Session Design Submission Review

Yes

• Faculty Development
• Membership

In academia, a well-crafted Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is not merely a formality; it can be a critical determinant of a candidate’s tenure and promotion. For surgical educators, often juggling intense clinical demands with administrative responsibilities, crafting these pivotal endorsements of expertise and skill can feel like an additional burden, with variable outcomes due to differing levels of experience and writing acumen.  This session, “The Science of Writing a Good Letter of Recommendation,” is intended to transform this often-daunting task into a strategic advantage for both the writer and the recipient by providing a comprehensive framework that elevates the quality and impact of every letter produced.  The structure and content of LORs will be discussed with an emphasis on what critical information should be included: clinical performance, technical skills, professionalism, research engagement, and leadership potential. Emphasis will be placed on transforming anecdotal observations into quantifiable achievements and specific examples, leveraging the “show, don’t tell” principle that underpins persuasive writing.

The “Science” component will delve deeply into implicit and explicit biases to avoid that can inadvertently undermine an otherwise strong candidate. Participants will learn to identify common pitfalls such as gendered language, “effort” vs. “achievement” bias, the “likeability” trap, and the tendency to over-praise or under-praise certain demographics. We will discuss strategies to mitigate these biases, ensuring every letter reflects a fair, objective, and equitable evaluation of competence and potential, rather than subjective impressions.  The goal is to strategically position a candidate’s experiences to align with the specific values and requirements of target medical schools or professional societies, moving beyond generic praise to powerful, personalized endorsements.

Tools, Skills, and Information Surgical Educators Will Take Back:

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the critical elements that make an LOR impactful, the ethical considerations inherent in their creation, and the strategic importance of tailoring each letter.

90-minute workshop

Yes

Yes

The letter writer will understand the anatomy of a reputable letter of recommendation

Senior and junior surgical educators will practice de-biasing strategies

Learners will audit a collection of LORs to identify writing patterns that might reveal unconscious biases in how different types of candidates are described