Question about LOR official letterhead?

[TheLeadSeed]

Hey y'all!

I did some searching, but could only find threads regarding professors, and not doctors.

Here's my question:
I will be apply next cycle, and I am currently using Interfolio to store my letters. Last week, a DO that I shadowed uploaded a LOR (letter of recommendation) for me. I know schools ask letters to be signed and on official letterhead. Is this something only for the professors, or do the doctors do this too?

Sorry if it's a stupid question. It's just a little confusing to me. I'm debating whether to kindly email the letter writer and ask if he wrote it on official letterhead and signed it, even though I don't really know if he knows what that means.

Thanks guys!

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[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

If he's a local DO and he has had more than 1 pre-med shadow him, I would assume he isn't new to the AACOM "dance" and therefore should be cognizant of things like letterhead etc. Call the office and ask him to make sure, you should really be on top of things like this!

 

[TheLeadSeed]

If he's a local DO and he has had more than 1 pre-med shadow him, I would assume he isn't new to the AACOM "dance" and therefore should be cognizant of things like letterhead etc. Call the office and ask him to make sure, you should really be on top of things like this!

I mean I traveled 2 hours one way to shadow him, and I did that a few times. Yeah you're right! This was my first shadow and LOR experience, so I'm still a little new and it slipped my mind. What exactly is letterhead? I know professors would use their respective university's letterhead. What would a doctor use?

 

[OrdinaryDO]

I mean I traveled 2 hours one way to shadow him, and I did that a few times. Yeah you're right! This was my first shadow and LOR experience, so I'm still a little new and it slipped my mind. What exactly is letterhead? I know professors would use their respective university's letterhead. What would a doctor use?

They have official business letterheads from their hospitals or clinic of employment. Anyone writing a letter of recommendation should know this. Did he/she not write it on a letterhead or are you just assuming he didn't?

 

[TheLeadSeed]

They have official business letterheads from their hospitals or clinic of employment. Anyone writing a letter of recommendation should know this. Did he/she not write it on a letterhead or are you just assuming he didn't?

I'm just making assumptions here! My fear is that when I go to send it in next year, it gets rejected because it's not official.

I'll just email him and double check!

 

[OrdinaryDO]

I'm just making assumptions here! My fear is that when I go to send it in next year, it gets rejected because it's not official.

I'll just email him and double check!

I'm not sure if my letter writers used letter headers because I didn't really think to ask, but every one of my letters were accepted. My DO and PhD letter writers used the new AACOMAS e-mail letter services and my committee used interfolio or VirtualEva l one of the two.

 

[TheLeadSeed]

@OrdinaryDO Oh ok I see! Yeah the doc just emailed me back saying he is pretty sure he wrote it on letterhead and signed it, but will double check for me. I have a second DO letter writer that I am the first undergrad he is writing a letter for (usually writes for med students for residency I think) so I made sure to ask him just now to do the letterhead and sign it if possible.

Thanks y'all! 🙂

 

[OrdinaryDO]

@OrdinaryDO Oh ok I see! Yeah the doc just emailed me back saying he is pretty sure he wrote it on letterhead and signed it, but will double check for me. I have a second DO letter writer that I am the first undergrad he is writing a letter for (usually writes for med students for residency I think) so I made sure to ask him just now to do the letterhead and sign it if possible.

Thanks y'all! 🙂

Sounds like you have some good letter writers, just make sure they are quality writers and they know you well enough to write a personal or professional letter. My committee has made it clear that most of the physician LORs are written poorly and not very influential.