Shadowing A Specialized Doc

[herewego]

Does CaRMS prefer shadowing and research mentorship through a subspecialist like a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon vs. an orthopaedic surgeon? Reason I ask isI thoroughly enjoy the subspecialty of a specialty and would like exposure to that but do not want to hurt my application as usually letters from head chairs/research directors has more weight than subspecialists (even if they are presidents of their organization). Let me know your thoughts!

[A-Stark]

It doesn't matter. Get references from the staff who will write you the best letters and know you best. Ideally they'll be involved in program selection committees but you can't control that very well.

[Lactic Folly]

CaRMS is not a single monolithic entity; it is composed of people who read and assess letters. As such, people will usually give greater weight to the opinions of those they know and trust; failing that, supportive personal, anecdotal letters are also more helpful as they provide better information than form letters.

[Lactic Folly]

Sometimes a glowing letter from a community nobody family med doc is as ineffective as a lukewarm letter from a division chief.

 

Although it depends on the assessor, I think a lukewarm letter (from anybody) can potentially be damaging. As nearly all letters are uniformly positive, if I see a referee who sums up a student as "good" as opposed to "excellent," it does raise a question in my mind as to the intended message. Division chiefs are experienced in letter writing, and would not provide a lukewarm letter if they intended to promote the applicant's candidacy.

 

As for the community family doc - again, depends on the assessor, but I think a detailed, personal letter which shows effort and knowledge of the candidate would make a favourable impression on most readers (to be distinguished from a "glowing" letter which merely gushes about how outstanding the candidate is without supporting examples). Plus, you never know who was a former classmate of whom... in the same token, someone may be well known but not as respected or liked.

 

But much of this is beyond the control of the OP - as A-Stark said, just pick people who are highly supportive of you, and preferably those who have some pull with the program where you want to match.