Rapid Implementation of a Novel Embedded Senior Medical Student Program, as a Response to the Educational Challenges of COVID-19

As with many OECD countries, graduating medical students have been choosing specialist careers at a greater rate than ever before. Generalism in the form of family (general practice) and more generalist specialties trending down resulting distributional geographic challenges. With advent COVID-19 March 2020, schools particular Joint Medical Program situated regional rural area NSW Australia had unique opportunity to rethink penultimate year curriculum when previous rapid rotation model through numerous specialities became untenable. The need vision new practical pragmatic spurred revaluation assessment, placement length pivot an “embedded senior student placement” agnostic discipline supported by competency-based learning portfolio. This article explores barriers enablers identifies potential elements this type which can be adapted community smaller sites. positive supervisor experience also enabled employment woven into ensured on hand workforce for hospitals throughout footprint. capacity these placements celebrate variation support learn job now caused revision expectation gains students’ satisfaction employability. It has opened up options deliver increase inherent value likely long term benefit.