Surviving Medicine

059: Should USMLE be Pass/Fail? with Dr. Bryan Carmody

02.04.2019 - By Surviving MedicinePlay

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Dr. Bryan Carmody MD, MPH

* Assistant Professor

* Pediatric Nephrologist

* Self-Proclaimed Sheriff of Sodium

Twitter  |  Website  |  USMLE Article

Description:

USMLE.

Back in Episode 12 we dove deep discussing how to study for USMLE. Well, if you are not aware, at the end of 2018, there was a fire of social media activity, namely on twitter, about USMLE and if the exam should be pass/fail instead of graded.

In December, half a dozen medical students wrote an article in the journal of Academic Medicine discussing the toxic “Step 1 Climate”. The NBME, National Board of Medical Examiners, commented on the piece using some distasteful anecdotes. Needless to say, the commentary started a twitter storm amongst physicians raising the question of the value of Step 1, the original purpose of USMLE, and the potential for the exams to be Pass/Fail instead. One physician at the heart of the criticism, who was first in line to point out flaws in the USMLE/NBME mission and financial structure, is non-other than Dr. Bryan Carmody, our guest today. Dr. Carmody is a Pediatric Nephrologist, an assistant professor, a self-proclaimed sheriff of sodium, a husband, a father, and a medical school lecturer. Dr. Carmody is one of the top Pediatricians in Virginia and was been awarded the Faculty Teaching Award at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He has published over 20 journal articles on nephrotoxicity in infants, pediatric acid-base disorders, caffeine exposure in premature infants, and more. For anyone in the medical field, this is a conversation for you! In the beginning of the interview, we discuss his path to medicine and why he chose pediatric nephrology. In the second part of the interview, we discuss all things USMLE. From the flaws, the toxic Step 1 climate, the usefulness of what is tested, the financial incentives of the NBME, the original purpose of the USMLE, the arguments for and against a USMLE Pass/Fail system, and more!

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