Doctorate of Medicine - DM is an advanced course in the field of medicine. A candidate who completes this program successfully gets a super specialty degree. It’s a 3-year long course. Neonatology is the study of problems and issues of the new-born, especially the premature or the ones with other ailments. The course has been approved by the Medical Council of India and is a sub-specialization program that falls under pediatrics.
Doctor of Medicine in Neonatology Or Neonatology is a 3 year long PostDoctoral Medicinal course, that falls under a subspecialty of pediatrics. Neonatology consists of medical care of newborn infants, specifically the premature and the ones who are really ill.
DM Neonatology: Future Scope:-
The government, private and various funding organizations have been working on maternal and neonatal services. With increasing population and increasing rate of child-birth, the graph of healthy newborns is descending, which has led to the development and popularization of neonatology as a course.
Neonatology is a prestigious course and comes with increased responsibility and is gaining popularity among the masses. Hospitals are growing their branches and giving importance to NICUs and their development.
Highlights
| Course Level | Postgraduate Superspeciality |
| Full-Form | Doctorate of Medicine |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Examination Type | Semester |
| Eligibility | MD/MS from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | Entrance exams at the national/state/university level |
| Course Fee | INR 10,000-INR 10,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 50,000- INR 10,00,000 PA |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Hospitals, Nurseries, Maternity homes, NICUs |
| Job Positions | Neonatologist, Neonatal Consultant, Neonatal Physicist, etc |
Fees Structure
The fee structure for DM in Neonatology varies from college to college. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for DM in Neonatology is around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 12,00,000 per year.
Course Syllabus
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fetal and Neonatal Immunology | Fetal and Neonatal Endocrine Physiology |
| Applied Anatomy and Embryology | Research Methodology |
| Neonatal Adaptation | Biostatistics |
| Fetal and Intrauterine Growth | Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality, Morbidity and Epidemiology |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Intrapartum Monitoring | Neonatal Resuscitation |
| Diagnosis and Management of Fetal Diseases | Neonatal Ventilation |
| Medical Diseases | Blood Gas and Acid-Base Disorders |
| Physiological and Ethical Considerations | Neonatal Assessment |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Neonatal reflexes and Neonatal behavior | Neonatal Ophthalmology |
| Immunization | Neonatal Dermatology |
| Development and Assessment of Neuromotor Delay | Transport of Neonates |
| Neonatal Imaging | Organization of Neonatal Care |
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Science - AIIMS, New Delhi | INR 2,500-5,000 |
| St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore | INR 9,10,450 |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research- JIPMER, Pondicherry | INR 27,000 |
| Christian Medical College, Vellore | INR 2,04,726 |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi | INR 55,000 |
| Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai | INR 1,12,900 |
| Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata | INR 10,000 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune | INR 15,00,000 |
| Govt. Chengalpattu Medical College, Kanchipuram | INR 1,26,000 |
| Kerala University of Health Science, Thrissur | INR 1,00,000 |
College Comparison
| Parameters | Christian Medical College | All India Institute of Medical Science |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | CMC holds the vision to provide healthcare in the spirit of Christ. | AIIms Delhi is the top institute for DM Neonatology in India. |
| Location | Vellore | New Delhi |
| NIRF Ranking | 3 | 1 |
| Average Fees | INR 2,00,000 | INR 2,500- INR 3,000 |
| Admission | NEET-SS | NEET-SS |
| Average Salary | INR 2-8 LPA | INR 1-10 LPA |
DM Neonatology V/s DM Neurology: Which is Better?
| Parameters | DM Neonatology | DM Neurology |
|---|---|---|
| Course Level | Postgraduate | Postgraduate |
| Course Duration | 3-Years | 3-Years |
| Examination Type | Semester | Semester |
| Top Colleges | AIIMS | Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, AIIMS, Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences etc |
| Eligibility | MD/MS or any equivalent degree from a recognized university. | MD/MS or any equivalent degree from a recognized university. |
| Admission Process | NEET-SS | NEET-SS |
| Course Fee | INR 30,000 -INR 26 LACS | INR 20,000 -INR 30 LACS |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 10 LPA | INR 12 LPA |
| Top Job Profiles | Neonatologist, Pediatrician, Neonatology Physician etc | Neurologist, Neurophysician etc. |
Career Options
After completing a DM in Neonatology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.
In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor etc.
While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Neonatology), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Neonatology), Neonatology Specialist.
Job Profiles
With the advancing times and so much more, every course gives you a wide range of job prospects. There are several fields where a student having completed DM can work in.
Some of the most common job profiles that a degree holder in DM Neonatology can opt for are mentioned in the table below:
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Neonatologist | A doctor who has completed a DM(neonatology): a subspecialty course that helps you master over taking care of newborns with serious ailments or premature babies. | INR 8-10 Lakhhs |
| Neonatal Consultant | A doctor who holds the degree i.e. DM(neonatology) and opts for consulting expecting parents regarding the health of their unborn baby. They also help the mother take good care of herself and monitor the baby’s health throughout. | INR 5 Lakhs |
| Neonatal Surgeon | A Doctor with an MS degree if completes DM(neonatology) can become a neonatal surgeon and treat premature babies if they require surgery | INR 8 Lakhs and above |
Future Scope
The government, private and various funding organizations have been working on maternal and neonatal services. With increasing population and increasing rate of child-birth, the graph of healthy newborns is descending, which has led to the development and popularization of neonatology as a course.
Neonatology is a prestigious course and comes with increased responsibility and is gaining popularity among the masses. Hospitals are growing their branches and giving importance to NICUs and their development.
Before applying for a degree in Neonatology, applicants have to check their eligibility as per certain criterias. The eligibility criteria contain some essential qualification requirements like Minimum marks, Minimum degree required, age limit, nationality, entrances, etc. If a candidate is found ineligible, then the registration of the candidate will be canceled. Therefore students are requested to check their eligibility properly before applying. The eligibility criteria of DM in Neonatology are mentioned below:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing the DM (Neonatology) course, the student will be able to :
Students wanting to go for DM in neonatology can avail of the course after completion of MD/MS from a recognized university.
Some of the good colleges having the neonatology program are: Rangaraya Medical College, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Lady Hardinge Medical College, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The course fees range from INR 30,000 – INR 2.5 LACS.
There are several subjects and details may vary from college to college. The important subjects covered are Perinatology, Neonatal Resuscitation, Neonatal Ventilation, Blood gas and Acid-Base Disorders, Neonatal Assessments and Follow-Up, Body Systems Transport of Neonatal.
A person studying DM in neonatology is the one who handles risky and complex situations in the case of infants. A neonatologist is required to take care of the newborn and in case of serious ailments or risk to the baby, should also assist during the time of the delivery in the OT (Operation Theatre).
In some cases where the problem is identified even before the baby is born, the neonatologist gets involved with the obstetrician and helps expecting mothers take care of their unborn. Neonatologists even monitor infants and look after them till they are stable or healthy.
Definition:
The term “Neonatology ” includes diseases of the foetus and neonate including the maternal influences on the fetus and perinatal interventions
SYLLABUS FOR D.M. NEONATOLOGY COURSE:-
1 Overview:-
The total period of DM course is 36 months. Of this, at least three fourths (27 months) will be spent in the newborn service, 6 months will be meant for essential rotations in related specialties and the rest 3 months will be apportioned for either optional rotations or for the newborn service.
2. Newborn services (27 months):-
The candidates will have at least 27 months of posting in the newborn services at concerned institutions. The candidates must get adequate exposure to Neonatal follow up, neonatal emergencies, delivery room care of neonates and acquisition of practical skills (specified in Annexure I).
3. Essential Rotations (6 monhs):-
• Perinatology – obstetrics (Dept. of Obstetrics-Gyenecology) : 2 months
• Neonatal surgery (Dept of Pediatric Surgery) : 1 month
• Community neonatology: 1 month
• Perinatal Cardiology and functional echocardiography: 15 days
• Ultrasonography and imaging: 15 days
• Child development clinic: 1 month
4 . Optional rotations (3 months):-
The candidates can undertake up to 2 months’ elective rotation at the parent or other institutions in the country or abroad at centres approved by the Government.
The departments will have the flexibility of additional rotations for up to 1 month in the above mentioned disciplines or in other relevant areas (such as neonatal Cardiac Surgery, Genetics, Perinatal-pathology, Anaesthesiology, Neonatal Ophthalmology, etc.) depending upon the strength of the disciplines and functional requirements at the concerned institutions. [Under no circumstances however, would the training in neonatal services be of less than 27 months i.e three fourths of the total course.]
Why Study DM Neonatology?
Someone who's aspiring to become a neonatologist requires doing DM in Neonatology as it gives proper knowledge and education along with insight to the course. DM Neonatology has been popularising ever since it came into being. With changing times, the percentage of risky deliveries and babies with serious ailments are getting delivered, and hence the job of neonatologist has become more important.
The Admission Process varies from college to college. There are various entrance exams conducted by state governments and private medical colleges.
Documents Required:
Admissions to the course are granted based on entrance examinations. Most of the colleges accept NEET-SS, a national level entrance exam. While some colleges provide admissions based on state or university level entrance exams.
Several entrance exams are held for getting admitted into DM Neonatology.
NEET SS:Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree from a recognized universe/college to sit in this exam. It is the national level entrance exam for getting admission in DM/M.Ch courses. 40% of the questions are asked from the eligible feeder broad specialty course. The remaining 60% of questions are asked from the super specialty course which was selected by the candidate during the filling up of the form.
Candidates may choose two specialty courses for his/her eligibility. There will be separate question papers for each group. Around 100 questions will be asked that would be divided into Part A and Part B. The first exam’s duration is for 1 hour 45 minutes and the super-specialty is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Other accepted entrance exams for DM Neonatology are:
DM Neonatology: Tip to Prepare for Entrance Exams:-
