Writing Letters of Recommendation: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say

Needs Statement

General internal medicine faculty physicians and allied health practitioners in inpatient and outpatient settings need to receive regular updates on current evidence-based guidelines for general internal medicine practice, effective transitions of care, and other systems-based practices. The series aims to reach the wider audience of general internal medicine practitioners at Ben Taub Hospital, the Baylor Clinic, the Harris Health System, the Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The series also aims to address the challenges of developing and implementing quality improvement strategies and maintaining quality patient care as general internal medicine practices continue to evolve. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of professional development activities, such as teaching and scholarship, as a means to keep knowledge of evolving general internal medicine practices current.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participants should be able to:

• Review the role letters of recommendation (LOR) has in the residency and fellowship application process.
• Recognize common biases in letter writing to mitigate them.
• Discuss potential benefits of using structured letters instead of traditional letters.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Term of Approval

July 1, 2023 through July 31, 2025. Original release date: July 1, 2023,

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.