Detour or New Direction: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Identity Formation of Postgraduate Residents

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous disruptions to health professions education training programs. Much attention has been given to the impact of these disruptions on formal learning opportunities in training; however, little attention has been given to the impact on professional socialization and professional identity formation. This study explored the impact of the pandemic and resultant curricular changes on the professional identity of family medicine residents. Method 23 family medicine residents at the University of Toronto were interviewed between September 2020 and September 2022. Using symbolic interactionism as a theoretical framework, thematic analysis explored the meanings residents attributed to both experiences that were disrupted due to the pandemic, and new experiences that resulted from these disruptions. Results Participant responses reflected that disruptions in training did not always align with their expectations for family medicine and plans for future practice; however, these new experiences also reinforced their understanding of what it means to be a family physician. While participants felt the pandemic represented a loss of agency and negatively impacted relationships in their training program, it also provided a sense of belonging and membership in their profession. Finally, these new experiences continually blurred the line between professional and personal identities through the impact of the pandemic on participants’ sense of well-being and safety. Conclusions The impact of the pandemic on training experiences extends beyond the loss of formal learning opportunities. Participant responses reflect the collective influence of the formal, informal, and hidden curriculum on the professional socialization and professional identity formation of residents—and how these different curricular influences were disrupted due to the pandemic. These training experiences have important implications for the future practice of residents who completed their training during the pandemic and highlight the role of training programs in supporting the professional identity formation of residents.