The Detrimental Effect of Virtual Learning on Surgical Careers

Partake in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet. Avoid injury by wearing a seatbelt and bike helmet. Do not stay out in the sun for too long. These rules have been ingrained into everyone’s brain. However, now, more than ever, the effects of forgoing these health tips will be irreparable. Soon, it may become impossible to find a surgeon who can perform a coronary artery bypass graft to restore blood flow after a heart attack, a laminotomy to relieve pressure on the spinal cord after an accident, or Mohs surgery to cut away skin cancer. Due to the sudden transition into virtual learning with the emergence of COVID-19, opportunities for hands-on training in medical school decreased, causing interest in tactile specialties to decline. The number of future students pursuing surgical specialties is expected to dwindle due to a lack of curiosity for surgery, creating a severe shortage of surgeons and costing many lives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical training shifted to educational programs that consist of online lectures, simulations, conferences, modules, and other technology-based training. However, within a tactile specialty like surgery, it was nearly impossible to replicate hands-on learning. According to the American College of Surgeons, “... research has shown that participation in a gross anatomy course that includes cadaveric dissection may significantly increase student interest in pursuing a surgical career”. Due to the absence of such impactful in-person experiences, many students did not develop an interest in surgery. Soon, due to the diminished availability of surgeons, patients will not be able to receive quick life-saving treatments in emergent situations. In addition, the quality of care will decrease, causing poor health outcomes. As there are not enough surgeons to meet the demand, many patients will go without crucial intervention, leading to thousands of preventable deaths.

For the small number of medical students who will choose to become surgeons despite the obstacles within virtual learning, their quality and quantity of education will have also been adversely affected. Without as much time on campus, medical students could not connect with peers, pursue leadership positions in their areas of interest, meet with mentors, and scrub in on cases for a substantial amount of time. By simply learning about fundamental surgical skills, such as suturing or working under sterile conditions, instead of physically practicing the skills, medical students were deprived of essential learning opportunities. Students also could not work with surgeons in person, which substantially decreased the possibility of serendipitous experiences and exposure that could have influenced student career choices in unexpected ways and been vital for the recruitment of medical students into surgical careers.

Overall, due to the limitations on educational opportunities offered to medical students through virtual learning, the number of future students pursuing surgical specialties is expected to decline, causing a severe shortage of surgeons. To prevent the demand for surgeons from exceeding availability, the educators of the upcoming generation of medical students should increase the focus on hands-on learning to provide opportunities and mentorship in hopes of inspiring students to pursue a career in a surgical subspecialty. In this way, thousands of lives can be saved, and the detrimental effects of virtual learning on the future of surgical specialists can be counteracted.

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Author Melike Yagli is an eighteen-year-old college student living in a Chicago suburb. She is studying biology and is interested in the field of medicine. Melike wholeheartedly dedicates her time to volunteering in her community to help underprivileged populations. With boundless determination and a heart brimming with empathy, she aspires to be a beacon of hope for those in need, delivering compassionate care and improving lives one patient at a time.

References:

• Department of Surgery School of Medicine. (n.d.). Virtual learning in global surgery: Current strategies and... : IJS global health.

• The COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to Virtual Learning had a profound effect on medical student education. ACS. (n.d.).

• Home. Common Treatments Following a Heart Attack | Beaumont Health. (n.d.)

• Mohs surgery. The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2022, June 3).

• Top Ten surgeries required after a bad car accident. Top 10 Surgeries After a Car Accident. (n.d.).

• UCSF Health. (2022, June 24). Tips for staying healthy.

• Zundel, S., Meder, A., Zipfel, S., & Herrmann-Werner, A. (2015, October 27). The surgical experience of current non-surgeons gained at Medical School: A Survey analysis with implications for teaching today's students. BMC medical education.