2025 Southern GEA/GSA/OSR Conference

Following the 2022 switch of USMLE-Step 1 to Pass/Fail grading, the national pass rate declined 3 percentage-points, as schools and students adjusted to this new paradigm. Feedback from medical schools across the country report a resulting increase in students needing to take leave of absences in response to this transition. Leave of absence policies and processes that provide both students and administrators clear guidelines for taking time away from education and returning to enrolled status allows medical schools to support students in their most vulnerable moments.