Improving Student Experiences During USMLE Step 1 "Dedicated Preparation Period" via a Course Designed to Holistically Support Academic and Wellness Needs.

UNLABELLED: Common medical school practice includes an independent "dedicated preparation period" for the USMLE Step 1 exam during which students have reported considerable stress and anxiety. Carle Illinois College of Medicine sought to improve their students' experience during the dedicated preparation period via a unique course, Phase 1 Synthesis and Summary , designed to provide support for academics and wellness. The strengths of the course were elements that maximized student flexibility, autonomy, wellness, and targeted self-study. The course design reported here may provide a model for other schools to design courses to holistically improve students' preparation for Step 1 and other board exams.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-023-01791-2.