Medical students pass boards with flying colors

University of Louisville medical students set a national benchmark for excellence recently when, for the first time in school history, all students passed the second stage of their medical boards on the first attempt.

The national pass rate for the 2002-2003 United States Medical Licensing Examination was 94 percent, with 16,464 students taking the test at U.S. and Canadian medical schools. At UofL, all 133 test-takers passed.

"We've exceed the national pass rate for the past several years, but we've never reached 100 percent before," said Toni Ganzel, M.D., associate dean of student affairs in the School of Medicine.

"We're thrilled with the results, which are a wonderful reflection of our students, our faculty and our education program in the School of Medicine."

Ganzel attributed the results to the "talent and hard work of our students" as well as new instruction techniques that focus on small-group learning and a closer integration between the clinical sciences and the basic sciences.

"I think these scores speak well for our basic science faculty's efforts in preparing students for the clinical rotations, and for the clinical faculty's clinical teaching efforts," she said.

The school is a recognized leader in the development of novel instructional tools, including sophisticated, computer-controlled patient simulators and so-called standardized patients -- actors who are trained to realistically depict patients with various diseases.

All UofL medical students also are issued personal digital assistants containing specialized medical software that lets them check drug reactions or get a "second opinion" on a bedside diagnosis.

The United States Medical Licensing Examination is given annually in two stages. Step one is administered to students at the end of the first two years of medical school, while step two is given during a student's fourth year.

Graduates cannot be licensed until they pass the test, which is administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners.