COVID-19 and changes to postgraduate medical education in Canada

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has fundamentally changed society and the delivery of health care in Canada. Given that much health care is delivered by residents, postgraduate medical education has also had to transform. Residents have been redeployed and rotations modified, moved or suspended. Procedural specialties postponed many elective surgeries and many clinics have transitioned to a virtual model. In an unprecedented decision, certifying colleges cancelled oral examinations and postponed written ones to the fall of 2020.

Amid efforts to prevent a surge in infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could overwhelm the health care system, Canada has entered a new paradigm of medical education.