Research Letters
Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the ophthalmology training of Canadian medical students
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted medical education across the globe due to unique logistical challenges and physical-distancing protocols.1 For this reason, medical educators have had to adapt to these unprecedented times at a rapid rate. Concerns with ophthalmology's representation in medical school curricula were identified before the 2020 pandemic.2–4 An increasingly crowded medical curriculum has led to the erosion of ophthalmology education for undergraduate medical students.Profile of glaucoma surgical and laser procedures in Alberta from 2003 to 2018
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and increases in prevalence with age across all ethnic groups.1 The volume of various glaucoma procedures may fluctuate with disease prevalence, introduction of new therapies, changes in practice patterns, and number of surgeons. Evaluating trends in different glaucoma procedure utilization rates is critical for health policy planning. Given the recent introduction of micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), prior studies have not assessed its influence on the volume of different glaucoma procedures.Enhancing medical professionals’ and students’ empathy for visually impaired patients using virtual reality
Physician empathy—a cognitive attribute that involves understanding the patients’ experience, concerns, and needs to effectively communicate with the intention to help1—has been associated with improved patient outcomes.2 Yet, there remains a deficit in the available tools and interventions for increasing empathy for the visually impaired.New virtual CaRMS: perspectives from residency programs
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will have long-lasting effects on health care, ranging from clinical practice to medical education. Since March 2020, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada and medical schools across the country have been responding to the outbreak by taking numerous precautionary measures. These measures have resulted in a compressed and delayed timeline for all medical trainees, especially the class of 2021. Canadian program directors and residency selection committees are facing unprecedented challenges for the recruitment and assessment of applicants in the upcoming cycle, in particular with the cancellation of visiting electives.
