130 - The Influence of COVID-19 Era Gross Anatomy Medical Education on the Decision to Pursue a Surgical Specialty

Poster Board Number: 130
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Co-authors:

Jennette Ball - Assistant Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Abstract Body : Choosing a medical specialty is an important decision in a medical student’s career and various experiences throughout medical school play a role in this decision, including gross anatomy. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020, medical education shifted to virtual formats. The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of virtual teaching methods in gross anatomy on student interest in surgical specialties. A secondary aim was to explore other factors that might affect the decision to pursue a surgical career. Four cohorts of medical students, who each experienced different teaching methods in gross anatomy due to the coronavirus pandemic, were surveyed and compared. 157 students completed the survey. A binary logistic regression model found that interest in pursuing a surgical residency prior to medical school was a significant variable in influencing the decision to pursue a surgical specialty at the time of survey. The remote cohort had the highest reliance on virtual images. Prior to medical school, 21.15% of students were planning on pursuing surgery, with orthopedic surgery receiving the most interest. After completion of gross anatomy, 20.51% of students were planning on pursuing surgery, with general surgery receiving the most interest. Future incorporation of virtual teaching in gross anatomy will likely not influence medical students’ decisions in pursuing a surgical career.