Drs. Jauregui and Schrepel receive Underrepresented in Medicine Research Award
The Department of Emergency Medicine proudly congratulates Drs. Joshua Jauregui and Caitlin Schrepel on receiving the Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Research Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for their innovative study on medical student engagement with assessment systems.
Their paper, titled "How Do Medical Students Engage with the Process of Assessment and Their Assessment Data in Two Clinical Assessment Systems?", provides valuable insights into how assessment design influences student engagement and learning outcomes in medical education.
This multi-institutional, cross-sectional study involved fourth-year medical students from the University of Washington and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. It compared two distinct assessment systems: traditional tiered grading, where clerkship grades are summative, and programmatic assessment, where students receive low-stakes narrative feedback across clerkships, with progress based on aggregated performance data in student portfolios.
Key findings revealed that students in traditional grading systems often prioritized their image over deep learning. In contrast, those in programmatic assessment systems reported more meaningful engagement that fostered authentic learning and professional growth.
This study underscores the importance of intentional assessment design in medical education and advocates for systems that reward behaviors prioritizing learning and growth over superficial metrics.
The award was one of four presented by the AAMC. The study’s contributors include Dr. Adelaide McClintock (UW Department of Internal Medicine), Dr. Tyra Fainstad (University of Colorado), Dr. Beth Bierer (Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine), and Dr. Sylvia Heeneman (Maastricht University).
