The impact of COVID-19 related lockdown and restrictions on general surgery resident training program in India-outcome of a survey

The global spread of the disease COVID-19 pandemic occurred due to novel virus corona 2019-nCoV, first time detected in China Wuhan city then spread throughout the world. In our country during 2020 march to up to starting of June, the government of India has put lockdown all over the country. Some restrictions were continued throughout the year and again has put lockdown in 2021 also. Again, in 2021 February last week second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has started and many states in the country has implemented lockdown as phase wise. COVID-19 lockdown has so much effect on surgery resident training program in India. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of the lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic restriction on general surgery residents training programs across India. It is an online based questionnaire survey using apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and telephonic services. Data from students was collected through social media who were responded to our questionnaire. Our survey showed that majority surgery trainees across the country felt that the COVID-19 lockdown adversely affected their learning, especially surgical training.

The Center for Surgical Health: A Compassion-Driven Urban Surgical Mission

We are the Center for Surgical Health (CSH), an academic community partnership that supports, educates, and advocates for vulnerable Philadelphians with surgical diseases, founded in 2016 by Dr. Jon B. Morris, a leader in surgical education and a general surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Alan Herbst, a current third-year Penn general surgery resident. At the time, Dr. Morris, raised in a Reform Jewish household, had been participating in an RCIA Program to convert to Catholicism. The mission of providing surgery to uninsured patients, primarily undocumented individuals, by helping them obtain insurance and see Penn providers was seen by Dr. Morris as a form of Catholic charity, which he has continued to remain dedicated to as his faith in Jesus Christ has deepened. Dr. Herbst, now Associate Director of Clinics for the CSH, recalls working with Dr. Morris as a sub-intern during his conversion, beginning with passion and a neon poster board inviting people to “See the Surgeon.” Since that time, the CSH has grown from an organization with 10 volunteers, called “personal patient navigators,” who provide insurance support and advocacy at every step of the perioperative continuum, to one with over 50, who have now seen 156 patients and assisted in providing 49 needed procedures. Much of this growth has been brought about through the dedication and vision of Dr. Matthew Goldshore, the Deputy Director of the CSH and a fifth-year Penn general surgery resident, as well as Dr. Carrie Z. Morales, Associate Deputy Director of the CSH and a recent Perelman School of Medicine graduate. Through their leadership, and the talent and commitment of other members of the CSH board, overseen by Director Dr. Morris, the CSH now has policy and research divisions, a surgical equity curriculum, and continues to develop new ways of providing better care.