Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow Training in North America

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Daniel Mallon, University of Cincinnati; John F. Pohl, University of Utah; Uma P. Phatak, Yale University; Melissa Fernandes, Connecticut Childrens Medical Center; John M. Rosen, Childrens Mercy Kansas City; Sarah S. Lusman, Columbia University; Cade M. Nylund, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Candi S. Jump, Medical University of South Carolina; Aliza B. Solomon, Weill Cornell Medicine; Arvind Srinath, University of Pittsburgh; Andrew Singer, University of Michigan; Rula Harb, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Kristin L. Van Buren, Texas Childrens Hospital; Shifra Koyfman, Nicklaus Childrens Hospital; Riha Bhatt, Vanderbilt University; Dellys M. Soler-Rodriguez, Emory University; Dellys Soler Rodriguez, Emory University; Mamata Sivagnanam, University of California San Diego; Christine K. Lee, Boston Childrens Hosp
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-07-01
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000002768
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 6
• End Page: 11
• Grant/Funding Information: None declared
• Keywords: Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Pediatrics; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; Nutrition & Dietetics; fellowship; telehealth; COVID-19; graduate medical education
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Human Development; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Nutrition

Abstract

ackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed healthcare systems and training around the world. The Training Committee of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition sought to understand how COVID-19 has affected pediatric gastroenterology fellowship training. Methods: A 21 question survey was distributed to all 77 pediatric gastroenterology fellowship program directors (PDs) in the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition program director database via email on April 7. Responses collected through April 19, 2020 were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty-one of 77 (66%) PDs from the United States, Canada, and Mexico responded to the survey. Forty-six of 51 (90%) PDs reported that they were under a “stay-at-home” order for a median of 4 weeks at the time of the survey. Two of the 51 (4%) programs had fellows participating in outpatient telehealth before COVID-19 and 39 of 51 (76%) at the time of the survey. Fellows stopped participating in outpatient clinics in 22 of 51 (43%) programs and endoscopy in 26 of 51 (52%) programs. Changes to inpatient care included reduced fellow staffing, limiting who entered patient rooms, and rounding remotely. Fellows in 3 New York programs were deployed to adult medicine units. Didactics were moved to virtual conferences in 47 of 51 (94%) programs, and fellows used various online resources. Clinical research and, disproportionately, bench research were restricted. Conclusions: This report provides early information of the impact of COVID-19 on pediatric fellowship training. Rapid adoption of telehealth and reduced clinical and research experiences were important changes. Survey information may spur communication and innovation to help educators adapt.