Read on Twitter
Hi #MedTwitter! I helped @UCSD_ARC work on a statement in support of #WaiveTheMCAT, but before that post drops here& #39;s a thread of some relevant sources we used. 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Pfeil nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach unten">
We are using many points that are similar to those discussed by @AMWADoctors in their letter (co-signed by several other orgs):
https://www.amwa-doc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/MCAT-Optional.pdf">https://www.amwa-doc.org/wp-conten...
https://www.amwa-doc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/MCAT-Optional.pdf">https://www.amwa-doc.org/wp-conten...
Evidence that Black Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305764?journalCode=ajph&">https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/1...
Another article evaluating Black-White risk differentials in COVID-19: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7345143/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artic...
This report is more recent and has a pretty extensive breakdown of COVID-19 by race/ethnicity: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/deaths-by-race">https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/dea...
This report is specific to #SanDiego (because we are based at @UCSDMedSchool) and indicates that in our region too, Black and Brown communities have been hardest hit by COVID.
https://sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_4679_27578.pdf">https://sandag.org/uploads/p...
https://sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_4679_27578.pdf">https://sandag.org/uploads/p...
UCSD released their own #antiracism "action plan" in June, available here:
https://medschool.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/student_affairs/Documents/LetterAntiRacismActionPlanJune4.pdf">https://medschool.ucsd.edu/education...
https://medschool.ucsd.edu/education/undergrad/student_affairs/Documents/LetterAntiRacismActionPlanJune4.pdf">https://medschool.ucsd.edu/education...
. @EthicalStudents has been at the forefront of the push to #WaiveTheMCAT this cycle, and they did the work that @AAMCtoday couldn& #39;t (or didn& #39;t want to). Here& #39;s their report in the public health risks associated with the MCAT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pohH0m7dO5DRX9o7dLMrWcpqoJIIEu3rC-BnAKBGPPA/edit">https://docs.google.com/document/...
And if the report by SEA wasn& #39;t enough for you, there has also been third-party reporting on the association between taking the MCAT and testing positive for COVID: https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/87663">https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiou...
But we& #39;re not just dealing with a pandemic this year -- many cities are still experiencing protests related to the death of #GeorgeFloyd #BreonnaTaylor #AhmaudArbery and others, and these events have been linked to mental illness in Black Americans: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/12/mental-health-george-floyd-census/?arc404=true">https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/20...
Not to mention, BIPOC Americans are at greater risk of being arrested for things like curfew violations and participating in protests: https://time.com/5880229/arrests-black-lives-matter-protests-impact/">https://time.com/5880229/a...
It& #39;s kind of ridiculous that in the midst of all this, @AAMCtoday is standing by their standardized test. Except, oh wait, they& #39;ve already described all the ways in which the procedure is no longer standardized: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/covid-19-changes-mcat-exam-administrations-may-29-/">https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-...
Finally, @UCSDMedSchool stated last month that while they are allowing applicants to submit MCAT-less secondaries d/t COVID-related cancellations, they "do not plan to waive" the MCAT requirement for applicants this cycle. https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/covid-19-changes-mcat-exam-administrations-may-29-/">https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-...
So, given the many ways in which this test -- and this year -- have not been a "standard" experience for applicants, and in particular those who are "URM" tend to be hurt MORE by these effects... Does the #MCAT really seem like a useful metric at this point?
/end
/end
