University of Virginia School of
Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes 03.21.02
Pediatric Pathology Conference Room, 4:00 PM
Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Robert
Bloodgood, Victoria Camerini, Anita Clayton, Al
Connors, Gene Corbett, Donald Innes (Chair), Howard
Kutchai,Nelle Linz, Jerry Short, Bill Wilson,
Debra Reed (secretary) Guests: Allison Innes, Richard
Pearson
- Change in Neuroscience Lab Schedule. Renovations to the
Jordan Hall 2nd floor labs will interfere with a Neuroscience
laboratory session. The Curriculum Committee endorses the one time only
use of the 12:00-1:00 (lunch) time slot to accommodate the
renovations.
- Neuroscience Course Director. Dr. Joel Hockensmith will be
taking a one year sabbatical - Dr. Clive Bradbeer will be the acting
course director for this year. Dr. Hockensmith will prepare the course
prior to his departure and resume course directors duties when he
returns.
- Further discussion of USMLE Steps 1 and 2.
Richard Pearson and Allison Innes from Student Affairs briefed the
committee on problems incurred with the current and previous UVA
policies regarding the USLME Step 1 and 2 exams. With the input of
Richard Pearson and Allison Innes the Curriculum Committee continued
it's discussion from the previous week. See the Curriculum Committee
minutes for 03.14.02.
Should a passing score on USMLE 1 and 2 be required for the awarding
of a M.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of
Medicine?
Successful completion of Steps 1 and 2 are required to obtain a
medical license in the United States and we expect that our graduates
should be capable of practicing anywhere in the nation. The Curriculum
Committee was in agreement that a passing score on USMLE 1 and 2 should
continue to be a requirement for graduation.
Should passing Step 1 be required before continuing on to third year
and should there be a limit to the number of times each exam can be
taken?
A number of states require the exams to be taken no more than three
times before successful completion for licensure. Again we expect that
our graduates should be capable of practicing anywhere in the
nation
A great deal of discussion focused on concerns about fairness to
students taking the tests multiple times. Increasing debt and the need
to make career decisions in the face of decreasing chances of success
were discussed. Careful mentoring of the student is required. It was
agreed that successful completion of Step 1 should be required before
continuing on to the clinical years 3/4. It was furthermore,
recommended that a limit of three attempts should also be the UVA
School of Medicine policy.
The Curriculum Committee will defer the recommendation and remediation
decision for USMLE-1 failures to the Promotions Committee. The
Promotions Committee will decide based on the individual student record
whether to recommend retest or repeat of the second year followed by
retest. If retest is recommended, student could begin the 3rd year
clinical rotations with the understanding that if Step 1 is not passed
on the second try, they will not be able to finish the third year and
must retake the second year.
For example, if an "A" student fails USMLE-1, the student might be
allowed to continue with clerkships and retake USMLE-1 in the fall. We
expect that this student would pass on the second attempt.
In a second example, the student identified as borderline, e.g. the "C"
student, fails USMLE-1, the student would be asked to repeat the second
year and retake USMLE-1 in the following spring. In the collective
experience of the group, this student, having repeated the 2nd year,
would be expected to pass on the second USMLE-1 attempt.
- The next meeting of the Curriculum Committee will be April 4, 2002,
4:00 p.m. Howard Kutchai and Robert Bloodgood will report to the
Committee on the Physiology/CTS Course 2001. Time will be allowed for
discussion of a new grading system for years 1 & 2.
-Don Innes
-dmr
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