Brilliant Surgeons and Funny Bones: Celebrating Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla
Ladies and gentlemen, gather round and sharpen your scalpels, because we have some fabulous news from the world of pediatric surgery! Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla, the maestro of little tummies at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH), has been ushered into the esteemed halls of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). And this announcement comes with a side of pride and perhaps a sprinkle of envy from the rest of us mere mortals!
Induction ceremony nitty-gritty: Mark your calendars, folks! On September 27, 2024, in the vibrant city of Chicago (where the pizza is deep and the compliments run shallow), 76 remarkable surgeon educators, including our very own Dr. Puligandla, were welcomed into this elite club. Yes, that’s right—he’s now officially one of the cool kids in the medical playground, and let’s be honest, it’s about time we acknowledge the incredible talents of those who sew together our hopes and dreams—or at least our organs.
A Little Bit About Our Surgical Star
For those unfamiliar with Dr. Puligandla’s illustrious resume (seriously, it should be bound in gold), he’s not just the Director of the Division of Pediatric General Surgery at MCH; he’s also a Professor of Pediatric Surgery at McGill University. He’s got a collection of accolades that would make even the most decorated soldier look like they’ve just won a participation trophy. He directed the Pediatric Surgery Training Program for a whopping 15 years and, may I add, was the first Canadian on the American Board of Surgery Board of Pediatric Surgery in over four decades. That’s not just a feather in his cap; that’s a whole peacock!
But it gets better—Dr. Puligandla isn’t just thinking about surgeries; he’s thinking about teaching the next generation too! What’s more impressive? His accomplishments include:
- Being named to the McGill Teaching Honor Roll (2015), because who wouldn’t want to be on a roll made of academic pie?
- Winning McGill’s first PGME Program Director Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), which translates to “You’re never getting rid of me!”
- Holding the Royal College Program of the Year award (2022)—is there a trophy cabinet at MCH that we need to talk about?
“Dr. Puligandla is an inspiring leader in education… He left his mark at McGill, MCH, and beyond,” said Dr. Sam Daniel, whose compliments we can only assume are part of a larger strategy to keep Dr. Puligandla from ever leaving his post.
The Academy: Not Just Another Fancy Acronym
So what’s the big deal about this Academy, anyway? The ACS Academy is on a noble mission: to advance the science and education across all surgical specialties. They put these esteemed members through a rigorous peer-review process—because nothing says “you did good” like a room full of peers commenting on your suitability! This year saw an equal split of members and associate members (38 each). What a fine class of surgical wizards!
Here’s what they aspire to do:
- Advance surgical education—because let’s be real, no one wants their surgeon reading from an instruction manual!
- Encourage creativity and collaboration—a fancy way of saying, “Stop working in isolation!”
- Recognize the efforts of faculty, akin to giving a gold star on a report card.
- Push for lifelong education—since the day you stop learning is the day you start … well, you know.
Dr. Ajit K. Sachdeva, the director of the Division of Education of the ACS, captured the sentiment perfectly: “We look forward to continuing to encourage innovation, collaboration, and excellence in surgical education.” Such eloquent words, but let’s make sure they can actually sew a button before we let them near an operating room, huh?
Mentoring: The Secret Sauce of Success
The Academy isn’t just about fancy titles and ceremonies. It aims to mentor aspiring surgeon educators globally, especially from middle- and lower-income countries. They’re not just changing lives; they’re literally opening the surgical playbook for anyone brave enough to wield a scalpel!
In Conclusion
So, hats off (surgical hats, that is!) to Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla! His induction into the Academy is a testament to his commitment to education, his zest for teaching, and his passion for surgery. One can only hope to one day slay like Dr. Puligandla—a man who’s managed to turn a profession often viewed as dull into a stage for brilliance. Keep your utensils sharp, and let’s celebrate surgical educators like Dr. Puligandla. After all, they’re the ones keeping the show on the road—and sometimes, the organs in the body!
Dr. Pramod S. Puligandla, pediatric surgeon at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH), is part of a group of 76 esteemed surgeon educators who have been inducted as members of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on September 27, 2024, during an event in Chicago. This is the seventh cohort of members inducted into this eminent academy.
Dr. Puligandla is currently Director of the Division of Pediatric General Surgery at MCH and Professor of Pediatric Surgery at McGill University. He is a dedicated surgeon educator whose experience in the field includes directing the Pediatric Surgery Training Program at McGill from 2008 to 2023 and serving as a member of the American Board of Surgery Board of Pediatric Surgery from 2018 to 2024. Dr. Puligandla was the first Canadian to hold such a position in over 40 years.
His other distinctions as a surgeon educator include being named to the McGill Teaching Honor Roll (2015), receiving McGill’s first PGME Program Director Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), and the McGill Director’s Award. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Program of the Year (2022).
“Dr Puligandla is an inspiring leader in education. This major accomplishment demonstrates his dedication to achieving significant educational advances in the field of surgery. Dr. Puligandla left his mark at McGill, MCH and beyond,” said Dr. Sam Daniel, Director of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGill University and Chief of Surgery at the Montreal Hospital for children.
The ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® works to advance science and education across all surgical specialties. Individuals are selected as Members, Associate Members or Affiliate Members following a rigorous peer review process. This year’s class includes members (38 inductees) and associate members (38 inductees). The first class was inducted in 2018 and the Academy has since grown to 401 members, associate members and affiliate members representing thirteen surgical specialties other than general surgery.
Once inducted, Academy members actively engage in advancing the Academy’s programs and goals, which are to:
- advance the science and practice of surgical teaching, training and education in innovative and ongoing ways in the changing health care environment;
- foster the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration;
- support the development and recognition of faculty;
- emphasize the importance of lifelong surgical education and training;
- positively impact quality and patient safety through continuing surgical education and training;
- share advances in education and training to all surgeons;
- provide mentorship to surgeon educators throughout their professional careers.
“This year, we celebrate a new cohort of distinguished surgeon educators who are pushing the boundaries of surgical education and making exceptional contributions to our field,” said Dr. Ajit K. Sachdeva, director of the Division of Education. of the ACS and Co-President of the Academy. “By welcoming these new members, we look forward to continuing to encourage innovation, collaboration and excellence in surgical education. Together, we will define the future of surgical education and inspire the next generation of educators to advance patient care and professional practice through effective teaching. »
Academy members collaborate and publish important studies, and participate in talks, speaker series, and the Academy Symposium, an annual conference that brings Academy members together to exchange best practices and discuss of essential topics in the field of surgical education. The Academy continues to focus on outreach and mentoring surgeon educators around the world, with a particular emphasis on engaging surgeon educators from middle- and lower-income countries. With this year’s induction ceremony, the Academy will have 54 international members, representing 24 countries other than the United States.
