Episode 1: An Entirely Pass/Fail Curriculum
Guest: Dr. Elise Everett
Co-Host: Dr. Christopher Morosky
Co-Host: Dr. Fei Cai
Overview
In Episode 1 of Season 2 for Modern MedEd, Chris and Fei breakdown a powerful interview with Dr. Elise Everett from the UVM Larner College of Medicine covering the controversial topic of an entirely pass/fail clerkship curriculum. The conversation explores the inadequacies of traditional assessment systems in medical education, emphasizing the need to move toward more equitable, formative, and growth-oriented approaches. It makes a case for assessment practices that prioritize learning, collaboration, and the development of a growth mindset. By shifting the focus from summative evaluations to formative assessments, educators can foster intrinsic motivation, support student development, and use assessment data to empower learners.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Pass-Fail Grading in Medical Education
02:36 The Shift to Pass-Fail Grading During COVID-19
04:11 Understanding the Impact of Grading Systems
08:14 The Role of Bias in Grading and Assessment
10:25 Reframing Grades as Developmental Tools
12:07 Inequities in Clerkship Grading
14:01 Competencies vs. Academic Metrics in Residency Selection
16:46 Implementing Effective Assessment Systems
24:14 Building a Supportive Team for Change
28:27 Challenging Misconceptions About Pass-Fail Grading
Show Notes
Dr. Elise Everett
https://www.uvm.edu/larnermed/bios/profile/elise-everett
Dr. Christopher Morosky
https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Morosky-Christopher
Dr. Fei Cai
https://www.ohsu.edu/providers/fei-cai-md
References
Highest and Lowest Physician Salaries by Specialty: 2025, Healthgrades
The Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Entering Residency, AAMC
Financial Support
Season Two of Modern MedEd, an APGO podcast, was made possible in part by an unrestricted educational grant from CooperSurgical.
