How to Rebound After Failing Board Exams

The STATMed Podcast

How One ER Doc Went on to a Dream Career After Failing A Board Exam
In this series, we‘re talking about something people rarely discuss: failing in med school and on boards. During these interviews, former STATMed students share some of their most vulnerable and scary moments. They talk about their “crisis points” — or their darkest hour in their medical careers when they realized they were about to fail or lose sight of their dreams. We look at what led up to these critical turning points and how these med students and doctors overcame them to achieve ultimate success.

Navigating a Med School Crisis Point: Failing the Boards

In this episode, host Ryan Orwig is back with Mike, a former STATMed Learning Class participant. Mike shares his second crisis point when he failed his COMLEX Step 2 exam. He outlines the bumps in the road and the steps he took to achieve his dream of becoming an emergency room physician after failing a board exam.

“You take it (board exam). Then you go off on rotations and auditions and to all these different programs. You’re trying to look good and work hard and get into one of these residency spots. And you’re doing well, they like you, and they think you’re a good fit. But then they pull your scores and see your Step 1 and your failed Step 2, and then you’re back to the embarrassment of not doing well on testing because that’s what everybody looks at.” - Mike, ER Doctor, and STATMed Alumni

Don’t miss the first part of Mike’s story in Part 1.