Reporting a Pass/Fail Outcome for USMLE Step 1: The Challenges Faced by International Medical Graduates
On February 12, 2020, after extensive stakeholder discussion, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) announced that the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 will transition to pass/fail. For program directors, the scores from this examination have been one of the most important factors in deciding which residency candidates to interview. The lack of scores will force changes to the residency selection process, some of which could have both positive and negative consequences for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). In this session, I will discuss some of the relevant issues associated with the transition to Step 1 pass/fail and how they are likely to impact IMGs. I will also provide insights on how this change could help motivate the medical community to develop a more efficient and effective pathway for medical school graduates to transition to postgraduate training.
USLME Transitions, An Osteopathic Perspective
Dr. Cain will review the Osteopathic medical community reactions to USLME moving to Pass/Fail and the challenges of a dual licensing system.
Dr. Boulet is Vice President, Research and Data Resources, for both the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®). Dr. Boulet holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario and both a M.A. and Ph.D. in Education, specializing in measurement and evaluation, from the University of Ottawa. He is a Senior Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, and a Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Boulet currently serves on the editorial boards for Advances in Health Sciences Education: Theory and Practice, Education for Health, and Simulation in Healthcare. He is a Deputy Editor for Medical Education.
Robert A. Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME, currently serves as the President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. In this role he represents osteopathic medical education in a variety of settings while overseeing the operations of the association that supports the nation’s colleges of osteopathic medicine and graduate medical education leaders.