One giant leap for mankind: The experience of studying medicine through the pandemic

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, a well-intentioned person told me that studying medicine in times of coronavirus was like being an astronaut when humanity first landed on the moon. Space meant for astronauts the clash of their passion for discovery and learning, with the risk of not coming alive back home to their loved ones. Health professionals have experienced the same this year in the front line against coronavirus. After eight months of this new normality, more than one million lives have been lost worldwide, and they carry on their shoulders the hope of millions of people optimistic about the outcome of their effort. Medical students, even at an early stage of their training, are aware of the damage this virus causes, but their lack of clinical experience has limited them to be involved in direct patient care. They have not been able to honor the call of a vocation of service to the community, and it has made them experience the shame of leaving on their own to other health professionals in this historic challenge.