Highlights from the 2023 AAMC Graduation Questionnaire

Published on Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Annually, fourth-year students in MD programs throughout the US and Canada complete the Association of America Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaire (GQ). This survey includes questions on pre-clinical, clinical, and elective experiences; general medical education and readiness for residency; student services; experiences of negative behaviors; financial aid and indebtedness; and career intentions. Results are provided to each participating medical school along with averages for all schools. Student feedback on the AAMC GQ is essential to continuous quality improvement as it helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement for the program from the students’ prospective. Additionally, it is a consistent data source for the reaccrediting process of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

The response rate for the most recent survey from UMMC medical students was 88.6%, and the national response rate was 79.8%, a 4.3% increase in the response rate from 2022. Overall, 85.6% of UMMC students agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the overall quality of their medical education, compared with 88% of students nationally. The survey indicated several strengths; and selected strengths are shared here. When compared to the national average, our medical students’ responses were at least 10% greater than the national average:

Experience with a free clinic for the underserved population
The quality of the educational experience in the Obstetrics and gynecology clerkship was good or excellent
Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship: Faculty provided effective teaching during the clerkship
Facilities: Student relaxation space
Associate Dean for Students: Responsiveness to student problems
Associate Dean for Academic affairs: Responsiveness to student problems
Associate Dean for Students: Accessibility
Participated in clinical training at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility

Continuous improvement is needed in the following areas. These items were selected because they address the current Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) findings for our school:

Instruction in biostatistics and epidemiology
Student support: Financial aid administrative services
Student support: Overall debt management counseling
Student support: Senior loan exit interview
Participation in an independent study project for credit
Basic science content had sufficient illustration of clinical relevance

Significant gains (greater than 5%) were identified for the following areas:

Students who reported they were observed taking a history in Surgery improved by 12% since 2022.
Students who reported having received appropriate guidance in the selection of electives improved by 12.4% since 2022.
Students who reported that the diversity within my medical school enhanced my training and skills to work with individuals from different backgrounds improved by 7.1% since 2022.

The AAMC GQ is one means of student feedback. Students provide feedback through the Student of the Course evaluations at the end of each required course and clerkship, Evers Society evaluations, and the UMMC Student Satisfaction Survey. Yet, AAMC GQ results allow us to conduct comparisons with other medical schools and highlights where we may focus our attention in order to improve the medical education program. Work in each of the aforementioned areas for improvement has begun. Join us in the continuous quality improvement process.