The Impact of COVID-19 on Fellowship Training and Education: Unexpected Challenges, New Opportunities for Practice

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic affected all facets of society, including work, education, and family life. The burden imposed on healthcare systems and healthcare workers was particularly acute. The rapid pivot to and adoption of telehealth occurred when limiting in-person care to essential interactions was the paramount focus, and the safety of patients, staff, and trainees was foremost. Although telehealth models existed before the pandemic, wide adoption of telehealth was limited owing to sundry factors, including availability of IT infrastructure and support, access, payment, and patient and provider attitudes. Similarly, use of telehealth in graduate medical education varied considerably. Explicit curricula and programmatic guidance on trainee experience and assessment, faculty supervision, and telehealth arrangements were not fully articulated. Telehealth was not seen as a primary mode of clinical training and experience. As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, the response and needs of the GME community continue to evolve to fit local circumstances. How fellowship programs adapt and what conditions are needed for optimum education and training remain to be elucidated.