• We have taken initial steps to improve the integration of the curriculum and worked through the final details of a calendar revision that will reorganize our classes, further improve the curriculum, and get our students onto the wards at a quicker pace. 

• We have expanded student support and the learning center, hired two new academic and career counselors, and now are working to restructure all that student support to provide continuous and meaningful student engagement across the four-year continuum.

• We have started to see some very encouraging data around student performance, as I discussed in the Dialogue with the Dean forum last month. Please take a look at the slides I presented here.

• Our admissions applications are up by approximately 15% at a time when most medical schools are seeing no real change in their numbers of applications.

• Our USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate has moved from below the national average in 2021 and 2022 to above the national rate in 2023, with trends to improve in virtually all the USMLE Step 1 sub-scores. We do remain concerned about the students whose USMLE Step 1 attempt was delayed by a CBSE failure, but the overall strategy of using the CBSE as a gateway to Step 1 is working for us. Our students seem to be doing better once they reach Step 1. Our Step 2 pass rate is comparable to national pass rates, although there is still room to improve the actual scores that our passing students receive. This can be critical in some cases for their specialty choices.

• Finally, we have received this year's report from the AAMC program directors' survey, which asks program directors about the performance of NEOMED students who have matched into their programs. Results over the past three years show a steady decline in the percentage of students who fail to meet expectations. Of course, we want that number to be zero and all of our students to exceed expectations, but it's good news that we are now essentially at the national rate for "does not meet expectations." 

• William Demas, M.D., who has served ably as our chair of radiology since 2011, has agreed to also accept an appointment as assistant dean for student support and enrichment. In this capacity, Dr. Demas will work closely with Iris Mirilez, M.Ed., director of student support and enrichment, and our entire team in the student affairs office. He will support all of our students but is also particularly poised to advise me and the College with respect to issues surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

• Leah Sheridan, Ph.D., joins us this month from Ohio University, where she has had a long career in medical education. Dr. Sheridan will serve as our new associate dean for medical education. In her new role, she will lead and coordinate our redesigned wrap-around academic support system, working together with our faculty, new student advisors, the academic success team, and the learning center. The first half of this continuum will begin with the new pre-matriculation program, thread USMLE/CBSE review sessions through the preclinical curriculum, and culminate in the new program in the integration of medical science knowledge that we are adding at the end of the M2 year. In parallel with these efforts, we are strengthening both the curriculum and the academic support team for our M3 and M4 courses, and Dr. Sheridan will help lead this effort as well.

• Kimberly Younger, M.Ed., joined the team late last year as an academic and career counselor, and she was joined this month by Carla Mattiussi, Ed.S. Each has impressive energy and commitment to the role and will work closely with Corrie Stofcho, M.D., and Harmony Stanger, M.B.A., as we rebuild the advising system.