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| From left, Anthony Gard, Ph.D., assistant dean for curriculum assessment and evaluation; Abu-Bakr Al-Mehdi, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pharmacology; and Ehab Molokhia, M.D., M.P.H., professor of family medicine, participated in assessment activities in 2020. |
Three representatives from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine participated in activities in 2020 for the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exams and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
By contributing to NBME exams and the USMLE program, faculty members at the USA College of Medicine support the design and development of the highest quality assessments of competencies relevant to the practice of medicine in the United States and around the world. These assessments provide information to individuals, schools, programs and, in the case of licensure for practice, state regulatory boards.
“We are proud of and deeply grateful to our faculty members who have given their time and expertise to the development and continual improvement of these assessments, especially in such a challenging year,” said John Marymont, M.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine.
Anthony Gard, Ph.D., assistant dean for curriculum assessment and evaluation, and professor of medical education at the USA College of Medicine, is the College of Medicine’s liaison to the NBME. As the liaison representative, he is responsible for exploring all issues related to the NBME and USMLE at the medical school, disseminating relevant information, and maintaining the connection to the NBME's secure website.
Since 2011, Gard has served as the executive chief proctor for NBME examinations. He interacts with the NBME on all matters pertaining to the security and administration of the exams and oversees all administrative tasks for the provision of exam services, including the selection of proctors and the arrangement for suitable testing space.
Abu-Bakr Al-Mehdi, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine, served on the USMLE Pharmacology and Biochemistry Test Material Development Committee. Members developed and reviewed the test items and cases from which the USMLE is composed. These activities were challenging and required talented individuals who are highly respected by their peers.
Ehab Molokhia, M.D., M.P.H., professor of family medicine at the USA College of Medicine and a family medicine physician with USA Health, served on the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Interdisciplinary Review Committee. Members were responsible for reviewing performance data for cases to ensure their accuracy and currency.
Following the March 2020 suspension of the exam because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Molokhia joined the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Test Material Development Task Force to identify the optimal approach to assess clinical skills for licensure in a post-pandemic environment. This work required individuals who could bring thoughtful and varied perspectives to the challenge at hand.
Learn more about the National Board of Medical Examiners at www.nbme.org. Learn more about the United States Medical Licensing Examination at www.usmle.org.
