Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40786432›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Research Productivity in Dermatology Residency Applications in the Post-Step 1 Era: Analysis of Match Outcomes From 2020 to 2024.

Kevin T Nguyen, Ryan Koch, Kritin K Verma, Megan Nguyen, Jonathan Aldrete, Helen Chen, Justin Raman, Daniel P Friedmann, Ethan Matthew, Michelle B Tarbox

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kevin T NguyenSchool of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Ryan KochSchool of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
Kritin K VermaSchool of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Megan NguyenSchool of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Jonathan AldreteDermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Helen ChenDermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Justin RamanDermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Daniel P FriedmannWestlake Dermatology Clinical Research Center, Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Austin, USA.
Ethan MatthewDermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
Michelle B TarboxDermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In recent years, the evaluation metrics for dermatology residency applications have changed, particularly following the transition of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 to a pass/fail grading system. This retrospective analysis examines dermatology residency match data from 2020 to 2024, focusing on trends in USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores and research publications. Data extracted from the National Resident Matching Program documents revealed a notable increase in unmatched applicants with Step 2 CK scores above 250 and a decrease in matched applicants with similar scores. Concurrently, research output has risen, with matched applicants reporting over 25 publications increasing from 80 in 2020 to 121 in 2024, and a corresponding increase among unmatched applicants from 10 to 35 over the same period. Despite these improvements in individual metrics, the overall match rates for applicants with high Step 2 CK scores and extensive research portfolios have declined, suggesting that excellence in these areas alone does not guarantee a successful match.

Indexed as

applicationdermatologyresearchresidencyusmle step 2 ck

Identifiers

PMID40786432
PMCPMC12331446

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.