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    Accruing LORs

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    sam
    The document provides guidance on letters of recommendation (LORs) for residency applications. It emphasizes that LORs are important and outlines tips for selecting letter writers and crafting strong LORs. A good LOR comments on accomplishments, fund of knowledge, ability to work with others, and teachability. A great LOR is from someone with direct knowledge of clinical skills, provides anecdotes of patient relationships, and is from someone connected to programs of interest with academic titles. Samples of good and great LORs are included to demonstrate these qualities.

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    Accruing LORs

    Uploaded by

    sam
    109 views7 pages
    The document provides guidance on letters of recommendation (LORs) for residency applications. It emphasizes that LORs are important and outlines tips for selecting letter writers and crafting strong LORs. A good LOR comments on accomplishments, fund of knowledge, ability to work with others, and teachability. A great LOR is from someone with direct knowledge of clinical skills, provides anecdotes of patient relationships, and is from someone connected to programs of interest with academic titles. Samples of good and great LORs are included to demonstrate these qualities.

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    Accruing LORs

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    The document provides guidance on letters of recommendation (LORs) for residency applications. It emphasizes that LORs are important and outlines tips for selecting letter writers and crafting strong LORs. A good LOR comments on accomplishments, fund of knowledge, ability to work with others, and teachability. A great LOR is from someone with direct knowledge of clinical skills, provides anecdotes of patient relationships, and is from someone connected to programs of interest with academic titles. Samples of good and great LORs are included to demonstrate these qualities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    109 views7 pages

    Accruing LORs

    Uploaded by

    sam
    The document provides guidance on letters of recommendation (LORs) for residency applications. It emphasizes that LORs are important and outlines tips for selecting letter writers and crafting strong LORs. A good LOR comments on accomplishments, fund of knowledge, ability to work with others, and teachability. A great LOR is from someone with direct knowledge of clinical skills, provides anecdotes of patient relationships, and is from someone connected to programs of interest with academic titles. Samples of good and great LORs are included to demonstrate these qualities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    The document provides tips on collecting strong letters of recommendation for residency applications, including choosing recommenders who know your work well and can speak to your clinical abilities and interpersonal skills.

    Tips include providing your resume and personal statement to recommenders, asking if they feel comfortable writing a strong letter, indicating your FERPA choice, and including a self-addressed stamped postcard for the recommender to notify you when the letter is complete. It also discusses factors to consider when choosing recommenders, such as those who have seen you in clinical settings and can speak to your performance.

    A 'good' letter mentions accomplishments from the applicant's resume, comments on their clinical knowledge and ability to work with patients and coworkers, and speaks to their potential to develop as a resident ('teachability'). It provides a sample 'good' letter addressing these elements.

    Letters of Recommendation

    LORs are one of the most important parts of your


    residency application. The following information will
    help you as you collect and choose the LORs you will
    use to support your residency candidacy.

    Letters of Recommendation
    Tips:
    Have a resume for your letter writer
    Have a personal statement for your writer
    Ask the writer if s/he feels comfortable writing a strong LOR
    Use the ERAS cover letter to indicate your FERPA choice
    Enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard to have the letter
    writer send to you when s/he finishes writing your LOR.

    Letters of Recommendation
    How do I choose an LOR? Choose based on
    The LORs you actually have
    Someone who has seen you in action
    The person who gave you a high grade
    Letter writers who have connections
    Letter writers in your preferred area of specialty
    Letter writers with academic titles
    Letter writers from late in your 3rd or early 4th year

    Letters of Recommendation
    What does a good LOR look like?
    (Good LORs make up about 65% of all LORs received)
    Mentions your accomplishments as described on your resume
    Comments on your good fund of knowledge
    Comments on your ability to get along with patients and
    coworkers
    Comments on your teachability

    Letters of Recommendation

    Sample good LOR:


    Dear Program Director[M1],
    I am pleased to recommend Karen Pomeroy as a candidate for medical residency. She completed her family medicine rotation with me in
    the spring of 2006 at Warren Hospital. In this capacity I was able to observe her on a few occasions.[M2]
    Karen is an accomplished student, and is a very well-rounded individual. She is a graduate of Penn State University, and has completed
    research in the field of Alzheimers. At PCOM she is involved with the American Medical Student Association, the Student Osteopathic
    Medical Association, and the Sparkle Motion club [M3].
    Clinically, Karen has a good fund of knowledge, and is above her peers in her ability to apply knowledge to clinical situations[M4]. In her
    short time here she rapidly improved on her ability to formulate a differential diagnosis and devise an appropriate plan of action for the
    patients she encountered[M5]. Karen is a great team player, and she was able to develop a rapport with even our most difficult
    patients[M6].
    Karen is a caring and intelligent individual. I trust that she will develop into a highly competent and dedicated intern[M7], and as such I
    recommend with her without reservation.
    Sincerely,
    Dr. Lilian Thurman, D.O.
    Chairman, Division of Internal Medicine at Warren Hospital

    [M1]Addressed to Program Director.


    [M2]Mentions that recommender was only able to observe applicant on a few occasions.
    [M3]Recommendation based largely on resume information, not personal contact.
    [M4]Comments on student fund of knowledge.
    [M5]Comments on teachability: will this person be able to learn and develop as a resident?
    [M6]Comments on persons ability to get along with others.
    [M7]Shows confidence about student developing into intern.

    Letters of Recommendation
    What does a GREAT LOR look like?(~35%

    of LORs)
    (Great LORs make up about 35% of all LORs received)
    Everything that a good LOR has, and more
    Written by someone who has first-hand knowledge of your skills
    Comments on your ability to form relationships with patients
    Gives anecdotal evidence to support recommendation
    Written by someone who has connections to a program you are
    interested in, and/or someone who has several academic titles

    Letters of Recommendation

    Sample great LOR:


    Dear Program Director[M1],
    It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Joel Barish to you, as he is one of the best medical students that I have had rotate through my practice in years.
    Joel recently completed a one-month rotation with me in my clinic. During this time, he was under my direct supervision[M2 ], and I was able to observe him
    closely and often. I find that my clinic is often an extremely demanding rotation for many medical students[M3]. Joel clearly demonstrated that he was up for
    the challenge. He worked hard to absorb as many skills as he could, and by the end of the rotation, was performing at the level of my best interns.
    Joel has a friendly, easygoing personality and a mild demeanor. He displayed exceptional maturity and possesses outstanding skill at quickly forging
    relationships with her patients and coworkers [ M4]. His interpersonal relationships are so well-developed that there were several patients who requested to
    see that new doctor rather than me for their follow-ups.[M5]
    His clinical fund of knowledge is well above that of his peers, and his ability to make a differential diagnosis improved during his time here. I have no doubts
    that his skills will flourish during his residency years[M6]. Early on Joel made clear his interest in Internal Medicine, and I was greatly pleased to hear of these
    residency ambitions.[M7] His professional curiosity about the field and his ability to perform at such a high level only strengthens my confidence in giving
    him the highest recommendation.
    Sincerely,
    Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, D.O
    Chairman, Division of Internal Medicine
    Core Director, General Internal Medicine
    Rockville Centre College of Osteopathic Medicine [M8]

    [M1]Addressed Dear Program Director.


    [M2]Written by someone who has first hand knowledge of your skills.
    [M3]Mentions that the recommendation is made based on his performance in a challenging situation.
    [M4]Comments on your ability to form relationships with patients.
    [M5]Gives anecdotal evidence to support recommendation.
    [M6]Comments on teachability.
    [M7]Mentions interest in a specific residency path: not always applicable, if you cant commit to one field.
    [M8]Written by someone with academic titles.

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