The Medical Education Unit of Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & Research Institute (MMCH&RI) conducted a structured academic programme featuring an invited lecture titled “From Recall to Reasoning: Transforming Question Design,” delivered by Dr. K. Swaminathan, Convener, NMC Regional Center and Director, Institute of Pathology, Madras Medical College, Chennai. The session was aimed at strengthening assessment practices in alignment with competency-based medical education.
The programme was formally inaugurated by Dr. K. V. Rajasekhar, Dean, MMCH&RI, who emphasized the importance of evolving assessment strategies to reflect real-world clinical reasoning and decision-making. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. V. Eswari, Vice President (Academics), who highlighted the need to design meaningful assessments that go beyond rote memory and encourage analytical thinking among medical students.
In his invited lecture, Dr. K. Swaminathan provided valuable insights into modern question design, focusing on constructing assessment items that evaluate application, problem-solving, and clinical judgment. Drawing from his vast academic and regulatory experience, he explained practical approaches to framing questions that assess higher-order cognitive skills, thereby enhancing the quality and relevance of medical examinations.
The academic programme concluded with an engaging event titled “Teach Smart – The Pedagogy Contest” for postgraduate students, which encouraged innovative teaching and assessment approaches. The session was well received by participants and served as a stimulating platform to promote reflective teaching and learner-centered assessment practices.
