Letters of Recommendation
Strategy. Insight. Credibility.
Since 2008, I’ve helped applicants draft and refine letters of recommendation for
U.S. medical residency that reflect how program directors evaluate candidates—and
give faculty recommenders a letter they can confidently sign.
How I Work with Letters of Recommendation
I approach letters of recommendation as professional evaluations, not endorsements.
Most letters read the way program directors expect them to read—predictable, generic, interchangeable. My role is to help ensure your letter provides clear, credible insight that adds value beyond what the rest of your application already shows.
I review letters with a focus on whether they communicate authority, judgment, and meaningful evaluation. I assess how effectively the letter presents the recommender’s perspective, shows that it is grounded and specific, and gives program directors a reason to take it seriously.
I help shape letters so they reflect professional observation, clarity of assessment, and substance—without overstatement or filler. The goal is a letter that reads as thoughtful and credible, and that strengthens how program directors understand how you would be as a future resident in their programs.
I provide targeted guidance explaining what to adjust and why. You revise the letter based on that feedback, and, with Editing & Feedback, I review the revision to ensure the letter functions as a strong, evaluative component of the application.
Letter of Recommendation Services
I offer two services for letters of recommendation. Each option is designed for applicant-written letters that will be reviewed and signed by a recommender.
Letter of Recommendation Editing & Feedback
Two Rounds of Review
This service provides a comprehensive, two-round review focused on strengthening the substance, clarity, and evaluative value of the letter.
I assess the letter as a professional evaluation rather than a narrative document. My feedback focuses on whether the letter communicates clear authority, meaningful insight, and credible judgment—rather than vague commentary indicating a template or generic letter.
Editing & Feedback addresses:
- Overall structure and progression of the letter
- Clarity and strength of the evaluative perspective
- Specificity and usefulness of supporting details
- Tone, balance, and professional positioning
- Redundancy, filler, and missed opportunities for distinction
- Alignment with the rest of the application materials
I provide detailed, specific guidance explaining what to revise and why. You revise the letter based on that feedback, and I review the revision in a second round to refine the result and ensure the letter functions as a strong, credible recommendation.
Letter of Recommendation Proofreading
One Round of Review
This service provides a single, final review focused on correctness and consistency.
Proofreading focuses on identifying and correcting errors in basic English usage, including:
- Grammar and punctuation
- Spelling and typographical errors
- Subject-verb agreement
- Pronoun agreement
- Verb tense
- Singular vs. plural
This option is appropriate when the content and structure of the letter are already set and you want to ensure a clean, professional final version.
Who You’ll Be Working With
I’m David Lombardino, founder of DLA Editors & Proofers. Since 2008, I’ve worked with applicants across medical residency and fellowship who need their application materials to communicate credibility, readiness, and fit at a high level.
Letters of recommendation occupy a unique place in the application. Program directors read them with a trained skepticism—and a clear sense of what most letters sound like before they open them. My role is to help ensure that a letter communicates something meaningful about you that is neither generic nor already obvious elsewhere in your application.
I approach letters of recommendation analytically and strategically. I look at how the letter establishes the recommender’s authority, how it frames the relationship, and how effectively it conveys specific insight into your performance and potential as a resident. The goal is not embellishment, but clarity—so that when a program director reads the letter, it reinforces your application rather than blending into the background.
Applicants work with me when they want a letter that strengthens their application—by conveying substance, judgment, and perspective that will stand out to program directors.
If you’re ready to begin, you can place your order below.
Place Your Order
Program Type and Service
Ready to Strengthen Your Letters of Recommendation?
If you want your letters to reflect clear insight, credibility, and specific support—rather than generic praise—I can help you refine them before they’re submitted.
Get started with Letters of Recommendation Editing & Feedback today.