Resigning from your physician position can be a difficult and emotional decision for many healthcare practitioners. With the decision to leave your practice also comes the task of writing a formal resignation letter. It is important to ensure your letter is professional and respectful. Writing a resignation letter as a physician provides a great opportunity to reflect on the experiences and relationships gained throughout the course of your work. It is important to remain mindful of the importance of your current and future professional relationships when crafting your resignation letter. The tone should remain positive, while still highlighting the reasons for your departure and expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Writing a formal resignation letter as a physician will require special considerations for the language used, the length of the letter, the contents, and the way in which it is submitted. Therefore, it is important to take the time to craft a thoughtful and well-written letter to provide a lasting impression. In this blog post, we will discuss the key steps to consider when writing a professional resignation letter as a
How to write a physician resignation letter
Here are the steps for writing your physician resignation letter:
1. Format letter
Set your word processor’s page margins to one inch on all sides. Choose a professional-looking, readable font like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. Font sizes 12 or 14 are acceptable.
2. Specify sender and recipient
At the beginning of your letter, identify yourself as the sender and include your contact information. Give your full name, address, phone number and email address. Include the recipient’s name, title, and employer’s name and address. Write “Dear” at the start of the body section, then the recipient’s name. You could send a letter to the facility’s chief physician, the head of your department, or a representative from human resources.
3. State purpose of letter
Your letter’s intent to resign should be explicitly stated in the first section. Specify the last date youre available to work. This enables your employer to plan for your departure.
4. Provide reason
Without revealing any specifics that don’t affect your current employer, give a general justification for your resignation. Avoid using any negative language about your present job. Omit this section if you’d prefer not to explain your reasoning in any detail.
5. Express thanks
Include a closing paragraph in which you thank and express your gratitude for your current position. With your employer, you could discuss how your experience has benefited your career and share your aspirations for the future. The final section makes it clear that you want to end your tenure on a positive note.
6. Sign and deliver
Sign your name at the bottom of the letter and add a formal closing, such as “Sincerely,” “Best wishes,” or “Regards.” Look for confirmation that your recipient received the letter if you sent it by email. Making sure your recipient reads the letter right away will help to avoid any misunderstandings regarding the specifics of your departure.
What is a physician resignation letter?
When getting ready to leave their current position, doctors submit a letter of resignation. The letter notifies the employer of the end date of a physician’s employment and frequently thanks them for the opportunity to do so. Resignation letters are significant because they serve as the official record of a doctor’s decision to resign from a position for their own reasons. The physician can address any outstanding issues in the resignation letter if they need to be addressed before leaving.
Tips for writing a physician resignation letter
Here are some suggestions to make writing your physician resignation letter easier:
Give proper notice
Normally, two weeks’ notice is sufficient, but since doctors fill a specialized position that can be challenging for employers to fill, more notice is frequently appropriate. There may be a clause in your contract that specifies how much notice they require. Do your best to stick to your word, but if there are exceptional circumstances, you can inquire about shorter notice with your employer. Giving your employer the proper notice is crucial for demonstrating respect and appreciation.
Remain positive
You gain from writing your letter in an upbeat and elegant manner. Maintaining good relations with former employers can benefit you in the long run by expanding your professional network, opening doors for future opportunities, and more. You might keep your letter positive by:
Only mention relevant reasons
The majority of people choose to leave their jobs because there are better opportunities elsewhere. Employers frequently place a high value on knowing what characteristics draw talent to other workplaces. If there is a particular opportunity you want to pursue, like working in a reputable hospital department, it might be appropriate to mention it. However, you should probably refrain from bringing up problems at your current employer if they had an impact on your job satisfaction in a physician resignation letter. Such discussions are more appropriate for an exit interview.
Offer help
When a doctor leaves, the employer typically has to find and train a replacement. If you offered to assist your hospital or clinic in making a smooth transition before you leave, they would probably appreciate it. Give your contact details so that anyone who reads your letter can get in touch with you.
Keep it straightforward
Physician resignation letters should remain brief and straightforward. Typically, three brief paragraphs allow you to state your last day of employment, express gratitude to your employer, and offer assistance. Less information ensures that the recipient of your letter won’t miss important details
Time your letter carefully
Making a responsible job transition is crucial to reducing stress for everyone involved. Don’t send your doctor’s resignation letter too soon. Even if another employer sends you a letter of intent indicating you can anticipate an offer, you might benefit from delaying until your contract is finalized. It’s possible that a problem during contract negotiations will cause your anticipated timeline for changing jobs to change. Do not send your letter until you have finished reading the terms of your new job in its entirety.
Template for physician resignation letter
Here is a sample resignation letter for a doctor that you can use:
[Your name]
[Street address]
[City, state, zip code]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Date]
[Recipient name]
[Title]
[Employer]
[Employer street address]
[City, state, zip code]
Dear [recipient name],
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the position of [job title], effective as of [date].
[Reasons for leaving]. I want to do my part to make sure the transition is smooth in the last few weeks. [Specify anything requiring resolution before your last day].
Being a part of the team at [employer] has been an incredible honor. I have learned [specify skills gained]. I will be grateful for the experiences this job has given me as I advance in my career. I wish [employer] continued success.
Best wishes,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
Example physician resignation letter
Heres an example following the physician resignation letter template:
Dr. Sarah Gold
430 Palm Avenue
San Diego, CA 92117
20 January 2021
Dr. Children’s Services Director Alice Ng San Diego Regional Medical Center 200 Bay Street San Diego, California 92115
Dear Dr. Ng,
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the position of pediatric hospitalist, effective February 5, 2021.
I am fortunate to have been offered the position of department head for pediatrics at Los Angeles Medical Center. I’m looking forward to carrying on with my medical career so that I can help kids live long, healthy lives. For the benefit of my coworkers and the department, I want to make my departure as simple as possible. Please don’t hesitate to call my home number at 888-888-8888 so that we can talk about how I can help. Before my last day, I plan to finish our internal policy review.
I’ve been prepared for future success by my work at San Diego Regional Medical Center. I’m appreciative to have learned so much about pediatrics from so many talented medical professionals, who are all committed to providing the best care for children. I’ll base my patient care going forward on the lessons you and the rest of the team have taught me. I’m looking forward to staying in touch and keeping my admiration for the pediatrics team’s accomplishments here in San Diego.
Sincerely,
Sarah Gold, M.D.
How to Write a Resignation Letter Due to Medical Reasons
FAQ
How do you write a letter of resignation for a physician?
- Format letter. Set your word processor’s page margins to one inch on all sides.
- Specify sender and recipient.
- State purpose of letter. …
- Provide reason. …
- Express thanks. …
- Sign and deliver. …
- Give proper notice. …
- Remain positive.
How can a physician resign?
- Be clear about why you’re resigning. In your letter, be clear about why you’re resigning.
- Say thank you. Despite your resignation, it’s important to express gratitude for the chance to work as a doctor.
- Offer to help with the transition. …
- Keep it professional.
How do you write a gracefully resignation letter?
- Clearly state your objective in an introduction.
- Communicate your final date of employment.
- Offer a reason for your leave (optional)
- Offer to help train colleagues or otherwise ease the transition.
- Give thanks for the opportunity and include a polite outro.
- Include your signature at the end.
Why would a doctor resign?
The study, “COVID-Related Stress and Work Intentions in a General Practice Population,” published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovation, Quality & Outcomes, found that burnout, workload, fear of infection, anxiety, or depression due to COVID-19, and the number of years in practice were associated with intent to cut back on work hours or take time off.
