Article
Otorhinolaryngology
James C. Campbell, Julia E. Canick, Rebecca Redmond, Janet W. Lee, Charles R. Woodard, Lars J. Grimm
Summary: This study assessed gender and race patterns in agentic and communal language used in letters of recommendation for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) residency applicants. The findings showed that letter writers used more agentic terms when describing Asian or Other/not reported applicants, while standardized letters of evaluation had more communal language. Although there was an increase in communal language in letters for female applicants, gender differences disappeared in the multivariate model. The study also found that letters for applicants identifying as Asian or other/not reported had more frequent use of agentic terms.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nicholas C. Field, Julie G. Pilitsis, Alexandra R. Paul
Summary: The study found that there are some linguistic gendered differences in letters of recommendation for neurosurgical residency applications, but overall, male and female applicants have similar performances.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Oluwateniola Brown, Tsung Mou, Szu-In Lim, Shawn Jones, Sari Sade, Mary J. Kwasny, Margaret G. Mueller, Kimberly Kenton
Summary: This study found that letters of recommendation for obstetrics and gynecology residency applicants were similar overall regardless of applicant race and gender. However, female letter writers used more communal words compared to male writers. Comments about personality traits were frequent in all letters, with more emphasis on surgical skills, work ethic, and leadership in letters for White and Asian applicants, and more doubt-raising phrases in letters for underrepresented in medicine applicants.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mikhaila L. Rice, Jonathan G. Leung, Kristin C. Mara, Sarah B. Leung
Summary: A study analyzed 473 letters of recommendation for pharmacy residency applications for the 2019-2020 academic year, finding that there were no significant gender biases in length and word categories between letters written for female and male applicants. The study suggests that writers should continue to assess their implicit biases to ensure fair evaluation of candidates.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH-SYSTEM PHARMACY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Henna Boolchandani, Rachel Osborn, Gunjan Tiyyagura, Beverley Sheares, Laura Chen, Uma P. Phatak, Vidya Puthenpura, Robert W. Elder, Seohyuk Lee, Leah Amster, Melissa L. Langhan
Summary: This study aims to analyze the differences in agentic and communal terms in letters of recommendation for pediatric residency candidates, based on applicant and letter writer demographics, and examine if language in the letters is associated with interview status.
ACADEMIC PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Carl E. Jn Pierre, Garret M. Weber, Apolonia E. Abramowicz
Summary: This survey aimed to identify the relative value and key components of anesthesiology letters of recommendation in residency applications. Specific keywords in LORs were found to be important, but narrative LORs remain the preferred format. Most respondents believe that improvements are needed in the content and quality of LORs.
MEDICAL EDUCATION ONLINE
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Behnam Nabavizadeh, Nizar Hakam, Michael J. Sadighian, Jordan T. Holler, Gregory M. Amend, Lindsay A. Hampson, David F. Penson, Benjamin N. Breyer
Summary: Through evaluating applications for urology match, two main formats of standardized letters of recommendation were identified. Applicants were highly rated in various domains and showed correlations with application metrics such as Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge scores. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found between female and male applicants in domain ratings, while Alpha Omega Alpha members and applicants from top 40 US medical schools performed better in certain domains.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Ali Al Jabri, Hina Bhat, Jonathan S. Abelson, Elizabeth M. Breen, Angela H. Kuhnen, Sharon L. Stein, Emily Steinhagen, Julia T. Saraidaridis
Summary: This study aimed to assess the presence of gender bias in letters of recommendation for colorectal surgery residency. The findings showed that female applicants were more likely to be described in negative academic terms and possessing negative leadership qualities, while male applicants were more likely to be described as kind, curious, academically impressive, and possessing good teaching skills.
DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM
(2023)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Alessandra Storino, John C. Polanco-Santana, Jorge Ruiz de Somocurcio, Rachel Sampson, Sidharta P. Gangadharan, Tara S. Kent
Summary: This study analyzed the use of communal and agentic language in letters of recommendation for residency and examined the association with letter writer and applicant characteristics. The findings revealed that male and more senior surgeons tend to use more agentic language, while female and younger surgeons use more communal language in their letters of recommendation.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Daniel Sarraf, Vlad Vasiliu, Ben Imberman, Brenessa Lindeman
Summary: Gender bias and linguistic differences were detected in letters of recommendation written for surgical residency applicants, with more gendered wording found in female letters and more positive sentiment in male letters.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Elise Rosenthal, Erryn Tappy, Evelyn Pan, Diksha Verma, Angela Wang, Larry S. Brown, Patricia Santiago-Munoz, Maria Florian-Rodriguez
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed letters of recommendation for male and female applicants to MFM fellowship at an academic institution from 2019 to 2021. The results showed linguistic differences in the letters written for male and female applicants, suggesting potential bias in the writing style for male and female physicians applying to this field.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Bhavana Chapman, Michael K. Rooney, Ethan B. Ludmir, Denise De La Cruz, Abigail Salcedo, Chelsea C. Pinnix, Prajnan Das, Reshma Jagsi, Charles R. Thomas, Emma B. Holliday
Summary: This study investigated the presence of implicit linguistic biases in letters of recommendation for radiation oncology residency applicants. The findings revealed significant linguistic differences in the letters, implying the existence of implicit biases related to both applicants and letter writers. Recognition and elimination of these biases are crucial for fair and equitable evaluation of a diverse pool of residency candidates.
JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Mina Y. Girgis, Sohail Qazi, Akul Patel, Daohai Yu, Xiaoning Lu, Joseph Sewards
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the presence of implicit race and gender bias in letters of recommendation for medical students applying to orthopedic residency, and to determine if bias is influenced by the gender of the letter writer. The findings suggest that there is likely some degree of bias in these letters.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Valeda Yong, Kaleb Rostmeyer, Mengying Deng, Kristine Chin, Erin K. M. Graves, Grace X. Ma, Cherie P. Erkmen
Summary: This study aims to investigate whether gender influences the content of letters of recommendation for cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. By analyzing the form and characteristics of the recommendation letters, it was found that male authors tended to write more authentic and informal letters, while female authors wrote longer letters and focused more on the applicants' work and leisure activities. These gender differences may have a disadvantageous impact on female applicants.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Erryn Tappy, Evelyn Pan, Diksha Verma, Angela Wang, Larry Steven Brown, Stephanie Chang, Maria Florian-Rodriguez
Summary: This study found no linguistic differences in letters of recommendation for female and male physicians applying to Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS). Although there were baseline differences between female and male applicants, these differences did not have a significant impact on the length or language use in the letters of recommendation.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
