Factors influencing US osteopathic medical students to choose pathology as a specialty

Implementing PathElective as an organized means of supplementing pathology education in an osteopathic medical school—the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine experience

“…A 2022 study from data across 14 DO medical school reported that the percentage of pathology residency positions filled by DO graduates did actually increase from 6.6% in 2011 to 11.4% in 2020, 3 similar to what was reported earlier. These numbers should be examined in the context of the increase in DO medical students graduating in the U.S. During the same time period, there was a 51% increase in DO medical school graduates mainly due to the installation of new DO schools.…”

“…These numbers should be examined in the context of the increase in DO medical students graduating in the U.S. During the same time period, there was a 51% increase in DO medical school graduates mainly due to the installation of new DO schools. 3 Though there was also an increase in MD graduates from 2008 to 2020, the percentage increase was reported as only 20% in comparison. 3 This same study indicated that DO medical students received significantly less formal pathology exposure.…”

Undergraduate medical student perspectives on the role of autopsy in medical education

“…While this was not a specific part of the prompt, it does call into question the possibility that viewing an autopsy increases the likelihood of pursuing pathology as a career choice. However, it should be noted that many UMS have decided on a specialty by their third and fourth years 14 , 15 and thus exposure to the field of pathology though autopsy may have less of an impact on these students who have already completed their third-year clinical rotations. A large majority of upper year students who witnessed an autopsy viewed it as a positive experience and as something that should be incorporated into medical education; based on these responses, perhaps exposing preclinical first- and second-year medical students to autopsy early in their education could serve as a positive experience and influence career decisions.…”

Evaluating the impact of pass/fail United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scoring on pathology residency selection

“…12 Approximately one in every five medical students is attending an osteopathic medical school and thus will be taking COMLEX board examinations. 13 The recent growth of osteopathic medical schools is reflected in the field of pathology, as the percentage of pathology residency spots filled by osteopathic medical students has increased from 6.6% in 2011 to 12.0% in 2022. 13 With both Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 becoming P/F but at different times, it is likely that more osteopathic students will be applying with a three-digit score until the NRMP Match Cycle of 2024.…”

“… 13 The recent growth of osteopathic medical schools is reflected in the field of pathology, as the percentage of pathology residency spots filled by osteopathic medical students has increased from 6.6% in 2011 to 12.0% in 2022. 13 With both Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 becoming P/F but at different times, it is likely that more osteopathic students will be applying with a three-digit score until the NRMP Match Cycle of 2024. This may make it more difficult to fairly compare applicants between allopathic and osteopathic schools for the next few application cycles.…”