J Natl Med Assoc
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The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled rethinking and changes in medical education, the most controversial perhaps being the cancelation of USMLE Step-2 Clinical Skills exam (Step-2 CS). What started in March of 2020 as suspension of this professional licensure exam, because of concerns about infection risk for examinees, standardized patients (SPs), and administrators, soon became permanent cancelation in January 2021. Expectedly, it triggered debate in medical education circles. ⋯ We have suggested a national/regional program for faculty development in CS curriculum development, and assessment, including standard setting skills. This pool of expert faculty will form the nucleus of our proposed USMLE-regulated External Peer Review Initiative (EPRI). Finally, we suggest that CS evolves into an academic discipline/department of its own, rooted in scholarship.
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To explore attitudes toward tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap), influenza, and COVID vaccines among English- and Spanish- speaking pregnant individuals in a safety net setting. ⋯ This work was supported by Suzanne Cutler Vaccination Education & Research Fund at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine for funding and support.
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We described sun protective behaviors in adolescents and young adults (AYA) compared to older adults. ⋯ More targeted interventions need to be implemented to decrease the risk of skin cancer in the AYA population.
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Firearm homicides disproportionately affect young Black men, which in turn have lasting impact of communities of color as a whole. Previous cross-sectional studies have highlighted the role of discriminatory housing policies on the incidence of urban firearm violence. We sought to estimate the effects of racist housing policies on firearm incidence. ⋯ There is a significant increase in firearm incidents in historically redlined areas of Boston. This suggests that interventions should focus on downstream socioeconomic, demographic, and neighborhood detriments of historically discriminatory housing policies in order to address firearm homicides.
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Increasingly, policymakers and professional organizations support screening for social assets and risks during clinical care. Scant evidence exists on how screening impacts patients, providers, or health systems. ⋯ Limited evidence exists on the benefits of SDOH screening in OBGYN clinical settings. Innovative studies leveraging existing data collection are needed to expand and improve SDOH screening.