CHALLENGES AND RESPONSE OF RADIOLOGY RESIDENT TRAINING PROGRAM TO THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF COVID-19

Abstract

The disease caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) is declared as a global pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020.It is evolving rapidly around the globe including Pakistan creating a major impact on the life of individuals including health care professionals. Pakistani healthcare workers have been badly affected by coronavirus. It has completely disrupted the personal and professional lives of health care workers especially post graduate residents, including radiology residents. Apart from preparing radiology departments to ensure their proper functioning at this time of emergency, academic institutions face an additional challenge in terms of training of their radiology residents and halts in radiology residency program. This study will highlight challenges being faced by radiology residents from this global pandemic in terms of learning and safety aiming to offer solutions and provide guidance. We hope this study will serve as a basis for radiology resident training program leadership to evaluate the challenges faced by the training program and to proactively address the issues.