Yes, peer-review contributions fit on a medical CV when listed under Editorial Activities or Peer Review Service with journal names and dates.
Medical hiring committees scan for evidence of scholarship and service. Journal refereeing shows you contribute to science beyond your own papers. Done right, those entries add clarity, not clutter. This guide gives you where to place reviewer work, what to include, and how to format clean, verifiable lines recruiters can skim in seconds.
Where Reviewer Work Belongs On A Physician CV
Placement signals the type of contribution. Use the sections below as a quick map, then mirror your institution’s template.
| Contribution Type | CV Section | What To List |
|---|---|---|
| Ad hoc article reviews | Peer Review Service | Journal name and years (or counts per year) |
| Editorial board membership | Editorial Activities | Role, journal, dates |
| Associate/section editor roles | Editorial Activities | Role, journal, dates |
| Grant or study section reviews | National Service | Agency/body, panel name, dates |
| Conference abstract reviews | Professional Service | Meeting name, role, dates |
What Counts As Peer-Review Work Worth Listing
Include contributions with traceable venues or roles. One-off declines or unverified claims add noise. Favor activities that a reader can confirm by context, a letter, or a profile.
Good Candidates
- Regular manuscript reviews for named journals.
- Editorial board membership or section editorship.
- Grant panel service with a recognized agency.
- Conference abstract screening with a formal role.
Skip Or Consolidate
- Single ad hoc invitations from years ago without context.
- Unfinished or declined assignments.
- Duplicating the same item under multiple sections.
How To Format Reviewer Entries Cleanly
Keep each line short and scannable. Start with the role, then the venue, then dates. Add volume only when it helps the reader grasp workload.
Minimal Line
Ad hoc Reviewer, Journal of Example Medicine — 2022–2025
With Workload
Reviewer, Cardiothoracic Insights — 14 manuscripts in 2024; 9 in 2023
Editorial Roles
Associate Editor, Respiratory Care Reports — 2023–present
Grant Panels
Study Section Member, National Agency Cardio Panel — Spring 2024; Fall 2025
Proof And Verification That Help Hiring Committees
Most CVs do not require public proof for peer review work. Quick corroboration still helps. Two easy options:
ORCID Peer Review
Many journals can post verified reviewer credit to your ORCID record. Linking those entries helps readers see dates and venues without revealing manuscripts.
Journal Letters Or Emails
A short letter from an editor or a standardized yearly thank-you message can sit in your materials file. You rarely attach it; it reassures references.
Where Institutions Differ (And How To Align)
Medical schools use different headings. Some templates want only board or editor roles in the editorial section and move ad hoc reviewing under service. Others merge everything under one heading. Follow your home format first, then mirror that style in outside CVs so your record stays consistent.
Close-Variant Heading: Listing Journal Review Service On A Medical CV
This phrasing keeps the reader oriented and matches how job boards index profiles while staying natural. Place the section near publications or near service, based on your template. Keep the order reverse-chronological.
Ordering Tips
- Group editor and board roles above ad hoc lines.
- List current roles before past roles when dates overlap.
- Avoid lumping unrelated venues into one line.
Detail Level
For early career clinicians, a per-year count can show momentum without padding. Mid-career readers care about venue mix and sustained roles more than raw totals.
Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes
Overlong Bullets
Fix by trimming verbs and removing article titles or manuscript IDs. The CV shows service, not the content of other people’s work.
Inflated Claims
Stick to venues you can back up. If you use totals, label the span of time. Avoid rounding up.
Double Listing
Place each activity in one spot only. If your template has a cross-reference field, use it instead of repeating lines.
Mystery Acronyms
Spell the journal or agency the first time. If space is tight, add the acronym in parentheses, then use it later.
Sample Section Layout For A Clinician-Scholar
Here is a compact layout that reads fast across screens and prints cleanly. Tweak labels to match your school’s template.
Section Title
Peer Review Service
Ad hoc Reviewer, Journal of Vascular Care — 2022–present
Ad hoc Reviewer, Endocrine Case Notes — 2021–2024
Abstract Reviewer, Global Thoracic Summit — 2023
Section Title
Editorial Activities
Editorial Board Member, Renal Practice Update — 2024–present
Associate Editor, Cardiac Imaging Today — 2023–present
Template Lines You Can Copy
Use the patterns below to keep wording lean and consistent.
| Section | Template Entry |
|---|---|
| Peer Review Service | Reviewer, Journal Name — 6 manuscripts in 2025; 4 in 2024 |
| Editorial Activities | Editorial Board Member, Journal Name — 2023–present |
| National Service | Study Section Member, Agency Panel — 2024 |
| Professional Service | Abstract Reviewer, Conference Name — Year |
Where To Place It Relative To Publications
Keep peer review activity near publications so readers connect scholarship with service. Publications stay above service entries. Within the publication list, split peer-reviewed papers from non-refereed items. That split helps hiring readers see rigor at a glance.
Counting Reviews Without Looking Inflated
Totals can inform workload. They can also look padded. Safer patterns:
- Use two recent years of counts, not lifetime tallies.
- Avoid listing confidential manuscript IDs.
- Round down or use ranges when systems show partial totals.
If a journal tracks verified credit, match their counts. If records are spotty, stick to roles and dates.
Digital Records That Make Entries Credible
Two small moves bring clarity and trust:
Public Profiles
Keep your ORCID profile complete and connect it to journals that share reviewer credit. Some systems post the venue and date without manuscript details. That is enough.
Email Hygiene
Use an email tied to your institution for invitations and confirmations. Save annual thank-you messages in a “CV proof” folder.
Early Career Versus Senior CVs
Early career CVs can show momentum by grouping venues and noting recent counts. Senior CVs read better with a short list of flagship roles and a one-line summary of recurring ad hoc work.
Early Career Pattern
Reviewer, Five journals across cardiology and imaging — 7 reviews in 2024; 5 in 2023
Senior Pattern
Editorial Board, Two journals in pulmonary medicine — 2020–present; ad hoc reviews as invited
When Not To List Reviewer Work
Skip it if the entry crowds out bigger wins or if the venue is unrelated to your field. If your school bars ad hoc lines in the editorial section, move them to service or remove them. The goal is a tight record that advances your case.
Quick Steps To Update Your Document Today
- Add a “Peer Review Service” section near publications or service.
- Move editor and board roles above ad hoc items.
- Limit counts to the last two years where useful.
- Connect journal recognition tools to your ORCID profile.
- Save confirmation emails in a single “CV proof” folder.
This keeps the section tidy and credible without bloat.
Field Nuances Across Medicine
Clinical journals vary in how they acknowledge referees. Some publish annual thank-you lists; some provide private emails. That variance affects what you can verify. When a venue posts a public list, you can cite the year in your line. When it does not, stick to the role and dates without naming manuscript counts you cannot confirm.
Subspecialties with heavy trial activity may value grant and data safety work more than article screening volume. Tailor the section to the venues where your dossier carries the most weight.
Residency Applications Versus Academic CVs
Residency portals center on the ERAS format, which has its own fields for publications and presentations. Reviewer work can sit in Work/Volunteer or a short “Scholarly Service” field if available. Outside that portal, your academic CV can carry a dedicated section. Keep the wording consistent so there is no mismatch between documents.
Privacy, Confidentiality, And Good Taste
Never reveal manuscript titles, authors, or decision outcomes. Do not post screenshots from editorial systems. The role is what matters. Let journals handle public recognition. Your CV should read like a ledger, not a backstage tour.
Worked Examples For Common Situations
Early Resident With A Few Reviews
Reviewer, Journal of Internal Medicine Cases — 2 reviews in 2025; 1 in 2024
Fellow With Mixed Roles
Abstract Reviewer, Regional Cardio Summit — 2024; Ad hoc Reviewer, Two journals in heart failure — 2023–2025
Assistant Professor Building Editorial Experience
Editorial Board, Imaging in Medicine — 2025–present; Reviewer, Four journals in radiology — 2022–2025
Align With Official Templates First
Before you publish a new section, check the style your school expects. Many offices post clear instructions and sample layouts. The Association of American Medical Colleges outlines general tips on preparing a physician CV; follow your local policy first, then match outside documents to that style. See the AAMC page on preparing your curriculum vitae for a quick overview.
Some schools also spell out where editorial and ad hoc lines belong. One example from a public template advises listing editorial board roles and ad hoc reviewing with journal names and dates under the editorial section. Review guidance like the University of Washington’s note on editorial responsibilities to see how headings map to activities.
If you use profile tools that verify service, add them discreetly. ORCID describes how journals can post verified reviewer credit to your record; that can make a busy CV line easier to trust. Read the ORCID help page on peer review entries and connect journals that offer this option.
Final Checks Before You Send
Read, trim repeats, verify dates, and keep roles consistent across CV.