Hi Doctor Bob. I had recent multiple (>10 case reports) abstract acceptances (mix of oral and poster) from CHEST. I listed them as "submitted" in my ERAS cv. Do you think it is reasonable to update programs?This is one of those things that is a very low return on investment, and can potentially be harmful.
1) I already know you're interested in my program. You applied.
2) I get 10+ of these a day.
3) I have no way of knowing that you didn't send the same letter to a bunch of other places
Many of these letters come through with clear formatting issues that reveal it's a form email and the name of my program has been cut and paste into it.
For some reason people want to refer to my (and every probably every other) program as "prestigious". My program is 3 years old. It's a fantastic place to train. It's not prestigious (maybe in a decade or two). But this word specifically shows up in nearly every email I get.
So how can this letter help? If you have some very specific tie to the area/program and can tell me specific things about my program that interest you (and not just "I looked at your website and I was really excited by it!"), then it may be useful. When I say specific tie to the area I mean just that. Telling me you have a cousin who lives two hours away... not a great tie to the area. "I grew up down the street from the hospital but moved away for college"... that's a specific tie.
And please please please... if you're sending it to a CCM program, don't say you're excited to apply to my PCCM program. They aren't the same thing.