An online learning platform about COVID-19 pandemic supports frontline workers, educating the public

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced medical students out of classrooms and clinical circulation at this time last year, the only public medical school in Georgia had to undergo a quick reconsideration. on its traditional curriculum.

Faculty and staff at the Medical College of Georgia at the University of Augusta had the ability to change quickly and provide an online platform for learning about pandemics and embarking on student-led projects to assist and assist front-line staff with educating the public, MCG faculty and students writing a review article in the journal Medical Science Educator.

The University of Georgia System suspended in-classroom learning in mid-March, so faculty at MCG moved first- and second-year personal classes online. Lectures were replaced by recorded materials and other personal activities such as small groups, clinical skills training and anatomy lab were postponed or moved online.

“Our faculty was able to smooth that transition by listening to student feedback – asking what worked and what didn’t,” says Amanda Delgado. second-year student, one of the co-authors of the article.

Later in March, the Association of American Medical Colleges called for a “stop” in patient communication and clinical training for third- and fourth-year medical students nationwide. The medical school administration was aware of the need to take “steps to ensure a wealthy alternative to clinical education,” the students wrote.

The medical school solution? Stand up online online Pandemic Medicine Elective – a man who already had a model.

Traditionally, an existing summer program, Congested Areas, was offered to rising second year students as a four – week option covering topics such as ethics, leadership, global and public health, health policy. and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Faculties with extensive experience in all fields provided access to lectures on each subject.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the academic administration of MCG was able to restructure that program to create the new selection. There were four weeks of tuition – two hours of lectures, four days a week, and one day dedicated to experiential learning and service.

Teams of physicians and educators from across the medical school and guest lecturers from other colleges and universities collaborated to educate students on topics ranging from the basic science of SARS-CoV-2 to the challenges it created for health care and the public sector, from how to deliver health care in an emergency to professional and personal responsibility.

The second version of the option, launched in mid-May, was offered to emerging second-year students, as well as a limited number of surgery students and residents. oral and maxillofacial from Georgia Dental College and some students from the Graduate School. “With summer research programs canceled, students were keen to engage with faculty and content experts on relevant health topics,” the students write.

The selector also offered rich experiences such as listening to interviews with physicians fighting the pandemic in China and Germany and participating in a live question and answer session with a physician who compared her experience working in Guinea during an Ebola crisis with fighting COVID-19 in New York City.

As the pandemic progressed over the summer, the third flight – known as “optional” because it was offered to a select group of students with delayed clinical circulation – took off. at the end of June and focused on preparing students for what a clinical environment would look like when they returned to clinical activity at the time of the pandemic.

“While incorporating topics from previous statements of preference, it focused more on the impact of the pandemic on providers and their delivery of care,” said MCG infectious disease doctor, Dr. Rodger MacArthur, senior author of the article and the group ‘s Relationship Advisor.

A common thread among all versions of the selected option was student-led service learning projects. Some of these included developing a website to publish local COVID-19 news and resources, assisting frontline workers with the purchase and delivery of N95 masks, gloves and front wings, raising $ 15,000 to purchase personal protective equipment and collaborating with musicians to provide comfort.

At medical school regional campuses across the state, students worked with public health departments to help find communication and work in their call centers.

At the time of the selection, MCG students had recorded 6,198 hours of service.

So many people turned up to the event and everyone worked together to help us continue our education and to help our communities at the same time. “

Joseph Elengickal, S.Econd-Year student and Corresponding author study, Georgia Medical College, Augusta University

The next steps include conducting studies and focus groups on student experiences during the election with a view to developing other student educational experiences.