2025 Southern GEA/GSA/OSR Conference

A need exists for compassionate off-ramp programs (ORP) to help medical students who are withdrawn or dismissed from MD programs, due to academic failures or failure to pass Step 1, navigate into other programs that allow them to leave medical school without discrediting their hard work or incurring insurmountable amounts of debt. These students often turn to deans of students for guidance on their next steps, as their initial goal of becoming a doctor has not worked out, despite significant financial investment in tuition. Given the frequency of these scenarios, exploring alternate degree pathways that provide a strong return on investment is essential.