Educational Handoffs from Medical School to Residency: an Emerging Opportunity

Abstract

In this Personal View article we discuss the limitations of the summative medical student data currently received by residencies pre-match (such as transcripts, the Dean's Letter and letters of recommendation) to adequately communicate a student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning needs as they begin internship. We briefly summarize the evolution of medical student and resident performance evaluation, and discuss the role that educational handoffs may play in the future as students transition to internship. We then consider emerging questions about the feasibility and mechanics of educational handoffs and discuss possible steps forward.