Latest news with #USMLE
The Star
5 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Is your education helping?
Is one school better than another, or do smart students succeed no matter where they study? One way to see if schools, universities and teachers really make a difference in learning is by measuring the impact of educational institutions using the 'value-added' approach, which looks at how much students improve over time. Instead of only focusing on final grades, it measures progress, giving a clearer picture of how well a school or teacher is performing. 'Value-added' compares what a student is expected to achieve based on their starting point with what they actually achieve by the end of a course or school year. This method focuses on improvement rather than just final scores, showing how much a student has grown academically. Traditional ways of judging schools and teachers rely heavily on test scores. However, these scores can be influenced by factors outside a school's control, like family background and early education. For example, a child from a low-income family may start school with fewer skills, while a child from a wealthier family may have an advantage. Comparing only final test scores can be unfair. The 'value-added' approach looks at progress, recognising the hard work of both students and teachers. It measures how well each child reaches their full potential. A good example of how the 'value-added' approach works in practice comes from medical schools in the United States. Students enter medical school based on their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores and graduate by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Schools that accept high-scoring students in the MCAT usually produce high-scoring graduates in the USMLE. However, some schools help students improve beyond expectations, while others underperform. If you were choosing a medical school, you would want one that not only helps students grow, but also 'adds value' to the individual. Here's a look at the benefits of using 'value added' as a measure of educational success: > Focuses on progress Instead of teaching just for test scores, schools and teachers help every student improve, no matter their starting level. This builds academic skills, confidence, and a love of learning. > Fairer for teachers Teachers work with students of different backgrounds and abilities. A great teacher may not always have the highest- scoring students, but they can still help them improve significantly. > Promotes educational fairness Schools in low-income areas are often judged unfairly based on test scores alone. The 'value-added' approach highlights schools that are helping students grow, even in challenging situations. > Helps parents make better choices Parents want the best education for their children. A school may not have the highest overall scores, but if it helps students improve a lot, it could be a great choice. > Guides policy decisions Education leaders can use the 'value-added' approach to decide where to invest resources. Schools that help students make big improvements can serve as models, while struggling schools can receive extra support. Focusing on the 'value-added' approach benefits society as well. It encourages effort and resilience – qualities that are valuable in education and the workplace. Employers appreciate candidates who have shown steady growth and the ability to overcome challenges. Of course, no single measure can fully capture the impact of education. Some critics argue that 'value-added' oversimplifies learning. However, when used alongside other methods, it provides valuable insight into student progress. It reminds us that education is not just about where students end up but also how far they have come. 'Value-added' offers a fair and meaningful way to measure the impact of schools and teachers. By focusing on student growth, it provides a clearer picture of success than traditional test scores. It recognises great teaching, encourages improvement, and helps address educational inequalities. In a world where every student's potential matters, 'value-added' is not just a trend – it is an important step towards a better and more supportive education system for all. Prof Dr David Whitford is vice-chancellor and chief executive of University of Cyberjaya. He earned a doctorate from Cambridge University and has held leadership roles in medical education. With over 70 research publications on disadvantaged communities and quality healthcare delivery, his academic journey includes positions at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin and in Bahrain, where he established community-based teaching and led postgraduate studies. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Court orders dispute between AIMST, education provider to go to trial
Court of Appeal judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said several key factual and legal disputes could only be properly determined through evidence from witnesses. PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has ordered a contractual dispute between MIC-linked AIMST University and education service provider Nugrahan Sdn Bhd to go to trial. Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the High Court had erred in concluding that there were no triable issues. 'Several key factual and legal disputes can only be properly determined through evidence from witnesses, and the matter ought to be ventilated through a full trial,' he said in allowing AIMST's appeal to set aside the summary judgment. The panel, which included Justices P Ravinthran and Alwi Abdul Wahab, also ordered the case to be heard before a new judge. The dispute stems from a July 2021 agreement in which Nugrahan was to provide United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) preparation programmes for AIMST's medical students. Nugrahan alleges AIMST agreed to purchase the Step 1 and Step 2 programmes but later terminated the contract without justification. AIMST, however, claims it was misled into signing the agreement. The university says it was assured the USMLE Step 1 exam would continue using numerical scores, which are crucial for US medical residency placements. It later discovered the scoring system had shifted to pass/fail, significantly reducing the programme's value and suitability for its students. AIMST is also counterclaiming for over RM2.9 million in losses, arguing the contract is voidable due to misrepresentation. Counsel R Rishikessingam appeared for AIMST, while Vinayak Sri Ram and Chew Thean Ern represented Nugrahan.
Medscape
12-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Prep for the USMLE Starting on Day One of Med School
This transcript has been edited for clarity. The best students start studying for the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) exams on day one of medical school. This is not studying for one block at a time but keeping up with everything that you've learned so far. At the end of the day, the goal isn't just passing the test at the end of a block; it's setting yourself up for the big examthat covers everything. The key to doing this is spaced repetition. Instead of studying something once and forgetting about it after you turn the test in, like what most of us probably did in college, you review it in increasingly spaced intervals over time. The best tool for this is an app called Anki. It's a flashcard system built for spaced repetition, and it's what the highest-scoring medical students swear by. Credit Lead image: Medscape. LLC Medscape © 2025 WebMD, LLC Cite this: Prep for the USMLE Starting on Day One of Med School - Medscape - May 12, 2025.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
White House withdraws Surgeon General pick over foreign medical school controversy
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The White House is understood to have made the decision to withdraw Dr Janette Nesheiwat's nomination to be United States Surgeon General, the second time one of President Donald Trump's top health care policy picks has faltered before being considered by the U.S. Senate. The decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg News, comes just days before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee had been scheduled to hold a hearing on her nomination. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor who is also the sister-in-law of former Trump White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, had been selected to be one of the country's top public health official largely on the strength of her record as a television personality. But as her confirmation hearing approached, Nesheiwat had become a magnet for controversy after a CBS News report called into question whether she'd been forthright about her education and background. Last month, the television network reported that Nesheiwat had listed herself on LinkedIn as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, the institution where she completed her medical residency. The board-certified physician actually attended and earned her doctoral degree from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, which is located on the Caribbean island of St Maarten. It's not uncommon for Americans to attend medical schools in the Caribbean, as those schools are known as having slightly more relaxed admissions standards than schools in the United States. But those schools still teach a standard medical curriculum and award a Doctor of Medicine degree. At AUC, students complete a four-year program of two years in a classroom and an additional two years in clinical rotations at a licensed medical facility. CBS News reported Nesheiwat was enrolled there for six years, from 2000 to 2006. Completing one's medical education after studying abroad also requires passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. Passing the USMLE is also required for aspiring physicians to be eligible for residency programs at American hospitals, the final step in education before being permitted to practice medicine. It's at the University of Arkansas where Nesheiwat completed her medical education with a multi-year residency. Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General who served in that role during the first Trump administration, wrote on X that he did not know what was 'more troubling' to him, the possibility that 'stigma against foreign medical graduates' would have led to Nesheiwat's nomination being withdrawn, or the possibility that it would have been due to her support for vaccines. 'The FMG talk is ill informed and troubling. Much of our U.S. medical care (esp rural) depends on foreign grads. And Dr. N completed a U.S. residency (which is where you really learn how to practice medicine anyway). Hoping this doesn't stigmatize docs who trained outside U.S.,' he added. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
White House withdraws Surgeon General pick over foreign medical school controversy
The White House is understood to have made the decision to withdraw Dr Janette Nesheiwat's nomination to be United States Surgeon General, the second time one of President Donald Trump's top health care policy picks has faltered before being considered by the U.S. Senate. The decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg News, comes just days before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee had been scheduled to hold a hearing on her nomination. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor who is also the sister-in-law of former Trump White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, had been selected to be one of the country's top public health official largely on the strength of her record as a television personality. But as her confirmation hearing approached, Nesheiwat had become a magnet for controversy after a CBS News report called into question whether she'd been forthright about her education and background. ADVERTISEMENT Last month, the television network reported that Nesheiwat had listed herself on LinkedIn as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, the institution where she completed her medical residency. The board-certified physician actually attended and earned her doctoral degree from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, which is located on the Caribbean island of St Maarten. It's not uncommon for Americans to attend medical schools in the Caribbean, as those schools are known as having slightly more relaxed admissions standards than schools in the United States. But those schools still teach a standard medical curriculum and award a Doctor of Medicine degree. At AUC, students complete a four-year program of two years in a classroom and an additional two years in clinical rotations at a licensed medical facility. CBS News reported Nesheiwat was enrolled there for six years, from 2000 to 2006. Completing one's medical education after studying abroad also requires passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. ADVERTISEMENT Passing the USMLE is also required for aspiring physicians to be eligible for residency programs at American hospitals, the final step in education before being permitted to practice medicine. It's at the University of Arkansas where Nesheiwat completed her medical education with a multi-year residency. Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General who served in that role during the first Trump administration, wrote on X that he did not know what was 'more troubling' to him, the possibility that 'stigma against foreign medical graduates' would have led to Nesheiwat's nomination being withdrawn, or the possibility that it would have been due to her support for vaccines. 'The FMG talk is ill informed and troubling. Much of our U.S. medical care (esp rural) depends on foreign grads. And Dr. N completed a U.S. residency (which is where you really learn how to practice medicine anyway). Hoping this doesn't stigmatize docs who trained outside U.S.,' he added.
