VTCSOM COVID update January 7, 2022

January 7, 2022

Dear M1 and M2 Classes, faculty and staff,

This is a brief update regarding curriculum delivery for the M1 and M2 classes.  Due to the special circumstances here in Roanoke and the time needed to test returning students, we began the block virtually as described in my January 3 letter.   

This week I have consulted with our block and curriculum leaders and have monitored the trends in new COVID-19 cases, test positivity among students and in the community, and hospitalizations for COVID-19 here in Roanoke.  After detailed discussions with our leadership team, and in coordination with Virginia Tech campus officials and Virginia Tech’s COVID-19 task force, we have decided to continue a predominantly virtual format for M1 and M2 students through January 31, with the exception of these in-person activities:

Anatomy Lab

Instruction will proceed in person with defined safety measures including PPE use as directed by Dr. McNamara.

Clinical Skills

Instruction and assessment will be in person where standardized patients, students, and faculty have met appropriate COVID testing and where PPE use is employed. These includes the OSCE format and ultrasound instruction as well as simulation lab instruction under the direction of Dr. Tarin Schmidt-Dalton. [Note: LACE clinical sessions through January 31 will be cancelled due to risk outweighing benefit].

Research

Students with research projects in FBRI labs may participate in person if they follow the established safety protocols for all students at FBRI.  Students with research projects at other sites should contact Dr. Leslie LaConte if they feel they need to conduct research on-site. [Note: didactic sessions for the research domain will be virtual].

We hope to return to full in-person instruction as soon as possible. We will continue to re-evaluate the impact of the current COVID-19 surge so we can transition back at the earliest opportunity.  In the interim, please do all you can to stay safe.

Dean Lee Learman