Open AccessA Snapshot of Current US Medical School Off-Ramp Programs—a Way to Leave Medical School with Another Degree
Author(s) -
Richard V V Stringham,
Jodi Whitlock,
Norma Pérez,
Nicole J. Borges,
Ruth E. Levine
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medical science educator
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2156-8650
DOI - 10.1007/s40670-020-01175-w
Subject(s) - medical school , medical education , career path , student debt , debt , snapshot (computer storage) , psychology , medicine , computer science , business , engineering , engineering management , finance , operating system
Although most students finish medical school, those who do not frequently have no obvious programmatic alternatives. In recent years, a growing number of medical schools have been developing "off-ramp" programs to help such learners. We surveyed 12 medical schools with off-ramp programs to understand their characteristics and challenges. Differences existed between programs but most were deemed helpful to the students and institutions they served. Advantages included the opportunity to acknowledge the students' hard work, increase career opportunities, and reduce debt. Understanding and promoting such programs will assist students for whom medical school does not represent the optimal career path.