Networking is an essential component of success in any field, and medicine is no exception. Whether one is seeking mentorship or new research opportunities, sending a cold email can go a long way.

In the finance world, this tactic is a standard tool used by individuals searching for employment or mentorship in their field. In medicine, however, the concept of reaching out to a stranger can be daunting. This article outlines how easy it is to send a cold email and how beneficial it can be career-wise, and it hopefully removes some of the stigma surrounding this practice.

There is such a stark hierarchy in medicine that the concept of reaching out to someone who you have no relationship with and who is further along in their career may seem out of line. On the flip side, most mentors would say that they love helping the new generation of ophthalmologists. The worst-case scenario is that your email goes unseen in the recipient’s inbox, but let’s focus on the best-case scenario—that they respond positively to your message—because, more often than not, that’s what happens.  

Consider why you want to reach out to this person. Usually, the motive is to get to know the individual or learn more about their subspecialty. Sometimes it’s to ask about a research opportunity or for guidance.  

There are two approaches to cold emailing in this scenario. The first is to email a completely unknown physician with whom you want to connect. The second is to email a physician you’ve met briefly and with whom you want to follow up. The first option may be more difficult but can still be successful. The second option is overall a much easier approach. You’ve already started building a relationship with this individual and can now follow up on the initial contact. 

For both options, a similar mindset should be adopted: You have nothing to lose.

CRAFTING A SUCCESSFUL MESSAGE

To craft an effective cold email, focus on the who, how, and why.

• 1. Who is the individual you are trying to reach? Research the doctor and their academic interests. Details like past research projects or community involvements that align with your interests are great to keep in mind and can be used to build the initial connection. You want to sound genuine and not like you just searched their name on Google, scanned the first page of results, and repeated what you found. Do a deeper dive.
• 2. How can you reach them? See if you can ascertain where they stand on social media and whether they use these platforms for professional purposes. If so, maybe email is not the best way to connect with them. (Yes, this is about how to send a cold email, but the concept of the cold email should technically be revamped to cold reaching out.) Today, many people are as likely to respond to a message over Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) as to an email. If they are active on one of those platforms, you may have better luck reaching them that way.
• 3. Why are you reaching out? Draft the email and keep it brief. While it may seem beneficial to go on about your background or their background and how much you have researched it, these are working physicians without a lot of spare time. Keep your message sincere but also direct (see Sample Cold Emails).

Last, don’t be afraid to send one follow-up message. Sometimes a recipient sees an email and forgets to respond right away and then forgets about it altogether in an honest oversight. Sending a follow-up email is an effective way to bring it back to their attention.

Below is a sample cold email to illustrate how to structure an effective message. Following these steps will set you on the path toward sending the perfect cold email and hopefully establishing a new connection.