Clarity. Strategy. Results.
Since 2008, I’ve provided one-on-one editing and coaching for medical residency and
fellowship personal statements. I help you identify what matters, address weaknesses
and red flags, and develop a focused narrative that shows program directors why you
belong in their programs.
How These Services Work
Personal statements do not succeed because they are well written.
They succeed because they show program directors who you are, how you think, and what makes you a great fit for their program.
Since 2008, I’ve built my personal statement services around that reality.
Every applicant starts in a different place. Some need help defining their story and strategy. Others already have a draft but need sharper structure, stronger focus, or clearer positioning. A smaller group needs an expert evaluation to identify what is working and what is holding the statement back.
That is why I offer three distinct personal statement services, each designed for a different level of starting point and collaboration:
- PS Development for applicants who need to build the statement from the ground up or rework it at a strategic level
- PS Revision & Critique for applicants with a draft that needs substantive improvement
- PS Evaluation & Light Editing for applicants who want expert assessment and targeted refinement
All three services focus on the same goal: a personal statement that shows program directors what makes you a compelling candidate for their program, not just that you meet the requirements.
Below, you’ll find a detailed description of each service so you can choose the one that best matches your situation.
Service Differentiation
PS Development
Best for applicants who are starting from notes, fragments, or an early draft—or those needing a stronger strategy from the ground up.
This is a collaborative, high-touch service built around a one-on-one strategy consultation followed by structured rounds of revision. We work together to identify what matters most in your background, shape a clear narrative arc, and build a personal statement that shows program directors what sets you apart.
PS Revision & Critique
Best for applicants with a complete draft that needs sharper focus, stronger structure, or clearer positioning.
This service centers on targeted, multi-round critique and revision. I identify what works, what weakens the statement, and what needs to change—then guide you in revising content and refining language so the statement presents you as a compelling candidate for your program.
PS Evaluation & Light Editing
Best for applicants who want expert confirmation, targeted feedback, and light editing—not a full rewrite.
You receive a detailed evaluation of your statement’s strengths and limitations, along with light editing for clarity and flow. This option works well when the structure is sound and the goal is refinement rather than redevelopment.
PERSONAL STATEMENT SERVICES
Each service reflects a different level of drafting, revision, and collaboration, depending on where you are in the process and what your application requires.
PS Development
Consultation + 3 Rounds + Final Polish
This is the most comprehensive personal statement service I offer and is designed for applicants who are starting from scratch, working from rough notes, or have a draft that does not yet reflect their strengths or address weaknesses or red flags effectively.
The process begins with a one-on-one recorded video consultation (up to two hours). Before the consultation, I review your CV/resume, prior drafts or notes, and key details of the specialty or programs you are targeting. During the consultation, we work together to determine:
- what experiences matter most for your application
- what themes your statement should carry
- where strengths need to be emphasized or clarified
- how weaknesses or red flags should be addressed
From the consultation, you receive a detailed outline with written guidance that serves as the blueprint for your draft.
The remainder of the service consists of up to three rounds of revision and critique, followed by a final polish. In each round, I assess the content against the strategy we established, tell you exactly what needs to be written or revised, and edit the remaining material for structure, flow, clarity, concision, tone, and word choice.
This service is best suited for applicants with red flags, complex backgrounds, prior failures to match, or those applying to highly competitive specialties where the personal statement must do significant work.
PS Revision & Critique
4 Rounds + Final Polish
This service is for applicants who already have a complete draft but need expert direction to strengthen it.
In each round, I evaluate your personal statement and identify:
- gaps in development or focus
- weaknesses in how experiences are framed
- missing supporting details
- content that distracts from or weakens your core themes
For any content that needs to be added or replaced, I give specific instructions on what to write and where. For the remaining text, I revise and edit for structure, flow, clarity, concision, tone, and word choice.
After the final round, I complete a full polish and proofread.
This service works well for applicants whose draft contains strong material but lacks focus, cohesion, or strategic handling of weaknesses.
PS Evaluation & Light Editing
1 Round
This service provides a professional assessment of your personal statement without multi-round revision.
I evaluate the statement’s strengths and weaknesses, assess how well it addresses the expectations of the programs you are applying to, and identify:
- content that should be added
- content that should be removed
- areas where clarity, focus, or emphasis is lacking
I also perform light editing and proofreading, but this service does not include rewriting, restructuring, or multiple rounds of revision.
This option is best for applicants who want confirmation that their statement is on the right track or need targeted feedback before final submission.
Shared Across All Services
For all personal statement services, I review supporting materials such as your CV/resume or ERAS application to ensure the statement aligns with the rest of your application. Turnaround times depend on the service selected and your responsiveness between rounds.
Who You’ll Be Working With
I’m David Lombardino, founder of DLA Editors & Proofers. Since 2008, I’ve worked one-on-one with applicants for medical residency and medical fellowship at critical points in their application process.
My work centers on helping applicants present themselves as strong, compelling candidates for competitive programs—especially when the application includes red flags, gaps, or prior setbacks.
My background includes eight years as an editor at UNESCO before founding DLA, followed by nearly two decades working directly with applicants on personal statements, ERAS applications, letters of recommendation, and interview strategy. Over that time, I’ve reviewed and guided revisions to thousands of applications and helped applicants secure interviews and match into highly competitive programs.
My understanding of what program directors look for in a candidate comes from several sources:
- Sustained, one-on-one work with applicants across a wide range of academic, clinical, and professional backgrounds
- Long-standing professional relationships with physicians, attendings, and program directors
- Extensive experience helping applicants where strong credentials alone were not enough
I work with you directly throughout the process. I provide clear, specific, experience-based guidance on what to revise, what to add, what to remove, and how to shape each draft of your personal statement so it aligns with what program directors want to see in your application.
The process is iterative and collaborative: You revise, I respond with detailed direction, and we repeat that cycle until the personal statement communicates your strengths, addresses weaknesses where needed, and shows program directors why they should invite you to interview.
If you’re ready to begin, you can place your order below.
Place Your Order
Program Type and Service
Meet Applicants I've Worked With
Hear how applicants used these services in high-stakes situations.
READY TO MOVE FORWARD?
If you’re applying to competitive residency or fellowship programs and want your personal statement to work as hard as it needs to, you can get started now.
Select the service that fits your situation and timeline, and we’ll begin working together to develop a personal statement that shows program directors what makes you an outstanding candidate.