Professional development during a pandemic: a live virtual conference for emergency medicine chief residents

• Authors: Fareen Zaver, University of Calgary; Nicole Battaglioli, Emory University; Christian C. Rose, Stanford University; Tim Montrief, University of Pittsburgh; Al'ai Alvarez, Stanford University; Michelle Lin, University of California San Francisco
• Journal Title: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
• Volume: Volume 23, Number 5
• Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG | 2021-07-15, Pages 696-699
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-021-00146-3
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Education, Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Emergency Medicine; Chief resident; Professional development; Virtual learning

Abstract

Limited professional development training exists for chief residents. The available training uses in-person lectures and workshops at annual national conferences. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented most in-person gatherings in 2020, including pivotal onboarding and training events for new chief residents. However, for the last five years, Academic Life in Emergency Medicine’s Chief Resident Incubator conducted year-long remote training programs, creating virtual communities of practice for chief residents in emergency medicine (EM). As prior leaders and alumni from the Incubator, we sought to respond to the limitations presented by the pandemic and create an onboarding event to provide foundational knowledge for incoming chief residents. We developed a half-day virtual conference, whereupon 219 EM chief residents enrolled. An effective professional development experience is feasible and scalable using online videoconferencing technologies, especially if constructed with content expertise, psychological safety, and production design in mind.