At this year’s OMED conference, the lead author of a research paper titled, “The Predictive Validity of MCAT Scores and Undergraduate GPA for COMLEX-USA Licensure Exam Performance of Students Enrolled in Osteopathic Medical Schools,” was honored with the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine’s 2025 Quality Improvement in Education Research Award.
This paper examined whether performance on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and cumulative undergraduate grade point averages (UGPA) could predict performance on COMLEX-USA Levels 1 and 2-CE.
The lead author of the paper was Kenneth D. Royal, PhD, MSEd, from the AAMC. The AAMC team reached out to the NBOME to both contribute COMLEX-USA data and serve as coauthors of the study.
The researchers found that the best predictive accuracy came when viewing MCAT scores and UGPA together. In addition, the performance of those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds on MCAT was similar to their performance on COMLEX-USA.
“By demonstrating how MCAT scores and undergraduate performance together provide a more complete picture of the osteopathic applicant and correlate to performance on COMLEX-USA, we add to the body of validity evidence for both programs,” stated Jeanne M. Sandella, DO, NBOME vice president for professional development and communications and co-author for the study.
“Additionally, this study suggests that students from diverse backgrounds perform similarly on COMLEX-USA to their previous performance on examinations. Examining performance of all students will help us continue to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and excellence in osteopathic medical education and assessment,”
Each year at OMED, the American Osteopathic Association recognizes individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the osteopathic medical profession through leadership, excellence, achievement, and dedication.
Other authors on this paper were; Christian Meyer, BS – AAMC; Erik Guercio, MA – AACOM; Mark Speicher, PhD – AACOM; Joseph Flamini, MBA – NBOME; Tsung-Hsun Tsai, PhD – NBOME; and Cynthia A. Searcy, PhD – AAMC.