SC Connecticut News

Medical students who take a leave of absence are less likely to match into a residency or fellowship program, a new Yale study finds, a consequence that disproportionately affects Black students. The study, led by Mytien Nguyen, an M.D.-Ph.D. student at Yale School of Medicine, highlights the impact of taking leave on match rates in medical education.

According to Nguyen, "Students who take a leave of absence during medical school are less likely to match into a residency or fellowship program." The research, published in JAMA, looked at students who matriculated to U.S. medical schools in 2014 and 2015, revealing that 5.68% of students took a leave of absence during their studies.

Among the students who did not take a leave of absence, 3.7% did not match into residency or fellowship programs. In contrast, the rate jumped to 20.3% among students who did take leave. Nguyen emphasized that the negative impact of taking a leave of absence on placement was significantly greater for Black students compared to white students.

The study also highlighted disparities in leave rates among different racial and ethnic groups, with American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic students taking leaves at higher rates than Asian or white students. This raises concerns about the potential impact on the diversity of the medical workforce.

Nguyen and her colleagues suggested that medical programs should reassess their admission criteria to address potential biases against non-linear medical school trajectories. Senior author Dowin Boatright recommended a more holistic review process to minimize the influence of societal factors on evaluations.

To mitigate the negative impacts of taking leave, the researchers proposed that residency and fellowship programs, as well as medical schools, should evaluate their policies. Nguyen also suggested that schools should implement supportive policies for students on leave and upon their return, such as providing access to resources like healthcare and libraries and developing robust reintegration processes.

The findings of the study underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to supporting medical students who may need to take leaves of absence during their education to ensure equitable opportunities for all aspiring healthcare professionals.