INI SS Pediatric group - what to expect?

Overview of INI Pediatric Subspecialty Interview

Dr. Ad Gupta, a DM resident in pediatric oncology, provides detailed guidance on what to expect in the INI Pediatric Subspecialty (SS) interview. This advice is especially useful for first-time candidates.

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Interview Structure

The interview is divided into three main parts, totaling 20 marks:

1. Clinical Case-Based Scenarios (10-15 marks)

• Candidates are presented with clinical cases, usually either:
  • Three different cases, or
  • One case discussed by multiple faculty members.
• Questions focus on:
  • Patient examination
  • Investigations
  • Diagnosis
  • Management
• Emphasis is placed on practical approaches, especially considering resource-limited settings (e.g., drug availability in low- and middle-income countries).
• Example cases include:
  • Relapse in acute leukemia
  • Neutropenic enterocolitis
  • Adrenal mass/neuroblastoma

2. Miscellaneous Questions (about 5 marks)

• Often includes biostatistics questions.
• Candidates may be asked about their thesis and related biostatistics.
• Common biostatistics topics:
  • Difference between meta-analysis and systematic review
  • Sensitivity and specificity
  • Positive and negative predictive values
  • Bias
  • Funnel plot vs. forest plot

3. Departmental Assessment (about 5 marks)

• Questions from other pediatric subspecialties related to your field.
• Examples include:
  • Genetics of retinoblastoma
  • Neurological side effects of chemotherapy drugs
  • Management of oncological emergencies such as spinal cord compression or tumor lysis syndrome

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Preparation Tips

• Brush up on clinical knowledge, especially case management in pediatric oncology.
• Review basic and applied biostatistics.
• Be familiar with your MD thesis and be ready to discuss it.
• Understand interdisciplinary coordination in pediatrics.
• Know guidelines relevant to low-resource settings.

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Interview Attitude

• Be honest if you don’t know an answer; examiners appreciate honesty.
• Stay confident and calm throughout the interview.
• Examiners often provide clues to help candidates reach answers.
• The atmosphere is generally relaxed and supportive, not intimidating.

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Additional Resources

Dr. Gupta recommends Doc Tutorials for preparation. This platform offers:

• Recorded videos
• Question banks (Qbanks)
• Test series

These resources are created by successful candidates and are available at reasonable prices.

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Notable Mention

• Dr. Ad Gupta — Pediatric oncology DM resident at AIIMS Delhi.
• Doc Tutorials — A platform for pediatric subspecialty exam preparation.