Postgraduate Training Program in Pediatric Surgery: A Way Forward

Postgraduate training is a dynamic activity. Over the years it is undergoing increasing standardization. In the past programs have been haphazard and inconsistent but now structured curriculum are in place. Comprehensive details related to criteria of entry, duration of training, core knowledge areas, and competencies required can be found. How program is to be run is explicitly chalked down and log books developed to be completed by trainees. In Pakistan one such model is implemented by College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). The program was developed through a well organized activity with explicit guidelines, under supervision of medical educationists, who initially trained program directors through various educational workshops. Few medical universities have also developed curriculum related to pediatric surgery but how they are developed is not known. While CPSP training program is uniform throughout the country, university program varies. There is also a comprehensive evaluation system with CPSP program and evaluation strategies are accessible to both trainees and trainers and evaluators.