My name is Dr. XXXX and I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of my student XXXX who I see as an outstanding candidate for your PHD Program in Epidemiology. I am a physician from Japan and I came to the US in 1994 to study epidemiology as a basic science of disease prevention, obtaining the MPH and then PHD in Public Health in 1999. My research expertise is focused on the international epidemiology of coronary heart disease (CHD) and subclinical atherosclerosis as well as nutrition. I have been serving as an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of XXXX since 2001.
Not long after her arrival at our university, XXXX approached me and introduced herself as someone who is extremely dedicated to building a lifelong research focus in the area of cardiovascular epidemiology. Because of her great passion for our area of study and the fact that I serve as her Thesis Director, I have spoken with her at length on numerous occasions discussing developments and research opportunities in our field, and I find her to be extremely knowledgeable already about many fast-moving events.
This year, 2015, I have been helping XXXX with her Master’s investigating the potential determinants of arterial stiffness progression using 656 population based samples that serve as a basis for her conclusion that an accelerated increase of blood pressure and aortic calcification are positively associated with arterial stiffness progression as measured by brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV). I will publish this article as first author.”
It is because of her great passion for study and investigation, the relentless pursuit of unsolved mysteries that I think XXXX has become so highly developed early on in her critical thinking skills in support of the many enormous challenges that we face in cardiovascular epidemiology. I can assure you that she will bring to your PHD Program the very highest level of excellence and energy, inquisitiveness and indefatigable curiosity that will leave you delighted that she is on your research team.
A very independent thinker, XXXX brings a strident focus to bear with a tenacity that does not let go until the problem or issue is resolved. We communicate entirely in English despite the fact that we are both Asians. She is so fluent, as a writer as well as a speaker, that after we have spoken at length I am left with the impression that my own fluency in English has improved.
It would be an honor for me to provide any additional information as reference for XXXX’s application to your distinguished doctoral program in Public Health Epidemiology at UXX
Sincerely,