In the evolving world of medical education, traditional methods of assessment are being re-evaluated. Enter Richard Katz MD MHA, a thought leader whose recent work is reshaping how students prepare for the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exams. His insights, detailed in his Medium article “Beyond Summative: Leveraging Formative Assessments for Enhanced NBME Preparation”, offer a blueprint for educational strategies that emphasize learning as much as performance.
This blog dives deep into his key points and outlines why his perspective is not just innovative but essential in today’s academic landscape.
Who Is Richard Katz MD MHA?
Before exploring his academic philosophy, it’s important to understand the background of Richard Katz MD MHA. With dual credentials in medicine and healthcare administration, Dr. Katz brings a rare combination of clinical experience and systemic insight. His unique perspective bridges the gap between frontline healthcare and educational strategy, making his contributions to academic reform particularly valuable.
As a practicing physician and educator, Katz has seen firsthand how assessment impacts not just student outcomes but their future performance in clinical settings. His commitment to improving educational equity and student engagement fuels his push for better testing strategies—especially for high-stakes exams like the NBME.
The Problem with Traditional Summative Assessments
Summative assessments—like final exams and standardized tests—have long been the standard for evaluating student knowledge. However, as Dr. Katz outlines, these assessments are inherently limited:
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Snapshot in Time: Summative exams capture a student’s performance at a single point, without reflecting the learning process.
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Stress-Inducing: High stakes lead to test anxiety, which can distort true competency.
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Delayed Feedback: Students receive little to no guidance for improvement after the test.
In his Medium article, Katz states, “We must stop seeing summative assessments as the gold standard and instead start using them as one piece of a much broader picture.” This mindset shift is crucial for building a more inclusive and effective learning environment.
Enter Formative Assessments: A Better Path Forward
Formative assessments are low-stakes, ongoing evaluations that provide feedback during the learning process. According to Richard Katz MD MHA, formative assessments help students:
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Identify knowledge gaps early
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Adapt study strategies in real-time
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Foster a growth mindset
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Reduce test anxiety
Dr. Katz explains that formative assessments create a “feedback loop” that enhances both self-awareness and academic resilience. Rather than punishing failure, they use it as a teaching tool.
Examples of Formative Tools
Katz suggests a variety of methods for implementing formative assessments in NBME preparation:
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Practice Questions: Not just for drilling, but for diagnosing weaknesses.
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Concept Mapping: Encouraging students to visualize and organize knowledge.
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Peer Teaching: Promotes active engagement and social learning.
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Progress Tracking: Using data to monitor development over time.
These methods, when integrated into a structured curriculum, allow educators and students to work in tandem toward long-term retention and deeper understanding.
Linking Formative and Summative: The Real Innovation
What makes Richard Katz MD MHA’s approach so effective is that he doesn’t dismiss summative assessments outright. Instead, he proposes a model that links formative and summative approaches.
By continuously assessing students through low-stakes interactions, educators can collect actionable data. This data, in turn, informs how to prepare for summative assessments like the NBME, turning them from final judgments into culminating demonstrations of skill.
This idea resonates particularly well in medical education, where competence is built over time, not measured in a single moment.
Technology’s Role in Formative Assessment
Another area where Katz is pushing boundaries is in the use of educational technology to support formative assessment. With platforms that allow instant feedback, adaptive quizzes, and performance analytics, today’s tools can significantly improve learning outcomes.
Richard Katz MD MHA argues that AI-powered tools can offer personalized learning paths, identify weak areas with precision, and encourage independent, self-directed learning. These platforms also empower instructors to act more as mentors and less as gatekeepers.
By integrating tools such as spaced repetition systems (like Anki) and customized performance dashboards, students become active participants in their own education.
Benefits of Formative Assessment in NBME Prep
The advantages of incorporating formative assessments into NBME preparation are numerous:
1. Improved Long-Term Retention
Rather than memorizing facts for short-term recall, students gain a deeper, more permanent understanding of core medical concepts.
2. Reduced Test Anxiety
When students are accustomed to being evaluated regularly in a low-stakes environment, the fear around big tests decreases significantly.
3. Increased Equity
Formative assessments help level the playing field by offering more frequent feedback and opportunities for improvement, regardless of a student’s background or learning style.
4. Enhanced Self-Regulation
Students learn how to set goals, monitor progress, and adjust tactics—skills that are essential for lifelong learning and clinical practice.
Institutional Implementation: What Needs to Change?
While individual educators can adopt formative strategies, Richard Katz MD MHA believes systemic change is essential. Institutions need to:
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Redesign Curricula: Include space for regular check-ins and feedback.
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Train Educators: Shift the faculty mindset from “test creators” to “learning facilitators.”
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Invest in Technology: Provide tools that support data-driven and adaptive instruction.
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Adjust Grading Policies: Value growth over perfection, especially in early phases of medical training.
By making these changes, institutions can align their values with the ultimate goal of medical education: producing competent, compassionate, and capable physicians.
Final Thoughts: A New Era in Medical Education
The work of Richard Katz MD MHA represents a paradigm shift in how we think about medical testing and student success. His focus on formative assessments encourages a culture of continuous improvement, critical reflection, and evidence-based learning.
Incorporating these principles into NBME preparation not only improves test scores—it creates better doctors. By moving beyond outdated methods and embracing a holistic approach, we prepare students