Poster 23
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Externship Experience during the Pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2021.08.121Get rights and content

Abstract

Statement of the problem

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) externships aim to increase the exposure of predoctoral dental students to the specialty and assist programs and applicants during resident and training program selection. The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted academic OMS departments in a varied manner. This study was conducted to assess the impact of this pandemic on externship programs.

Materials and methods

An 11-question survey was sent electronically via Google Forms to 40 randomly selected, CODA-accredited OMS training programs in the United States that routinely offered 1-4 week externships. Survey content was aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on their externship programs and to evaluate their response strategy in the midst of the restrictions posed by the pandemic.

Methods of data analysis

Using standard spreadsheet compatible with Google Forms, data were analyzed to produce bar graphs, pie charts, and histograms.

Results

In total, 13 of the 40 programs (32.5%) responded to the survey; 67% of the responses were from programs along the East Coast, while 33% responded from other regions. Two-thirds of the programs responding had affiliation to a dental school. All programs self-classified themselves as moderately or severely affected and put their externships on hold; 75% of respondents made major changes to their program content, including reducing number of externs. In addition, 20% started virtual externships to give enrolled students an insight into their training programs. Almost half of the programs were comfortable using only email correspondence as their preferred method while selecting interns without the use of virtual interviews.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected teaching and learning exposure to the young generation. Externship opportunities in OMS programs across the country had to devise different ways to ensure sanctity of this training and learning process. Students and faculty both had to get accustomed to the “new normal.” As seen in this study, the virtual format to conduct externship certainly has a place in the future curriculum design. It is noteworthy that adaptability and perseverance are keys to keep this unique specialty together even in a drastic time such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Section snippets

References

  • 1

    Rekawek P, Henry A, Moe J, Schlieve T, Panchal N: The COVID-19 pandemic: implications for the oral and maxillofacial surgery residency application process. J Dent Educ 10, 2020

  • 2

    Huntley RE, Ludwig DC, Dillon JK: Early effects of COVID-19 on oral and maxillofacial surgery residency training: results from a national survey. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 78(8):1257-1267, 2020

  • 3

    Hammoud MM, Standiford T, Carmody JB: Potential implications of COVID-19 for the 2020-2021 residency application cycle. JAMA

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