Standardized Letter of Evaluation

The PM&R Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) is a standardized letter that comprehensively assesses a medical student's qualifications for residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). By using specific questions and prompts, the SLOE aims to deliver a more structured, aggregated, and efficient review focused on the competencies and values necessary for PM&R residency. The goal is to provide a standardized and efficient review of candidates' skills, particularly in areas relevant to PM&R, such as patient care, medical knowledge, teamwork, and professionalism.

The PM&R SLOE provides specific evaluation criteria to help reduce the variability and subjective bias often seen in traditional letters of recommendation. This ensures that all candidates are assessed using the same metrics, allowing residency programs to make a more consistent assessment and comparison between applicants. The PM&R SLOE also highlights critical skills and attributes relevant to physiatry, offering a more targeted evaluation for residency directors and application reviewers.

The PM&R SLOE should be completed by faculty members or supervising physicians who have worked closely with the applicant, preferably in a PM&R clinical setting. The letter can also be written by a group of faculty (a composite SLOE) who can incorporate feedback from multiple sources. It is essential that the evaluator(s) have observed the candidate’s clinical performance directly and can provide a specific, standardized assessment.

While including at least one PM&R SLOE is strongly recommended for each applicant, it is not universally mandatory. Programs may prefer or require a SLOE as part of their application process. Applicants should check the specific requirements of the programs to which they are applying.