Designing and Implementing a Virtual Anatomic Pathology Elective During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid shifts in medical education, moving traditional in-person clerkships to virtual formats.
• Undergraduate medical education faced challenges in maintaining clinical exposure and networking opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a Virtual Anatomic Pathology Elective to provide medical students with exposure to pathology.
• To facilitate connections between students and pathologists and support residency applications.
• To create a reproducible online curriculum adaptable for various medical trainees.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week Virtual Anatomic Pathology Elective was developed within one month.
• The curriculum included introductory lectures, assignments, virtual resident lectures, grand rounds, and virtual sign-out sessions.
• Students presented a case study to faculty at the rotation's conclusion.

Main Results:

• The elective successfully provided a structured virtual learning experience mimicking in-person pathology rotations.
• The program accommodated medical students, international medical graduates, and students from different institutions.
• The curriculum was designed to be relevant for students applying to pathology and other medical specialties.

Conclusions:

• A novel Virtual Anatomic Pathology Elective was successfully designed and implemented.
• This virtual model offers a viable and reproducible alternative for pathology education.
• The program effectively addressed the challenges posed by the pandemic to medical training.