Urology Virtual Education Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American urology trainees, with a focus on virtual learning initiatives. RECENT FINDINGS: Urological education was forced to rapidly adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Significant challenges included quarantines, redeployment of residents and faculty, and suspension of regularly scheduled conferences. In response, urologists across the country adopted web-based platforms to develop virtual lecture series to fill the gap. Popular programs for residents included UCSF’s COViD (Collaborative Online Video Didactics) series and the New York Section of the American Urological Association’s EMPIRE (Educational Multi-institutional Program for Instructing REsidents) series. SUMMARY: Virtual education programs have enabled urology trainees to pursue their education during the pandemic. While the long-term impact of the pandemic on urology training remains unknown, some good may be found in the innovative solutions that have arisen in urology education.