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. 2021 Jun 30:8:23742895211020487.
doi: 10.1177/23742895211020487. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Lessons Learned

Robin Patel  1 , Nicole Lynn Hoppman  1 , Cindy M Gosse  1 , Deborah J Hagen-Moe  1 , Susan K Dunemann  1 , Justin D Kreuter  1 , Sharon A Preuss  1 , Jeffrey L Winters  1 , Charles D Sturgis  1 , Joseph J Maleszewski  1 , Malvika H Solanki  1 , Bobbi S Pritt  1 , Michael Rivera  1 , Ann M Mairose  1 , Michelle A Nelsen  1 , Kara L Hansing  1 , Susan M Lehman  1 , Randy C Gruhlke  1 , Jennifer M Boland  1
Affiliations

Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Lessons Learned

Robin Patel et al. Acad Pathol. .

Abstract

The rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic demanded immediate organizational pivots in departments of laboratory medicine and pathology, including development and implementation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 diagnostics in the face of unprecedented supply chain shortages. Laboratory medicine and pathology educational programs were affected in numerous ways. Here, we overview the effects of COVID-19 on the large, academic Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology educational practice at Mayo Clinic, highlighting lessons learned for the post-pandemic era and planning for the possibility of a future pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; education; laboratory medicine; pathology; virtual.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr Patel reports grants from Merck, ContraFect, TenNor Therapeutics Limited and Shionogi. Dr Patel is a consultant to Curetis, Specific Technologies, Next Gen Diagnostics, PathoQuest, Selux Diagnostics, 1928 Diagnostics, PhAST, and Qvella; monies are paid to Mayo Clinic. Dr Patel is also a consultant to Netflix. In addition, Dr Patel has a patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic, and a patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued. Dr Patel receives an editor’s stipend from IDSA and honoraria from the NBME, Up-to-Date and the Infectious Diseases Board Review Course.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Results of a survey of participants in extramural educational activities (eg, technologists, phlebotomists, administrative laboratory directors/managers, laboratory supervisors, medical/scientific laboratory directs, pathologists) administered in February 2021 asking, “please tell us how likely you are to take advantage of educational offerings in the following formats, within the next 12 months.” Three quarters of participants valued receiving educational credit from participation in these activities, especially professional acknowledgment for continuing education.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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