Letters of recommendation (new posts)

A thought about recommendations: Re: A thought about recommendations

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:29:14 +0000

Sycinnyc gave a nice summary of the various faculty that can write your LoR. Be sure to check the website of each program for requirements, including # of specific faculty letters and whether or not a chairperson's letter is required. I just want to add a few things:

Sometimes a program director's letter is acceptable in place of the chair's letter; the point is to have a letter from someone who frequently writes & reads LoRs
Students, including myself, have been hesitant to approach the Chair for a LoR if you have never worked with him/her. However, the protocol is to make an appointment with the Chair sometime in June, July, or August to discuss your CV and you interest in the specialty. Note that LoRs will be written on a first-come-first-serve basis. Thus, chairpersons are used writing for us!
Even if a chair's LoR is not required for a particular program, I have been advised to still include this letter in additional to more personal letters, for the reason noted above: to have a letter from someone who frequently writes & reads LoRs
If you did research and you are applying to an academic residency program, you should include a LoR from your research mentor. This is especially important if research is a significant part of your past/future and the program you have applied to is very research-oriented.
Preferably, the LoR writer should be academic faculty rather than private physician.
Currently, ERAS allows a maximum of 4 LoRs to be uploaded per program. If you have more than four LoRs, you can assign different LoRs to different programs.

A thought about recommendations: Re: A thought about recommendations

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:00:40 +0000

In choosing letter writers, I think a little bit of luck and a little bit of charisma on your part can go a long way. Number one, choose ppl that seem to have their "shit" together. If you're attending takes forever during
rounds, seems to be a little unorganized, new at the job….they might be a little weak on the letter writing. Those attending that were solid on rounds, were vocal and even intimidating…in my opinion…are the best
ones to get to write a letter for you namely because they'll hand it in quick and generally they'll write very well on your behalf. Obviously if you felt like the attending didn't like you….then don't ask that person. Also
don't be afraid asking too many….it's way better to ask too many than too few. You have complete control over which programs receive which letter. Another helpful tidbit….you can't tell until you pay for eras which
letter writers submitted letters. Once you pay for eras and send it away, you can see who has sent letters in……definitely send in eras even if all of your letters are in. You can also call Philippa and ask her if your
letters are in. Don't do this too much however, she and the rest of OME (Dr. Neilsen) will remember if you are a frequent flyer.

LOR for aspiring Pediatricians!: LOR for aspiring Pediatricians!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:35:09 +0000

We need 3 LOR's at least. I would get as many as you can and then pick through ERAS. I am not exactly sure how many you can send to each program but at least 3 you need to have. I would ask to meet with Dr. Quattrin. She is the chair of pediatrics. Her secretary is Lisa and her number is 878-7288. I would get a letter from her if you can or at least try to meet with her. I would ask one of the attendings you worked with during pediatrics and then if you are doing a Sub-I now or in August ask one of them. Those should be your 3 letters. If you can't come up with them from that, maybe go talk to the residency coordinator, Dr. Fitzpatrick, that's who I talked to. Her secretary's number is 878-7355 and you could set up to meet with her! She is full of all sorts of helpful info. Hope that helps!

A thought about recommendations: A thought about recommendations

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:04:27 +0000

This is going sound exceedingly frustrating but there's no right answer to do this. Some residencies actually like when that letters all come from faculty in the specialty you're applying to (i.e. Surgery and its specialties) while there's alot of leeway with others… by that I mean that similar specialties don't mind getting letters from each other (i.e. Medicine letters for a Family Med residency)
So here are a couple of ideas of who you might approach..
1) The Chair of the Specialty (from UB) of the residency you're going into - the only mandated letter in almost all programs
2) Physicians from Third Year
3) Physicians from Fourth Year sub-i's/electives
4) Physician Mentors in Med School/clubs/shadowing etc.
As far as obtaining them… that's another strategy that I wasn't very good at… anybody have thoughts about that?