Bishop journal — Medical school recommendation letter for a ward member
During my service as bishop of the Young Single Adult ward, I spent many hours with a wonderful young woman who was striving to overcome some very difficult challenges in her life. She struggle for many years and made some progress. I loved her dearly and was grateful for any progress that she made. What a thrill is was, a few years after my release, to receive a letter from her, asking if I would write a letter of recommendation for her as she applied to medical school! I couldn’t have been more thrilled, and I was delighted to write the letter. The fact that she was in a position to apply to medical school was a miracle beyond comprehension! Following is the letter:
January 12, 2013
Medical School Admissions Committee:
It is my pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for __________ as she applies to medical school. My name is Michael Taylor, MD, and I am a staff anesthesiologist for Lone Peak Anesthesia in American Fork, Utah. _________ is a neighbor and close friend, and I have known her for over 6 years. I also served as an ecclesiastical leader for ______, and had many wonderful opportunities to interact with her in that setting.
I can give _______ my very high recommendation for her application to medical school. She is highly motivated and a self-starter. She mixes easily with friends, colleagues, and newly-made acquaintances. She is appropriately dignified in more formal settings, but also very energetic, enthusiastic, and fun in less formal settings. _______’s witty sense of humor has carried her far in life, and will be great asset in a medical environment. Having been around pre-medical student, student anesthetists, anesthesia resident, and many other trainees for the last 30 years, I would rank ______ in the top 1% of all applicants with whom I have interreacted. Her interest in medicine is sincere, and her reasons for seeking a career in medicine properly motivated.
_______’s personality lends itself well to career in medicine. She is confident yet very teachable and approachable. She converses freely and openly across a broad spectrum of topics., both inside the scholastic world and outside as well. She is not overbearing or pushy, and knows when to talk and when to listen. She was widely loved and respected in the ecclesiastical unit in which we both served and worshiped. I feel ______’s greatest strengths as she applies to medical schools are leadership, dependability, self-confidence without arrogance, a magnetic personality, genuine interest in all fields and aspects of medicine, a strong service ethic, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. I must also add that ______ is a very giving person. She not only sees needs around her, but addresses those needs also.
I would be happy to answer any questions that someone might have concerning ______. I can be reached at any time at 801-404-2323. My email address is [email protected]. I would recommend that ______ be given the very highest degree of attention and interest as she applies to your medical school.
Sincerely,
Michael Taylor, MD
Staff anesthesiologist
1692 North 2000 West
Provo, Utah 84604
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