Technical information relating to IAP Neonatology Chapter fellowship program
1) The IAP Neonatology fellowship program is endorsed by the Executive Board of IAP.
2) Selection of institute shall be the credentials + location + teaching facility of the institute. All applicant institutes will be physically inspected by a team of one or two members appointed by the chapter and the travel and lodging of these inspectors will be arranged by the applicant institute. The institutes will apply for fellowship through the institute head on institute letterhead and endorsed by the head of the neonatology unit / fellowship program coordinator. The application will be addressed to the Chairperson of the chapter. The institute should be registered with the local authorities and the registration number and certificate should be attached with the application. The Institute must have working Neonatal Intensive Care Unit functional for at least five years. The must have at least 2 full time faculties ( 10 years post MD or 5 years post DM) .
3) All teachers at the Institute must be Life members of Central IAP and Life members of the IAP Neonatology Chapter. The IAP Life membership number and IAP Neonatology Chapter life membership of all teachers at the Institute must be mentioned in the application form.
4) Each institute that conducts the fellowship program should advertize the positions as widely as possible to receive applications from all parts of the country and then choose the best candidates based on a system of interviews or examination, whatever the institute would prefer. The advertisement can be made in the institute bulletin or on institute notice board and in official instruments of IAP – the Academy today, Indian Pediatrics, and Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics. Applications may also be invited through other reputed journals published by sister professional organizations.
5) Each institute can register one / two candidates as fellows (as per allotment by IAP Neonatology chapter). While Postgraduates who have MD / DNB degrees will take the fellowship examination one year after date of enrollment, the candidate with a DCH qualification will take the exam 1.5 years after date of enrollment. Institutes are encouraged to enroll MD / DNB candidates whenever possible. In the absence of such a candidate, a DCH qualified candidate can be selected. Institutes that are allowed to train two fellowship candidates can have only two enrollments at any given time.
6) To ensure uniformity of fellowship admission process the following timeline shall be followed:
| Term | Admission Process/Fees | Late admission with late fees | Late fees (in addition of admission fee) | No admissions |
| January | 1-31st January | 1-15th February | Rs 1000/- | After 15th February |
| July | 1-31st July | 1-15th August | Rs 1000/- | After 15th August |
7) All admission/exam forms should have the Fellowship incharge/co.ordinator’s signature on submission. The preferred mode of submission is online. Institutes will inform the chapter about change of fellowship coordinator’s name, if and when that happens. Institutes will also inform the chapter about any change in teaching faculty.
8) Each candidate must submit a fellowship fee of Rs. 20,000/- in the form of online payment esent), in the name of ‘Neonatology Chapter of Academy of Pediatrics or by electronic transfer to A\C no: 090 2001 0000 7547 , IFSC Code: SRCB0000090, Saraswat Bank, Station Road, Kanchan Chembers, Kranti Chowk, Station Road, Aurangabad 431005 (MS) in the name of ‘Neonatology Chapter of Academy of Pediatrics'. The fee includes fee for enrolment as Life member of IAP Neonatology Chapter.
9) The institute will submit a fellowship information form (appended with this document) which should contain information about the institute and candidates along with details of the electronic payment , candidates appointment letter and copies of qualification certificates of the candidates. Candidate will not submit this information to the chapter individually. All communications regarding the technicalities of the fellowship program and fellowship examination will be done by the fellowship coordinator and not by individual candidates.
10) The receipts for the email and payment will be posted to the institute / fellowship coordinator and not to individual candidates.
11) No refund will be made if a candidate chooses to abandon the program at any time after enrolment.
12) All students on admission to the Fellowship programme shall be given a welcome kit to include –
- Instructions
- Curriculum
- Exam format
- Handbook of Neonatology
- Manual of Newborn Nursing
- Admission to ONTOP program
- All students enrolled in fellowship programme from Jan 2016 onwards shall be eligible for – Online Neonatology Training & Orientation Program, a e-learning program developed by WHO SEARO with Dr Ashok Deorari.
- The module "Care of the Sick Newborn" encompassing various topics like sepsis,feeding, seizures, hypoglycemia, jaundice etc shall be covered and the course material (Self reading material (pdf), webinars, procedure video, relevant guidelines) are available online at ONTOP url. shall be sent in advance on a pendrive. Weekly a topic shall be covered with case based discussion, biweekly chat, MCQ problem solving. Only those who meet the criterion for passing shall be eligible for the certification. Online mentors shall guide each group of students initiating discussion and solving queries.
- The advantages of ONTOP are self paced learning, 24 x 7 access to study material as per own time, ensuring uniformity in knowledge, sharpening of practical skills, interaction with online faculty, sharing observations, queries and learning, relearning and unlearning.
- A test period of 7 days shall be given prior to starting the course to adapt and know the process. A username/password shall be given to all participants.
- All fellowship co.ordinators shall serve as online mentors in a phased manner.
- Dr Srinivas Murki shall serve as nodal person & co-coordinator with WHO SEARO.
- Participation in ONTOP is voluntary. Those who clear the ONTOP shall be eligible for 5 marks for practical exam.
13) Any dispute between the institute and candidate will be resolved between themselves without any mediation by the chapter.
14) The exam fee of Rs. 7000/- will be paid electronically through a DD in the name of the chapter by each candidate, through the institute, with a covering note (sample appended with this document) after the exam date is announced, to reach the chapter office address one month in advance of the examination date.All the forms should be sent to iapneochap@gmail.com. No hard copies of the forms are required.
15) The names of candidates who pay the exam fee in time, will be intimated to the exam coordinator in the order of receipt of applications DDs and roll numbers for exam will be allotted in a likewise order.
16) If examination fee is not received a month in advance of the examination date, the respective candidate will not be allowed to take the fellowship exam. If a candidate withdraws from taking the exam after paying the exam fee, the fee will not be refunded.
17) The thesis or clinical study should be carried by the candidate at the time of practical examination
18) Each institute will be communicated the venue and date of the fellowship exam at least two months before the exam, and the details of the theory and practical examinations, roll numbers, and the specific dates allotted to individual candidates for practical exam will be communicated at least one month before the dates of examinations.
19) The roll number and center allotted to each candidate is non-negotiable. Individual requests from candidates or institutes for change of roll number/center or date of practical examination will not be entertained.
20) All annual exams hence forward shall be held after 31 Jan and 31 July of the respective years to ensure completion of the stipulated training programme period. The date for submission of fees henceforth for all future exams shall be fixed for the annual fresh batch exam between 1 Oct to 15 Nov & for midterm exams 1May -15 June.
21) Theory Paper 1 of 100 marks shall have 80% questions from the Website question bank. Out of 100 marks for theory paper 1, 20% marks shall be MCQ based for exploring the knowledge, aptitude, analysis and core concept understanding. Total marks are 500, out of which theory marks are maximum of 200 & practicalspractical 300 maximum. It is essential to obtain 50% marks in theory (100/200), overall 50% marks in practical (150/300), 50% marks in clinical case presentations (80/160) (part of practical exam) and aggregate 50% marks (250/500) to clear the exam. It is not essential to obtain 50% marks in spots, viva, and clinical study individually.
22) Examination result will be communicated to the institutes on email immediately as it becomes available. Marks card (with details of marks) and the certificate will be posted to the institutes within 6 weeks of declaration of result. A gold medal will be awarded to the candidate securing maximum marks, during the Annual Convention of the IAP Neonatology Chapter inaugural function. The details shall be intimidated to the fellowship coordinator/candidate.
23) Candidates that fail to clear the exam may take another exam after six months, and reapply to the chapter with new examination form and a DD for exam fee, whenever the dates and venue are announced. The candidates will take both theory and practical exam again. A failed candidate who may seek reevaluation of his / her theory paper marks, may request the chapter for the same, with endorsement from the institute head, and submit a payment of a DD for Rs. 500/- for reevaluation of both theory papers, and Rs. 250/- for reevaluation of one theory paper. The theory papers will be reevaluated (re-read and remarked) by an independent examiner (other than the panel of original examiners). Marks will be communicated to the candidate within two weeks from the date of request.
24) All institutes should encourage participation of their fellows for the workshop/CME/Updates/National conference conducted by IAP Neonatology Chapter.
25) A student presenting atleast 1 free paper or 2 posters at National or State Conference or a publication in a peer reviewed journal during his fellowship tenure shall be awarded additional 20 marks. These marks will be added as bonus marks to theory total, if there is a tie for first rank.
26) All fellows presenting scientific paper/poster at IAP Neonatology National Conference shall be given a discount of 20% on conference registration fees.
27) A fellowship unit may give experience certificate to the students for the tenure of fellowship training.
28) If a fellowship co-ordinator who served as teacher for the programme leaves the unit/hospital, it should be informed to the Secretariat. Such a hospital shall undergo repeat inspection process for continuation of recognition of fellowship programme.
29) Policy on transfer/left/resigned from fellowship programme.
- No transfer of candidate from one institute to another is encouraged. In genuine circumstances, on case by case basis, with approval of both the fellowship co.ordinators, a transfer may be considered.
- The candidate who wishes to leave the fellowship programme should inform atleast a month in advance to the co.ordinator, submit the resignation and clear all dues with the institute. No refunds shall be entertained from the Chapter.
Admission to another institute shall be treated as a fresh case and no past terms/posting shall be considered.
- A candidate who leaves the programme for a 2 weeks or more without any information to the co.ordinator or the Secretariat shall be considered as absconding.
Any candidate who remains absent for 4 weeks or more in a 6 months period shall be considered to have the term/posting as in-complete and he shall repeat the post/term.
Any candidate missing for a period of 6 months or more shall be considered ineligible for further terms and/or fellowship examination.
30) A institute shall be eligible for having one inspection only per 6 months of academic year. In case the institute applies for inspection again, it shall be considered as a fresh case and new application form need to be submitted.
31) The number of candidates sanctioned per unit shall be based on the number of NICU beds, teachers and Neonatal Unit admission rate.
| Total Number | 2 Seats | 3 Seats | 4 Seats |
| Admissions | > 480 | 800 - 1000 | > 1000 |
| Ventilation | > 100 | 100 - 200 | > 200 |
| Teachers | 2 | 3 | 4 |
The unit needs to fulfill all the criteria given in the respective column.
The unit should be a separate part of a tertiary multi-speciality hospital OR stand alone tertiary referral pediatric hospital.
All units should be located independently in a separate area with its separate access. They should not be on sharing basis with pediatric or multi speciality critical care unit.
Only full time individuals are eligible to be teacher. They should be ttached only to the hospital of record with no other outside commitments during at least 8 working hours and is responsible for or shares the responsibility of the functioning of the unit/s within that institution only. (An institution may have one or more units under its wing).
Visiting consultants/pediatric ICU/part time teachers who provide regular input in patient care and conduct at least one teaching session a week will be an added bonus but will not be officially counted as teachers.
The teachers and patients can not be shared with any other teaching or training program.
Clinical Study/Research projects
1) The thesis submission is no longer applicable for eligibility of fellowship exam.
2) It is mandatory that each fellow submits a research project/audit/a study etc which isrelevant to the unit. The report need to be systematic, neatly presented (spiral bound if more than 20 pages)but need not be elaborate in book form etc.
3) A participating unit may join not more than 2 research projects/database conducted by IAP Neonatology Chapter in a year.
4) Fellows participating in research project are not exempted from research project submission for exams. Designed by: Infotech Professional Solutionz Pvt. Ltd. All contents © Copyright IAP Neonatology Chapter 2012. All Rights Reserved
