​​The Ultimate Guide to Third Year: A Sample Residency Application Letter of Recommendation Email
​Are you a third year or fourth year medical school student preparing to apply for residency? Are you afraid or intimidated to ask your senior attending for a letter of recommendation? No worries! For this segment of "The Ultimate Guide to Third Year" we present a sample email template for asking your preceptor's for a letter of recommendation!

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Dear Dr.  X,
How are you? I hope you are doing well! (This conveys a connection and is a great opening line)
I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation supporting my application to "Your Chosen Field of Medicine" residencies for the 2018-2019 application cycle. I truly enjoyed my "the rotation you completed with them" rotation with you and your team this "month of said rotation" and was thankful to earn an Honors evaluation from the precepting physicians (If you did not earn Honors replace with your grade but consider the LOR and choose honors rotations if possible). Likewise, I was able to successfully pass my end of rotation shelf exam on the first attempt with a *insert percentile*. I plan to include a letter of recommendation with my application to residency and although I will be starting my application process this summer, I am requesting letters of recommendation prior to the application deadline.
I have attached a"Your Chosen Field of Medicine" Cover Letter/Letter of Intent. Through our conversations and my participation during the rotation, I believe you are aware that I am passionate about "Your Chosen Field of Medicine". I chose to apply to medical school because I am extremely passionate about the "Your Chosen Field of Medicine" healthcare field, particularly "Your Chosen Field of Medicine" incorporating "describe a good part of the career" medicine. I have chosen you as a recommendation writer as I believe you are  informed about my work ethic and my willingness to learn. Therefore, I believe you will be able to speak about my strengths in relation to the rotation and personal character.
Overall, while completing my "Your Chosen Field of Medicine" rotation, I was thankful for the opportunity to learn more about various topics including specific highlights such as: (This is a Pediatrics rotation focused example, tailor this template's example to your needs):

1. Pediatric fluid recommendations and management
2. Pediatric rounds & interpersonal skills
3. Pediatric emergency medicine & critical care  
4. Pediatric social & family interactions protocol
5. Newborn medicine & NAS interventions
6. AAP health screening recommendations
7. Pediatric infectious disease topics

While developing through the rotation, I believe that my strengths were:
(General "good" traits you can model your own responses after)

1. Being able to take constructive feedback and improve my clinical skills
2. Reading material assigned beforehand and correcting previously incorrect knowledge
3. Coordinating well with my co-student to ensure we improve everyday and support various patients’ needs
4. Gathering a detailed history and attempting to develop a list of differentials and a plan
5. (For osteopathic students only:) Implementing Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in my interventions

As a student, I am committed to improving on each rotation. As stated in my attached group, end-of-clerkship recommendation, I do feel as though I can improve my (oral presentations skills as I am admittedly reserved at times) (this shows a willingness for the student to improve, show humility and demonstrate humbleness). I am working on this aspect of my clinical skills by conducting patient presentations with residents, developing my research poster presenting skills, and thoroughly preparing for the USMLE CS patient encounters. 
Also, attached is my medically focused CV. It is focused on my experiences post-undergraduate graduation and details relevant educational and volunteer experiences. (Make sure to attach!)
Once again, I am thankful for the opportunity to experience a 4-week rotation/2 week/6 week/8 week (you get the idea) with you and your staff. It was a memorable experience and I hope to carry these lessons with me into a "Your Chosen Field of Medicine" resident position next year.  
If you are willing to write a recommendation letter it would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to contact me by email at insert email" or cellular phone at 555-555-5555 if you have any questions.
Thank you in advance for your consideration, commitment to students, and time.
Thank you,
Your Name
Your School Class of XXXX
Your Email Again

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This is a very detailed example of an email. Sometimes I wrote shorter emails if I was truly close to the letter writer. Detailed letters should get you further in your LOR requests and if they accept you can insert the letter writer's information into ERAS, receive the unique AAMC letter number and have it uploading in time to apply! Good luck to all the applicants. & Remember to have your application ready to submit to ACGME programs by September 15 on ERAS! 

​I am constantly humbled by some of the collaborations I am able to be apart of. Below are a few places I am featured on the web. Check them out as I support all of the bloggers, companies, and more below & their projects.

Accepted.com

1. On Diversity: https://blog.accepted.com/dos-for-diversity-an-osteopathic-med-school-journey/ 
2. On Medical School: https://blog.accepted.com/the-osteopathic-student-experience/
3. On Osteopathic Medicine: https://blog.accepted.com/love-osteopathic-medical-school/
4. On Pre-med Shadowing: https://blog.accepted.com/what-i-learned-from-my-premed-shadowing-experiences

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1. Wake up at 5:15am, go back to sleep until 5:50am
2. 6am: Get to the gym with my gym partner & fellow classmate Mike
   1. 20-30 minutes of HIIT or cardio on treadmill (I am training for a 5k - yay!), then either abs, arms, butt, or legs exercises - detailed workouts coming soon!
3. 7:15 am: Shower on campus or head home along the whole 0.9 miles away to wash up and change clothes. That mile long drive always gets to me. JK - I live close on purpose.
4. 7:45 am: Eat food from the school cafe, drink 2 glasses of WATER, drink my Celsius pre-workout drink, interact on social media, check emails, and relax for 10 or so minutes before 8 am class begins. If it is a really really good day, I will read over the slides diligently before the teacher begins.
5. 8 am sharp: class. uneventful. highlight. take notes. outline. take clicker quizzes. learn!
6. During class breaks: check emails, respond, interact on social media, think about post for later today, text back everyone I ignored during class, go to the bathroom, I write down everything in a notebook, then drink WATER!
7. Class ends around 4pm!
8. 4pm - 5pm take a nap, eat, drink WATER - simultaneously!
9. 5:30 maximum - I must start studying by this time or I am off track
10. 5:30 - 11pm - study study study - take breaks every 45 minutes and use a 50 minute youtube timer. I use this one. & only this one.
    1. ​​Take 10 minute breaks and either start writing blog entry, get up for WATER, eat a snack, or engage on social media
11. 11pm - 12am: focus on blog, professional emails, connections, club responsibilities, call family, love my friends/SO
12. Take half a melatonin 3mg if necessary, pray/journal, and sleep !

​There you have it - the 10 or so steps (well 12...) I follow everyday to get ahead. This is a weekday schedule. The weekends are better study days. Especially if a big Georgia or Alabama game is coming on later - I push myself to study. I am hoping my grades will improve also with this new schedule. I want all As! 2018 is mine.
What do you like to do to schedule in health, spirituality, relationships, family, and fun while trying to become the best professional you can be?
Comment below with your routine - whether you are a first year, second year, third year, fourth year, or intern starting on the wards of your residency! Happy first few weeks of February.
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(& don't worry, the author is not a gunner and lives a self-proclaimed "well balanced medical school life", whatever that means !)
​

​Every Sunday I post 5 things I am currently Reading, Watching, Buying, Answering, Posting, Saving, Traveling to, Remembering, or Eating. I want to share so you can read it to. Share & proclaim to your friends & family "This is what you should be reading today". You'll be the best of your group.


1. Reading - Medical Apartheid

http://www.thedifferentialdx.com/looking-closely-at-medical-apartheid/
Medical Apartheid - recommended to me by one of my Spelman graduate mentors who now works in public health. Everyone knows health disparities & injustice towards people gets my blood boiling and this book has tons of it. I love the history and how well researched it is (literally the last 30+ pages is a chapter of references!)


2. Watching - Red Table TalkRed Table Talk - this week featured big stories about Jordan Woods but a rare gem was found in the segment "What Men Really Think About Love". Jada Pinkett Smith has been growing on me. I have always liked her but my love, admiration, and respect only continues to grow as she shares her truth.


3. Eating - Nothing Bundt Cakes

https://www.facebook.com/nothingbundtcakes/
If you haven't checked out Nothing Bundt Cakes you are truly missing out. Another company that is closed on Sundays (major props) & gets my perfect review. I personally like the Pecan Praline & Vanilla flavors but everyone I have put on loves the other flavors too. My review? 10/10


4. Buying - Marble Accessories

Buy now 👆🏽
I really am into marble accessories right now as I have bought two marble cases for my iPhone X and I am loving it. I think it gives our tech a simple, chic, sophisticated case. I linked the one I have above.


Traveling - Amicalola Falls

Hiking Amicalola Falls in North Georgia
I love going to Amicalola Falls - it is a beautiful hike with stairs and views. I have been a couple of times in the past & recently traveled again for a cabin Airbnb experience complete with bear warning signs (side eye) & making hamburgers & popcorn with company. So many people had their family & pets with them plus it is a great workout (not for beginners!)


Share:Thanks for reading a peek into my life! Remember you are never alone & we are often more alike than different. Share on social media below & check back on the blog next week to explore another five things to know when you're bored, at work, or looking to learn. 👇🏽

​What should you wear to your next medical school or residency interview?
I get asked this question a lot - should I try to stand out or should I wear a more traditional suit and tie? Ladies ask me if a skirt suit or a pants suit is more appropriate and if stockings are necessary.
I believe a picture is worth a thousand words so check out some of the outfits I suggest for both men and women when going on med school and residency pre interview dinners.

1. White mid-sleeve shirt with black tailored trousers
2. Cap sleeved dress with nude heels
3. Polka dot top with simple black skirt
4. Classic wrap dress (any color will work!)
5. Simple, flattering knee length dress in a pretty color

No matter what you choose I would suggest not wearing jeans, open toed shoes, or leggings/work-out clothing. Of course there are exception such as programs that explicitly say to wear jeans. No matter what you choose to wear arrive on time, have a positive attitude, and be yourself. Those traits will take you further than your outfit. 

So you are interested in learning to shop at thrift stores?
Should you choose Goodwill or Salvation army? What about a local thrift store? & is thrifting the same as shopping at consignment shops? Here are the tips I have learned from over 20 years of thrift store shopping.
1. Check the Dressing Rooms FirstAs soon as I enter a thrift store I head to the dressing rooms. I check all of the open rooms looking for left behind items and then I check the rack next to them. This area is a gold mine for great finds because some gracious shopper has already picked out the best of the rack & has probably even inspected it. Maybe they put it back because of the fit - now it is yours for the taking.
2. Just Throw it in the BagAnything you like, grab it and don’t look back. It probably won’t be there when you return. Someone else will scoop it up while you’re thinking about it. I’ll admit, I have stalked people and waited until they put something down so I could swipe it up.
3. Look Behind the CounterSome of the best pieces may be on the racks at the back of the store near the dressing rooms. These items have already been searched out and deemed valuable enough to try on. Just because they weren’t a good fit for the person who originally found them doesn’t mean they won’t work for you.
4. Hit Different StoresYou can quickly Google "thrift stores near me" or use a thrifting tool like to locate various stores near you.
5. Check ClothesCheck everything - inside & out - TWICE. Look for stains, tears, beading fabric, missing buttons. Consider: why did someone give this item away? In the electronics section? Plug it in to make sure it works. Even books should be scanned for missing or damaged pages. Any and all damage should be noted before making a purchase. Can you fix it?  Will it be worth the cost?
6. Be PreparedThrift shopping without a clear goal is like grocery shopping on an empty stomach. It's doable, but it's not ideal. Make a list of what you are looking for based on what you already own. This will help keep you focused and on budget. In addition, bring pictures of your coveted gems for reference, whenever possible. This will make it easier for store clerks to help you locate what you are looking for or let you know if they have something similar or not.
7. Dress for No Fitting RoomsMost thrift stores have limited to no fitting rooms, which can make trying on your finds before purchasing them difficult. Furthermore, I don’t recommend picking things off the rack and buying them without making sure they are a good fit first. Since thrift stores don’t often issue refunds or do exchanges, try them on to avoid being stuck with clothes you can't wear. To remedy this, wear a form-fitting tank top and boy shorts or leggings to make trying things on as easy as possible even if it means changing in the middle of the store. If the shop doesn't provide shopping carts - bring a bag and talk to the store owner about what you are doing. You can easily spend hours in a thrift store. Avoid unnecessary fatigue by wearing comfortable clothes and shoes. I wear a fitted tank top, wide neck t-shirt, leggings and a crossbody bag.
I love thrift store shopping because I love a good deal. It is amazing what I find for good prices and I encourage you to start looking into thrift stores and consignment shops for your next outfits. You never know when you may find a vintage Chanel piece or the newest designer with a large discount in the racks. 

​From early 2014 to the very end of 2017, I had a successful medical blog called "Daily Medicine". As the founder of a multimedia company, I created content aimed towards pre-medical students seeking entrance to medical school. This platform served as a mentoring network which has lead to the direct influence of more than a dozen students gaining entrance to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools.
Over three years of active growth, we obtained over 5,000 participants in our programs, groups, and online communities. Simultaneously, Daily Medicine received over 100,000 total engagements. We collaborated with various leaders in medicine, across more than 10 specialities, to provide students and peers with exclusive information. This position helped develop my passion for mentoring, content creation abilities, and professionalism as I interacted with colleagues and established physicians.
I loved Daily Medicine & thus when I decided to close the company after 10 months of struggling to produce content as boards, moving over 5 states away, and starting to work 60+ hr weeks during clinicals, I felt something missing. I knew I had to focus on school & securing my degree but I always wondered if I would blog again.
Now with more life lessons under my belt & all board tests for graduation & all audition rotations completed for 4th year, I am back but as me.
May 22, 2019: Dr. Ashley Roxanne emerges. 

Today, we have an exciting pair of physicians that work on opposite coasts, created a blog from scratch, and inspire women (& men!) everyday on their blog: http://www.mavensinmedicine.com/! Dr. Kemi is a well-traveled Emergency Room physician located in New York. Fellow blogger & traveler Dr. Sheronda is an Anesthesiologist who now resides in Los Angeles. If you have ever wanted to know about doctors who are paid to travel, navigating a relationship in medicine, or how to start a co-written blog, then this is the interview for you! These women have collaborated from both coasts to tell you more about Mavens in Medicine & how they balance medicine, travel, and everything in between.

1. Describe Your Journey to Medicine:
Dr. Kemi: Growing up in Nigeria, I made up my mind that the hard situations I saw everyday could be solved by going into a field where it did not matter where in the world I worked. My mother was a midwife and through her influence, I started looking towards a career in nursing. Around the ages of 7 to 9, I finally decided medicine was for me. No matter what, everyone needs healthcare. I strived to receive my CNA in high school and got a job in a medical setting. At one point, I even decided to pursue a career in Pharmacy because my uncle is a Pharmacist, but eventually I changed my mind. In the end, I decided to pursue a path in medicine and began exploring different specialties. My decision was not as conscious as other people who have physician parents, as I am the first physician in family.
Dr. Sheronda: Due to my West Indian roots, I come from a family of women who were constantly helping in the community. There is a sense of community and service in medicine that is similar to my cultural background. I was first interested in Pediatrics, but as I got further into medical school, I chose not to specialize in Pediatrics as I learned more about other fields. Before starting medical school, I had a broad idea of what a doctor was and it was not until I discovered Anesthesiology that I knew what type of physician I wanted to be. I still have to know the systems based medicine of Pulmonary, Cardiology, Renal, etc, but it is for one patient at a time. I really like that Anesthesiology allows you to focus on one individual at a time. I am able to build a relationship with a patient and serve as someone they can trust during a procedure as opposed to rounding on 12 patients. People told me I would sacrifice my good bedside manner if I worked as an Anesthesiologist but I think the ten minutes I get with a patient still gives me a great opportunity to connect with them. I am able to give patients confidence that they are in good hands. They trust me with their comfort and being able to go home to their families at the end of the day.
2. How Did Mavens in Medicine Start?
Dr. Sheronda: Healthcare is quickly changing and about a year ago we sat down to ask ourselves “What other interests do we have”? While still using our medical background and education, we wanted to work towards something creative. We searched for a middle ground; or balance I would even say. Graduating medical school and saving lives has been our biggest accomplishment, but we both felt as though we wanted a different work and life balance.  This blog is a way for us to be even more purposeful and take our lives in a new direction. In medical school, me and Dr. Kemi were close and had a great group of friends that encouraged each other. That group inspired us to want to connect with other women across the country. “Mavens in Medicine” is our newfound passion and it’s amazing that we just started building over the last year. That is how Maven in Medicine came to be and we can not wait to see what our blog turns into.
3. How Was Your Medical School Experience?
Dr. Sheronda: I met some of my core friends in medical school. There were about 9 Black women in our medical school class who were like minded, proud of themselves, and enjoyed being real women with families. We had a lot of fun and good times during breaks. It was not common for us to cook dinner at someone’s house, watch Sex & the City marathons, and then study for our upcoming exams. The process was much more bearable with them around me. They make me feel like I am more than a doctor. I am also a family member, a girlfriend to my friends, and a significant other. Medical school was not terrible. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in New Jersey has a diverse population of patients and also diversity in pathology and disease process. I did my residency at Columbia University. The way anesthesiology training works, you do new procedures as you learn more over time. They eased us in during intern year and we learned how to write an order, insert central lines, and then we worked with patients. Overall, 24 hour shifts are not fun, but you learn how to be tough and deal with things. No one else is going to do this if I do not do it. You work long hours but you sacrifice to get it done!
4. What Obstacles Did You Have to Overcome In Your Journey?
Dr. Kemi: As the first physician in my family, I quickly learned to accomplish things on my own. I went to high school in Brooklyn, NY and my entire life my family kind of pushed us out of the nest and told us to fly. Even though I did not know there were high school prep programs for pre-medical students, I performed well in school. In college, I did not have guidance for MCAT prep and it showed. I bought a MCAT book thinking I could just study it  & be successful. I did a lot of it on my own, but I encourage this because it made me who I am and it was how I was raised. I learned how to fend for myself which helps me a lot now. I have so many side-hustles today, I am always finding out stuff for myself instead of waiting for some to walk up to me and hand me what I want.
5. How Do You All Manage Being on Different Coasts?
Dr. Sheronda: I live in Los Angeles and Kemi is in New York but is always on the move – she travels so much! Kemi is very much like “If I want to do it, I want to do it! I am happy to be around a woman who grabs life by the horns. This makes collaboration easy for us. We use technology and have great communication. Good communication skills are essential.
6. What Are You Most Proud of?
Dr. Sheronda: The new updates to the blog. Have you seen it? You have to see it. Everything you see is new things that we learned. We learned coding just by Googling and learning over time. This was one of my proudest moments. Mavensinmedicine.com allows us to meet a lot of like-minded people. Outside of medicine, we like fashion, hanging out with “our girls”, and doing our make-up. With the blog, we are able to relate to other women in medicine, but on a different level. We like being able to connect with other women who get it! They understand how we want to take trips, wear blue scrubs, pamper ourselves, and take care of patients. Kemi got to take a trip to Cuba and we were able to share that unique experience on the blog! We aim to create something relatable. We look at blogs and we look at things we can improve on and I am proud of what we have accomplished thus far.
7. Where Do You See Mavens in Medicine Heading?
Dr. Kemi: In the next year I hope we have an increase in followers and content providers. We want to be a resource for people in medicine and health by spreading the “women empowerment” message. We also want to collaborate with so many other people as we are still building. For example, as Dr. Sheronda said, we built our website from scratch and integrated different platforms by ourselves! There is still more to learn and more people to meet and we are excited to continue Mavensinmedicine.com.
8. Any Relationship Advice For Fellow Mavens?
Dr. Sheronda: I dated someone in medical school and then choosing different fields and timing happened. Honestly, I say balance is key. Balancing my lifestyle and dating is fun – at this point I appreciate that I did not stay in a relationship during my medical journey. These days, almost everyone says I want to be married at 25 and have kids at 28 but now I am glad I did what was right for me. If I had children I may not have been able to travel as freely, and dating is fun and right for my life right now. Dating is about learning about ourselves and what we want from a relationship. Do not just date to be in relationship and get married.
9. How Is It Being A Traveling/Locum Doctor ?
Dr. Kemi: Being in a big city like New York makes it easier for me to travel. I have been in New York since 1989, then went to medical school in Jersey and finished my training in Philadelphia. I stayed in Philadelphia for many years but all my friends and connections were in New York so I moved back here in 2015.
As far as locum goes, you work for a staffing agency, and they can send you to work anywhere, depending on what areas need the most help. If you arrive at different locations and do not like it you can try a few before deciding where to travel the most. I am under a contract with a staffing company which requires more commitments than other locum jobs. They expect more professionalism, expect for you represent them as a company when interacting with patients, and there are more risks on the line. Thus, they try to make the doctors happier.
There are Many Perks:

1. Flexible schedules as I often get to decide my hours and days
2. I love the travel. For example, right now I am in Michigan and can dictate my schedule during a five day commitment and then come back to New York. In a traditional setting, the schedule is more concrete.
3. Compensation is usually higher due to the nature of a locum doctor’s schedule
4. There is less bureaucracy as I am not as weighed down by hospital regulations and happenings. I do my best for a week or so and take care of patients then head back home.

& Some Cons:

1. Travel is lonesome and sometimes you are not in a busy city. You will be sent to the boondocks, where there are not a lot of local doctors. Often you go to work and sit in your hotel after a shift.
2. Also, if you do not like flying and dealing with airports, you will probably not enjoy locums. It can be physically demanding to travel so often.

But overall, if you like meeting different people, you learn unique clinical “tricks” to use at different sites, and it is an educational experience at each location. I recommend it!
10. Any Advice for Pre-medical & Medical Students?
Dr. Kemi:
Pre-med Students:

• Pursue other majors: There are Finance Majors in medical school! Make yourself well rounded for your application and life in general. You do not know what position you will find yourself in after medical school and what skills you will need. It can help you improve your social skills and patients need the different perspectives other majors can offer. Explore a few options before deciding on a major!

Medical School Students:

• I encourage medical school students to look into learning outside of the classroom. Medical school is a very busy time but try to get exposure to different parts of healthcare while in school. Learn more about the social culture, caseworkers, and hospital structure when you are rotating. Do you know about reimbursement rates, state policy, and other aspects of medicine that are not in the text books? Talk to your Attending and shadow physicians with private practices. Learn more about the nature of where medicine is headed. Most physicians are not practicing as single doctors anymore but rather part of a medical team.

I want to thank both doctors for being honest and relatable during this detailed interview. They are a great example of how collaboration and a great idea can turn into a project as big as “Mavens in Medicine"! Make sure to check out more from Dr. Kemi and Dr. Sheronda at http://www.mavensinmedicine.com/!

If you didn't know, there is a new professional sports team in Atlanta. That team is the Atlanta Legends a part of the new 2019 Alliance of American Football league. Before the season began, they prepared in a training camp in San Antonio, Texas and are now playing their first games. But one question I have is, who is the AAF Atlanta Legends' Team Physician? Which doctor or group gets that honor?

Emory Healthcare Named Team Physician Group
In January of 2019, Emory Healthcare and its 11 hospitals and the AAF Atlanta Legends have officially designated Emory Healthcare as the Official Team Medical Services Provider of The AAF Atlanta Legends. Currently, Dr. Scott D. Boden, serves as the director of Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center. He is also chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at Emory University School of Medicine.
The Atlanta Legends will share this honor with the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves, and the Atlanta Dream as Emory is also the official team healthcare provider for those teams. Also college programs such as Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, and Emory University are cared for by Emory Healthcare.
​

AAF Atlanta Legends Roster

Who is the AAF Atlanta Legends?
The AAF Atlanta Legends is one of eight teams in The Alliance of American Football’s new professional football spring league. They are scheduled to play home games at the Georgia State Stadium.
The team is currently playing in their first season with Kevin Coyle as the Atlanta Legends head coach. Familiar faces also include former Atlanta Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick as the AAF team’s first offensive coordinator. He has now taken a different role with the team. Keeping with the Georgia theme, former University of Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray was the team’s first draft pick. Overall I have watched the first games, especially the one against the Orlando team. The competition is entertaining but who knows how it will compare to the NFL. You can buy tickets here.
I personally look forward to learning more about the Allegiance of American Footballas the league grows past its 8 current teams. Will you be checking out a game?
Last updated: March 2019