A proposed model for a comprehensive virtual subinternship in vascular surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Virtual Learning Environments

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid adaptation of medical education, including surgical rotations.
• Virtual subinternships (VSI) emerged as a potential solution to maintain educational continuity and recruitment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the challenges, advantages, and applications of a vascular surgery virtual subinternship (VSI) curriculum.
• To assess student learning outcomes and satisfaction with the VSI format.
• To gather feedback from faculty and resident mentors on their experience with the VSI.

Main Methods:

• A two-session, 4-week virtual subinternship in vascular surgery was conducted with 25 students.
• Curriculum included Zoom/telephone interactions, readings, videos, didactics, and mentorship.
• Anonymous pre- and post-rotation self-assessments for students and surveys for mentors were utilized.

Main Results:

• Students reported significant improvement in understanding vascular surgery concepts (P < .05), excluding knot-tying.
• Interpersonal components like faculty interaction and mentorship were highly rated.
• Mentors were generally satisfied but noted limitations in assessing student personality and program fit.

Conclusions:

• The virtual subinternship curriculum demonstrated positive student and mentor feedback, indicating its potential.
• Refinements are needed for challenges inherent to the virtual environment.
• VSIs present a distinct educational model and a viable platform for adapting recruitment strategies in healthcare.