USMLE Forum Archives - USMLE Step 2 CS - A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 CS
A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 CS
adonis123 - 04-04-09 13:25
"The Clinical Skills test is not very useful. We have had residents who have passed the Clinical Skills test whose English skills are woefully deficient.
It is a lot of time and effort with very little, good, useful information.
In our experience, passing the test doesn't even indicate the applicant has minimal clinical or communication skills."
John D. Goldman
IM Program Director
PinnacleHealth Hospitals
Harrisburg, PA
(This has been posted on the website comprev.usmle.org)
Please post your comments on it.
adonis123 - 04-04-09 13:25
"The Clinical Skills test is not very useful. We have had residents who have passed the Clinical Skills test whose English skills are woefully deficient.
It is a lot of time and effort with very little, good, useful information.
In our experience, passing the test doesn't even indicate the applicant has minimal clinical or communication skills."
John D. Goldman
IM Program Director
PinnacleHealth Hospitals
Harrisburg, PA
(This has been posted on the website comprev.usmle.org)
Please post your comments on it.
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#1
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 InSitu - 04-04-09 14:00 I my opinion the CS is the most important test since it evaluates your communication and clinical skills. Step 1 and 2ck are unfair exams because many of us even we know the information very well we are not good test takers. They give you a minute per case, and you tell me where in real life you have one minute to solve a case (except in trauma setting) and also rememebr the fatigue factor in a 9 hour exam. In my opinion this PD has no idea. If I was a PD I would hire residents who passed CS within first time and I wont even look at Step 1 and 2CK (specially these 99s). I also think PD should get the chance to see your skills (in form of subinternship or clerkship) regardless of your credentials since many of us with 75s will function much better than these 99s book smarts (of course I am not generalizing).
#2
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 bingousmle - 04-04-09 14:01 i think he forgot to mention the fiscal aspect of the exam.. lol
#3
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 zoah2005 - 04-04-09 14:02 well its easy to criticize someone as this PD did but i think imgs should be given some time to improve their english bcoz english can only be improved by speaking and mostly imgs dont speak english in their own countries , what do u guys think?
#4
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 InSitu - 04-04-09 14:03 
posted by zoah2005 on 04-04-09 14:02
well its easy to criticize someone as this PD did but i think imgs should be given some time to improve their english bcoz english can only be improved by speaking and mostly imgs dont speak english in their own countries , what do u guys think?
well its easy to criticize someone as this PD did but i think imgs should be given some time to improve their english bcoz english can only be improved by speaking and mostly imgs dont speak english in their own countries , what do u guys think?
I agree. And that should be in a form of some kind of a clinical experience.
#5
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 bingousmle - 04-04-09 14:05 i think the accent can create the trouble, but then its no parameter to judge somebody's communication skill...
#6
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2
adonis123 - 04-04-09 15:01 Yes,it is essential to test a person's english speaking ability and his interpersonal skills.
But, the way the USMLE Step-2CS is designed,it does does not predict anything.
There is a lot of Observer bias and a lot of Recall Bias involved in this exam.
How can some lay persons like SP's solely evaluate a physician.
In my opinion ,only a Physician can actually evaluate a physician.
So, I think IMG's must be allowed to gain some US clinical experience,so that they are evaluated by the US Attending Physicians.
#7
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 sackatdoc - 04-04-09 17:35 sorry, no offense but there is no point discussing this, coz it is what it is? we have no choice in the scheme, it stays the same what ever we may say whether for or against. So i will stay neutral,lol
#8
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 adonis123 - 04-04-09 17:53 I think some people do not know about the Comprehensive Review of USMLE which is underway.
Good Luck.
#9
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 sarabrodke1 - 04-04-09 21:32 I tell you one thing this and similar other PDs should be thinking of adding some TOEFL like thing
I dont know what is in their minds... if they cant call a person with 85 score for interview why dont they raise the passing score to 90+
They are giving positions to those with H1s and B1s but not to their citizens and Permanent residents.....look at the millions of job losses for Americans
Who can say person with 90 score is a better doctor than that with 85
Height is that most programs require that IMGs have hands-on clinical experience..observerships and externships dont qualify as clinical experience.
In the next line they write.. we do not offer any observerships/externships
Dont they know that we cant touch a patient without license i.e without being in residency
Here is the bottom line.
Either they dont know all this....or they are deliberately looting poor.
#10
Re: A Program Director's view on USMLE 2 kannaraj - 04-05-09 10:09 I feel there is a lot of discrimination going on at different levels affection different individuals intimately and it goes undisclosed.
The American attitiude which everyone from the East hates plays an important role in America.Immigrants have to suffer,will continue to suffer because still there is discrimination exists at various levels .
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