Dear Program Director,

I am writing this letter in the strongest support of Tom Wambsgans, who has applied for a residency position in General Surgery at your program. Having had the privilege of mentoring Tom for the past four years, I can confidently say that he possesses exceptional qualities and achievements that make him an outstanding candidate in this year’s match.

I first crossed paths with Tom during his initial year of medical school when he reached out to me expressing interest in a research position within our department. From the moment we met, I was immediately captivated by Tom’s charisma, inquisitiveness, and unwavering motivation. During the summer between his first and second years of medical school, Tom joined my lab where he delved into studying the impact of initiating early DVT prophylaxis in postoperative trauma patients. His natural talent for research quickly shone through, and he soon became involved in several other projects within our lab over the subsequent year. Tom’s productivity and dedication were remarkable, leading him to be awarded a highly competitive, funded research fellowship through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. As a result, he spent a dedicated research year in our lab further exploring his work on venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in acute care/trauma patients, which has resulted in numerous presentations and a manuscript accepted for publication in the Annals of Surgery.

Often, students who take time away from clinical settings struggle to transition back seamlessly. However, Tom defied this trend and hit the ground running. His performance during his Acting Internship was nothing short of stellar. I had the pleasure of working with him for two weeks on the Acute Care Surgery Service, where he quickly assimilated into our large team and became an invaluable asset. Remarkably, Tom’s technical skills surpassed those expected of someone at his level of training, and his medical judgment was consistently sound. Such was the confidence in Tom’s abilities that our consult resident entrusted him with carrying the pager during lighter OR days. The overwhelming support for Tom from the residents who worked alongside him on our service was evident, with many reaching out to me to passionately endorse him and strongly recommend his consideration for our program.

In addition to his time on the Acute Care Surgery Service, Tom also spent two weeks working with our Surgical Oncology service, receiving equally glowing reviews. Our chief resident even went so far as to describe Tom as the strongest acting intern he has encountered throughout his residency. At the conclusion of his month-long rotation, Tom delivered an exceptional presentation to our entire department on the indications for biologic therapy in advanced hepatobiliary cancer. It is worth noting that while Tom has conducted significant research within our department, his decision to immerse himself in an entirely unrelated topic during his rotation demonstrates his admirable ability to step out of his comfort zone—a quality that cannot be taught and is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and adaptability.

Having mentored over 150 medical students and residents during my tenure at the University of Texas, I can confidently assert that Tom ranks among the top 5 individuals in this category. Without a doubt, Tom possesses the qualities, skills, and drive necessary to become a future superstar in the field of surgery. I have no reservations in stating that he will be highly sought after by all elite training programs. It is with the utmost conviction that I provide my highest recommendation for Tom Wambsgans, and I assure you that he will be ranked to match at our program this year.

David Ogmier, M.D., M.B.A.
Professor of Surgery
University of Texas