Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted medical education worldwide, leading to challenges and adaptation of both in class and clinical education models. The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) emphasizes community engagement and integration in rural and remote communities making...

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Main Authors: Jenna Darani, Erin Cameron, Brian Ross
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Regional Medical Campuses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/jrmc/article/view/6760
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author Jenna Darani
Erin Cameron
Brian Ross
author_facet Jenna Darani
Erin Cameron
Brian Ross
author_sort Jenna Darani
collection DOAJ
description Background. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted medical education worldwide, leading to challenges and adaptation of both in class and clinical education models. The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) emphasizes community engagement and integration in rural and remote communities making it a unique model to evaluate adaptability during the pandemic. This study examines how the pandemic affected the academic and clinical experiences of third-year medical students engaged in an LIC situated in Northern Ontario. Methods. The study employed an anonymous survey completed by 32 LIC students and 18 program administrators. Data collection focused on non-clinical and clinical learning activities, COVID-19 experiences, and the implementation of virtual care. Results. Despite pandemic challenges, 72% of program administrators reported the overall quality of education remained consistent with previous years. All students successfully met required clinical learning objectives and other promotion requirements, although 56% reported restricted clinical access and limited experience with specialists. Virtual care became a primary adaptation, with 97% of students participating. Student safety was supported by adequate personal protective equipment availability, and the program maintained continuity thoughout the disruption. Conclusions.  The LIC demonstrated resilience, maintaining educational quality during the pandemic. These findings highlight the strengths of LIC model in terms of adaptability and program continuity.
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spelling doaj-art-330731642bbf4ffe8d116e6497e7f0b82025-08-20T03:41:35ZengUniversity of Minnesota Libraries PublishingJournal of Regional Medical Campuses2576-55582025-08-018210.24926/jrmc.v8i2.6760Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemicJenna DaraniErin CameronBrian Ross0NOSM University Background. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted medical education worldwide, leading to challenges and adaptation of both in class and clinical education models. The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) emphasizes community engagement and integration in rural and remote communities making it a unique model to evaluate adaptability during the pandemic. This study examines how the pandemic affected the academic and clinical experiences of third-year medical students engaged in an LIC situated in Northern Ontario. Methods. The study employed an anonymous survey completed by 32 LIC students and 18 program administrators. Data collection focused on non-clinical and clinical learning activities, COVID-19 experiences, and the implementation of virtual care. Results. Despite pandemic challenges, 72% of program administrators reported the overall quality of education remained consistent with previous years. All students successfully met required clinical learning objectives and other promotion requirements, although 56% reported restricted clinical access and limited experience with specialists. Virtual care became a primary adaptation, with 97% of students participating. Student safety was supported by adequate personal protective equipment availability, and the program maintained continuity thoughout the disruption. Conclusions.  The LIC demonstrated resilience, maintaining educational quality during the pandemic. These findings highlight the strengths of LIC model in terms of adaptability and program continuity. https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/jrmc/article/view/6760RuralDistributed medical educationpandemiclongitudinal integrated clerkship
spellingShingle Jenna Darani
Erin Cameron
Brian Ross
Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
Journal of Regional Medical Campuses
Rural
Distributed medical education
pandemic
longitudinal integrated clerkship
title Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Getting the job done: educational robustness of a multi-campus Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort getting the job done educational robustness of a multi campus longitudinal integrated clerkship during the covid 19 pandemic
topic Rural
Distributed medical education
pandemic
longitudinal integrated clerkship
url https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/jrmc/article/view/6760
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