STAT

Opinion: Making Step 1 pass/fail is ‘root rot’ that will undermine the medical profession

Well-intended efforts to reduce pressure on medical students and increase physician diversity by eliminating grades and standardized test scores are likely to have the opposite effect.

Among the endless metrics for assessing the quality of health care, one that is exceedingly important for measuring physician quality is on the chopping block.

I’m talking about turning the , which all medical students take at the end of their second year of studies, into a pass/fail test. This proposed change was and has received almost no media coverage. Such a pivotal change, which I find troubling, merits greater attention and debate. If you, too, think it is an unwise are closed on July 26.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About An Amgen Obesity Drug, A Senate Bill On Shortages, And More
Amgen will no longer develop an early-stage obesity pill, and will instead focus on a more advanced injectable candidate to compete with Wegovy and Zepbound.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About AstraZeneca CEO Pay, Alternatives To WuXi And More
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans.…
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About FTC Fighting ‘Junk’ Patents, Pfizer Direct-to-consumer Plans, And More
The FTC expanded its campaign against pharmaceutical companies for filing what it calls “junk” patent listings for 20 different brand-name treatments.

Related Books & Audiobooks