The Emergence of Collaboration in the Education of Fellows and Residents during COVID-19.

Abstract: Introduction COVID-19 has created a void in surgical education. Given social distancing and postponed surgeries, unique educational opportunities have arisen. Attendings from 10 adult reconstruction (AR) fellowships led a multi-institution web-based weekly collaborative, the Arthroplasty Consortium (AC), developed to educate trainees through complex arthroplasty case-based discussions. Methods We performed an anonymous survey of AC participants and AAHKS AR fellows. Participants were polled with regards to educational tools used before and after COVID-19 and their value. Specifically, participation in the AC, AAHKS FOCAL lectures, institutional lectures, industry lectures, textbooks, online videos, journal articles and webinars were assessed. Results 57 participants responded with 49 (86%) at the fellow level. There was an increase in the use of web-based learning, including the AC (NA pre, 61% post), AAHKS FOCAL lectures (NA pre, 82% post), industry lectures (53% pre, 86% post), and AAHKS/AAOS webinars (35% pre, 56% post). Usage declined with institutional lectures (89% pre, 80% post), textbooks (68% pre, 49% post), and journal articles (97% pre, 90% post), with minimal change in the use of online surgical videos (84% pre, 82% post). The majority of fellows not involved in the AC, would like to see the addition of a multi-institutional case conference added to fellowship education. Of AC participants, the two most valuable educational tools were the AC and FOCAL lectures. Conclusion Trainee education has changed post-Covid-19 with a greater focus on web-based learning. Multi-institutional collaborative lectures and case-based discussions have significant perceived value among trainees and should be considered important educational tools post-COVID 19.