Part II Oral Examination

P assing the Diplomate Part 2 (ORAL) Examination is the second and final
step toward becoming a full Diplomate of the POGS.

The purpose of the Oral Exam is to evaluate the candidate’s capability to

manage a given hypothetical patient/case with an obstetrical or gynecological problem
or a health scenario, as regards the following:
a. Formulation of prompt and logical diagnosis, based on the relevant
clinical data and appropriate laboratory and diagnostic reports;
b. Identification of immediate needs and problems, and rationalization
of the proposed intervention and alternatives;
c. Demonstration of critical judgment and expertise in clinical problem-
solving and decision-making;
d. Demonstration of equanimity/composure and logical reasoning
under stressful conditions;
e. Good communication skills.

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 Scope of Examination

Questions will be chosen from any subject in the Diplomate Examination

blueprint. The questions will test the candidate’s ability to correlate and
analyze clinical data, as well as his ability to rationalize clinical decisions.
The questions will also test the candidate’s communication skills.

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Guidelines and Requirements

Qualifications of Applicants

1. Applicants Must have passed the Diplomate Part I (Written)

Examination, within the past five (5) years.

2. Must not have had more than three (3) failed attempts in the
Diplomate Part II (Oral) Examination.

3. If the applicant is re-taking the Oral Examination, the applicant’s

first attempt must not have been more than five (5) years ago.

4. Must have submitted all requirements.

5. Must have paid the examination fees in full.

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Table 7: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DIPLOMATE
PART II EXAMINATION, ON FIRST APPLICATION
Additional Document
Requirement of Twenty (20)
Cases
(Follow Data Privacy act policy;
No patient identifier unless
with waiver consent.)
Guidelines and Requirements   55
Certification of POGS Junior Membership
a. TEN (10) Major cases: Six (6) OB and four
(4) GYN surgical procedures with varied
indications. Repeat CS NOT accepted (See
Appendix F).
b. TEN (10) minor cases: Five (5) OB and five
(5) GYN surgical procedures with varied
indications. (See Appendix G).
c. From the ten (10) Major cases, choose five (5)
cases for discussion (See Appendix K for the
Instructions on Case Discussion).
1) The procedures should be done within two
calendar years from time of application.
2) The procedures should be done in private
practice and/or in fellowship training.
3) Applicant to submit Certification issued by
Department Chairperson/Medical Director and
Medical Records Officer that the cases were
admitted and the procedure/s were performed
by the applicant.
4) Applicant to submit photocopies of the following
documents, each page with a stamp of “Certified
True Copy” and signed by the Medical Records
Section Officer:
a. Face-sheet/admitting sheet. If the hospital does not
allow photocopying of admitting record/face-sheet,
a certification from the Hospital Director must be
provided.
b. Operative record/Operative technique. If the
original technique is handwritten, applicant to
submit a photocopy of the original document
and attach a typewritten copy, signed by the
Department Chairperson/Medical Director attesting
to its authenticity.
c. Pathology report (if indicated)
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Part II Re-examination

Table 8 shows the details of the requirements for re-examination for candidates
who failed the Part II examination.

Table 8: REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES REPEATING THE ORAL EXAMINATION

REPEAT DIPLOMATE PART II (ORAL) EXAMINATION

Less than one (1) year More than one (1) year from the previous failed
from the previous failed oral examination
oral examination

Failed a. Letter of intent to take the examination, including date and result of
ONCE previous PBOG examination (letter addressed to the PBOG Secretary)

b. Photocopies of Certificates of Attendance, within twelve (12) months

before taking the Oral examination, in the following:

• Postgraduate Course in OB-GYN or its subspecialties (with at least

25 CME Units, local or international) and the recent Annual or
Mid-year Convention of the POGS

(Follow c. If more than one year from previous failed

Data exam, applicant to submit five (5) NEW
privacy MAJOR Cases [three (3) OB, two (2) GYN],
act policy; of varied indications, done within the last
No patient two years; & with corresponding discussions.
identifier
unless with
waiver/
d. Arrangement/Sequence of Compilation of
consent.) Documents must follow the format specified
by the PBOG.

Failed Same as above, plus one (1) additional Postgraduate Course in OB-GYN or its
TWICE subspecialties (with at least 25 CME Units, local or international).

Failed a. Photocopies of Certificates of Attendance, within twelve (12) months

THRICE before taking the Oral examination, in four (4) Postgraduate Courses
in OB-GYN or its subspecialties (with at least 25 CME Units, local or
international) and the recent Annual or Mid-year Convention of the
POGS.

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 Part II Re-examination   57

REPEAT DIPLOMATE PART II (ORAL) EXAMINATION

Less than one (1) year More than one (1) year from the previous failed
from the previous failed oral examination
oral examination

(Follow b. Repeat PART I DIPLOMATE WRITTEN EXAMINATION.

Data c. Submit ten (10) new varied Major OB-GYN cases [six (6) OB and four (4)
privacy
Gyn], done within the last two years prior to application.
act, no
identifier 1) Cases with transfer of technical (surgical) responsibility are NOT
unless with allowed.
waiver/ 2) Submit a printed tabulation of the ten (10) cases in the format
consent.) specified by the PBOG.
3) Details of the ten (10) cases must also be typed in the PBOG official
form for cases.
4) Each case must be accompanied by clear photocopies of the
following:
a. Face-sheet of admission & discharge, or database sheet
b. Operative record/technique stamped “certified true copy”
c. Histopathology report (if applicable).

* In case the original operative technique was handwritten, a photocopy

of the original document must be included.

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Notice to Qualified Applicants

1. Names of applicants with SATISFACTORY requirements, including

their assigned examination dates and venue, shall be posted on
the POGS website.

2. Applicants with UNSATISFACTORY requirements shall be informed

in writing by the PBOG Secretary. Applicants considered not eligible
and with UNSATISFACTORY requirements must comply with the
PBOG recommendations, and submit correct and improved cases.
Re-submission should be done within one (1) year. (See Instructions on
re-submission in Appendix J).

If an applicant fails to resubmit requirements within one (1) year,

he/she shall repeat the new application process.

Waiver of Fees

1. Candidates who fail to appear on the date of examination should

submit, within one (1) week, a letter of explanation to the PBOG,
through its Secretary.

2. The application fee is non-refundable. If a candidate fails to take the

oral examination for a reason determined to be valid by the PBOG,
his paid application fee shall not be reimbursed, but will be applied
to his next scheduled oral examination.

3. In case of resubmission of cases, the application fee will be applied to

the next examination (valid for one year).

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 Conduct and Mechanics
of the Examination

1. The Oral Examination will be conducted twice a year. The exact dates
will be determined by the incumbent Board and announced at the
beginning of the year.
2. Members of the PBOG will constitute the panel of Examiners.
Guest Examiners (previous/former PBOG members) may be invited,
as the need arises.
3. Each panel will have three (3) Examiners. At least one regular member
of the PBOG will sit in the panel at any one time.
a. The PBOG Chairperson and the Chairperson of the Part II
Examination will provide the panel assignments of the
Examiners.
b. At no instance will the Oral examination be started if the panel
does not have the complete number of three (3) Examiners.
The Secretary of the PBOG may be allowed to sit in a panel to
complete the number of Examiners.
c. Members of the panel may change without prior notice.
The PBOG Chairperson or the Chairperson of the Part II
Examination will assign the official replacement of Examiners.
d. Both examiners and examinees will know the members of the
panel ONLY at the time of examination.
4. Each examination day will be divided into a morning and an afternoon
session. The morning session will be from 8 A.M. to 12 NN, while the
afternoon session will be from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. or onwards.
5. The Chairperson of the Part II Examination will determine the exact
number of examinees per session.
6. Each examinee will discuss a total of FOUR (4) cases (two OB and
two GYN).
7. Each panel will grade an examinee based on the discussion of ONE
(1) to TWO (2) cases assigned specifically to that panel.
8. The examinee will have no more than 15 minutes to discuss each
case.
9. The examinee will move from one panel to another and is expected to
finish the entire examination in ONE (1) hour [15 minutes per case;
total of four cases].
10. The grading of examinees will be uniform in all panels. The examinee
will receive a grade from each member of the panel, based on the
grading criteria set by the PBOG en banc.

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60   Conduct and Mechanics of the Examination

11. The final score for each case is the average of the grades given by three
(3) examiners in that panel.
12. The perfect score for each case is 9. In order to pass, an examinee
must get a grade of 6 and above, for each case.
13. Re-panel will be allowed on two instances:
a. With a grade of 8 or above in three panels, and any grade below
6 in one panel.
b. With an average grade of 7 or above in three panels, and a grade
between 5.6–5.9 in one panel.
14. The PBOG Chairperson, the Chairperson of Diplomate Part II
Examination, and any incumbent PBOG member will conduct the
Re-panel on the same day of the examination, or on a date and time
specified by the PBOG Chairperson.
15. The examinee will be given a new case following the nature of the case
(Ob or Gyn) wherein he or she incurred a failing grade.
16. The PBOG Chairperson or the PBOG Secretary will disclose the
result to the examinee on the same day of the examination.
17. The grades of the examinee are final and irrevocable.

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