Rank 4 in MCh GI Surgery (INI SS 2025): Dr. Mohammad Hamza’s Road to Success

Dr. Mohammad Hamza, now a familiar name among INI SS aspirants, secured All India Rank 4 in MCh Surgical Gastroenterology (INI SS 2025). His journey is a story of persistence, refined strategy, and the smart use of Surgtest to bridge the gap between being “almost there” and reaching the top 5 ranks.

In a candid conversation with Dr. Vinayak S. Rengan, Dr. Hamza shared the grind behind his success

The Beginning: A Focus on GI Surgery From Day One

An alumnus of AIIMS Patna, Dr. Hamza’s interest in GI surgery and liver transplant began early in MBBS.

Secured AIR 95 in PG entrance

Deliberately chose General Surgery, aiming for HPB and liver transplant

Worked as a Senior Resident post-MS to strengthen clinical skills before going all-in for super-specialty prep

“HPB and liver transplant were always on my radar.”

Multiple Attempts, Refined Strategy

Dr. Hamza’s journey wasn’t about instant success—it was built on learning from setbacks.

NEET SS 2023: Treated as a mock, scored Rank 170 → realized GI prep is very different from General Surgery.

INI SS April 2023: Achieved Rank 11 in GI, but missed selection due to underperformance in General Surgery.

This became the turning point, shaping his targeted approach for 2025.

Prep Strategy: Building a Dual Core

After resigning from SR-ship in January, he gave 4–5 months of full-time preparation. His day was split strategically:

Morning (6–7 hrs): GI Surgery prep

Evening (2–3 hrs): General Surgery → focus on weak areas (shock, nutrition, SSI)

Strengths: Breast and endocrine surgery

Focus: Closing gaps in weak zones through structured practice

How Surgtest Changed the Game

A large part of Dr. Hamza’s General Surgery improvement came from Surgtest’s structured Qbank.

“Surgtest helped me sharpen my general surgery prep. Their chapter-wise Qbank and quality explanations made it easier to understand and remember facts.”

He also used Surgtest’s GI Surgery Qbank for high-yield and updated data, especially in:

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Branch-duct IPMN

Surgical options with percentages, outcomes, and evolving guidelines

The clinical, updated framing of questions gave him a real edge.

Textbooks Used: Selective, Not Exhaustive

Sabiston → primary resource

Shackelford & Blumgart → selected topics (peptic disease, radiology, liver surgery)

Final Advice to Aspirants

Dr. Hamza’s message for future GI Surgery aspirants:

Know your weaknesses → don’t repeat attempts without introspection

Structured practice > random study → use a quality Qbank like Surgtest

Focus on question framing → not just memorizing answers

Consistency matters → refine both General Surgery & GI prep

“Surgtest helped me approach both general and GI surgery in a focused manner. That made all the difference.”

Turn Your GI Surgery Dream Into Reality

If you’re preparing for INI SS or NEET SS in Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgtest can be your edge:

Chapter-wise MCQs with textbook-based explanations

High-yield recall questions and clinical updates

Real-time exam simulation to boost confidence

Download the Surgtest App today and start your success story.