INTRODUCTION: The major question regarding the access to residency programs is how to properly select the candidates in order to choose those who will better return to society the intellectual and financing investment given to them. The Program in Coloproctology of Hospital Sirio Libanês decided to make an exam to favor not only knowledge, but surgical skills, capability of solving problems, capability of being team players, and personality as well. The Ministery of Education model was observed. SELECTION OF CANDIDATES: 1) written exam (5 credits), with tests evaluating knowledge on medicine in general; 2) practical tests (4 credits), applied by members of the Program: a) case discussion; b) case discussion focusing pre, intra e post operative care; c) surgery in animals; d) critical care in simulating model; 4) interview (1 credit) - by members of the Program. DISCUSSION: The National Commission for Medical Residence favors knowledge of the candidates, and only one credit is given to personal interview, which differs from other country models. Our Residency Program in Coloproctology decided to carry on a practical exam that allowed interaction among candidates and examiners, as well as the possibility to evaluate surgical skills, capability of problem solving, team player behavior, personality. Therefore, the practical exam helped to better evaluate candidates during the interviews. CONCLUSION: The practical exam was complex to prepare. However, it was very useful to promote a better evaluation of the candidates. PROPOSAL: Based on this experience, the authors suggest to SBCP: 1) to define selection criteria to be applied to all Brazilian approved programs; 2) to create a resident evaluation system to be applied to all programs.
Residency program; Coloproctology; Selection
