COVID-19: Neurology residents' perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neurology Training
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted neurology residency programs, affecting both education and clinical service delivery.
• Maintaining resident safety while meeting inpatient demands required adaptive strategies.
• Disruptions necessitated innovative approaches to ensure continuity of medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the adaptations made to neurology resident education during the pandemic.
• To highlight the use of technology in maintaining didactic learning.
• To emphasize the lessons learned regarding adaptability and teamwork in medical training.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging web-based technologies for formal didactics.
• Utilizing resources provided by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).
• Examples include AAN Synapse, distance learning modules, and podcasts.

Main Results:

• Formal didactics were maintained through web-based platforms.
• AAN resources were shared to support high-yield academic education.
• Residency programs faced unique challenges based on location and community structure.

Conclusions:

• Neurology resident education has been significantly affected but efforts were made to maintain normalcy.
• Web-based technologies and AAN resources facilitated continued learning.
• The pandemic experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and self-sacrifice in medical training.