Association Of Women Surgeons VA Chapter Making it Look Good on Paper Marybeth S. Hughes, M.D. Senior Investigator Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH

Making It Look Good on Paper Cover Letters Curriculum vitae (CVs) Format Content Advice Grants

Cover Letters: Definition A cover letter is a personal introduction. It can also be a marketing device. Target audience can vary Employer Tenure Committee Grant applications

Cover Letters Necessary Think of the reader Often impacts on position, promotion, tenure or grant approval Opportunity to communicate

Cover Letters Form One page Three paragraphs Introduction Body Closing

Cover Letters Pay attention to basic details Spell all names, titles and addresses correctly Contact Information Avoid grammatical and spelling errors Paper

Cover Letters Avoid Generalities Example: “ I would like to express my interest in the position that is currently available at your practice” Briefly Address Any Time Gaps in Training or Practice Highlight Special Expertise Involve new techniques or technology

Cover Letters Brevity Passion Personalization Indicate some knowledge of position Area Avoid “To Whom It May Concern”

Remember poorly written letters give a negative first impression

Curriculum Vitae Format Clear Concise Correct Well Organized

Curriculum Vitae Use simple font Emphasize headings Bold or Underline Do not use too many bullets, dashes Number publications (if many) Highlight authorship

Curriculum Vitae: Content Name and Title Address Contact Professional Home telephone fax email

Example Marybeth Scavone Hughes, M.D. Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health 10 Center Drive, Bldg 10, Room 3W-3940, MSC 1201 Bethesda, MD, 20895-1201 Office (301) 594-9341; Pager (800) NIH-BEEP-11863; Fax (301) 402-1788 E-mail: Marybeth_Hughes@nih.gov Home address: 9851 Marcliff Court Vienna, VA 22181 Home (703) 319-0233

Curriculum Vitae: Content Personal Data (Optional) D.O.B. Marital Status Children Birth place or Citizenship Cellular phone number

Curriculum Vitae: Content Professional Appointments Post Graduate Medical Education Higher Education Include location and dates Certifications and Licensure Board certification, BLS, ACLS, ATLS, State licenses, NBME

Curriculum Vitae: Content Committee Appointments IRB, Credentialing Committee, Review Boards Honors/ Awards Alpha Omega Alpha, Teaching Awards, Research Awards Society Memberships FACS, local, state and national involvement

Curriculum Vitae: Content Academic Presentations paper competitions, posters, paper presentations, abstracts Invited Lectures local, state or national organizations Published Peer Reviewed Articles Authorship order Books and Book Chapters

CV: Specialized Content Mentorship Basic Science Research Grant support: past, present and pending

Recommendations UPDATE CVs OFTEN!! Avoid listing your DEA number Avoid listing your social security number Look at many example CVs Content Structure Get assistance for cover letters and grant proposals as needed

Avoid Hyperbole

Grants “Failure is the beginning of wisdom” -William Zinnser Sources: NIH Federal Sources Industry All other- private foundation

Why Grants Fail Experimental Design Research problem Investigator Resources

Experimental Design Technical methodology Data collection procedures Study group or control Data analysis and management is vague

Research Problem Hypothesis is ill defined Proposal is unimportant, unimaginative

Investigator Principal Investigator had inadequate expertise Inadequate mastery of literature in the research area Poor productivity on an NIH grant Insufficient time devoted to the project

Resources Inadequate institutional setting Lack of equipment, facilities, personnel Restricted access to appropriate patients Insufficient collaborative effort

Recommendations Request a copy of the NIH Data Book NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Call the funding agency for “high priority” topic Be realistic with budgets Consult a biostatistician

Recommendations Why clinical research grant applications fare poorly in review and how to recover Cancer Investigation 1987: 5(1);55-58

Advice

The End Questions????