Marcelus 1

Renel Marcelus Jr.

Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102-0M37
3/3/2021

Research Dossier: Covid-19’s Effects on Pre-med/Medical Students and Medical Residents

Introduction:
During the start of 2020, the United States and many other countries were affected by the
pandemic caused by the virus Covid-19. Many people lost their jobs as businesses began to shut
down or limit the number of people they had working for them. Schools were forced to shut
down causing students to move to virtual learning. Education is a major part of building society,
so for it to move to virtual learning can cause quite a few problems.
Covid-19 has impacted many things for students, such as extracurriculars and tests. These
changes can be quite impactful in a student’s school career. In this research paper, I will talk
about how these changes particularly impact pre-med/medical students and those in residency. A
lot of prerequisites/training for these students have in-person aspects that go along with them. So
for them to be moved virtually could result in health students not receiving proper training for
their field. This can have a major negative impact on these students. Although this wouldn’t
necessarily apply to medical residents, they can be affected by Covid-19 as well by receiving
reduced hours for training and hands-on experiences.
There will be sources used in the research paper to explore these impacts. These sources
will cover surveys and things being done to counteract these negative effects of Covid-19 on
health students. They will also show if these negative effects have a major impact on these
students’ and residents’ future careers and current learning/training; this will be the goal for my
research paper.
A setback that I encountered for my research paper was trying to find sources about the
impacts of covid-19 on medical residents that related to my topic. I was using databases to help
me search for this topic and the problem for me was getting the correct keywords. Another
setback was finding sources other than scholarly articles and online articles. The reason for that
is because Covid-19 is relatively recent and is still affecting us as I speak; so the full effects of it
probably won’t be written out in textbooks until the pandemic is over.
Another setback that I faced was obtaining data through primary research. Since the
pandemic is still going on, social distancing is still something that I have to take into
consideration. So for that reason, I won’t be able to interview a large enough group of people to
help support my argument; so I will have to stick with using scholarly articles and online
sources. One last setback was trying to find a lot of sources on pre-med students specifically. So
since medical students and pre-med students have relatively the same experiences, many of my
sources about medical students will also pertain to pre-med students.
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Research Proposal:
Subject: Covid-19 and the effects on pre-med/medical students and medical residents who wish
to get ready for their grad-school or future careers.
Topic Description: This topic focuses on how pre-med and medical students’ prerequisites and
training are affected by covid-19 causing social distancing. The focus of this topic is looking for
any negative impacts and evaluating if they are enough to affect a student’s performance. These
negative impacts can be things like not getting proper training for a certain operation, procedure,
etc. Things that counteract these negative impacts will also be observed.
Documentation Style: I will use MLA because the sources I use will help me to explain if there
are any major negative impacts between covid-19 and health students.
Purpose: My college major is biology and I plan on becoming a physician assistant. To become
a physician assistant, you have to attend a physician assistant program (PA school); and if you
want to attend one there are some prerequisites that you must fulfill, including job experience in
the medical field. So this is why I want to research the subject that I chose. I want to investigate
how it’s being handled. Things like how college seniors, who are pre-med during the pandemic,
are being affected are of interest in this research. I say seniors in particular because I know there
are a couple of seniors who would probably like to attend a PA program but might find getting
work experience hard during this time.
Intended audience: Peers in the classroom. As well as pre-med students who are affected by
covid-19.
Research Question / Preliminary Thesis / Argument: How does the environment of COVID-
19 negatively affect pre-med students who are working to fulfill their prerequisites for grad
school or medical students’ training?
Types of research areas: Scholarly and internet articles about covid-19 and it’s impact on
health students. Field research is a possibility but has restraints.
Keywords: COVID-19, pre-med students, prerequisites, medical students, residents, training
Calendar:

Assignment Due Date

Inquiry and Researching Writing in the Feb 22

Disciplines

Digital Paper Trail (DPT) Feb 24

Responding to other Students' Writing Mar 1

Workshop Draft Research Dossier Mar 3

Peer-Review Workshop 1 Mar 8

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Toulmin Mode of Argumentation Mar 8

A Rhetorician's View: Rhetorical Analysis 1 Mar 10

Final Draft Research Dossier Mar 10

Rhetorical Analysis 2 Mar 15

Revision Strategies of Experienced Adult Mar 17

Writers

Rhetorical Analysis 3: Reverse Outline Mar 17

Rhetorical Analysis 4 Mar 22

Workshop Draft Rhetorical Analysis Mar 24

Peer-Review Workshop 2 Mar 29

Pitch your TED Talk Mar 31

Final Draft Rhetorical Analysis Mar 31

Workshop Draft 1 Research Paper Apr 5

Peer-Review Workshop Draft 1 Research Apr 6

Paper

Workshop Draft 2 Research Paper Apr 6

Workshop Draft 3 Research Paper Apr 19

Course Evaluation Apr 21

Peer-Review Workshop Draft 3 Research Apr 21

Paper

Workshop Draft Self-Assessment / Apr 21

Reflection

Peer-Review Workshop Draft Self- Apr 22

Assessment /Reflection

Extra Credit Opportunity - Writing Apr 23

TED Student Lounge Apr 23

Final Draft Argumentative Research Paper Apr 26

E-Portfolios Apr 29
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TED Talk Presentations Apr 29

Feedback to Research Presentations Apr 30

Annotated Bibliography:
Alsoufi, Ahmed, et al. “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Education: Medical
Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Electronic Learning.” PLOS
ONE, Public Library of Science, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?
id=10.1371/journal.pone.0242905
Content: Source’s abstract: “The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused
an unprecedented disruption in medical education and healthcare systems worldwide. The
disease can cause life-threatening conditions and it presents challenges for medical
education, as instructors must deliver lectures safely while ensuring the integrity and
continuity of the medical education process. It is therefore important to assess the
usability of online learning methods and to determine their feasibility and adequacy for
medical students. We aimed to provide an overview of the situation experienced by
medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the knowledge,
attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding electronic medical education.”
Author: Ahmed Alsoufi: affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tripoli in
Tripoli, Libya.
BEAM: There is not much bias in this article because it’s an analysis of surveys they did for
medical students. The surveys and analysis will be used to apply to my topic. The source will
help to engage my argument. It will also provide some background information. It will also
exhibit evidence.

Baecher-Lind, Laura, et al. “Medical Education and Safety as Co-Priorities in the... : Obstetrics
& Gynecology.” LWW,
https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2020/10000/Medical_Education_and_Saf
ety_as_Co_priorities_in.28.aspx
Content: Source’s abstract: “Clinical medical student education must remain a priority as
health care organizations adjust to a new clinical environment during the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.”
Author: Laura Beacher-Lind is an Obstetrician-gynecologist located in Boston, Massachusetts
BEAM: This source can provide background information on my topic. It will also help to engage
my argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students.
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De Ponti, Roberto, et al. “Pre-Graduation Medical Training Including Virtual Reality during
COVID-19 Pandemic: a Report on Students' Perception.” BMC Medical Education, U.S.
National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32977781/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, online medical training
including simulated clinical scenarios avoided training interruption and the majority of
participant students gave a positive response on the perceived quality of this training
modality. During this time frame, a non-negligible proportion of students experienced
difficulties in online access to this virtual reality platform.”
Author: Roberto De Ponti: Affiliated with the Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of
Medicine at University of Insubria, Viale Borri, 57, 21100, Varese, Italy.
BEAM: This source will help to engage in a counter-argument about the negative impacts of
Covid-19 on pre-med students.

Dhillon, Jobanpreet, et al. “Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Medical Education: Pre-Clerkship

and Clerkship Students Affected Differently.” Journal of Medical Education and
Curricular Development, U.S. National Library of Medicine,
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33134548/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “This paper provides the perspective of medical students on
how medical education is changing for both pre-clerkship and clerkship students, using
their experience at McGill University as an example for the Canadian medical education
system. Additionally, we discuss the accommodations put forth by the undergraduate
medical education (UGME) office, and reflect on the limitations and sustainable solutions
in supporting quality medical education.”
Author: Jobanpreet Dhillon: Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University,
Montreal, QC, Canada.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on
pre-med/medical students.

Dowd, Brianna, et al. “The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical School Admissions:
Challenges and Solutions.” The Journal of Surgical Research, Elsevier Inc., Feb. 2021,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7492063/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “This perspective will highlight the challenges of applying to
medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic and propose evidence-based
recommendations to ease the additional burden on the medical school admissions
process.”
Author: Brianna Dowd: Affiliated with the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care,
Department of Surgery at Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida.
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BEAM: The source will help to engage my argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on
pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Farber, Orly Nadell. “Medical Students Can Help Combat Covid-19. Don't Send Them Home.”
STAT, 16 Mar. 2020, www.statnews.com/2020/03/14/medical-students-can-help-
combat-covid-19/.
Content: Explains how medical students can help in the medical if they aren’t sent home
or dismissed.
Author: “Orly Nadell Farber is a third-year student at Stanford University School of Medicine
and a former STAT intern.”
BEAM: This source can help to provide background information about the topic. It will also
help to engage the argument.

Gaur, Uma, et al. “Challenges and Opportunities of Preclinical Medical Education: COVID-19
Crisis and Beyond.” SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, Springer International
Publishing, 22 Sept. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7508422/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “During COVID-19 crisis, the preclinical phase of medical
curricula has successfully introduced the novel culture of “online home learning” using
technology-oriented innovations, which may extend to post-COVID era to maintain
teaching and learning in medical education. However, the lack of hands-on training in the
preclinical years may have serious implications on the training of the current cohort of
students, and they may struggle later in the clinical years. The use of emergent
technology (e.g., artificial intelligence for adaptive learning, virtual simulation, and
telehealth) for education is most likely to be indispensable components of the
transformative change and post-COVID medical education.”
Author: Uma Gaur: Affiliated with the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the
West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Bridgetown, Barbados.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my argument and counter-argument about the negative
impacts of Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Gupta, Subhangi, et al. “Medical Education during COVID-19 Associated Lockdown: Faculty
and Students' Perspective.” Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Elsevier, 2 Feb. 2021,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377123720302689.
Content: Source’s abstract: “Implementation of e-learning within the existing curriculum
is bound to be challenging; however, it remains the only solution during COVID-19
imposed lockdown for maintaining the chain of learning.”
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Author: Subhangi Gupta: medical student at the Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi,
India
BEAM: The source will help to engage my argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on
pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Iwai, Yoshiko, and Penelope Lusk. “Transition to Virtual Reflection: Narrative Medicine during
COVID-19.” MedEdPublish, www.mededpublish.org/Manuscripts/3171.
Content: Source’s abstract: “Narrative medicine workshops are typically conducted in
person and provide medical professionals and students with reflective spaces. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, in-person workshops at one university were cancelled and moved
online following social distancing measures. Narrative medicine workshop facilitators
were challenged to transfer workshops online, while still encouraging creative reflection
as the pandemic impacted participants’ professional and personal lives.”
Author: Yoshiko Iwai: Affiliated with the Division of Narrative Medicine at Columbia
University.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my counter-argument about the negative impacts of
Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Jack, Megan M, et al. “Live-Streaming Surgery for Medical Student Education - Educational
Solutions in Neurosurgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Surgical
Education, U.S. National Library of Medicine,
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32747320/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “This technology has facilitated education during this
challenging time. This technological set-up for live-streaming surgery has the potential of
improving medical and graduate medical education in the future.”
Author: Megan M. Jack: Affiliated with the Department of Neurosurgery at University of
Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my counter-argument about the negative impacts of
Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Murphy, Brendan. “With Volunteering Limited, Med Schools Adjust Admissions Expectations.”
American Medical Association, 8 July 2020, www.ama-assn.org/residents-
students/preparing-medical-school/volunteering-limited-med-schools-adjust-admissions.
Content: Talks about how admissions into medical school can be affected by limited
volunteering.
Author: Brendan Murphy: Affiliated with the American Medical Association as a news writer.
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BEAM: Will provide background information about my topic. It will also help to engage my
argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit
evidence.

Rüllmann, Nils, et al. “Virtual Auscultation Course for Medical Students via Video Chat in
Times of COVID-19.” GMS Journal for Medical Education, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33364381/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “Virtual interactive learning using a sound simulation lesson
with clinical case presentations via video chat can well be used as a supplement to
practical auscultation training. This learning format could also play a useful role in the
curriculum of medical studies once contact restrictions are revoked.”
Author: Nils Rüllmann: Affiliated with the Medical Faculty and the Office of the Dean of
Studies at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my counter-argument about the negative impacts of
Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Sandhaus, Yoram, et al. “Electronic Distance Learning of Pre-Clinical Studies During the
COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study of Medical Student Responses and Potential
Future Impact.” The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33236581/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “The high satisfaction and the positive experience with the
electronic distance learning imposed by the COVID-19 epidemic implied a successful
transition and might induce future changes in pre-clinical medical studies.”
Author: Yoram Sandhaus: Affiliated with the Medical Education at Adelson School of
Medicine.
BEAM: The source will help to engage my counter-argument about the negative impacts of
Covid-19 on pre-med/medical students and exhibit evidence.

Shahrvini, Bita, et al. “Pre-Clinical Remote Undergraduate Medical Education during the
COVID-19 Pandemic: a Survey Study.” BMC Medical Education, U.S. National Library
of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33407376/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “Videocasted lectures uploaded in advance, electronic health
record and telehealth training for students, and training for teaching faculty to increase
technological fluency may be considered to optimize remote learning curricula.”
Author: Bita Shahrvini: Affiliated with the School of Medicine at the University of California in
San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
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BEAM: Survey data which can help me to analyze my argument.

Torun, Fuat, and Torun, Sebahat Dilek. “The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
on Medical Students in Turkey.” Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, U.S. National
Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32968408/.
Content: Source’s abstract: “It was found that medical students were highly worried
about being infected with COVID-19. The scores obtained from the pre-clinic students'
anxiety to become infected with COVID-19, PSS and IES-R total scores were found to be
significantly higher than their clinical students.”
Author: Fuat Torun: Prof. Dr. Fuat Torun is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at
Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University Medical Faculty in Istanbul, Turkey.
BEAM: This source will help out with the background of my research paper. It will also help to
engage my argument about the negative impacts of Covid-19 on pre-med/medical
students and exhibit evidence.