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SAMPLE OF A STRONG LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR ERAS
<PLACE LETTER ON INSTITUTIONAL LETTERHEAD>
December 15, 2005
Dear Program Director:
It is with great enthusiasm that I submit this letter of recommendation on behalf of <First and Last Name>
(AMCAS ID#: XXXXXX). As a senior faculty person at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, I have
had opportunity to see many talented medical students over the years. Rarely do I have an opportunity to
work with a student as talented as <First and Last Name>.
I first met <First Name> when I served as a facilitator of small groups that we call clinical tutorials. In these
small-group interactive sessions, students learn to do a history and physical examination, develop a problem
list, and learn basic differential diagnoses. Students develop their own learning issues and report back to the
group. It was obvious from the beginning that <First Name> was enthusiastic about clinical medicine and
very well prepared. He had an unusual command of the basic sciences and a genuine curiosity about
clinical presentations and about patients themselves. He exceeded expectations in his research on the
clinical issues he was assigned to present to the group. At the same time, his presentations were not only
well organized, but delivered at an appropriate level. <First Name> works well as part of a learning team. He
has the exceptional talent of facilitating the participation of others and making those around him function at a
higher level of enthusiasm and achievement. His effectiveness as a clinical teacher is well documented.
Later, I had opportunity to review <First Name>’s work during his <Name of Clerkship> clerkship. Again his
work was enthusiastic, competent and thorough. Mr. <Last Name> always went beyond the average to
gather data from multiple sources, and interpret and present it in a way that could be easily understood and
used. After examining a patient with acute biliary colic, for example, he researched the available imaging
modalities, learned why sonography was the recommended initial study, and presented this information to
the group. Mr. <Last Name>, as a result, learned much about the interpretation of sonographic images of
the gall bladder.
<First Name> immerses himself in solving clinical problems, and is persistent until he has found answers. He
worked with a very complicated diagnostic problem of a middle-aged woman with a high sedimentation rate
and serositis where the differential diagnosis and the number of consultants became extensive. He went out
of his way to coordinate with consultants, residents and staff the multiple complex input and problems in his
patient, and she benefited as a result.
<First Name> sees the potential for a clinical research career combining his interest in <Research Field>
and <Clinical Field>. He sees a career in <Clinical Field> as one where he will enjoy functioning in a team,
solving problems and benefiting those who are ill, as well as developing clinical applications for his research.
In summary, Mr. <Last Name> is not only very bright, but he is hard working. He is totally reliable and
dependable. He is well liked by patients, their families, colleagues and staff. He is an individual who makes
those around him better. In my 20 years of practicing medicine <First and Last Name> is one of top three
students I have worked with, therefore it is my pleasure to enthusiastically endorse his candidacy for your
residency program.
Sincerely,
Your Name, M.D.
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