacted the physician I scribed for and just texted him hi and hope he’s doing well etc along with me applying to med school next cycle. After 2 texts, he pretty much left me on read lol. Scribed for him for about 10 months and then the pandemic hit and I continued to scribe remotely for a pcp during the pandemic. Kinda sucks
Physician left me on read
- Thread starter ma0607
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I say this with all possible kindness, but this is a former employer of yours, for whom you worked briefly several years ago, who is probably at least 10 years older than you - not a friend. I think the expectation of a whole text message conversation just to catch up is a bit much, especially for a busy physician. It sounds like he responded appropriately from what you've described of your relationship...I wouldn't overthink it.
D
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What were you hoping for from the conversation? Were you planning to ask for a LOR?
If you were just letting him know that you’re applying this cycle and his response was something like “that’s great, best of luck to you!” then that is a perfectly acceptable response.
Think of it like you ran into him in the mall or at a restaurant, said hello and then you mentioned you were applying…same thing. Also, you don’t know what you may have texted him in the middle of…he could have been driving somewhere, dealing with a work crisis, on date night with his spouse, or on vacation with his family.
If you were just letting him know that you’re applying this cycle and his response was something like “that’s great, best of luck to you!” then that is a perfectly acceptable response.
Think of it like you ran into him in the mall or at a restaurant, said hello and then you mentioned you were applying…same thing. Also, you don’t know what you may have texted him in the middle of…he could have been driving somewhere, dealing with a work crisis, on date night with his spouse, or on vacation with his family.
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I will add that texting is a casual way to communicate and not the right way to ask for something important like this.
If you would like to request a letter from him for medical school applications, you should either send an email, or make an appointment to speak with him and ask in person.
Have all the information about how he could submit a letter ready for him in either situation.
If you would like to request a letter from him for medical school applications, you should either send an email, or make an appointment to speak with him and ask in person.
Have all the information about how he could submit a letter ready for him in either situation.
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Agree with the above.
As an aside, unless your committee requires a letter, or this is a DO and you need a DO letter, there isn't a lot of value in letters from physicians for whom one has scribed. Better than a letter from someone you shadowed but not highly valued.
If you are in need of a letter from this physician send an email asking if he can provide a strong letter of recommendation. Include the details of your work for him (start & end dates) and the AAMC handout on LORs (Google it). Do this about 6-8 weeks before you need the letter (uploaded in AMCAS or sent to your committee).
As an aside, unless your committee requires a letter, or this is a DO and you need a DO letter, there isn't a lot of value in letters from physicians for whom one has scribed. Better than a letter from someone you shadowed but not highly valued.
If you are in need of a letter from this physician send an email asking if he can provide a strong letter of recommendation. Include the details of your work for him (start & end dates) and the AAMC handout on LORs (Google it). Do this about 6-8 weeks before you need the letter (uploaded in AMCAS or sent to your committee).
Yeah I was hoping to ask for the letter but didn’t want to ask outright over text. I asked him if he had time to briefly chat about my application next year explicitly and then would have asked him for a rec.
I need an MD letter for my committee letter and he is the one MD I worked with in a strong clinical setting and one I really enjoyed. I have worked with other MDs in a mainly research setting but also have time shadowing them in the clinic as well. I am just going to email this physician in September asking for a rec when the time gets closer unless he responds. Thanks!
I texted to make a formal appointment to ask about it in person or on zoom, I don’t want to outright ask over text. I just initiated the conversation over text
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Could you explain for this old person what "Left you on read" means???
I sent him 2 texts to set up an appointment to meet about a rec letter and he read the texts on his phone and didn’t respond probably. I’m going to reach out through email next time.
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Just let it be. It will be a lukewarm letter at best if he’s not enthusiastic about writing it
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To OP, physicians are super busy people; don't take this personally and do reach out to them via email. If they just never respond to you, move on and find someone else for the letter. In the future, it is good practice to cut to the chase of what you want from people when you reach out to them. Just ask right away that you want a letter from them, instead of inviting them to "have a chat," which is a vague request and asks more of their time than necessary.
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In that case, it sounds like you already have your answer about the letter of rec. If you asked to meet up to chat about your medical school application he probably can put two and two together that you're asking for a LOR...if a potential letter writer responds to a request like this with anything less than enthusiasm, looking you should be looking elsewhere for a letter.
How well did you perform during that time, ask yourself objectively before you ask for a letter of rec. The last thing you want is a generic letter anyway.
I think I did pretty well. It was a normal outpatient scribe job with 8/5 hours on a part time basis for well over 200 hours. Planned to do another 200 into 2021 in person but covid derailed that. He was a reference for my research position I did in 2021. Now reaching out to him again, just didn’t get a response at all. Maybe he was busy and I caught him in a bad time. I will ask again for a rec through email instead.
Thanks! I will email him in September and directly ask there
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Umm were you texting this person before or something? The only scribes that I would text are my bros who I’ve done stuff outside work with (like biking and snowboarding). Having some random scribe text me would be a wtf moment. Use email next time.
Great, best of luck with your app.
We have exchanged texts few times before so it wasn’t the first time.
