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MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

Medical Students Reflect on Education

During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Niva Shrestha, Sabrina Heath, Rachel Fray, Fatima Raza and Komal Sharma

T
he past two years and future have been shaped and forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020—in a haze of confusion
and fear—everything from schools to airports started closing. Closures included the nation’s 192 medical schools. Here, medical students
from the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) reflect on the educational, social, emotional,
mental and professional consequences of the pandemic.

“Even before the first day of class, the pandemic drastically “When the pandemic struck, I was moving back home to
affected my medical education. With everything online, it Austin and beginning my dedicated board prep. The stress
made establishing relationships with classmates a relatively of boards was already colossal and social distancing require-
unnatural process. I met most peers through meetings and breakout ments led the testing center to cancel and postpone exam dates upwards
rooms on Zoom. Besides weekly clinical skills and anatomy workshops of six weeks. My clinical rotations began the day after I completed my
in the spring of 2021, my entire first year was virtual. Safety concerns delayed exams. Fortunately, I only missed two weeks of my pediatrics
prohibited students from accessing the clinical skills and cadaver labs rotation—a fate many of my peers did not experience. Many students
on campus, inhibiting development of practical medical knowledge. De- had multiple canceled rotations, forcing them to make up rotations in
spite this, our class acquired a unique resiliency and developed telemed- their fourth year—a year busy with residency applications and inter-
icine skills that will serve us well in the future.” –Sabrina Heath, MS2 views. This unavoidable restructuring caused anxiety and hindered our
learning. We even struggled with our Zoom weekly didactic sessions.
“The pandemic took a mental and physical toll on every- Being present for class was difficult and lack of interaction with peers
one. I look back on my first year with fondness but also sad- was isolating. While I learned how to handle a new virus, I lost crucial
ness for all the missed opportunities. Resuming weekly, aspects of my clinical experience.” –Komal Sharma, MS4
in-person labs in January 2021 was exciting. While these initial hands-
on experiences were incredibly helpful, I know many still feel behind In retrospect, the advancements in virtual education made didactic
from our year of virtual medical school. While nothing can change the learning challenging, but possible. The pandemic cost current students
past, my hope is that as time continues, future classes and professors 18 months of clinical and practical knowledge. COVID-19 stretched
alike will extend the same kindness, warmth and encouragement to each students, educational institutions and hospitals to the limit, while also
other now as they did before the pandemic. As future physicians, we forcing medicine to be more accessible to future generations through
owe it to our patients, peers and ourselves to prioritize our mental health virtual (cost-friendly) interviews. With telemedicine, hopefully health
and maintain our humanity and humility. We will not let the past hinder care will become accessible for many patients too. The pandemic also
the care of our patients and medical community.” –Rachel Fray, MS2 inspired and energized a new generation of physicians such that—ac-
cording to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)—
“The pandemic began six months into my first year of applications to medical school increased over 18% during the 2020
medical school when I finally felt comfortable with my cycle. Applications grew around 3% per year over the last decade. The
learning style and study habits. My class most acutely felt the collective experiences of the past few years have spotlighted physician
total loss of normalcy. The stress of school was compounded by the and student mental health, underscored the importance of human con-
added challenge of navigating a new learning medium. I learned the vi- nection and created a stronger, more resilient future of doctors.
tality of simple human interaction and found myself missing small daily
exchanges. While no one can know what the future entails, I hope the Niva Shrestha (MS2), Sabrina Heath (MS2), Rachel Fray
past few years have made us more empathetic and appreciative of each (MS2), Fatima Raza (MS3) and Komal Sharma (MS4) are
other and the profession we are embarking on.” –Fatima Raza, MS3 medical students at UIWSOM.

16 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • December 2021