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. Globally, training of medical students on university campuses and clinical platforms was suspended and rapidly transitioned to online learning. In some countries, graduation of senior medical students was expedited in order to contribute to a health workforce in crisis. 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. 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.