Elsevier's Free MOOC Prepares Med Students for Licensing Exam

PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will help thousands of med students prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examination

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced today that it has launched a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) designed to help medical students prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, the first and most daunting of the three exams medical students must complete to become physicians.

Elsevier launched part one, of what they hope to be a series, of its first USMLE review course based on the popular new product, Crush Step 1: Ultimate USMLE Step 1 Review. This new MOOC is accessible to the more than 40,000 US medical students and thousands outside of the US preparing to take the USMLE Step 1.

"The success of the Crush Step 1 MOOC pilot will help Elsevier evaluate its ability to work within the MOOC model and develop trusted content that informs and engages medical students," said Theodore O'Connell, MD, author of Crush Step 1. "Using results from the pilot, Elsevier will understand how we might develop a full USMLE course and other course guides."

Dr. O'Connell co-wrote Crush Step 1 with two resident physicians, Dr. Ryan A. Pedigo and Dr. Thomas E. Blair, and with feedback from a panel of student and faculty advisors. The MOOC pilot presents three topics - pharmacology and toxicology, cardiology and gastroenterology - through lecture videos featuring Dr. O'Connell and the co-authors. Each topic includes 10 USMLE questions, and registrants can interact with the authors via the MOOCs "Ask the Authors" tab. The MOOC offers advice from the author team on exam strategies and the most effective ways for students to use their study time. Students can also receive a 20 percent discount on the print or Student Consult eBook version of Crush Step 1.

Medical students can schedule the USMLE exam and begin preparation during their second year of medical school, according to Dr. O'Connell. However, the Crush Step 1 MOOC also supports first-year medical students and professionals in related fields like dentistry, allied health, podiatry and nursing, which often require rapid reviews of clinical topics.

Elsevier is seeking feedback on the Crush Step 1 MOOC. Students that complete a survey will receive a free Student Consult eBook of Brochert's Crush Step 2, a product that prepares students for the USMLE Step 2.

"Elsevier is honored to support medical students with trusted, practical and innovative products like the Crush Step 1 MOOC," said Linda Belfus, Senior Vice President of Content, Elsevier Clinical Solutions. "Feedback from this pilot will help Elsevier evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of MOOCs and create programs that benefit students on the verge of their medical careers."

For more information, visit: http://www.ultimatecrushstep1.com

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About Elsevier 

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 33,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

Media contact
Christopher Capot
Director, Corporate Relations
Elsevier
+1-212-633-3164
c.capot@elsevier.com