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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 65
| Issue : 2 | Page : 433 |
The 'reverse' evaluation!
Shashwat Mishra
Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| Date of Web Publication | 10-Mar-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Shashwat Mishra
Room No. 1, Sixth Floor, Neurosciences Center, AIIMS, New Delhi - 110 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/neuroindia.NI_1253_16
How to cite this article:
Mishra S. The 'reverse' evaluation!. Neurol India 2017;65:433 |
Sir,
I read with great interest and admiration “Neurosurgical training and evaluation – Need for a paradigm shift.”[1] The esteemed emeritus professor of my alma mater has put forward, very succinctly and convincingly, the suggestions for revamping the training curriculum for Neurosurgery. His detailed coverage and a very informed critique of various aspects of the neurosurgical training reflect his unparalleled experience in teaching and training neurosurgeons.
With regard to various proposals made for bringing about an improvement in training, their implementation in true measure can only be evaluated if all the stakeholders can independently grade the performance of the training program. So far in India, we do not have any arrangement which permits the residents to evaluate their residency programs or the tutors. Probably, this is a reflection of the obligations of the ancient “Guru Shishya Parampara,” which has been the backbone of Indian system of teaching and training. Such a tradition requires the pupil to regard his teacher as infallible and beyond questioning. Even the eccentricities and failings of the teacher have to be respected by an ideal pupil. On the other hand, the teacher is expected to have all the virtues, almost resembling 'the divine.' However, we certainly know that times have changed and very few modern teachers would probably fit that description. Hence, most realistically, an evaluation of the teachers by the students, and also of the overall experience of the students, enrolled in a training program, is required. To safeguard the interests of the residents, the anonymity of this process should be mandatorily preserved.
There would be several advantages obtained from this system. It is common knowledge that some faculty members at several institutions are only interested in their personal advancement and care little about resident training. Periodic evaluations would spur them to devote their energies to teaching too. Moreover, we know that informally every student rates their teachers in dining room discussions and mutual gossip. Maybe, the Neurological Society of India can formalize these ratings, which could also inform prospective candidates about their choice of the Neurosurgery programs, provided they are in a position to make those choices after appearing in different entrance examinations and in securing a high enough ranking. Such ratings would also introduce a healthy competition among different residency programs. It would also provide valuable feedback to the heads of department who can then acknowledge outstanding teachers or counsel those who need improvement. USA, which is the birthplace of the modern residency training scheme, intensely scrutinizes its surgical training programs from the perspective of the resident. Additionally, any policy measures, which have the potential to influence residency training (such as increasing residency spots), should be implemented only after taking the residents into confidence. I hope that I shall be able to visualize the implementation of such a system in future, which would truly make our residency programs progressive, dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of the future generation.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| » References | |  |
| 1. | Banerji AK. Neurosurgical training and evaluation-Need for a paradigm shift. Neurol India 2016;64:1119-24.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Letter to the Editor. Surgical logbooks in neurosurgery: a simple way to enhance training |
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| Ajay Hegde | | Neurosurgical Focus. 2020; 49(1): E12 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Authoræs Reply: Neurosurgical training and evaluation – Need for a paradigm shift |
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| AjitK Banerji | | Neurology India. 2017; 65(2): 438 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
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