Setting up LOR's

[SgtThunderfistMD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys,

I had a quick question regarding LOR's for Anesthesia since the topic is fresh in everyone's mind. I understand that we can only submit 4 LOR's per program, and am struggling with setting up my last few elective rotations revolving around getting them:

• I understand that (1) has to be from a medicine/surgery attending.
• Since I took an LOA during M1 to pursue clinical research, I understand that (1) has to be from my research mentor, a neurologist.
• I have also heard many programs require (1) from my home institution program director, leaving only one wild-card LOR leftover. Unfortunately, I do not know the PD that well (he does general anes in a different building), and do not plan to do an elective in his department.
• My two planned electives in OB and CV are in departments with attendings with whom I have done research/shadowed. The OB Anes attending has been my mentor since my M1, and the CV Anes is well-known around the country (and he is Department Chair at his institution).

I guess I am wondering if: a) reserving one LOR for my PD is absolutely necessary and if so, b) should I change my CV elective to a general anesthesia elective to get to work with my PD, thus eliminating the chances of getting a LOR from the famous CV guy? Thanks!

 

[courtnes]

The most important thing is having at least 1-2 letters from anesthesiologists. I also had a research letter from my mentor, and a CT surgeon - I think surgery is a good letter to have since we play in the same sandbox, but a medicine letter is good too. Your research letter will be helpful if you're applying to research-heavy institutions, but less necessary probably if you're applying for community programs.

None of the programs I applied to required a letter from the home institution PD. Only requirement I came across was for prelim medicine they all wanted a medicine chair letter, which everyone at your institution applying to medicine should receive.

Names matter, keep the CV elective and get that letter.

 

[SgtThunderfistMD]

First off, thanks for your advice!

Your research letter will be helpful if you're applying to research-heavy institutions, but less necessary probably if you're applying for community programs.

I was actually told by a couple PD's at last year's ASA that I need to have a letter from my PI since I spent a year away from medical school, and it would raise eyebrows if I didn't have one from him. Anyways, I am hoping to go to an academic program (BW, UW, JH).

None of the programs I applied to required a letter from the home institution PD.

That's pretty relieving, would solve both my elective scheduling issue and my LOR issue.

Thank you! I will stick with the research PI, get a surgery attending, CV guy, and OB guy.

 

[rakotomazoto]

You seem well-informed about LOR's and I like that you have a specific plan. Ask early and follow up appropriately (don't bother them, but don't let them forget all about it either). You should be solid. Our home PD wrote all of us a letter, but you ultimately decide what gets submitted and as mentioned, the programs you apply to don't require a home PD letter. I had more than 4 letters since I didn't want to get stuck with too few in case someone didn't come through for me. I ended up with more than 4 letters and sent certain ones (2 Anes + 2 others) to certain programs strategically, so you don't necessarily need to limit yourself. There is also nothing wrong with asking for more than 4 but then sending the "best" 4 that actually get submitted on your behalf to all the programs you apply to. I put "best" in quotations because you won't actually know what people say in their letters usually, but hopefully your relationship is strong enough that you can gauge what kinds of things they will say. I actually had multiple interviewers read me selections from my letters in the interview because they wanted to share the positive things that my mentors had said about me.