Virtual Rotations During COVID-19: An Opportunity for Enhancing Diversity

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Training
• Virtual Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional medical education, particularly the residency application process.
• In-person away rotations were canceled for the 2020-2021 cycle, necessitating alternative approaches.
• Virtual rotations emerged as a viable substitute to facilitate student-physician engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role and impact of virtual rotations in medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the benefits of virtual rotations for residency applicants, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
• To assess the effectiveness of virtual platforms in simulating key aspects of residency program engagement.

Main Methods:

• Authors participated in virtual rotations, engaging in resident educational activities.
• Key components included virtual journal clubs, grand rounds, and morning conferences.
• One-on-one meetings with program leadership, virtual tours, and social hours were integral.

Main Results:

• Virtual rotations facilitated active participation in educational conferences and direct interaction with program leadership.
• Opportunities included virtual hospital tours, resident social hours, and attendance at live-streamed surgeries.
• These rotations provided a platform for students to demonstrate interest and gain specialty knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Virtual rotations offer a valuable opportunity for medical students to connect with residency programs, particularly those without a home program.
• They provide critical clinical exposure, mentorship, and networking for underrepresented minorities and international medical graduates.
• Virtual rotations effectively mitigated some challenges posed by the pandemic to medical education and residency applications.