REGIONAL CANCER CENTRE

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 011

Prospectus for Admission to

Fellowship in Oncopathology-2020
The Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram (RCC), now in its 38th year of service to the
nation is an autonomous institution sponsored jointly by the Govt. of Kerala and the Govt. of
India. It is an internationally acclaimed centre for cancer treatment and research and caters to
the population of the state of Kerala and adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu. Handling over two lakhs
patients including over 15,000 new cancer cases annually RCC stands tall in the health map of
Kerala carrying out innovative and pioneering work in cancer control, treatment, research and
training.

RCC is a comprehensive cancer centre with full-fledged departments of Medical Oncology,

Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Paediatric Oncology supported by allied services
such as Pathology, Imageology, Nuclear Medicine, Anaesthesiology, Microbiology and
Transfusion Medicine. The centre also has separate divisions for Community Oncology, Medical
Records, Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Research, Palliative Medicine, Dental Care,
Computerized Hospital Information System and Library & Information Services division.

PATHOLOGY

The division of Pathology at Regional Cancer Centre started functioning in 1982 as a

small Cytology lab.Later in 1985 Histopathology and Haematology was started. The Division was
named Division of Pathology in 2005 and over the last few years the division has grown
enormously in terms of the patient load, services and facilities for diagnosis offered.
Pathology Division is one of the vital supportive facilities of RCC. This is done mainly
through the 3 sections of the Division – Surgical Pathology, Haematopathology and
Cytopathology .In addition to the routine diagnostic services, this Division is providing
specialized diagnostic services of Immunohistochemistry (IHC),Frozen Section reporting ,Flow
Cytometry, FISH and Molecular tests which are at present available only in very few centers in
the state. Immunohistochemistry is an elaborate delicate technique demanding extra skill and
it is very useful in specific diagnosis of problem cases. We have established state of the art
‘Molecular Pathology laboratory and Flow Cytometry reporting facility (to subtype Leukemias
and Lymphomas). FISH (Fluorescent in Situ Hybridisation) facility to study cytogenetic
abnormalities.
 Faculty of Pathology Division is also providing expert opinions on referred tissue
samples from various Hospitals all over the state and also adjacent states.
.
The Division also conducts various teaching and training programmes and courses. At
present, MD Pathology(2 seats), Certificate course for Cytotechnologist (1 year),
Cytotechnician (6 months) and one year Quality excellence programme in Pathology for Lab
technicians (6 seats) are being conducted. The post doctoral certificate course in
Oncopathology was started in 2007. Short term teaching and training programmes for BSc and
MSc Lab technicians from various Institutions in the State are also conducted.MD and DNB
Pathology students from various Medical Colleges also come for training.

The Division is also actively involved in the community oriented cancer control
programmes of the State, primarily by providing the Pap smear test facility, for early detection
of uterine cervical, oral and breast cancers.The Academic staff of the Division is also playing a
major role in the applied research activities of the Centre, by getting involved in various
Research projects and guiding PhD students.

THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

The Department of Pathology, Regional Cancer Centre offers a fellowship in Oncopathology,

dedicated to patient care and education. Fellowship in Oncopathology is designed to give more
emphasis to practical aspects than theoretical training. Doctors are given opportunity to see all
the routine slides and work up cases. Training is given in various diagnostic modalities like
Frozen section, Immunohistochemistry, FISH, Flow Cytometry etc. Topic discussions, Slide
Seminars, Clinicopathological Conferences, Journal clubs and teaching are part of the
curriculum. They are also given exposure to Electron Microscopy and Molecular techniques.

As part of decentralization of health care system in Kerala, it is vital to train Pathologists

working in peripheral hospitals in all aspects in the diagnosis of cancers with special emphasis
on grossing, processing of tissues, systematic approach to diagnosis of various tumours, judicial
use of IHC, FISH and other tests, utilization of cytology in early diagnosis and diagnosis and
prognostication of haematological malignancies. Such training courses will not only improve the
competency of the medical personnel, but also contribute to the distribution of health care
delivery thus improving the primary level of health care in the state.

At the end of the successful training in oncopathology, it is expected that the trainee will be
able to diagnose and report cancers in proper way and utilize their expertise at the community
level.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

1. Attain good knowledge in the subject, both practical and theoretical aspects
2. To learn recent advances in oncopathology.
3. To learn about fundamentals of ancillary diagnostic tests.
4. To learn the approach to diagnose cancer cases
5. To actively take part in teaching and research activities of the department
6. To learn interpersonal communication skills and communication skill towards patients and
their relatives.

Surgical Pathology 3 months

Cytology 3 months
Module of the course
Hematology 3 months

Other Divisions 3 months

Training Program
Training programme will be of one academic Year. It will be a full time program in Surgical
pathology, Cytology and Haematology. Short postings in Cancer Research, Community
Oncology, Biomedical wing of SCT and Molecular biology.Attending cancer detection camps are
also part of curriculum.
ACADEMIC, TEACHING AND RESEARCH
The candidate is expected to fulfill the following academic, clinical and research criteria while
training:
ACADEMIC: The Fellow should actively participate in seminar, journal clubs, group discussions
and case presentations during the departmental post graduate teaching programme, on a
monthly basis. The trainee should attend the MDT meetings (rotational basis). He/she will be
encouraged to present paper/poster in the regional/ national/ international pathology
conferences.
CLINICAL:
Surgical Pathology: The candidate is should do grossing according to schedule
 Grossing: approach and basis for all radical specimens
 Frozen section(Intra operative consultations) under supervision with consultants
 Approach to small biopsy reporting
 Reporting of all radical specimens (RCPath/CAP guidelines)-Should write the trays, work
up cases, show to Senior faculty, do corrections in the typed report and see that the
reports are sent according to turn around time(TAT)
 Work up of cases with ancillary techniques
 Mounting museum specimens
 To provide a clear, complete and concise pathology report encompassing all the
minimum points relevant to diagnosis, prognosis and thereupetics
Cytology:

 To do FNAC procedures
 To see guided FNA and do rapid onsite evaluation(ROSE)
 Reporting of FNA cytology with special emphasis on guided FNA will be part of the
regular work.
 Exfoliative cytology-techniques of obtaining sample, preparation of specimen and
staining, screening and reporting
 Cell block preparation with ancillary techniques
 Intraoperative cytology
 Liquid based cytology

Haematology:
 Work up cases with haematological malignancies
 Routine and Special stains
 Bone marrow procedure
 Peripheral smear reporting
 Flow cytometry
Other Postings:
 Cancer Research
 Community Oncology
  Imageology
 Nuclear Medicine
 Different Clinics
 BMT wing of SCTIMST
 Laboratory quality assurance and management

TEACHING:

Fellows should teach MD Pathology students and other trainees in the Department

RESEARCH

Each fellow is encouraged to do a research project and get familiarized with writing a protocol,
getting funds and doing the small project. They are given permission to publish their study if it
is found to be good.

1. Applications are invited for admission to the Fellowship Programme in Oncopathology for
the year 2020. The details of the courses, eligibility criteria etc are as follows

4 (Four) (3 merit seats and 1 seat reserved for service

Number of seats candidate)If there is no service candidate the seat will be
filled up from general merit candidates.
Duration of the Course One year (The course is a full time residential course)

Date of commencement of 01-05-2020 or on the date of commencement as certified

the course by the Director, RCC for those admitted later.

Nativity Should be an Indian Citizen

1)M.B.B.S. Degree recognized by the Medical Council of

India.
2)Should have passed the PG Degree MD in Pathology from
any of the Medical Colleges in India, recognized by the
Medical Council of India or DNB in Pathology approved by
Basic Academic the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi.
Qualifications (Candidates who have appeared or are appearing for the
MD/DNB examination may apply but the provisional or
permanent PG Degree certificate should be produced at the
time of admission counseling if selected, failing which
admission will not be granted).
3)Candidates should have their MBBS/PG Degrees
registered permanently with Medical Council (India/State).
Stipend Rs. 47,000/- per month for general candidates
35 years, as on 01-01-2020 (with relaxation of 5 years for
Upper age limit
SC/ST candidates)
Rs.10,000/- to be remitted at the time of admission, which
Caution Deposit
will be refunded on successful completion of the course
Aspiring candidates have to download the application form
(Annexure-I) given along with this prospectus and fill it up
and submit it along with the supporting documents and
application fee. Completed application form should reach by
How to apply
post on or before 4 pm on 20-03-2020
Note: Incomplete application forms and forms received
after the last date will be rejected and no further
communication will be entertained in this context.
Rs 1000/- (Thousand rupees only). Fee should be submitted
as a Demand Draft payable at State Bank of India or any of
its associate banks at Thiruvananthapuram for Rs.1000/-
Application fee
drawn in favor of “The Director, Regional Cancer Centre”,
Thiruvananthapuram. Application Fee is not refundable
under any circumstances.
The Additional Director(Academic)
Address for sending Regional Cancer Centre
application form Medical College.P.O
Thiruvananthapuram- 695 011

2. Documents to be furnished along with the application form:

i.Valid photo ID proof
ii.Proof of age. (Passport/ Secondary School Leaving certificate showing date of birth/
Tahsildar’s certificate).
iii.Proof of Nationality (Passport/ Voters ID/ PAN Card).

iv.Self-attested copy of following documents:

a) MBBS Degree Certificate.

b) MD/ DNB Degree Certificate.
c) Medical Council Registration Certificate of MBBS/PG Degree.
 v.Character/conduct certificate issued by competent authority (head of institute/gazetted
officer).
vi.Photo copy of publications
vii.Experience certificate
viii.Certificate from Principal of respective Medical College/Institution for candidates who
are appeared/appearing for MD/ DNB (in case of candidates who have not yet passed
the course)
3. Selection process
a) The application forms will be scrutinized and the list of candidates fulfilling the eligibility
criteria will be displayed on the RCC website on 30-03-2020
b) Candidates have to appear for an entrance test followed by interview on 18-04-2020.
An entrance test will be conducted if the number of applicants are more than 4 times
the available seats. The entrance test will be a written MCQ test and candidates will be
shortlisted for the interview to be held on the same day based on the marks obtained in
the entrance test. Final Rank list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in
entrance test and interview (ANNEXURE II).
c) Candidates will have to make their own arrangements to appear for the entrance test
and interview and no TA/DA will be provided. No personal intimation will be sent
regarding entrance test/ interview.
d) The Director, RCC will prepare and publish the Select List and Wait list of Candidates.
e) Admission Memo will be issued to the selected candidates. The candidate has to report
on the date fixed by the Director. All certificates in original will be retained in the office
till the completion of the programme.
f) Candidates who do not turn up for the allotment as per schedule, at the place and time
notified, will forfeit their chance for admission, and will not be considered for admission
in future or arising vacancies, irrespective of the rank.
g) Candidates who discontinue the course after 10.00 am on 30-06-2020 will be liable to
pay liquidated damages.
h) The Select List and Wait Lists published will be valid till 30-06-2020.
 i) Any vacancy that may arise after the cut-off date for admissions will be considered as
lapsed and no allotment will be made to these seats under any circumstance.

4. Documents to be produced at the time of Admission (original & one photo copy)
a) MBBS Degree Certificate.
b) MD/ DNB Degree Certificate.
c) MD/ DNB Attempt Certificate.
d) Permanent Medical Council Registration Certificate of MBBS/PG Degree.
e) Proof of age. (Passport/ Secondary School Leaving certificate showing date of birth/
Tahsildar’s certificate).
f) Proof of Nationality (Passport/ Voters ID/ PAN Card).
g) Character/conduct certificate issued by competent authority (head of
institute/gazetted officer).
h)Selected candidates should submit Registration Certificates from the Travancore-
Cochin Council of Modern Medicine within one month of admission failing which their
admission will be cancelled.
All original documents will be retained in RCC and will be returned only on successful
completion of the course

5. Liquidated damages & Execution of Bond:

Candidates selected for the fellowship have to execute a bond as in clause (a) below in stamped
paper worth of `200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) (all pages of the bond should be in stamped
paper) at the time of joining the course to the effect that:
a) He/she shall not discontinue the fellowship after 10.00 am on 30-06-2020 and in case
he/she decides to discontinue the course after 10.00 am on 30-06-2020 he/she shall give
one month notice to The Director and pay an amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- as liquidated
damages.
6. Course Completion
Successful completion of the fellowship programme mandates the following --
 Pass in the Exit Examination
 Log book
 One paper / poster presentation in State/National/International conference.

IMPORTANT DATES
Event Date
20-03-2020
Last date of receiving postal application
30-03-2020
Publishing list of eligible candidates
18-04-2020
MCQ Entrance Examination & Interview
23-04-2020
Final Result
01-05-2020
Date of Commencement of course

7. Leave during the course:

All the 365 days of the year are working days for fellows. However, they will be permitted to
avail casual leave for 20 days, but not more than 10 days at a stretch. Any other leave will entail
extension of the course. Those who take leave without prior sanction are liable to be
considered to be on unauthorized absence. If the fellow is absent without authorization for
more than 10 days, he / she will be terminated from the course and liquidated damages will be
realized. All fellows are eligible for weekly off for one day. This will be allowed by the Head of
the Department concerned without affecting the routine functioning of the Department.
Weekly off cannot be accumulated.

CMEs, workshops and other academic programmes conducted by recognized academic bodies
are essential aspects of training programme. All fellows will be permitted to attend such
programmes without affecting the routine working of the Department concerned. The Head of
the Department shall sanction leave-on-duty to fellows provided they apply prior to the CME
programme and submit attendance certificate on return. No fellow shall leave the country
without prior sanction of the Director, RCC. Any violation will be viewed seriously warranting
termination of the course.

8. Private Practice

Post Graduate students shall not engage in private practice of any sort during the course of
study.

9. General

All students admitted to RCC will be bound by the rules and regulations as decided by the
Director, RCC from time to time. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Prospectus, the
Director may at any time revise or amend any clause in the prospectus. Any court
cases/disputes shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts in Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram Sd/-
Date:29-02-2020 DIRECTOR
 ANNEXURE – I

REGIONAL CANCER CENTRE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Application for admission to Fellowship Programme in Oncopathology
2020

PERSONAL DETAILS
Full name of the candidate (in block
letters)

Age

Sex

Date of birth(dd/mm/yyyy)

Address for communication &

Permanent Address

Mobile phone number

E mail id
ACADEMIC DETAILS

Institute and Year of passing MBBS

Institute and Year of passing MD/ DNB

Experience (attach certificate in institute

letter head as in annexure III)
Publications (Yes/No)
(if yes please attach photocopy)
Any other details

DETAILS OF FEE

DD number

Date

Bank

PHOTO (Please affix a self attested recent passport size photo here)

Date Signature
Place
 ANNEXURE – II
MARKS PROCESS

Part I - THEORY – 50 marks

MCQ paper containing 25 Questions (2 mark for correct answer, minus one mark for wrong
answer). No marks will be awarded for unanswered questions or multiple responses. The
questions will cover surgical pathology,cytology and haematopathology with all ancillary
diagnostic tests at exit level. Candidates will be short listed purely on the basis of theory
marks. The number of candidates short listed will be four times the number of seats.

Part II - INTERVIEW (VIVA) - 40 marks

Candidates will be assessed about their knowledge, skills and aptitude in the subject.

Part III - PRIOR ACADEMIC RECORDS - 10 marks

1. Publications in Indexed Medical Journals only (Please submit Xerox copy of publication)

 One mark per publication subject to a maximum of five marks

2. Work experience in Pathology (Maximum five marks)

 Six months to 1 year – 2marks

 One year to < 2years – 3 marks

 Two year to < 3years - 4 marks

 Three years or more – 5 marks

Only continuous experience in Pathology in an academic centre will be considered for this
purpose. No marks will be given for experience of less than 6 months and for discontinuous
period of experience. Candidate needs to produce a certificate to prove the experience as in
ANNEXURE III.
 ANNEXURE III

EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATE FORMAT

(On the letterhead of the institute/department)

This is to certify that Dr. ………………………………………………………………………… is working/ has worked

in the Department of …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. at

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… for a continuous period

with effect from ………………………………………………………. to ………………………………………………………..…

His/Her conduct during the period mentioned above has been …………………………………..…………...

Name of the Employer: ………………………………………………………………………….

Name of the Institute: …………………………………………………………………………..

Place: Signature of the Employer

Date:

(Office Seal)
 ANNEXURE -IV

All candidates should furnish a certificate from the employer under whom the candidate is
presently working in the prescribed form as the situation may be .
Form A- Endorsement by the head of the institute under whom the candidate is presently
working/studying with, in case of general candidates.
Form B- Declaration by candidate in case the candidate is not currently employed.

FORM A
NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE
(ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE INSTITUTE)

Dr. …………………………………………………………………… is working as …………………………………………….…

in the department of …………………………………………………………………… from …………………………………..
He / she is a permanent/temporary employee of the institute. The information furnished by
the candidate in his/her application form is correct. I have no objection to his/her seeking
admission to the Fellowship course at the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
He/She will be relieved from his post for a period of one year for undergoing the course if
selected and admitted to the course at RCC and his/her salary/stipend will be paid by his/her
employer during the one year period of course.

Name of the Employer: ……………………………………………………………………….

Name of the Institute: …………………………………………………………………………

Place: Signature of the Employer

Date: Seal
 FORM B

DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE

I declare that all the information furnished in the application form by me is correct and true. I

declare that I am not currently employed / studying in any institution/hospital in either

Government/public/private sector and in case of my selection for the course there would not

be any issue of my getting relieved from any post held by me.

Place: Signature of the candidate

Date: Name of candidate