​BROWARD EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Letters of Recommendation

Many students have a goal of obtaining a letter of recommendation (LoR) from a faculty member at the end of the rotation. Most faculty are happy to provide a letter for a student. We ask that you choose a faculty member that you have worked with for a reasonable amount of time with (~3 shifts).  Keep in mind that the LoR will include a description of the amount and quality of interaction with the student.  The best LoRs will state that there was extensive, direct observation in a clinical setting with the student being reviewed. Many students think that getting a LoR from a faculty member with a prestigious title or high rank is the best approach but that isn't the case if the faculty member has not had extensive clinical observation of your abilities. 

If you are thinking of asking for a LoR at the end of the rotation from a specific faculty member, please be sure that you are scheduled to work with that person at least 2 and preferably 3 times. The attending schedule is posted in the ED in the RED area next to the charge nurse. You may swap a shift with another student or move into an empty slot on the schedule if it will help you have more clinical time with the specific attending that you are seeking a letter from.

For those applying the EM programs, you may be seeking a Standardized Letter of Recommendation (SLOE).  Keep in mind that a SLOE is typically written by a program director at an accredited EM residency program. Unfortunately, we do not yet have an EM program so it is not advisable to get a SLOE from our faculty.  We have written SLOEs in rare circumstances but they would not be able to hold the weight that a SLOE from an EM program would hold.