Prematriculation Healthcare Employment Predicts Success in Clerkship Environment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The average age of medical students is rising, with more students gaining healthcare experience during gap years.
• Prior studies on matriculation age and performance yield conflicting results.
• The impact of prior healthcare employment (PHE) on medical school performance remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between prior healthcare employment (PHE) and medical school performance metrics.
• To determine if medical students with PHE achieve higher academic and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of four medical school classes (434 students).
• Identification of students with at least six months of paid clinical healthcare employment before matriculation (PHE cohort).
• Analysis of multiple medical school performance metrics, including standardized exams and clerkship scores.

Main Results:

• Students with PHE (11.29%) showed no significant difference in MCAT, USMLE Step 1, or Step 2 CK scores.
• PHE students achieved significantly higher scores on NBME subject exams.
• PHE students demonstrated superior clinical clerkship and cumulative Year 3 performance.

Conclusions:

• Prior healthcare employment is associated with enhanced performance in the clinical setting of medical school.
• This suggests that practical experience gained before medical school may confer advantages in clinical knowledge and skills.
• Findings support the value of paid healthcare experience for pre-medical students and inform advising and curriculum development.