With the implementation of social distancing to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the clinical, academic and educational aspects of the medical field have changed. This pandemic has driven the virtualization of clinic visits, multidisciplinary meetings, educational activities, scientific talks and national and international conferences. Through a small screen in the office or at home, one can connect with the world more readily than ever, a blessing indeed.
The pandemic has pushed the medical field to a new norm, where it’s easier to connect with others virtually. Patients don’t need to spend hours in transportation or in the waiting areas to see the doctor. Multidisciplinary team members can participate readily from their offices/homes during weekly meetings without the need to travel across buildings or between hospitals. Educational activities can be accessed with a click of a button, collaborations across institutions can be fostered and national conference participation can be accomplished at low cost and without using valuable vacation days. Surgical oncology fellows have shared their excitement about the many opportunities that the fellowship could offer during these virtual times. One could participate in every tumor board conference, an activity that was not readily available in the past. One could attend late-hour educational activities from home while being among family. Engaging in research meetings, journal club and board reviews became more feasible. Listening to experts from around the world discuss important surgical topics on society platforms became a reality that was not available in the past. While it became much easier to connect with colleagues more than ever before, a fundamental human need went missing: direct human-to-human interaction. So, is it really a blessing?
Spending time with colleagues, having side talks after meetings, and connecting with new mentors and collaborators during national conferences have now become impossible. We are isolated in our socially-distant bubble behind our computer without real human interactions. Chatting with faculty members following educational conferences is no longer possible, while connecting with new people is an opportunity from the past. The ability to seek out leaders in the field for mentorship and job opportunities during national conferences is no longer possible. In addition, the boundary between work and home life has been blurred since many of these virtual meetings are held late in the day preventing quality time with the family. The social isolation and threat to work-life balance are alarming as it’s known to increase psychological distress and depression. This may be a major problem especially in a profession where burnout is prevalent. Many of us are fortunate to have strong family and social supports, but to those who may not, this new norm is concerning and should prompt early intervention to prevent burnout among physicians. So, is it a curse?
By SSO CGSO Fellow: Ibrahim Nassour, MD, MSCS, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, with special acknowledgment to Lilas Khashab, MS, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center