Curricular Change and Resiliency in the Era of Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Experience

Introduction: The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a myriad of organizational and institutional challenges. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, like many other front line hospitals and clinics, encountered a myriad of challenges in fostering and sustaining the education of students enrolled at the nation’s only military medical school. Critical to the function of any academic medical institution, but particularly one devoted to the training of future physicians for the Military Health System, was the ability to rapidly adapt, modify, and create new means of keeping medical students engaged in their core curricula and progressing toward full and timely attainment of established educational goals and objectives. Methods: This article highlights some of the particular challenges faced by faculty and students during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and describes how they were managed and/or mitigated. Results: Six key “lessons learned” were identified and summarized in this manuscript. These lessons may be applicable to other academic institutions both within and outside of the Military Health System. Conclusions: Recognizing and embracing these key tenets of academic change management can accelerate the generation of a cohesive, organizational response to the next pandemic or public health crisis.