{"id":"e81d3832-7e09-4396-8ca8-a7b06b252385","slug":"reinvigorating-medical-student-mentorships-in-neurosurgery-during-the-pandemic-lessons-learned-from-iraq","title":"Reinvigorating medical student mentorships in neurosurgery during the pandemic: Lessons learned from Iraq","authors":["Samer S. Hoz","Mustafa Ismail","Muntadher H. Almufadhal","Teeba A. Al-Ageely","Zaid Aljuboori"],"abstract":"Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted medical education in Iraq, leading to the suspension of clinical rotations for students. This interruption hindered their exposure to medical specialties and delayed graduation requirements. In response, a modified mentorship paradigm was established to facilitate neurosurgery education through online lectures and activities. Case Description: The new mentorship program, initiated on May 15, 2021, involved a month-long online course covering essential neurosurgical knowledge. It attracted 558 participants, surpassing the total attendance of all previous mentorships combined. The program included virtual discussions, online presentations, and practical experiences through clerkship lectures and surgical observations, ensuring safety through personal protective equipment and vaccination verification. Conclusion: Despite initial concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on mentorship, the transition to online learning proved successful, with increased participation and positive feedback from students. The program not only enhanced clinical exposure but also fostered networking opportunities and engagement in research, demonstrating the effectiveness of virtual mentorship in neurosurgery. Keywords: COVID-19, neurosurgery, mentorship, medical education, online learning, clinical exposure, Iraq","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/placeholders/specialty/socio-economics-politics-and-medicine.png","publishDate":"2022-08-12T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_670_2022","categories":["Socio-Economics, Politics, and Medicine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/11788/SNI-13-357.pdf"}