A step in the right direction: Lessons learned from the USMLE Step 1

Every year, thousands of medical students in the United States and internationally take the USMLE Step 1 exam, just as their mentors did before them. Numerous commentators - physicians and students - have argued that there are problems with the USMLE Step 1 exam, including that it devalues clinically relevant educational content not tested on Step 1, it has negative consequences for student mental health, it perpetuates the misuse of race in clinical diagnosis, and dependence on Step 1 scores may hinder efforts to diversify residency cohorts. Less prominent is any conversation regarding the nuanced benefits beyond consolidation of knowledge that one may reap from preparing for the USMLE exams. In this article, the author reflects on how preparation for Step 1 helped her and her classmates develop crucial skills of compassion and empathy in a way that will be of enormous benefit to their practice as future clinicians.