RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Medical leadership development during the COVID-19 pandemic JF BMJ Leader JO BMJ Leader FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 316 OP 318 DO 10.1136/leader-2021-000452 VO 6 IS 4 A1 Frich, Jan C A1 Bratholm, Clara A1 Ravnestad, Håvard A1 Friberg, Morten L A1 Mjåset, Christer A1 Kaarbøe, Oddvar M YR 2022 UL http://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/6/4/316.abstract AB Background A leadership development programme (The Health Leadership School) was launched in 2018 for junior doctors and medical students in Norway.Objective To study participants’ experiences and self-assessed learning outcomes, and if there were any differences in outcome among participants who met face-to-face versus and those who had to complete half of the programme in a virtual classroom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods Participants who completed The Health Leadership School in 2018–2020 were invited to respond to a web-based questionnaire.Results A total of 33 (83%) out of 40 participants responded. The majority of respondents (97%) somewhat agreed or strongly agreed that they had gained knowledge and skills they did not learn in medical school. Respondents reported a high learning outcome for most competency domains, and there was no difference in outcome when comparing scores of those who met face-to-face versus and those who had to complete half of the programme in a virtual classroom. Among participants who participated in virtual classroom sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority agreed that the programme could be run as a combination of face-to-face and virtual sessions.Conclusion This brief report suggests that leadership development programmes for junior doctors and medical students can be run in-part using virtual classroom sessions, but that face-to-face sessions are important to foster relational and teamwork skills.