Although controversial (and not uniformly
adopted), standardized Letters of Recommendation (SLORs) in recent years
have been used by some dermatologists to recommend residency
applicants. A study published last month (J Clin Aesthet Dermatol
2018;11:26-29) retrospectively analyzed SLORs from 3 participating
institutions and found that the best recommendations come from writers
who know the applicant well. Grade inflation was present (“exceptional,”
a grade that should be limited to the top 5% of applicants, was given
to 25.4%). Dermatology faculty (31.5%) were more likely to evaluate
applicants as “exceptional” than departmental chairs, program directors,
and assistant program directors. Research potential and applicant
inquisitiveness were rated lower than other categories in SLORs. Based
on this study, the authors concluded, “…we were unable to draw
conclusions about the reliability of the SLOR.”
The University of Texas Medical Branch Dermatology Interest Group (UTMB DIG) is a resource for medical students interested in Dermatology as well as for dermatologists and residents.
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