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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2023; 56(05): 391-392
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776297
Editorial

Expanding Eligibility Pathways to Plastic Surgery Training and Its Considerations

Dinesh Kadam
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a new Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 that expands feeder broad specialties for super specialities.[1] For MCh/DNB Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) courses, MS Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat [ENT]) will now be eligible, along with the existing MS General Surgery, once adopted.

The proposal is a welcome addition and has many potential benefits. Interestingly, this is not a novel proposal. This model already exists in premier institutes in India. For more than two decades, MS-ENT postgraduates have been permitted to pursue plastic surgery residency at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Furthermore, the Institute of National Importance Super Specialty (INI-SS) entrance test allows MS Orthopaedics along with MS General Surgery and ENT for plastic surgery courses.[2] MS Orthopaedics is expected to be included in the list of eligible feeder specialties by the NMC in the near future. For those interested in pursuing reconstructive, hand and microsurgery, plastic surgery courses offer higher chances of admission than limited seats in M Ch Hand Surgery.

Three years of residency in general surgery is expected to provide a sound foundation in surgical principles and techniques for pursuing super-specialty courses. This foundation is crucial as we do not have integrated 6-year courses to offer a comprehensive training model, unlike many other countries.[3] Completing a general surgery residency remains a common pathway to entering plastic surgery. However, the specific eligibility requirements for plastic surgery residency programs vary widely in different regions. In the United States, other than a 6-year integrated course pathway, candidates are required to complete a residency in either general surgery or alternative sub-specialties such as otolaryngology (ENT), orthopaedic surgery, urology, or maxillofacial surgery to enter an independent 3-year pathway in PRS residency.[4] In many European countries, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and other sub-specialties remain a part of the integrated course after graduation.[3] Even within Europe, training program remains heterogeneous.[4] Each country has unique training pathways and requirements and flexible eligibility criteria.

Having a diverse background in plastic surgery courses can be beneficial for the speciality. One of the worthy examples enriching our association is legendary Prof. K S Goleria, who trained under Sir Harold Gillies, and both had formal training in the ENT specialty. Dr. Venkata Ramana, known for his expertise in rhinoplasty, is another shining example among the younger generation. Nonetheless, the advantages should be weighed against their own considerations.



Publication History

Article published online:
03 November 2023

© 2023. Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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