1. Requirements for Entry - See general
regulations – Doctor of Medicine
In addition to the general regulations, candidates
will not normally be eligible for entry until at least one full
year after completing their internship and must have had at least
six months’ in post internship experience in general surgery
and general medicine or child health in an approved hospital.
Six months experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (post internship)
will count for up to three months’ experience in general
surgery. Experience in Accident/Emergency/Casualty (post internship)
will count for up to three month’s experience in general
medicine or surgery.
2. Course of Study
The course of study will be a minimum of four years
from the date of entry and is divided into two parts.
The first part is of one year’s duration and admission to
the second part depends upon a satisfactory performance in the
Part I Examination at the end of this period.
The second part is of three years duration and may
include a period of six months in a related discipline or in an
approved research project provided that approval has been obtained
from the Specialty Board beforehand.
At least three years of the course must be spent
in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Throughout the course, the student
must hold recognized posts in accredited hospitals or be on an
“Elective” approved by the Specialty Board.
No exemption will be given for training in a DGO
Programme.
3. Case Book/Project
All students must submit to the Specialty Board or Director
of the Postgraduate programme at least six months before
the final (Part 2) Examination, either:
a) a casebook of twenty cases (ten Obstetrical and ten Gynaecological)
and two major commentaries limited to 3,000 words each. The major
commentaries should be based on a clinical research project approved
by the student’s supervisor and must include references
to the literature. Students are advised to discuss the preparation
of case records and commentaries with their consultant or supervisor,
while the book is in preparation and not wait until it is complete.
From these records, the examiners will assess the critical faculties
of candidates, their powers of observation and their evaluation
of various methods of treatment. The long obstetrical and gynaecological
commentaries offer students the opportunity to study in detail,
conditions of their own choice and to express views formed
from personal investigation and on a study of the
literature. These commentaries could provide the opportunity to
conduct a research project on clinical material within the department
to be later developed into a publication.
or
b) a project or a research thesis. The alternative
must have been previously agreed on by the Specialty Board and
the work carried out under the guidance of a Supervisor appointed
by the Board.
Following the submission of the work, the examiners
may:
i) accept the work, and the candidate proceed to the examination,
or
ii) reject the work, and they will then outline what additional
or new work is required
and when the work should be resubmitted.
