COVID-19 and the Impact on Surgical Fellows: A Uniquely Vulnerable Learner

Introduction The COVID 19 pandemic has affected education at all levels. Surgical fellows have faced unique challenges. PROBLEMS: The authors address aspects of Canadian surgical fellowships that have been impacted by the pandemic. These include case volumes, training objectives, funding models, burden of stress and research productivity. SOLUTIONS: Solutions are proposed including varying the mix of cases to meet objectives, pursuing alternative finance structures and leveraging technology for both research and advancing surgical technique. CONCLUSION: These solutions are offered to help mitigate the effects of future pandemics for both current and future surgical fellows.