USA Med Students Score in Top Quartile

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Posted on November 13, 2017

Nichelle Smith

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The University of South Alabama College of Medicine ranks in the top quarter of medical schools when it comes to student satisfaction and a key measurement of academic performance, according to two recently released reports.

Dr. John Marymont, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine, said the data speaks to the caliber of South’s faculty members, students, educational process and learning environment.

“The USA College of Medicine has always enjoyed a reputation of providing outstanding education for medical students,” he said. “The mentorship and encouragement demonstrated by faculty members coupled with the dedication and hard work displayed by students creates a nurturing environment that breeds academic success.”

Dr. Susan LeDoux, associate dean for medical education and student affairs, said students at the USA College of Medicine performed exceptionally well on both Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

Step 1 is the first of three licensure exams that students take to assess their ability to apply knowledge, concepts and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills.

“In 2017 the average score for USA medical students taking Step 1 was 235, compared to a national average of 230,” LeDoux said.

South’s students performed even better on Step 2, which measures clinical knowledge and is taken during the beginning of the fourth year of medical school. Out of 102 medical schools reporting scores, only 13 outperformed USA during the 2015-2016 academic year, said Dr. Tony Gard, assistant dean for medical education at the USA College of Medicine. This placed USA’s graduating Class of 2016 in the top quartile of performance.

“For the graduating Class of 2017, the average score for USA medical students increased further to 248, while the national average on this exam did not change from the preceding year,” Gard said. “The results for the current senior class are just as promising. These results predict that successive classes of senior USA graduates are sustaining a high level of competence in medical knowledge ranking among the very best medical schools in the country.”

A separate report, the Graduation Questionnaire released by the Association of American Medical Colleges, suggests a high satisfaction with South’s medical education.

 “The results from the 2017 AAMC graduation questionnaire showed that 98 percent of students from the USA College of Medicine were either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with their education,” LeDoux said. “When compared to other schools across the United States, the results put us above the ninetieth percentile in student satisfaction.”

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