Navigating COVID-19: Preparing medical students in a time of pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an upheaval in health sciences education.[1] Globally, training of medical students on university campuses and clinical platforms was suspended and rapidly transitioned to online learning.[1,2] In some countries, graduation of senior medical students was expedited in order to contribute to a health workforce in crisis.[1,2] The transition to online learning has been particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries where access to remote learning opportunities is limited for some students and further widens societal inequities.[1] The pandemic, however, also provides an opportunity to re-imagine clinical learning and develop innovative ways to strengthen the clinical training platform and health system.