Writing letters of recommendation (LORs), whether for medical students applying to residency programs or colleagues applying for other professional opportunities, can be viewed as unwelcome drudgery or a rewarding professional responsibility. As a seasoned program director, I read literally hundreds of LORs each year, which has given me some unique insights about what to do and what not to do when writing them.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO

The following tips offer simple ways to make your letter writing more effective.

Do use official letterhead. If you are affiliated with a university, hospital, or health system, use their letterhead. If you are in private practice, develop a simple and professional template, ideally with your practice name or logo, that conveys who you are affiliated with and your specialty. This allows readers to quickly gain insight into your professional situation and capacity to give valuable insights about the applicant.

Do introduce yourself. Briefly describe your background, experience, relationship to the applicant, and the amount of time you’ve known them. For example, stating that you are a department chair who has been teaching family medicine for 30 years and knows the applicant well establishes your authority. If you are a new family doctor who just started working with medical students, you can still frame your letter in a way that conveys credibility, such as “I’ve worked with five medical students since establishing my practice, and this applicant proved to be the most accomplished in the following ways…”