Perceived impact of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring change on neurosurgery: program director survey

Huq, Sakibul; Khalafallah, Adham M.; Botros, David; Jimenez, Adrian E.; Lam, Sharon; Huang, Judy; Mukherjee, Debraj

doi:10.3171/2020.4.jns20748

Cited by 42 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The aim of this study was to compare the perceptions among program directors (PDs) in orthopaedics and IM on the change of Step 1 from a graded to a pass/fail exam, and its impact on the residency application process. Some groups have studied PD opinions of the Step 1 pass/fail change; however, to the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first comprehensive survey to directly compare the impact on medicine and a surgical subspecialty [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. We chose to study IM PDs because IM has historically been a popular specialty that has had the most number of total applicants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring

et al. 2021

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Background United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 will transition from numeric grading to pass/fail, sometime after January 2022. The aim of this study was to compare how program directors in orthopaedics and internal medicine perceive a pass/fail Step 1 will impact the residency application process. Methods A 27-item survey was distributed through REDCap to 161 U.S. orthopaedic residency program directors and 548 U.S. internal medicine residency program directors. Program director emails were obtained from the American Medical Association’s Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. Results We received 58 (36.0%) orthopaedic and 125 (22.8%) internal medicine program director responses. The majority of both groups disagree with the change to pass/fail, and felt that the decision was not transparent. Both groups believe that the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exam and clerkship grades will take on more importance. Compared to internal medicine PDs, orthopaedic PDs were significantly more likely to emphasize research, letters of recommendation from known faculty, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, leadership/extracurricular activities, audition elective rotations, and personal knowledge of the applicant. Both groups believe that allopathic students from less prestigious medical schools, osteopathic students, and international medical graduates will be disadvantaged. Orthopaedic and internal medicine program directors agree that medical schools should adopt a graded pre-clinical curriculum, and that there should be a cap on the number of residency applications a student can submit. Conclusion Orthopaedic and internal medicine program directors disagree with the change of Step 1 to pass/fail. They also believe that this transition will make the match process more difficult, and disadvantage students from less highly-regarded medical schools. Both groups will rely more heavily on the Step 2 clinical knowledge exam score, but orthopaedics will place more importance on research, letters of recommendation, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, leadership/extracurricular activities, personal knowledge of the applicant, and audition electives.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring

et al. 2021

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“…6,7 Accordingly, discussions regarding whether medical school reputation/ranking or regional ties have an important association with residency match/destination were initiated. [8][9][10] Given that geographic location is an important consideration for the majority of medical students applying to otolaryngology, 11 Johnson et al 12 previously examined 56 of the 2013 to 2014 otolaryngology residency programs and reported a significant prevalence of attending medical school and residency in the same region, especially in the South. Since that time, an increasing number of residency programs have deployed comprehensive websites and social media accounts that include individual resident profiles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Medical School Geography and Ranking Influence Residency Match in Otolaryngology?

Goshtasbi

Tsutsumi

Merna

et al. 2021

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol

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Objective: To elucidate the associations between geographic locations, rankings, and size/funding of medical schools and residency programs among the current otolaryngology residents. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study queried otolaryngology residency program websites for relevant publicly accessible information. Location was categorized as Midwest, Northeast, South, and West. Ranking was according to Doximity (residency) and US News and World Report (medical school). Medical school and residency programs were labeled large if they had >704 students or >15 residents, respectively. Results: A total of 1413 residents from 98 (89%) otolaryngology residency programs were included. Residents attending their home medical schools (18%) were equally distributed among regions ( P = .845). Residents who attended medical schools in the same US regions (54%) were more likely from top-25 ( P = .001) or private ( P < .001) medical schools. Southern residents were most likely (64%) and Western residents were least likely (39%) from regional medical schools ( P < .001), while residents from Midwest and Northeast had similar rates (54%-55%). The percentage of Midwest residents coming from regional medical schools has decreased from the 2013 to 2014 residency cycle ( P = .037). Completing undergraduate school, medical school, and residency in the same region (38%) was also highest in the South (45%) and lowest in the West (25%) ( P < .001). Residents at top-ranked residency programs were more likely from top-ranked ( P < .001), large ( P = .025), and private ( P = .018) medical schools. Conclusion: There exist significant associations between otolaryngology residents’ medical school location, ranking, size, and funding source and their residency destination. More than half of the current otolaryngology residents attended medical school in the same geographic region, and about one-fifth have attended medical school and residency at the same institution. Future studies are warranted to evaluate how these results change as the match process evolves in the future. Level of Evidence: N/A.

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“…Finally, US MD Seniors on average may emphasize NLE preparation to a greater degree given that proportionately more apply to HC specialties than US DO Seniors, resulting in better performance on standardized examinations. Nevertheless, given that USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 will move to pass/fail grading in 2022, the impetus to improve other application areas may grow, and students from less prestigious schools may face disproportionate challenges [10,26]. It is discussed that NLEs may not capture the qualities necessary to assess residency training candidacy so more holistic means to evaluate applicants have been conceptualized [10,27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National Resident Matching Program Performance Among US MD and DO Seniors in the Early Single Accreditation Graduate Medical Education Era

Kortz¹,

Vegas²,

Moore³

et al. 2021

Cureus

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Perceived impact of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring change on neurosurgery: program director survey

Cited by 42 publications

References 33 publications

A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring

A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring

Does Medical School Geography and Ranking Influence Residency Match in Otolaryngology?

National Resident Matching Program Performance Among US MD and DO Seniors in the Early Single Accreditation Graduate Medical Education Era

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