Short Communication: Medical Education Gone Viral During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Education and medical training were impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposed to stress and burnout, many trainees, including medical students and residents, exhibited psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. In contrast, others were asymptomatic. A better understanding of clinical variability among medical trainees exposed to overwhelming stress could be helpful for planning and navigating future emergencies. To elucidate the role of vulnerability and resilience of young medical students and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a pilot study, by psychiatric interview of both symptomatic and asymptomatic students and residents from three Southern California universities. In general, the trainees who harbored second thoughts about their suitability for medical profession exhibited more symptoms of mental distress compared to the students and residents who believed they were “meant” to be physicians. We concluded that unless addressed, doubts about the practice of medicine may predispose to psychiatric distress during crisis situations. Conversely, problem identification and early treatment may mitigate the emergence of psychiatric symptoms. Our pilot study is in line with larger studies that looked at preexisting emotional distress as a deterrent for adequate response during disasters.