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USMLE Step 1 Pass/Fail, Residency Recruitment, Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Abstract
The University of Chicago dermatology residency program considered USMLE Step 1 pass/fail
during the 2020-2021 application cycle with the goal of recruiting diverse dermatology
residency candidates. Multi-year cross-sectional study among applicants to the dermatology
residency program during the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 application cycles, the latter
excluding use of USMLE Step 1 cutoff scores as a screening tool. Of the applicants,
69.8% (n = 419) and 94.5% (n= 605) had their residency applications reviewed by our
program during the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 application cycles, respectively. There
was a statistically significant upward trend in the number of underrepresented in
medicine (URiM) applicants offered an interview from 10.4% (n = 5) to 37.7% (n = 20)
across the application cycles. Multiple linear regression demonstrated there was a
statistically significant decrease in the mean USMLE Step 1 score among applicants
reviewed across application cycle and URiM status independently, and as a factor of
their interaction (P=0.016 and P=0.001). By de-emphasizing the USMLE Step 1 score
and using the test as originally intended, a marker for licensure, our program significantly
increased the number of URiM applicants who were offered an interview and implemented
a holistic review process focused on individual attributes and cultural competence.
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Article info
Publication history
Edited by: Min Deng, MD
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.
