Thus far, despite the challenges of the most recent COVID surge, we have been able to return to and maintain in-person instruction in our preclinical (Phase 1) curriculum.
Over the last week, I have had the pleasure of participating as a facilitator of small-group, infectious disease clinical case discussion sections for the first-year students that are part of their introduction to pathogenic microbes.
Having gone through a year of Zoom interactions, I have renewed appreciation for the benefit of direct human interaction in the early aspects of medical education. It is wonderful to see real faces, even if masked, and carry on a conversation without having once to say, “You’re on mute!”
Having the opportunity to interact with students early in their first year and then again in their fourth year, as an attending physician on the infectious disease consult service, reinforces to me how truly remarkable our students are in their ability to acquire so much knowledge and ability to apply it to the care of patients in just a few short years. It is also a testament to the well-conceived curriculum that is in place and the dedicated faculty.
I truly appreciate the opportunity to be part of the process and our students’ journey to becoming physicians.
Bradley Britigan, MD
Dean, UNMC College of Medicine