Medical education in the time of COVID-19

In current circumstances one rightfully wonders if persistence of SARS-Cov-2 will fundamentally alter the landscape of medical education and hospital training. Absent a vaccine, the prevalence of this virus adds to annual respiratory illnesses caused by seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, and other coronaviruses. Faced with a looming new-normal, many educators are ruminating on how best to ensure rigorous medical training that produces a steady stream of competent physicians. By way of background, the umbrella of medical education covers a highly structured curriculum in a variety of pre-clinical and clinical environments whose architecture and requirements are set by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) ( 1 ) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) ( 2 ). These requirements reflect established habits for producing quality outcomes. Capricious changes to these requirements can alter the carat of each uncut gem matriculating to medical school. And for this reason, students follow inviolate course work to their doctorate. Graduates can apply for state licensure to become physicians after receiving accredited training as interns and residents. Only later when seen serving a public good are physicians fully vested professionals. Such training can last 7-10 years. Modern training encompasses a well-thought-out system of educational milestones …