Table 2.

Components of an Academic Medicine Cover Letter

Introduction	• Describe your education to date (e.g., medical school, residency, fellowship, advanced degrees). • Highlight your research training, including relevant coursework. • Reference any personal connection to the supervisor or institution (e.g., prior training experiences, connections via current mentors, or meeting at a conference).
Research Overview	• Describe your vision or research framework. • Describe your principal research objective and/or area of expertise. • Describe fellowship research projects and publications. • Discuss future directions for your research and potential funding sources.
Select Accomplishments	• Mention relevant clinical experiences, skills, and interests. • Discuss teaching experience. • Describe unique awards and leadership opportunities.
Dream Job Characteristics	• Describe your preferred ratio of scholarship, education, and clinical activities (e.g., “80/20 faculty position”).
Your Fit in the Institution	• Name potential mentors, collaborators, institutes, or other ways you could be integrated into the institution as well as personal or family location priorities.