Curriculum Innovations: Virtual Didactics as a Tool for Harmonizing Education About Rare Topics in Neuroimmunology

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Neuroimmunology is a rapidly advancing field with non-standardized fellowship training.
• Gaps in faculty expertise and curriculum exist, leaving fellows unprepared for rare neuroimmunologic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a virtual, interinstitutional seminar series in educating neuroimmunology fellows.
• To improve trainee comfort and competence in managing a wider spectrum of neuroimmunologic diseases.

Main Methods:

• A steering committee identified 18 high-yield, unique topics for the seminar series.
• Live, interactive virtual seminars were conducted by experts during the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Trainee comfort levels were surveyed pre- and post-seminar, with recordings available for asynchronous learning.

Main Results:

• An average of 41 trainees attended live sessions, with 17 viewing on demand.
• Post-seminar, 72% of trainees reported comfort with topics, a significant increase from 26% pre-seminar (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• A year-long virtual seminar series is an effective method for increasing trainee comfort in specialized medical fields.
• Interinstitutional collaboration enhances educational offerings for neuroimmunology fellows.