The exam was changed to a pass-fail model, ostensibly to relieve student stress. Critics say the change has not reduced stress but has amplified inequities among students. When the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Federation of State Medical Boards changed the process for grading a section of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, they hoped it would decrease student stress and reduce the emphasis on scores in the decision process for residency placement. But a year and a half after the transition, some medical school students and faculty are unsure if the change was effective and are concerned that it may have amplified inequities among students.
Collaborative education experiences prepare healthcare professionals-in-training to function as a cohesive team that provides comprehensive patient care.