Newswise — New Brunswick, NJ -- Committed to training future physicians who consider patients’ personal needs, values and cultures, are part of an individual’s healthcare plan, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is utilizing a new online evaluation tool to learn more about the personal characteristics of potential medical students. Called CASPer™, the online program is used by the school’s admissions team to screen medical school candidates for personal traits that may indicate the person’s potential for becoming a caring, compassionate and successful physician.

“Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School was the first medical school in the nation to implement its own multiple mini interviews based on the personal competencies identified by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to gain insight into an applicant’s personal attributes,” said Carol A. Terregino, MD, senior associate dean for education, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.” “We are delighted to begin using CASPer and strongly recommend it to our applicants as a complement to the admissions process, so we may learn about their personal strengths early in the application process."

The AAMC identifies 15 core competencies for incoming medical students that fall into four categories: interpersonal, intrapersonal, thinking and reasoning, and science. CASPer measures personal and professional competencies, such as ethics, empathy, collaboration, and resiliency and advocacy, among others, by evaluating an applicant’s written response to unique situations presented through video.

CASPer was developed by the team at Altus Assessments and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The online screening tool is composed of 12 sections, each containing either a video- or text-based scenario, followed by a series of three probing questions. Each scenario is scored by a unique evaluator, resulting in robust applicant scoring.

“CASPer assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for students and graduates of our program,” said Dr. Terregino. “Coupled with the multiple mini interview, CASPer will help us identify applicants who possess the personal competencies needed for success in medical school.”

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School adapted the multiple mini interview, a requirement of the application process, from a format originally developed at McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. It consists of a series of seven interview stations or encounters during which members of the school’s admissions committee present scenarios to applicants and evaluate the interaction for communication skills, ethics, service, critical thinking and adaptability.

“We are proud to work with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,” said Rich Emrich, chief executive officer of Altus Assessments. “Through unique video scenarios, CASPer provides the school’s admissions committee with an online, objective screening tool, allowing them to evaluate key personal and professional characteristics of applicants.”

About Altus AssessmentsAltus Assessments creates and delivers reliable and highly effective applicant screening tools to improve the quality of students accepted to academic programs. Using its online testing platform, Altus’ screening tools are cost effectively delivered to applicants worldwide. It’s main product, CASPer™, stems from nearly a decade of data collection and research, and nearly 25,000 academic applicants have taken the test since 2010. Altus is setup to easily serve global academic customers, including programs in health, law, business, and education sectors. For more information, visit altusassessments.com or takecasper.com

About Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolAs one of the nation's leading comprehensive medical schools, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, health care delivery, and the promotion of community health. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the medical school's principal affiliate, comprise one of the nation's premier academic medical centers. In addition, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has 34 other hospital affiliates and ambulatory care sites throughout the region.

Part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School encompasses 20 basic science and clinical departments, hosts centers and institutes including The Cardiovascular Institute, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, and the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey. The medical school maintains educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels on its campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway and provides continuing education courses for health care professionals and community education programs. To learn more about Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, visit rwjms.rutgers.edu. Find us online at www.facebook.com/RWJMedicalSchool and www.twitter.com/RWJMS.

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