The Effects of Single Accreditation and Pass/Fail Licensing Exams on Osteopathic Medical Students Applying to...

To examine the effects of single accreditation and pass/fail licensing exams on osteopathic (DO) medical students applying for surgical residency.

Electronic surveys were distributed to 1509 program directors (PD) in 10 surgical specialties. PDs were separated into 2categories based on their program's accreditation status prior to single accreditation: formerly accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or not accredited by the AOA. Separate chi-squared and binomial tests were used to determine statistical differences between PDs in each category and within each surgical specialty.

Voluntary, anonymous, electronic survey.

Three hundred survey responses were received (response rate 19.8%) and 234 responses were included in statistical analyses. Sixty-six responses were excluded because the survey was incomplete, the survey was not completed by a PD, or the PD indicated disqualification of DO applicants from matching at that program.

The majority of PDs in both categories recommend or require that DO students take both United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step1 [Χ² (2, N = 234) = 8.939, p = 0.011] and USMLE Step 2 CK [Χ² (2, N = 234) = 4.161, p = 0.125] despite pass/fail outcomes only on Step 1 and Level 1. When deciding whom to interview, PDs in both categories highly ranked USMLE Step 2 CK scores and letters of recommendation (LOR). Formerly-AOA-accredited programs highly ranked COMLEX-USA Level 2 scores (p = < 0.001) and completion of an audition rotation (p = 0.001). Non-AOA-accredited programs highly ranked the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) (p = < 0.001) and clerkship grades/evaluations (p = 0.001).

Significant differences exist in programs despite single accreditation. DO applicants should take both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK to be considered competitive for any surgical specialty. Additionally, DO students should prioritize formerly-AOA-accredited programs for audition rotations.