Spreading Equality! The AMA Votes Unanimously to Approve Equality for COMLEX and USMLE

On November 13, 2018, the American Medical Association (AMA) unanimously approved Resolution 955 “Equality for COMLEX and USMLE” at the House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Washington, DC. The resolution was brought forward by the AMA Medical Student Section and later endorsed by the AMA’s Council on Medical Education, the AMA’s Academic Physicians Section, and others.

The AMA Reference Committee submitted testimony urging “that our American Medical Association promote equal acceptance of the USMLE and at all United States residency programs.” And, that the “AMA work with appropriate stakeholders including, but not limited to the National Board of Medical Examiners, Association of American Medical Colleges, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Osteopathic Association to educate Residency Program Directors on how to interpret and use COMLEX scores” and finally “That our AMA work with Residency Program Directors to promote higher COMLEX utilization with residency program matches in light of the new accreditation system.”

The endorsement by the AMA comes at an important time in the era of the Single Accreditation System for GME. Passing this resolution unanimously shows solidarity between the MDs and DOs of the AMA.

The NBOME is excited to continue working with the AMA, and the medical community at large to further our mission, and the cause of osteopathic medicine. As such, NBOME has worked hard to spread the word about this achievement to the osteopathic medical community. Planned public relations efforts designed to spread awareness of this historic moment include a social media campaign about equality for COMLEX-USA, email communications, and more.