# Educational Handoffs from Medical School to Residency: an Emerging Opportunity

## TL;DR

This paper explores how better communication of medical students' performance could improve their transition to residency.

## Contribution

The paper introduces the concept of educational handoffs as a novel approach to improve intern preparedness.

## Key findings

- Current pre-match data fails to fully capture medical students' capabilities.
- Educational handoffs could provide more detailed and useful information for residency programs.
- Feasibility and implementation of handoffs require further exploration and collaboration.

## Abstract

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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.