William Arthur Ward had once said- "The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires." Nowhere else do these words make as much sense as in the field of medicine. No medical teaching is complete without bedside clinical methods, no matter what advances medical technology does to help us in reaching a diagnosis. As Sir William Osler once said “the best teaching is that taught by the patient himself.” In continuation of our efforts to prepare and ingrain the clinical skills and knowledge necessary for the practical exams in General Surgery for the Final Year DNB and P G students, we are organising the 14th "P G Surgical Forum" classes. Dr Vinod K Malik, Professor and Co-Chairman, Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi is spearheading this initiative to make it a fruitful and encouraging effort for all the attending students. He is aptly supported in this endeavour by Dr Ashish Dey, Associate Consultant , Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, SGRH. and Dr Sanjeev Singhal, Head of the Department of Surgery, NRCH. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has always been in the forefront to help spreading surgical skills and knowledge among the post graduate students not only in Delhi but throughout the length and breadth of the country

In view of the overwhelming enthusiasm and response of the students we have decided to organize the classestwice in a year since 2013 just before the practical exams are due. We have realised that the one most discernible hurdle in passing the practical exams is that students lack the practice of presenting their cases in a structured and compact manner desired by most examiners. This platform also allows students to undergo the grueling sessions in what can be considered a ‘mock exam’. This would ensure that the students are extensively brushed up about the clinical methods before their practical exams. We would appreciate enthusiasm of the students to come prepared to present the cases at every opportunity. The venue for previous sessions was Sir Ganga Ram Hospital ,“The Northern Railway Central Hospital” and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi. Bedside examination of pre admitted patients would give the students an opportunity to brush up their presenting skills before the actual classes. We have decided to broaden our association with the surgical fraternity in other hospitals to ensure a more wholesome participation for hospitals in Delhi – NCR in the forum classes. We are conducting the 13th session classes in the Northern Railway Central Hospital, New Delhi and have received overwhelming enthusiasm from the faculty for their participation in this forum this time too.

We sincerely hope to make it a fruitful experience through an extensive one to one interaction with the eminent teachers of today and yesteryears. We also hope to ensure that this platform ensures that everyone stands a great chance of clearing their practical examinations in their first attempt.