History
TUTORIALS IN GENERAL SURGERY
A HISTORY
TUTORIALS IN GENERAL SURGERY
A HISTORY
Reynaldo O. Joson, MD, MHA, MHPEd, DPBS, FPCS
I. Glaxo General Surgery Sessions
In 1990, under the sponsorship of Glaxo Philippines, Inc., I
organized the Glaxo General Surgery Sessions in Manila. The
teaching sessions were intended for interested surgical residents
in Metro Manila. The sessions were held once a month, on the
last Friday, 7 to 9 pm, at the Manila Doctors Hospital Conference
Room.
The first session was held on March 23, 1990 and the topic
was "Learning and Mastery of General Surgery". At least five
sessions were held before Glaxo stopped its commitment. The
other topics discussed were Rational Use of Antibiotics in
Surgery; Inguinal Hernia; Burns; and Hemorrhoids.
Surgical trainees from Manila Doctors Hospital, Medical
Center Manila, Ospital ng Maynila, Philippine General Hospital,
and Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital attended the sessions. On the
average, there were about 30 participants per session.
The learning sessions were conducted primarily in the form
of a lecture preceded by a pretest and followed by a posttest.
II. A General Surgery Course in Zamboanga City Medical Center
In 1991, under the sponsorship of Bayer Philippines, Inc., I
designed a 4-year structured, community-based, competency-based,
and problem-oriented General Surgery Course in Zamboanga City
Medical Center (ZCMC) using a distance education mode of
training. The primary objective of the course was to upgrade the
general surgery training program of ZCMC.
Faculty based in Manila went to ZCMC every 3 months for 4
years to conduct and monitor the training in general surgery.
Active, small group discussion and learning was the main teaching
method. During the intervals that the faculty and the surgical
trainees did not see each other, the faculty provided printed
learning materials and the trainees did self-study or independent
study.
The course started with 13 trainees and ended after 4 years
in 1995, with 9 graduates. One trainee was from Sulu Provincial
Hospital; another, from Labuan Community Hospital; the rest were
1
surgical residents of ZCMC. One graduate is now practicing in
Pagadian; one, in Ipil; one, in Sulu; one, in Labuan; and 5 in
Zamboanga City.
In 1993, I started the second batch of trainees under the
General Surgery Course in ZCMC. Aside from the surgical
residents from ZCMC, there were trainees from Zamboanga del Norte
Provincial Hospital, Margosatubig District Hospital, and Tawi-
tawi. Initially, there were also trainees from Basilan, Sulu,
and Sibuco. However, these trainees eventually dropped out
mainly because of problems with the policies of the local
governments. The second batch of trainees is ongoing as of June,
1996.
III. General Surgery Learning Sessions in Tondo Medical Center
In March, 1993, I was requested by the Department of Surgery
of Tondo Medical Center to conduct training sessions for its
general surgery residents. I designed a program which I called
General Surgery Learning Sessions. The format was essentially
the same as that of the General Surgery Course in ZCMC. The only
difference was that the specialty training was not included. In
other words, training was limited to the domains of general
surgery.
From 1993 up to 1995, at a frequency of every 3 months, I
would go to Tondo Medical Center to conduct a 2-day general
surgery learning sessions. A total of 10 sessions were held.
IV. Tutorials in General Surgery
In 1996, I decided to call any teaching-learning sessions
which I will be conducting from hereon as "Tutorials in General
Surgery". "Tutorials", rather than the word "course", because it
allows flexibility, leeway, and a come-on in joining, especially
for those already in an accredited 4- or 5-year general surgery
program who are attracted to the program; for those who have
completed their formal training and wish to pursue further
learning; and for those interested but who have not yet decided
on pursuing a 4-year course.
"Tutorials", also because of the distance education format
that will be primarily utilized. Whenever the faculty and
trainees meet intermittently face-to-face, the faculty will
"tutor" the students.
Another reason for the use of the word "tutorials" is that
problem-based learning will be the main teaching-learning
approach. The small group discussion with the faculty
2
facilitating is a "tutorial" session in the parlance of problem-
base learning.
The Tutorials in General Surgery just like its forerunners,
the Glaxo General Surgery Sessions, the General Surgery Course in
Zamboanga City Medical Center, and the General Surgery Learning
Sessions in Tondo Medical Center, has for its objective the
training of general surgeons to be. Its goal is the health
development of the community through surgical manpower
development through a relevant, effective, and efficient method
of training utilizing a community-oriented-based, competency-
based and problem-based learning approach.
V. Tutorials Leading to a Diploma and Master of Science in
General Surgery
In the General Surgery Course in ZCMC, the first batch of
graduates received a Diploma in General Surgery in 1995. The
second batch of graduates are eligible for a Diploma in General
Surgery as long as they satisfactorily complete the requirements.
Although the General Surgery Course in ZCMC will be changed
to Tutorials in General Surgery starting 1996, a Diploma in
General Surgery will still be granted as long as the trainees
satisfactorily complete 16 tutorials, 20 courses, and other
prescribed requirements. Each "tutorial" is a teaching-learning
session that awards credits for trainees who attend it and
achieve the learning objectives.
There is a plan to offer a Master of Science in General
Surgery under ZCMC and Zamboanga Medical School Foundation. The
tutorials can be credited or validated in the masteral course.
3