If you’re a medical school graduate looking to apply for your residency, then you probably already know about ERAS, aka Electronic Residency Application Service. For those unaware, ERAS is the official online application system for medical school graduates/students to apply for residency and fellowship programs. Applicants create their applications and can submit to a number of residency programs. The applications include supporting documents such as transcripts, performance evaluations, letters of recommendations – as well as a headshot that conforms to the ERAS requirements.

Applying for residency can be a stressful time for graduates – it’s a competitive process, particularly in the U.S. and for some specialties. Not only does the process involve submitting the application/supporting documents – the top candidates for positions will likely be invited for interviews. So it’s impressive that the entire application reflect the best of the candidates accomplishments, skills, and approach to their work – along with creating a positive first impression with their ERAS headshot.

Aubrey came to my studio looking for a headshot for her ERAS application. Currently a Dermatology Research Fellow at Beth Israel Lahey Health, she’s a rising forth year medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School with an impressive resume – 4.0 GPA, Honors Student (over 10 honors awards), and more. She’s definitely on a mission!

Yet with all this drive and accomplishment, I found her to be warm, caring, and a joy to work with. It was important to capture/and show those characteristics in her ERAS headshot. Her LinkedIn profile summary really captures her ambitions: “Through my experiences, I aim to develop a comprehensive expertise in dermatology, with a focus on addressing the distinct needs of diverse patient populations. I am excited to continue growing as a future physician-scientist, driven by a commitment to excellence, empathy, and innovation”.

Impressive – join me in rooting for her!