I know that during this time there has been some rhetoric about medical schools graduating their senior students earlier so that they are able to join the workforce. I just wanted to share my thoughts about the pros and cons regarding this decision and start a conversation given that it has not been done before. Of course, one of the pros of such a situation would be that we are increasing the number of individuals especially areas that healthcare providers are needed. However, the other side of this situation would be that an untrained new physician is entering a workforce with mentors that might be busier than normal for teaching. Additionally, state licensing are other factors that need to be considered as well. With that said, I think that areas in our nation that require it most will have to find ways to mitigate such issues given that this pandemic is changing guidelines day by day so it’s an interesting conversation to consider given the circumstances. What are your thoughts about fourth-year medical students starting residency training early and/or in a different field prior to starting their own specialties?
