** Poster Award Nominee

 NO MEDICAL STUDENT LEFT BEHIND: A PROACTIVE COUNSELING APPROACH TO ENHANCE STUDENT PERFORMANCE

Jerry H. Alexander,* Peter Lin and Martha Cardoza, University of  North Texas Health Science Center,  Fort Worth, TX 76107 U.S.A.

Purpose

As students advance in the curriculum, patterns of substandard performance emerge but are not closely monitored because a complete picture of each student’s progress is not readily available.  The purpose of this project was to provide an Internet-based academic profile for each student and to institute a proactive counseling program with the goal that no medical student would be left behind.

Methods

A comprehensive online student tracking system was designed to extract student data from multiple databases and paper-based formats and to deliver these via the Internet.  Features of the system include drill-down capability, stoplight-style color-coding of scores and inclusion of charts and graphs.  Scores are compared to local and national norms.  The profile ranges from pre-admission variables to up-to-the-minute reporting of classroom test scores.

Appointments are scheduled with students in the lowest class ranks to meet with either of two associate deans.  During these sessions, the student’s record is carefully reviewed.  Tutoring and other personal or academic guidance is provided.  Subsequently that student’s progress is closely  monitored.

Results

In the first year of use, licensing examination failures were reduced 75% percent from the average of the preceding three years.

Conclusion/Future Directions

The plan is to expand the information available to include more qualitative information about students, such as their extracurricular activities, interests and career goals to complement the current predominately quantitative information.