From Resident to Rising Faculty: A Final ILP Reflection Template
Every year, final-year residents sit down for their last ILP meeting. But what if that moment was more than just a box to check?
What if it became a mirror, a map, and a message?
A mirror to honor their growth?
A map to guide their next steps.
And a message from the institution that says: We see you not just as a graduating resident-but as a future colleague.
Why this matters:
Many residents stay on as faculty. Other step directly into attending or leadership roles. The end of residency isn’t just a goodbye-it’s a launch.
Yet most final evaluations and ILP meeting stay focused on the past.
This week. Im sharing a simple but powerful tool to shift the conversation.
Final ILP Reflection Template: From Residents to Rising Faculty
This free downloadable template helps faculty and advisors guide final-year residents through a reflective, strengths-based conversation. It includes:
Questions that honor growth
Prompts to clarify professional identity
Visioning tools to support faculty onboarding or early career planning
Program-side space to outline next steps or development pathways
This is a tool for departments invested in retention, leadership development, and inclusive faculty pathways. It’s also a meaningful way to make mentorship more intentional.
Bonus tip: Save this completed reflection as part of the resident’s exit portfolio-or even their new faculty dossier.
Download the template and start reimagining the transition from trainee to teacher.
Let me know how you’re using it -or what you’d love to see next.
With care and curiosity,
Sophia
Thank you for being part of this community.
Each week, I share reflections, frameworks, and tools to help reimagine transitions in academic medicine—from graduation to faculty development and beyond.
About the author:
Sophia Gilmore, EdD, MPA, is an educator, coach, and advocate for leadership development in academic medicine. She writes about designing better transitions, growing future faculty, and supporting the next generation of medical educators. New resources and consulting services for programs will be available soon.