Program Directors Survey on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiology Fellowship Training

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed unprecedented changes to medical education, including CV fellowship programs. CV fellowship PDs offer a unique perspective regarding the impact of the pandemic on CV medical education.

Objectives: The 4th annual Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Fellowship Program Directors (PDs) Survey sought to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV fellows and fellowship programs.

Methods: The survey contained 31 items examining the clinical, educational, and academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV fellowship programs.

Results: Survey response rate was 54%. Most respondents (58%) represented university-based programs. Most PDs felt that changes to clinical practice during the COVID-19 negatively impacted fellow education in cardiac catheterization (66%), outpatient cardiology (52%), nuclear imaging (51%), and echocardiography (50%). Despite improving attendance, 75% of PDs felt that virtual educational conferences adversely impacted interaction between participants. Only 22% felt they improved fellow education. Most PDs (85%) reported a negative impact of the pandemic on fellow well-being and burnout, and 57% reported a decrease in research productivity among fellows. Even though virtual recruitment allowed programs to interview more competitive candidates, most PDs felt that virtual interviews adversely impacted interactions between their fellows and candidates (71%) and their ability to convey the culture of their program (60%).

Conclusions: Most CV fellowship PDs felt the COVID-19 pandemic brought changes that negatively impacted the clinical training, didactic learning, academic productivity, and well-being among cardiology fellows. The implications of these changes on the competency of cardiologists that trained during the COVID-19 pandemic deserve future study.

Keywords: COVID-19; cardiology fellowship; graduate medical education; pandemic; program director.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1

Impact of Pandemic-Induced Changes to Fellow Education in Clinical Areas Percentages reflect respondents reporting positive, no, or negative impact to the statement "how have pandemic-induced changes to clinical care and clinical volumes at your institution impacted fellow education in the following areas?" Percentages may not sum to 100% due to a small number of respondents indicating "not applicable" or not answering the item.

Figure 2

Impact of Virtual Conferences on Fellow Education Percentages reflect responses to the statement "based on your current perception of educational conferences in your program, to what extent do you agree with the following statements?" Percentages may not sum to 100% due to a small number of respondents indicating "unable to comment" or not answering the item.

Figure 3

Impact of the Pandemic on Fellow Research, Mentorship, and Well-Being Percentages represent respondents reporting positive, no, or negative impact to the statement "what is your perception of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted research, mentorship, and well-being for fellows in your program?" Percentages may not sum to 100% due to a small number of respondents indicating "unable to comment" or not answering the item.

Figure 4

Impact of Virtual Fellowship Recruitment Percentages reflect responses to the statement "to what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding virtual recruitment for the December 2020 fellowship match?" from the 131 respondents who indicated their program participated in the December 2020 fellowship match. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to a small number of respondents indicating "unable to comment" or not answering the item.

Central Illustration

Program Directors’ Perspective Regarding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on General Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship Programs Due to changes with the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of program directors reported increased attendance at conferences, increased competitiveness of candidates for fellowship, and more participation in telehealth. The majority of program directors also reported decreased educational opportunities in multiple core cardiovascular clinical areas, reduced well-being among fellows, decreased interactions during virtual conferences, reduced access to external mentorship, decreased research productivity, and decreased ability to interact with candidates to their program. Figure created with BioRender.com.