Writing a Standout Physician CV

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) gives a clear, comprehensive overview of your accomplishments in medicine, covering your clinical training, licensure, research, teaching, and any other work relevant to your field. Unlike a brief, job-tailored resume that focuses on a targeted snapshot of skills, a CV acts as a record of your entire career. It should be updated frequently to reflect your ongoing development as a physician, growing alongside your training, credentials, and experience. What you include depends on your career stage and accomplishments. Below are the sections commonly found in most physician CVs, along with a free template you can download to get you started.

Include your full legal name, city, and state, phone number, professional email address, and your LinkedIn profile or professional website if you have one.

List your education in reverse chronological order; include the name of the institution, degree received, and graduation year.

List all the training that you have completed in reverse chronological order, such as internship, residency, and fellowship; include the name of the institution, location, specialty, dates, and any leadership roles.

Include your board certification and the states you hold an active license in, along with the year of completion. If you are in the process of obtaining your board certification, you can state where you are in the process.

Again, use reverse chronological order starting with your current position and working backwards. For each role, include your position title, the institution's name, and dates of employment. Also, for each role, include your key responsibilities and achievements.

Cite any publications or presentations that you have written or prepared. Include the title of the publication or presentation, where it was published or given, and the year.

List the societies you belong to, including their names, years you have been a member, and any leadership roles you have held.

Include any awards or recognition you have received, including the name of the award, the organization that granted it, and the date of the award.

Keep it consistent: Use the same format for dates, headings, and job titles throughout, and stick with reverse chronological order in every section. Consistency makes your CV easier to scan and signals attention to detail.

Match your tense to your timeline: Use present tense for your current role and past tense for previous positions. It's a small detail, but it makes your experience easier to read. 

Update it as you go: Add new certifications, publications, or roles as they happen rather than waiting until your job search. A CV built section by section over time is far easier to maintain than one reconstructed from memory.

Check for spelling and grammar: Run a spell check before sending your CV anywhere, then read it through one more time yourself. Consider asking a colleague to review it as well before you send it out.