Assistant Professor Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Writing letters of recommendation is an unspoken requirement for many in the medical field, but it is an area of professional development to which little direct attention is paid, despite being ranked the second most important application component for residency interview invitations. On the topic, some mentors suggest “the more you read, the better you will get”, which leaves many searching for a more evidence-based approach. The intended audience for this roundtable is early career providers who would like to develop an evidenced- based recommendation letter writing structure. We will review techniques for letter writing, ways to identify and address implicit bias, talk about the hidden meaning of certain phrases, and discuss variations in letters of recommendation including standardized letters and letters for professional advancement. This topic is ideal for a roundtable format to encourage active discussion and hands-on practice within a small group. While I’ve had no formal training in this area, as an Early Career Urogynecologist myself, I’ve been self-motivated to educate myself and would like to share what I’ve learned with those interested.
Learning Objectives:
Write an impactful, evidenced-based letter of recommendation
Identify and address implicit bias in recommendation letters
Discuss variations on recommendation letters, including standardized letters and letters for professional advancement
