It was a bright end to 2020 for AO Spine’s first Global Diploma Certificate holders, and their smiles express their well-deserved success! The candidates proved themselves not only highly knowledgeable but also adaptable when faced with 2020’s challenges. The Program Director, Bryan Ashman, congratulates the class of 2020 for their tenacity and their excellent performance.
“The candidates were additionally challenged by the changeover to an online format but managed to embrace the difficulties, and this was reflected in the high quality of responses,” Ashman says.
“The first AO Spine Global Diploma Exam has proved the value of this initiative and confirmed its applicability for all AO Spine regions,” AO Spine International Board Chairperson Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran continues.
“The first AO Spine Global Diploma Exam has proved the value of this initiative and confirmed its applicability for all AO Spine regions.”
The 2020 Global Diploma Exam was conducted under the strict restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 44 participants who passed the part 1 multiple-choice exam in February 2020 were invited to sit the part 2 test. This was intended to be a face-to-face discussion with the examiners; instead, it was delivered as an online proctored exam.
36 spine surgeons have received the AO Spine Global Diploma during this first year of the initiative, and the momentum is growing. AO Spine talked to some of the successful participants about why they decided to take the exam and how they expect to benefit from it. We also asked some of the exam committee members for their first impressions.
“I wanted to evaluate myself and to discover how my knowledge and experience compared to my colleagues in other parts of the world, overseen by a global spine board. The exam was completely related to my experience and very interesting, particularly part 2. I saw some challenging cases that spine surgeons need to deal with in daily practice.
For the multiple-choice questions, I had to spend time reviewing textbooks and journals, which was a good opportunity to refresh my knowledge; however for part 2, it was easier because it was completely relevant to my experience.
Because it is an international certification, it will be helpful if I wish to practice in other countries. I would definitely recommend it to my colleagues because it will improve their knowledge and confidence in their career.”
“To get a Diploma from AO Spine in itself amounts to a big achievement. I wanted to refresh my spine knowledge and prove it to myself, my students, and my patients, so that their confidence in me keeps on growing. It makes me more confident while counselling my patients for treatment and while performing surgeries. It also will help me in marketing myself as a more qualified spine specialist.
The experience with both exams was very good, just like a challenge to be accomplished, reading and understanding questions and finishing in stipulated time limits. This new qualification will certainly add feathers to my cap. I could use it to promote myself on social media platforms and at my working hospitals, and it will make my family and my students feel proud of me.
I very strongly recommend all spine surgeons across the world at any stage of their career to undergo this exercise of refreshing their knowledge along with so many other benefits.”
“I wanted to test my knowledge, motivate my juniors, and have recognition by a global organization. Recognition of knowledge is always reassuring. My new qualification will be inspirational for my trainees, and I would definitely recommend it to other spine surgeons. It really motivated me to do further focused studies.
It was a true high point when I received the email congratulating me on the successful completion of the Diploma and the second-highest score!”
Success came from all corners of the globe, which is hugely satisfying for Rajasekaran. “I was inspired by the candidates’ enthusiasm and eagerness, irrespective of which part of the world they were from. The keen participation from surgeons worldwide stood testimony to the global relevance of this initiative.”
Ashman agrees and states the advantage: “The AO Spine Global Diploma exam represents a peer assessment of knowledge about the spinal conditions surgeons see in their everyday practice. AO Spine is in the unique position of having key opinion leaders in all regions of the world, and the exam format has been developed and delivered by senior members of our global organization.”
“The AO Spine Global Diploma exam represents a peer assessment of knowledge about the spinal conditions surgeons see in their everyday practice.”
The positivity was felt also by the exam committee, who enjoyed working together to ensure a fair assessment of the candidates’ core strengths, knowledge, practical experience, and thought processes when faced with different case scenarios. James Harrop, one of the examiners, was inspired by how diverse and global the examinees were, and by their mastery of spine surgery. “In order to make improvements, we need to measure how we are doing and discover how we can learn more,” Harrop emphasizes. “And we must set benchmarks and dashboards to improve patient care.”
Rajasekaran concludes that “the Global Diploma Exam will become a valuable credential which surgeons from across the world will opt for in future.”
