by Mila D. Shah-Bruce, M.D. | June 4, 2021 Article Citation: Carmody JB, Green LM, Kiger PG, Baxter JD, Cassese T, Fancher TL, George P, Griffin EJ, Haywood YC, Henderson D, Hueppchen NA, Karras DJ, Leep Hunderfund AN, Lindsley JE, McGuire PG, Meholli M, Miller CS, Monrad SU, Nelson KL, Olson KA, Pahwa AK, Starr SR, Tunkel AR, Van Eck RN, Youm JH, Ziring DJ, Rajasekaran SK. Medical Student Attitudes toward USMLE Step 1 and Health Systems Science – A Multi-Institutional Survey. Teach Learn Med 2021; 33(2):139-153. DOI: 10.1080/10401334.2020.1825962 What is this article about? Discussions surrounding the transition of the USMLE Step 1 to a pass or fail grading criteria while improving American healthcare are polarizing topics. This article explores medical students’ perceptions of the importance of the USMLE Step 1’s current numerical scoring system and the de-emphasis on lower yield topics such as Health Systems Sciences. The authors define Health System Sciences as “health systems improvement, population health, systems-thinking, and health policy.” It provides potential areas for improvement in healthcare education. Why should you read the article? Surveying a large sample of students at major academic centers across the US allows the authors to identify the motivations of medical students’ areas of emphasis of study. The article discusses the potential benefits on healthcare education with the transition to a USMLE Step 1 pass or fail system. It highlights the viable areas to restructure healthcare education and improve population health equity by implementing courses such as the Health Systems Sciences. How can you use this article? The article does not draw definitive evidence that restructuring healthcare education will improve population health; it does reflect on students’ motivational drives to emphasize specific topics over others. Traditionally, Health System Sciences and other related issues have been less of a focus for students because they are considered lower yield. The article provides a different perspective to support integrating these previous lower yield topics into the current curriculum. Review Author: Mila D. Shah-Bruce, M.D.; Assistant Professor and Director Ob/Gyn Clerkship; Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA. Organization: Association of Professors of Gynecology and ObstetricsMedical Student Attitudes toward USMLE Step 1 and Health Systems Science