Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommendations for fellowship education during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: Innovating programs to optimize trainee success.

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Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Jan;160(1):271-278. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.10.009. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommendations for fellowship education during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: Innovating programs to optimize trainee success.

Gynecologic oncology

J Stuart Ferriss, Steve Rose, Bunja Rungruang, Renata Urban, Ryan Spencer, Shitanshu Uppal, Abdulrahman K Sinno, Linda Duska, Christine Walsh

Affiliations

Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

PMID: 33077260 PMCID: PMC7568037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.10.009

Abstract

In approximately ten months' time, the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has infected over 34 million people and caused over one million deaths worldwide. The impact of this virus on our health, relationships, and careers is difficult to overstate. As the economic realities for academic medical centers come into focus, we must recommit to our core missions of patient care, education, and research. Fellowship education programs in gynecologic oncology have quickly adapted to the "new normal" of social distancing using video conferencing platforms to continue clinical and didactic teaching. United in a time of crisis, we have embraced systemic change by developing and delivering collaborative educational content, overcoming the limitations imposed by institutional silos. Additional innovations are needed in order to overcome the losses in program surgical volume and research opportunities. With the end of the viral pandemic nowhere in sight, program directors can rethink how education is best delivered and potentially overhaul aspects of fellowship curriculum and content. Similarly, restrictions on travel and the need for social distancing has transformed the 2020 fellowship interview season from an in-person to a virtual experience. During this time of unprecedented and rapid change, program directors should be particularly mindful of the needs and health of their trainees and consider tailoring their educational experiences accordingly.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest RU reports royalties from UpToDate, CW reports research funding from Merck and advisory board participation with AstraZeneca and Genentech. All other authors report n

Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommendations for fellowship education during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: Innovating programs to optimize trainee success.

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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