Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Medical school in the age of Zoom

Zachariah Tman
Education
October 18, 2020
51 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

What has medical school been like in the age of Zoom? Before I was a student doctor, I was an undergraduate student pining after the halls of medicine and the truthfully looking forwards to the rigors of medical school. Upon acceptance to medical school at the University of California, San Diego, I celebrated via Zoom with family. Orientation week was a hybrid model of Zoom and on-campus socially distanced activities. Our white coat ceremony was also held through Zoom, which was quite painful for a few of us but ultimately necessary to comply with the public health guidelines. What I did not foresee was how much my peers and I would experience Zoom fatigue.

Zoom fatigue started creeping in around the second week of my medical school education. I noticed that I had been subconsciously relying on the atmosphere of a traditional classroom to remain engaged in my learning. Zooming at home, I am distracted by the comfort within reach, the ease of access to food, and the noises of other media in the background. Tiktok. I have never hated an app so much until the present moment for the ease of entertainment it affords and how I gravitate towards it when I feel disengaged during a Zoom lecture. I overcame this during my third week by simply deleting the app and willfully engaging in my online lectures and pre-recorded lectures. Nevertheless, the other symptoms (if I may use this word) of Zoom fatigue persisted. These included emotional withdrawal, lack of focus, and even eye strain from looking at a computer screen for around 6 to 8 hours per weekday.

Sensory deprivation and the hybrid model

The model at UCSD School of Medicine is a hybrid one that incorporates Zoom live lectures plus pre-recorded lectures. Our anatomy classes are in person, and we are placed in cohorts to limit the possibility of an outbreak occurring and disseminating within the student body. This hybrid model works as we are learning smoothly. It also gives flexibility to the students to re-organize their schedules for when they want to see lectures that are pre-recorded and when they want to focus on other extra-curriculars. The model, however, lacks the culture and engagement that comes with being present in a traditional classroom full of your peers. This is my grave concern; there is sensory deprivation in the age of Zoom for medical students.

Sensory deprivation is going to impact the medical education of the entering class of 2020. Some medical schools in the University of California system have anatomy classes online. Anatomy is one such subject that is best learned in person. As Mark Whitehead, PhD, of UCSD stated to my class, the cadaver is our first patient. This is key in anatomy as we learn from the sacrifices of our donors. The sight of the body and the sensation of touching, smelling, and even hearing are all irreplaceable educational opportunities. This study stated that various literature that reference behavioral and neuroimaging studies found that learning is effective in multimodal and multisensory interactions. The engagement of the senses is critical in medical education to become not only a scientifically adept physician but also a compassionately humanistic one.

The counter-argument to that is neural plasticity, and it has been raised in discussion with some of my peers through Zoom of all places. While the brain is remarkable at adapting to different scenarios, adaptation does not necessarily equate to efficiency. Additionally, there are hardly any peer-reviewed studies that have provided data regarding the effects of education over a web platform for a long period of time. By contrast, however, some studies show a negative impact on memory recall of a subject due to the reduction of multimodal sensory in learning that specific subject. We can anticipate that the reduction to hyper-focused visual/auditory learning via Zoom will inevitably yield results that we will observe within the coming years as we enter the workforce.

Another argument is that the COVID19 pandemic is affecting only a small portion of our medical education. I believe this entirely contextual as some schools are completely remote learning, while others are employing a hybrid model. Each medical school is adapting as best they can, but the quality and quantity of education are impacted regardless of how long the pandemic lasts. The New Yorker magazine names education through Zoom what it truly is, a great experiment. In similarity, medical education through Zoom is an experiment, and those learning through Zoom in the pre-clinical years will be a unique cohort.

Onward with this great experiment

Every great experiment has a thematic research question. In this case, I believe a research question one could posit is how medical students who have trained over zoom compare with those who have trained in the traditional classroom. Given that this learning experiment is ongoing, the coming years will yield results that may show how the patient care we provide is positively or negatively impacted.

Zachariah Tman is a medical student. The views expressed here are my own and do not represent the University of California San Diego’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The vulnerability of abortion access and training

October 18, 2020 Kevin 10
…
Next

Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide

October 18, 2020 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The vulnerability of abortion access and training
Next Post >
Medical aid in dying is not assisted suicide

More by Zachariah Tman

  • Here’s why direct-to-consumer drug ads need FDA oversight

    Zachariah Tman

Related Posts

  • End medical school grades

    Adam Lieber
  • The medical school personal statement struggle

    Sheindel Ifrah
  • Why medical school is like playing defense

    Jamie Katuna
  • Promote a culture of medical school peer education

    Albert Jang, MD
  • The unintended consequences of free medical school

    Anonymous
  • A meditation in medical school

    Orly Farber

More in Education

  • The secret to success in medical school: self-awareness and courage

    Kaelor Gordon
  • Is mandating pre-medical training widening disparities in the U.S. physician workforce?

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • Equalizing the future of medical residencies: standardizing work hours and wages

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • From studying to baby kicks: Navigating motherhood in medical school

    Natalie Eichner-Seitz
  • The power of advocacy: a medical student’s journey to helping an uninsured immigrant

    Fabiola Plaza
  • From AI to love: the key to a better future in medical education

    Stevan Walkowski, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Unintended consequences of Health Care Quality Improvement Act: a violation of physicians’ civil and constitutional rights

      Farid Gharagozloo, MD & Rainer Gruessner, MD & Robert Poston, MD | Physician
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • An unspoken truth about non-compete clauses in medicine

      Harry Severance, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Fostering the next (diverse) generation of clinicians

      Imamu Tomlinson, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Redefining success: a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Yoga and self-care won’t cure my Crohn’s disease

      Kristen L. Cole | Conditions
    • The patient who became my soulmate

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Can AI solve the physician shortage crisis?

      Harry Severance, MD | Tech
    • Breaking barriers in arthritis care with telemedicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Another Win for a JAK Inhibitor in Alopecia Areata
  • 'It Is a Horrifying Prospect': What We Heard This Week
  • Temp Nurses Cost Hospitals Big During Pandemic. Lawmakers Are Now Mulling Limits.
  • Biologic Switch Revs Up Response in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Man Versus Malaria

Meeting Coverage

  • Another Win for a JAK Inhibitor in Alopecia Areata
  • Biologic Switch Revs Up Response in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Adding Pembrolizumab to Docetaxel Fails to Improve Survival in mCRPC
  • Moving Newer Agents Up Earlier in Advanced Bladder Cancer
  • Latest on Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Unintended consequences of Health Care Quality Improvement Act: a violation of physicians’ civil and constitutional rights

      Farid Gharagozloo, MD & Rainer Gruessner, MD & Robert Poston, MD | Physician
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • An unspoken truth about non-compete clauses in medicine

      Harry Severance, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Fostering the next (diverse) generation of clinicians

      Imamu Tomlinson, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Redefining success: a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Yoga and self-care won’t cure my Crohn’s disease

      Kristen L. Cole | Conditions
    • The patient who became my soulmate

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Can AI solve the physician shortage crisis?

      Harry Severance, MD | Tech
    • Breaking barriers in arthritis care with telemedicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...