About IFS ART Fellowship (Clinical)

Background

The Need

Almost 10% of all couples desirous of pregnancy have difficulty in conceiving. With the advent of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), infertility has become a treatable medical condition. Approximately 10% of infertile couples will require advanced ART techniques to overcome infertility. New IVF centers are opening up at a very fast pace. Increasing number of Obstetrics and Gynaecology postgraduates are interested in providing ART services. However, there are very few post-doctoral structured training program in ART in India. Fellowship of the National Board and Rajiv Gandhi University In Bangalore are few examples. There is a huge unmet need for such courses.

The Role of IFS

Indian fertility society was founded in 2005 in New Delhi with the idea of giving a platform for interested professionals to communicate and interact with each other at a national level. Presently there are about 1200 members and 12 regional chapters throughout India. The society has been holding regular CME’s and workshops in the field of ART to promote the latest knowledge. One of the main objectives of the society is to promote education in the field of ART. It is proposed that a fellowship program in ART be started under the aegis of IFS.

A proposal was tabled by Dr Umesh Jindal which served as the outline of the program. A drafting committee was formulated with four members during IFS Executive Meeting on 7th Dec 2013 at New Delhi. Following were the members of the committee:-

Dr Nalini Mahajan

Dr Umesh Jindal

Dr Sandeep Talwar

Dr Pankaj Talwar

This committee was trusted the task to draw an outline and send it to the governing body for final approval. The draft was submitted and accepted in principal subject to the final approval by the new executive to take charge in April 2014.

Education committee

With the new executive committee taking charge the education committee has been reconstituted.

Chair : Dr Sohani Verma (President IFS)

Co- Chair: Dr K D Nayar (Secretary General IFS)

Convener: Dr Nalini Mahajan

Course Director: Dr Umesh Jindal

Members: Dr Pankaj Talwar,Dr. Sandeep Talwar, Dr Shweta Mittal , Dr.Neena Malhotra, Dr. Gita Radhakrishnan, Dr. L.K. Dhaliwal, Dr.Manju Puri , Dr Sonia Malik,

Co-opted member: Dr. Kuldeep Jain

The duration of the tenure of the education committee will be four years. Committee will be re nominated by the new executive in 2016 after elections of the society.

Examination Incharge : Dr. Pankaj Talwar, Dr. Sudha Prasad and Dr. Sandeep Talwar

Objectives

  1. To provide structured training program in clinical ART to OBGYN postgraduates
  2. To provide training to OBGYN practitioners already having ART centers( to be started in due course
  3. To provide training in other allied disciplines e.g. embryology, nursing, IVF Laboratory technology ultrasound, counseling etc in due course of time.

General Description

Name of Course: IFS ART fellowship (Clinical)

  1. Supervisory body: Indian Fertility society (IFS).IFS will make attempts to get the course recognized by ESHRE or a suitable Indian university.

Executive Body: Education committee of IFS.

Duration of the Course: one year

Responsibilities and rights of the Education committee

  1. To finalize the proposal including all details.
  2. Get it approved by a university(suggested IGNOU/ICMR) if possible.
  3. Invite applications for the registration of centres. To screen the applications according to the criteria laid, inspect and approve the centres. Issue the certificate of registration along with the number of sanctioned seats in each centre. The committee will be authorized to derecognize the non-performing centres.
  4. Invite applications from interested candidates, hold the examination prepare the list of selected candidates and allocate seats.
  5. Select examiners from eminent faculty, invite them and hold the exit examination, declare the result and issue appropriate certificates.
  6. Draft the curriculum and help the centres to organise the teaching program. (See Curriculum for details)
  7. Draft the requirements of the log book
  8. Issue the certificate of recognition to the faculty and centres.
  9. Hold a convocation along with the annual conference to award fellowship certificates and felicitate the centres and faculty.
  10. To plan and formulate new courses
  11. Troubleshooting and coordinate with national executive

Proposed qualifications for faculty

To be designated by the education committee from interested senior IFS members who are keen to take students and initiate the program at their Centre.

  1. Experience of more than 10 years in the field of ART.
  2. Willingness and commitment to teaching in ART.
  3. Postgraduate in OBGYN from a recognized institution in India and MCI registered.
  4. Attached to an IFS recognized center.
  5. Member of IFS for at least five years and active participation in various activities of IFS.

The interested faculty will have to apply formally to the education committee with necessary documents. The applications will be screened at approval by at least three committee members.

Benefits to the faculty

Teaching faculty will get preference during conferences for inclusion in scientific program. The head of the institute will be course director for the center.

Their services will be recognized by IFS and felicitated at the time of convocation. Their names to be included in fellowship certificates.

Junior Faculty

  1. Consultants interested in teaching with 5-10 years of experience/qualification (FNB, Fellowship) will be enrolled as Junior faculty. They will be part of the training program on behest of the Head of the Centre. They will be appointed at the discretion of the course director of the respective training centers.
  2. The education committee won’t have any role in their appointment but their names must be approved by the education committee.
  3. Their services will be recognized by IFS. But they will not be allowed to have independent candidate. After completion of ten years they will be allowed to have independent candidates.
  4. The duties of the faculty will include practical training, teaching theory, organizing CMEs and holding examinations

Centers

•The Centre should be doing at least 200 IVF cycles per year.

•Should have well equipped IVF laboratory.

•There should be at least two full time ART specialists and one experienced full time embryologist.

•The center should have well equipped library having good collection of text and reference books along with access to Internet facility for the fellows.

•The center should conform to the requirements laid down in the ART draft Bill and recognized by the ICMR or appropriate authority of the state.

•Center should be recognized by IFS for training after appropriate inspection for five years. A reregistration would be required after 5 years.

•The center will have to undertake the responsibility in writing to complete the course curriculum and provide necessary facilities.

•A center may terminate the registration at any time if there is a valid unforeseeable circumstances. In case any candidate is attached he/she will be adjusted in another center.The fee taken by the center would be transferred to the other center.

•IFS may terminate the registration of any center, if the feedback given by the fellows is not up to the mark.

•In case of refusal by any center to take candidates because of any reason e.g. discrimination on the bases of gender, caste or personal reasons which is not acceptable to education committee the center will be disqualified.

Benefits to the center

•The center will be issued a certificate of recognition by IFS as training center which can be displayed.

•Opportunity to be included in IFS sponsored collaborative projects

•Centers will be allowed to put course advertisements on their websites in addition to the IFS website.

•Centers name to be included in all advertisements related to fellowship which are done by IFS.

•Centers name to be included in the certificate issued to the candidate.

Number of centers and seats

  • The applications were invited from IFS executive members. Twelve centers to be selected from 18 applications on the basis of set criteria. ( 11 centers selected finally)
  • Seats per center will be decided on the basis of number of cycles performed by a center. One seat per 200 cycles per year will be allowed and two seats for 400 cycles. No more than 2 candidates will be allowed per center per year. It was decided to take only one candidate pre center even if the center qualified for more seats.
  • In case a candidate fails to join the center within 3 months of joining then the seat will be allotted to next in the merit list and 50% fee refunded to the candidate.
  • If the candidate leaves after 3 months then the seat would be consider lapsed and no fee refunded to the candidate. No admission can be taken after three months./Next candidate in the waiting list may be taken but the candidate will appear in exam with next batch and also complete 12 months tenure with the center.

Eligibility for candidates for entrance exam

•Postgraduate in OBGYN (MD/DNB) from a recognized institute in India.( DGO is not accepted as adequate qualification.)

•Upper age limit 45 years

•Candidates who have working knowledge and experience in transvaginal ultrasound , previous ivf or infertility center exposure and research experience will be preferred

•Registered with the MCI

•Nationality Indian (thecourse may be opened to other nationals later on ?).

•The candidate must be alife member of IFS. If he/she is not a member then candidate would be required to become a member.The membership fee must reach secretariat with the application form.

•Roll numbers will not be issued if entrance exam fee and ifs membership fee is not deposited along with application

•

Entrance Exam

  1. Competitive examination to be conducted by IFS education committee along the sidelines of Fertivision every year.Along the exit exam every year in Delhi. Likely to be in January end.
  2. The candidates will appear for theory (MCQ) and viva exam with breakup of 50%and 40 % marks respectively.10% marks will be given for aptitude based on previous experience as per application form
  3. The candidates will have to clear the examination. After allotment of seat the candidate will have to take attachment with the allotted center.
  4. Candidates will have to score at least >50% marks separately to be eligible for fellowship.
  5. IFS will prepare the merit list and allot centers according to the preference given by candidates. Candidates are advised to give their preference very carefully because no changes will be allowed later on. Allotment of the centers will be done after compilation of result same day or next day in presence of all candidates by education committee.
  6. The secretariat will do all formalities for issue of selection letters , fee deposition, mutual change request etc.
  7. Final decision will rest with the selection committee.
  8. In case of more candidates per seat in any of the centers the decision will be based upon merit
  9. The seats would be advertised on IFS website at least 2 months before exam,IFS news bulletin and through members and state chapters
  10. Details of exam, application form, dates terms and conditions to be put on IFS website and also individual centers website at least 2 months before exam. Social media networks can also be used for publicity
  11. There would be an examination fee of Rs. 1500 (one thousand five hundred only) to be used by the education committee to organize the examination.
  12. IFS will not pay any expenses toward travel or stay for the examination.
  13. In case any candidate is not able to join within one month the seat will be given to next in the waiting list. Joining letters will be issues on 1.2.2017 and course will start on 1.3.2017.

Format of Entrance examination

Theory

Duration 60 minutes

Marks 50

Three sections

A 10 questions must attempt MCQ one mark each

B 30 questions moderate difficulty MCQ 30 questions of one mark each

C 10 questions higher ability MCQ one mark each

No negative marking

Practical Total 40 marks

Two tables 4 examiners 10 marks with every examiner

Same set of 10 questions to be asked, five at each table

Aptitude

IVF center experience more than 6 months 2marks

Infertility clinic experience more than 6 months 2 marks

Post MD gynae experience one year 1 mark

Two year 2 mark

Three year 3 mark

Research publications 2 marks

Presentations 1 marks

Training: responsibilities of the teaching center

  1. The course director will be responsible for completing the syllabus
  2. There will be uniform and curriculum training methodology for all centers.
  3. Inviting teaching faculty from other centers is solely their responsibility and is not the essential part of the teaching program.
  4. The candidates will be given advice on course material. No course material would be prepared. Candidates would be guided about the ART books and the Centre should have well equipped library(reference books) and Internet facilities for the candidates. A list of books recommended would be given.
  5. The responsibility of practical training will be with the ART specialist of the institution.

Training: Responsibilities of candidates

•The candidate will be required to complete training in an IFS recognized center for one year.

•The sessions will be repeated yearly starting on 1st March every year.

•The candidates will be required to maintain a log book according to the prescribed format.

•The candidates will have to participate in activities of the IVF center to which they are attached.

•It will be compulsory to present at least one research paper during annual IFS conference before receiving the certificate.

•It would be preferable to do one-month rotatory internship at some other IFS recognized center in after 10 months of training at the parent institute. Such training would be at the discretion of candidate and the training centers for obvious practical reasons. IFS will not be responsible for such placement.

•In case the candidate leaves the course after 3 months. No fee would be refunded.

•Candidate would be allowed maximum of 30 days leave during the year. In case leave is required for longer duration( maximum of 6 months) e. g. maternity accident etc then the candidate will be required to apply to IFS secretariat after getting recommended through center director. In such situation the candidate will have to take extension for completion of training as well as for final exam also .The extension can be given only once.

•If any candidate is not able to appear in examination for any medical or personal reason than maximum of one year extension can be given by the education committee on the recommendation of center head.

•In case of long leave or extension of examination the candidate will be required to show log book case seen during training period. And also paper based on work done during that period only. A retrospective study including data from previous years is allowed .

•No shifting of centers would be allowed after joining the center.

Exit Examination

  1. At the end of 9-11 months there will be a qualifying exit examination to be organized by the education committee of IFS along with annual conference Fertivision (or stand alone). The candidate would be required to apply formally for the final examination. In case any candidate joins late or for any other unforseable person or medical reasons is unable to take the examination, then in such situation candidate can ask for exemption in writing . The candidate will be required to appear in the examination with the next batch. Only one year exemption can be given to any candidate with permission of education committee.
  2. The overall co-coordination will be done by the course coordinator and education committee of IFS in consultation with course in charge of different centers.
  3. Examiners will be appointed by the education committee to conduct the entrance and exit examination.
  4. The examiners will be selected from eminent faculty not having IFS fellowship training centres.No internal examiner would be present.
  5. The exam will consist of one three hour theory papers and one practical session. The log book will also carry marks to be included in final assessment.(See curriculum for details and format for exam) the exam will be held in Delhi.
  6. Marks weightage will be as follows; Theory-150, practical =250, log book= 100, Total =500
  7. The candidate to be declared passed will have to score at least minimum of 50% marks in theory, practical & log book separately.
  8. Unsuccessful candidates will be allowed three attempts to clear the final examination.
  9. A performance commentary regarding training center evaluation to be submitted by all candidates at the complete of course.

Format of examination

Theory paper

Three hours

Total marks 150

Section 1 10 questions of 10 marks each

Section 2 5 questions of moderate difficulty

Section 3 5 questions must know

Practical 250 Two examiners at each table( Both have 50 % marks each of total marks allotted to the table)

Table 1 spotters 15 marks each

a HSG, USG

b Investigations mainly hormones

c endoscopic images

d OI drugs

e Laparoscopy/hysteroscopy equipment pictures or real

Table 2 Clinical case scenarios 75 marks

A two case of 25 marks each (decision making)

B two case of counseling and other soft skills of 12.5 marks each

Table 3 Medico legal issues 50 marks

a ICMR guidelines 25 marks

b PCPNDT act 10 marks

c legal and ethical dilemmas three cases of 5 marks each

Table 4 Embryology 50 marks

A OPU and ET 15 marks

B Laboratory aspects of IVF/ICSI/Freezing / newer techniques

Log Book Table 5 100 marks

Total presentation 10

Section A Clinical cases 40 (10 for each section)

Section B procedure record 20

Section C record of academic participation 15

Section D research work 15

Certificate

•Successful candidates will be awarded certificate during the inaugural/convocation ceremony of annual conference and a testimonial by the center.

•The certificate will be signed by the President IFS, Secretary General, and course director.

•The IFS will also felicitate the participating centers and faculty during convocation.

•The best past out candidate will be given a reward (certificate & medal with a prize of money to be decided by committee( Dr Sonia Malik Award).