How to win a Ranchi University (Jharkhand) MS Ophthalmology Gold Medal!
Dr. Sneha Batra, MBBS, MS (Gold Medalist), FICO
- Dr. Sneha Batra is presently a Consultant at the Himalayan Eye Institute, Siliguri.
- She completed her MBBS from Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata and MS in Ophthalmology from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi.
- She completed her fellowship in Cataract, Refractive Surgery and Medical Retina from B B Eye Foundation, Kolkata.
Interview
Q1. Your year of passing and name of university.
A1. I passed my MS in Ophthalmology in 2016 from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi University, Jharkhand.
Q2. Elaborate on the books you referred.
A2. When I started my MS 1st year, I bought a basic set of books – Kanski’s Clinical Ophthalmology and Parsons’ Diseases of the Eye for general overview, and also got hold of the recent AAO series which covers all subspecialities (including Anatomy, Physiology, and Optics and Refraction) in great detail, as well as in a very lucid language. Over time, I referred to a few other books such as Yanoff and Duker’s Ophthalmology, Ryan’s Retina, Shield’s textbook of Glaucoma, Nema’s Recent Advances in Ophthalmology for various topics.
Q3. Tell us about your study plan.
A3. Since I was appearing for my FICO exams simultaneously, I spent my first year exclusively dedicated to Anatomy, Physiology, and Optics and Refraction. And I think that helped me immensely because these subjects are the building blocks for any other subspeciality topic.
The second year was dedicated to covering all the subspecialities, and the third year for revision, surgical techniques, recent advances, and thesis completion.
Q4. How did you juggle between your study plan and hectic residency?
A4. Thankfully enough, residency at my college was never too hectic, and the workload was evenly managed by the residents of all years, leaving us with enough time for some lively academic discussion in the OPD, in our PG room, or afterwards in the evening.
Q5. Ideal number of revisions to write the exam confidently?
A5. I feel once you have covered a topic in detail from textbook and other internet based material, it is a good habit to make a summarized note of it. It helps to revise it periodically whenever that topic comes up for discussion in the OPD or classes, and then maybe once or twice before the main exam.
Q6. Tell us your preparatory leave time-table?
A6. We got around a month’s time right before the exams. I preferred to revise some basic ophthalmology topic in the morning when the mind is most fresh, covered clinical topics throughout the day, and left some practical based or recent advance topic for the late evening.
Q7. Practical exam – important tips and your study plan.
A7. By the time the theory exams are over, half our energy is already drained, and it becomes really difficult to decide what to revise and what to leave out before the practicals. So I strongly feel that it is your learning throughout the three years that comes to use for this exams. Learning the basic examination techniques correctly, and having understood simple concepts clearly goes a long way to make the practical exams much easier.
Q8. Quick checklist to follow in order to be a gold medalist.
A8.
- Study throughout the year,
- Learn from your patients, and
- Love the subject!
Q9. How does securing a gold medal give you an edge after your residency?
A9. I don’t believe that it matters too much, but yes, it does give you a sense of achievement, and for some patients, it increases the faith that they have in your knowledge and clinical judgement.
Q10. Mantra that kept you going!
A10. Again, love for the subject, I feel was the most important factor, and not to forget some amazing batchmates, seniors and juniors, with whom learning was always a pleasure!