Re-conceptualizing medical education in the post-COVID era

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes in the delivery of medical education. We aimed to explore these changes and determine whether they will impact the future of medical education in any way. Methods We invited leaders in medical education from all accessible US-based medical schools to participate in an online individual semi-structured interview. Results Representatives of 16 medical schools participated. They commented on the adequacy of online education for knowledge transfer, and the logistical advantages it offered, but decried its negative influence on social learning, interpersonal relationships and professional development of students, and its ineffectiveness for clinical education. Most participants indicated that they would maintain online learning for didactic purposes in the context of flipped classrooms but that a return to in-person education was essential for most other educational goals. Novel content will be introduced, especially in telemedicine and social medicine, and the students’ roles and responsibilities in patient care and in curricular development may evolve in the future. Conclusions This study is the first to document the practical steps that will be adopted by US medical schools in delivering medical education, which were prompted and reinforced by their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.