Registration will open July 16, 2026.
The narrative feedback within the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) in influential in deciding which applicants to interview. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the current system of narrative feedback is flawed. Narrative feedback has shown bias in at least race and gender, is typically written in vague language, is infrequently related to basic clinical skills, and lacks specific comments to lead to effective change in student performance. There are frameworks that have been suggested to combat these issues, but there is a lack of a standardized template for narrative evaluation and insufficient faculty training, limiting implementation.
This workshop aims to enhance clinicians’ ability to write effective narrative evaluations that mitigate bias, are valuable to the learner, are easily incorporated into the MSPE, and accurately describe a student's clinical skills when applying to residency. Facilitators will review the evidence for the impact of effective narrative feedback, contrasted with the potential for bias, and we will reflect on barriers to writing feedback in current practices. Next, facilitators will review frameworks that have been commonly recommended to utilize for writing standardized and effective narrative comments: ACGME core competencies, AAMC Core EPAs, and PRIME+.
Workshop attendees will be provided tools to apply each framework to produce narrative feedback in a case example and will evaluate feedback. A reference toolkit will be provided, highlighting each framework, to aid attendees in implementing frameworks at their home institution.