Anticipating Medical Student Success: Changing Predictors Across Transitions

• In Event: Predicting Performance for Learner Success in the Professions

Abstract

There is a growing trend for medical schools to condense basic science education and bring forward clinical rotations. Such a transition requires medical students to master the same amount of knowledge and skills in a shorter period of time, and puts onus on medical schools to promptly identify and intervene with academically struggling students. We conducted this study at a single institution across five medical student cohorts. Regression modeling identified the most recent academic performance to be the strongest predictor for subsequent struggles. Furthermore, although there was no initial difference, being underrepresented in medicine and having older age upon entry predicted lower performance during clinical rotations. Implications regarding the best time for academic interventions in a condensed curriculum are discussed.

Authors

• Lisi Wang, University of Texas at Austin

• Gareth Gingell, Dell Medical School

• Elizabeth Nelson, University of Texas at Austin

• LuAnn Wilkerson, University of Texas at Austin