Beyond the Binary: A Five-Pillar Framework for Hybrid Medical Education Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly transformed medical education, exposing both challenges and opportunities in online, in-person, and hybrid instructional models. This Viewpoint proposes a five-pillar framework for effective hybrid medical education: curricular alignment, faculty development, interactive online pedagogy, flexibility with accountability, and data-driven feedback. Drawing on the experience of two medical students and the perspective of an anatomy professor, an award-winning educator and curriculum leader, we offer a framework for hybrid medical education. While our viewpoint centers on undergraduate medical education, we recognize concerns from graduate medical educators about downstream resident preparedness and the need for broader collaboration. Our framework addresses learner engagement, clinical preparedness, and equity. We recommend that academic leaders adopt and periodically audit curricula using this framework to ensure educational quality and readiness for future disruptions.