FIAGES Guidelines (eligibility)
Guidelines for The Fellowship Course (FIAGES) Eligibility for The Fellowship Course : (IAGES Membership is compulsory)
Non Exam Category
To recognise the contribution in the field of minimal access surgery the association also awards the fellowship to established and senior laparoscopic surgeons without examination. For the Non Examination Category, minimum of ten years of experience in practice of Laparoscopic Surgery is required after post graduation. They are expected to have performed over 250 Laparoscopic
procedures. Submission of some evidence or undertaking is required to substantiate their claim of having vast experience in the field of minimal access surgery. The candidates registered in this category are required to attend all the lectures on 1st and 2nd day and Live work shop on 3rd day. A maximum of 100 candidates will be registered for the fellowship course in this category.
Exam Category
For Examination Category, the candidates are required to have minimum of three years of experience in Laparoscopic Surgery after post graduation in Surgery. They are expected to have performed over 25 laparoscopic procedures independently or jointly. They have to attend proceedings of all the 3 days including endo-trainer session and meet the professor session. On the 4th day they will appear for the examination. A maximum of 100 candidates will be registered for the course. The endo-trainer sessions are very important part of the fellowship course. The session will be for 90 minutes and will be supervised by a faculty member in batches of 6 to 8 candidate so that there can be a close interaction. During the session they will be trained on performance of specified tasks and
specific exercises including endo-knotting and suturing. On the last day the evaluation will be on the same exercises.
Written exam
There will be 10 short essay type questions of ten marks each. Candidates are required to obtain minimum of 50 marks to pass. The answers should be brief and to the point and should not exceed two pages and may be supplemented by diagrams wherever required. The answer sheets are checked by five faculty members. Each answer sheet is checked by one examiner only. The policy
of marking is decided amongst the examiners.
Practical exam
1. The skill assessment on endo-trainer is based on performing simple to advanced exercises for approximately 10 minutes on each candidate. Maximum of 50 marks are allotted on Endo-trainer assessment. Five faculty members are deputed as examiner. Each candidate is examined by one examiner only.2. Interview / assessment for approximately 10 minutes on each candidate. The candidates are divided into batches and are interviewed by two or more senior faculty members of IAGES depending upon the number of candidates. Maximum of 50 marks are allotted for the interview.Total marks for practical examinations are 100 (endotrainer assessment. 50 marks and interview 50 marks). A minimum of 50 marks are required to pass separately in practical examination
Fellowship award
All fellowship certificates will be given only in person to the successful candidates in a Convocation Ceremony in February 2012 during the National Conference of IAGES at Ahmedabad-Gujarat .A nominal convocation fee will be charged for the convocation.
IAGES membership is must
Those who are not members may apply for membership by sending the duly filled IAGES Membership Form with two passport size photographs and membership fee. A separate D/D for Rs. 4,000/- favoring IAGES-Mumbai- (Payable at Mumbai) to be sent along with the membership form. Number of years of experience in laparoscopic surgery should be 2 years & above. A certificate of experience to be obtained from the HOD of the Hospital / Institution / as a supportive document. Attach MBBS, MS or DNB certificate and MCI registration (kindly enclose Xerox copy).
Why FIAGES?
The advancement and improvements in technology has resulted in significant changes in the surgical treatment of patients. The Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES) was established by visionary Professor T.E. Udwadia who long back sensed the need to have a platform for learning and exchange of knowledge and experiences amongst Indian Surgeons. The aim was to have an organization of surgeons to promote, spread and disseminate the rapidly growing knowledge and advancement of Endoscopic Surgery throughout globe. IAGES is affiliated to international associations viz ELSA (Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia) & IFSES (International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeries) The Minimal invasive Surgery has the advantage of early recovery and return to work and is more relevant to our population. This surgery should spread to the nook and corner of India. At the same time it is important to have an audit of our work. This will give us insight to look at ourselves and compare
with others. Our surgeons are recognized at par or better than the best in the world. Our numbers give us the experience faster thanelsewhere.There are now many centers in India performing advanced and complex laparoscopic surgeries regularly. However, surgeons coming out of medical colleges after their post graduation may still not have sufficient exposure to advanced and sometimes even basic laparoscopic surgery as the standard of training in laparoscopic surgery varies from institution to institution. In
the era of advancement in laparoscopic surgery, surgeons consider it advisable and preferable to have an accreditation from a National / International body as laparoscopic Surgeons.FIAGES is the certified fellowship of the IAGES. The Fellowship of the IAGES is unique since it takes into consideration the seniority / and contributions of the senior surgeons and at the same time assesses the involvement of the young surgeons by an examination after a structured course. The aim of the fellow ship is to establish uniformity and highest standards of practice and training in Endosurgery. We all need to get together and work towards this goal. The IAGES is a growing and vibrant organization under the dynamic leadership of Dr Suresh Deshpande, President, IAGES that has and will continue to play a leading role in the future progress of Endoscopic Surgery and advanced technology development. Our strength and influence depends on our membership. By joining the IAGES you will enhance your continued professional development and thus provide quality surgical care to your patients. We invite surgeons to join the IAGES and help us achieve our
aims and objectives.
Instructions to the participants Live Operative Workshop at Conference Venue will start at 9.00 am sharp and will end at 5.00 pm. Attendance is compulsory for all FIAGES course participants on all days. Participants are requested to sign in and sign out four times a day which is mandatory and stay in the hall till the proceedings are over and sign out at the end. For every in and out new register will be maintained. The marks will be included for the attendance as well.
Recommended reading material for the FIAGES course participants are :
1) Comprehensive laparoscopic Surgery (can be downloaded from our website : www.lages.org.in)
2) Textbook of laparoscopic Surgery. Dr. T.E. Udwadia
3) The SAGES Manual
4) Laparoscopic Surgery. Dr. Alfred Cuscheri
5) Laparoscopic Surgery, Zucker & Baily
Click here to download the FIAGES 2012 Course Registration form.
The IAGES membership forms can be downloaded from http://www.iages.org.in/join/