Training in cardiac surgery during the epidemic:
Cancellation of elective surgery and outpatient activities was bound to affect training in cardiothoracic surgery. Furthermore teaching sessions, conferences, and courses were cancelled because of the pandemic. Residents created a COVID work-schedule. The schedule was made to ensure that the minimum number of residents are at work at a given point, that allowed for equal distribution of training opportunities in the operating room. The gap created by lack of elective activities was filled by a twice daily virtual didactic teaching sessions. Redeployment to other services was also discussed and a schedule of residents available to support ICU team was made. The number of cases logged by residents in the period March-May was minimal, but a different type of learning took place, more suited for the times and more purposeful. As the elective workload returned towards normality, the virtual teaching sessions reduced in frequency. The COVID work schedule lasted until May and residents resumed their usual work pattern by June. Clearly, they effect of the pandemic was pronounced on training opportunities but residents like other staff groups demonstrated adaptability to the times and rose to the challenges.