Eur J Pediatr Surg 2021; 31(04): 319-325
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731297
Review Article

Virtual Education in Pediatric Surgery during the COVID-19 Era: Facing and Overcoming Current Challenges

Ophelia Aubert
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
,
Richard Wagner
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
,
Rodrigo Gerardo
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
,
Gaia Tamaro
3   EUPSA Secretariat, European Paediatric Surgeon's Association, St-Gallen, Switzerland
,
Augusto Zani
4   Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
5   Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Todd Ponsky
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
6   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, Ohio, United States
,
Martin Lacher
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted our way of living in an unprecedented manner. Medical professionals at all levels have been forced to adapt to the novel virus. The delivery of surgical services and the subsequent learning opportunities for surgical residents have especially been disrupted and the pediatric surgical community has not been exempted by this. This article highlights the challenges imposed by the pandemic and outlines the various learning modalities that can be implemented to ensure continued learning opportunities throughout the pandemic and beyond. Furthermore, it aims to show how the utilization and expansion of technologies maintain and further increase the communication, as well as the exchange of and access to knowledge among peers. Virtual education-, application-, and simulation-based learning and social media, as well as telemedicine and online conferences, will play a considerable role in the future of surgical specialties and surgical education.



Publication History

Received: 01 May 2021

Accepted: 11 May 2021

Article published online:
27 June 2021

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