Using Dynamic Virtual Microscopy to Train Pathology Residents During the Pandemic: Perspectives on Pathology Education in the Age of COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced educational programs, including pathology residency, to move to a physically distanced learning environment. Tandem microscopic review (also known as “double-scoping”) of pathology slides is a traditional cornerstone of pathology education. However, this requires the use of a double- or multi-headed optical light microscope which is unfortunately not amenable to physical distancing. The loss of double-scoping has forced educational innovation in order to continue teaching microscopy. Digital pathology options such as whole slide imaging could be considered; however, financial constraints felt by many departments often render this option cost-prohibitive. Alternatively, a shift toward teaching via dynamic virtual microscopy offers a readily available, physically distanced, and cost-conscious alternative for pathology education. Required elements include a standard light microscope, a mounted digital camera, computers, and videoconferencing software to share a slide image with the learner(s). Through survey data, we show immediate benefits include maintaining the essence of the traditional light microscope teaching experience, and additional gains were discovered such as the ability for educators and learners to annotate images in real time, among others. Existing technology may not be initially optimized for a dynamic virtual experience, resulting in lag time with image movement, problems focusing, image quality issues, and a narrower field of view; however, these technological barriers can be overcome through hardware and software optimization. Herein, we share the experience of establishing a dynamic virtual microscopy educational system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing readily available technology in the pathology department of a major academic medical center.

Evaluation of the COVID-19 Lockdown-Adapted Online Methodology for the Cytology and Histology Course as Part of the Degree in Veterinary Medicine

“…VM software allows the user to navigate, change magnification, focus, and mark areas of interest on the slides. Several studies have shown that students obtained better learning outcomes when they were able to use VM rather than just OM [6,[13][14][15], proving the usefulness of this technology for teaching and learning [3,4,8]. However, its helpfulness as part of student evaluation, at least in the format employed in this study (i.e., as part of online exams in Moodle), is not clear from our results.…”

“…In this study, we used a questionnaire to survey students' opinions of VM and results revealed our students had a good perception of VM, as did the students surveyed in several other studies [4,14]. As in other institutions, our decision to replace conventional optical microscopy with VM was made out of necessity due to the lockdown requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic [8]. Students from both our cohorts (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) generally gave positive feedback about VM, with many expressing the view that VM was easy to use and a helpful tool in teaching practical skills for CH.…”

“…To address this, and to improve the teaching of histology and pathology, over the last five years, several veterinary faculties have begun integrating virtual microscopy (VM) into their study programs [2][3][4]. The teaching challenges brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, particularly the necessity of an abrupt switch to remote teaching [5], have highlighted the important role of VM in imparting practical skills in medical histology and pathology education [6][7][8].…”

COVID-19 exposure and health status of orthopedic residents: A survey study

“…Residents have had their share of this effect. There are several studies investigating the mental stress and educational defects of residents and other healthcare professionals from all branches in the literature, alas, studies evaluating the physical health status of them are quite limited (8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

Digital microscopy: A routine mandate in future? A leaf out of Covid-19 pandemic laboratory experience

“…Therefore, a more plausible solution would be to shift toward dynamic virtual microscopy (DVM) wherein a light microscope with a mounted digital camera, and videoconferencing software to stream a slide image to the learner(s) with a computer, is all that is required. [ 12 ]…”