vascular surgery education during COVID-19 pandemic

Lockdown and social distancing measures are core components of the worldwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Does this affect vascular surgery (VS) education? To investigate this issue, we designed a survey (Appendix, online only) shared online in VS interest groups and available from April 20 to April 23, 2020. It was completed by 100 respondents, 64 vascular surgeons, 24 VS residents, and 12 medical students from 14 countries, with Italy (44) and the United States (19) the most represented. Regarding classes, 76 replied that lessons have moved online, 21 have stopped them, and 3 are still having face-to-face lectures (Fig ). Thus, the majority found an alternative way to continue lecturing, showing adaptability and resilience of the faculty. Even though empathy between professors and students of face-to-face lectures has faded, e-learning has its benefits (eg, flexible schedule, easy interaction), and it should represent an opportunity to be exploited and developed even further in the future to replace existing teaching methods.