Radiology Education Amid COVID-19 Pandemic and Possible Solutions

Abstract

Along with the rest of the world, the United States is inundated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical services in the country have been severely affected. The pandemic poses extraordinary challenges to academic institutions including radiology residency and fellowship programs. Herein, we delineate major difficulties faced by our radiology training program and mitigating countermeasures. The primary objective is to discuss the changes in our radiology training programs due to COVID-19 to allow for continued radiology education.

Resident Experiences With Virtual Radiology Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For example, changes to side-by-side, in-person readouts were necessary to comply with social distancing requirements during the pandemic. Many programs have described their experience with virtual read-outs, which include reviewing imaging via phone or using screen-sharing software ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ). Didactic lectures and multidisciplinary conferences also have transitioned to a virtual platform.…”

“…Didactic lectures and multidisciplinary conferences also have transitioned to a virtual platform. Software-based conference room solutions have allowed for these activities to continue in a virtual setting ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ).…”

Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In one spine fellowship, they initiated daily didactics creating a comprehensive educational curriculum utilizing their own staff members to educate residents and fellows 10 . Other subspecialties, including sports medicine 9 , cardiology 11 , radiology 12 , pain management 13 , 14 , and sleep medicine 15 , switched to web-based journal clubs and didactics. In the subspecialty of gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association started a learning platform called “GI Distance Learning” 16 .…”

Technologic optimization of a virtual disease focused panel during the COVID pandemic and beyond

“…This in turn could hinder medical advancements and discoveries dependent on collaborations. However, several technological advances and innovations have provided us with opportunities to counter the limitations set forth by the virus [1], and adapt to maintain the functionality of the DFP by implementing measures for an uninterrupted educational experience [2,3]. This article aims at describing the problems faced in initiating and operationalizing our DFP during COVID-19 pandemic, and also describes some of the solutions which we applied to continue the growth of the panel.…”