Comments on: Caribbean Medical Schools: A Good Option? http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/ An educational community for students and doctors spanning all the health professions. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:46:14 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jrome Joseph http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8793 Jrome Joseph Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:25:07 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8793 An excellent article. However, the auther focused only on off shore medical schools following the American system. This gives the false impression that this is the only type of medical school in the Caribbean. The University of the West Indies is an excellent university with three medical schools. This school is patterned after the British system and in fact began as a campus of the University of London. The author has completely ignored this institution which is internationally recognized. While the emphasis was placed on American type schools a more balanced approach should be considered. Apart from this omission, the article was interesting and infromative. An excellent article. However, the auther focused only on off shore medical schools following the American system. This gives the false impression that this is the only type of medical school in the Caribbean. The University of the West Indies is an excellent university with three medical schools. This school is patterned after the British system and in fact began as a campus of the University of London. The author has completely ignored this institution which is internationally recognized. While the emphasis was placed on American type schools a more balanced approach should be considered. Apart from this omission, the article was interesting and infromative.

]]> By: Dr. Poundsign http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8777 Dr. Poundsign Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:08:43 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8777 I went to UNE (Noreste) in Mexico in the early eighties. There is a LOT of anti Americanism down there, you have no civil rights no landlord tenant rights and most important no academic rights. Groucho got it right that he wouldn't "join any club that would have ME as a member!" In those years they switched from the ECFMG to the dreaded two-day FMGEMS. MANY could not pass with the 90-95% failure rate of this "separate and unequal" exam. I lost three years of my life with that alone and THEN had to pay to be a fifth pathway slave in NY for a year (better than two years of Internado and social service in Tampico) We would take rotations ANYWHERE to get out of that Hole in my case inner city Detroit and Cleveland. Even if you get a residency (and all the double standard politics that go with it) you will end up doing primary care like me often in an out of the way place. I cannot imagine being a male nurse would be as painful as this...at least they are wanted and needed! I went to UNE (Noreste) in Mexico in the early eighties. There is a LOT of anti Americanism down there, you have no civil rights no landlord tenant rights and most important no academic rights. Groucho got it right that he wouldn’t “join any club that would have ME as a member!” In those years they switched from the ECFMG to the dreaded two-day FMGEMS. MANY could not pass with the 90-95% failure rate of this “separate and unequal” exam. I lost three years of my life with that alone and THEN had to pay to be a fifth pathway slave in NY for a year (better than two years of Internado and social service in Tampico) We would take rotations ANYWHERE to get out of that Hole in my case inner city Detroit and Cleveland. Even if you get a residency (and all the double standard politics that go with it) you will end up doing primary care like me often in an out of the way place. I cannot imagine being a male nurse would be as painful as this…at least they are wanted and needed!

]]> By: Spencer Nagle http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8354 Spencer Nagle Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:09:38 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8354 Hey. Caribbean Medical school is awesome! The education quality is the same. If you're going to waste the best years of your life in the library, you might as well enjoy the scenery on the walk there! lol Good Luck Hey.

Caribbean Medical school is awesome! The education quality is the same. If you’re going to waste the best years of your life in the library, you might as well enjoy the scenery on the walk there! lol

Good Luck

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8326 Jimmy Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:17:44 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8326 "Once I matriculate, I’ll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study – ace the usmle – and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality." Not with that attitude you won't. Why didn't you just take longer to study for the MCAT? Nobody wants to hear your excuses why you're at a DO school, at least you know you are there as a 2nd option. Everybody has their own personal problems, nobody cares that you make it sound like yours is worse than everybody else's. Makes you come out as ass. “Once I matriculate, I’ll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study – ace the usmle – and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality.”

Not with that attitude you won’t. Why didn’t you just take longer to study for the MCAT? Nobody wants to hear your excuses why you’re at a DO school, at least you know you are there as a 2nd option. Everybody has their own personal problems, nobody cares that you make it sound like yours is worse than everybody else’s. Makes you come out as ass.

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8308 Jimmy Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:03:45 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8308 Sam A huge advantage of caribbean schools like SGU is that you do clinicals in the US in 3rd and 4th year. Other "true" foreign med schools will not. This is a HUGE advantage, as a lot of programs like you to have US clinical exposure. In addition, schools like SGU is based on a US curicullum and teaches towards the USMLE, whereas true foreign schools do not. These 2 advantages are enough to say that caribbean schools like SGU, Ross, AUC, are better options for foreign than true foreign schools if your primary purpose is to come back to the US. You are correct that caribbean schools do not enjoy special licensure status, but the transition to licensure is definately much more smoother from caribean schools who are 50 state recognized. Attending SGU, you do not have to prove equivalence to the medical boards in any of the 50 states. It has been already established, whereas true foreign medical schools you do, and its just a hassle, and not a guarantee. Although phillipine medical schools are great, going there, and ultimately trying to come back to the US will cause a lot of headaches compared to an established caribbean schools. In regards to profs at SGU, many of them are visiting professors from Canada, US and UK schools. For ex: Cardio section in path was taught by a practicing physician in the US, General pathology section was taught by a practicing pathologist in Canada. A portion of behavioral science was taught by practicing psychiatrist from Canada... the list goes on and on. Many phillipine med schools require you to finish your full 4 yrs there, before allowing you to take the USMLE. So you take step 1, step 2 after you graduate. HUGE disadvantage. To top it off, phillipine med school has NO US affiliations for rotations. Sam.. do you research before posting stupid lies. Jay Xavier is not considered one of the good caribbean schools this article speaks of. You might pay just $6k per semester, but you will pay for it, by having a really hard time getting a good residency, in addition, to the huge amount of hassles you will have in obtaining licensure once you have finished residency. It is better to attend schools that are 50 state approved (SGU, AUC, Ross, and maybe SABA (case by case in some states)) Sam
A huge advantage of caribbean schools like SGU is that you do clinicals in the US in 3rd and 4th year. Other “true” foreign med schools will not. This is a HUGE advantage, as a lot of programs like you to have US clinical exposure. In addition, schools like SGU is based on a US curicullum and teaches towards the USMLE, whereas true foreign schools do not. These 2 advantages are enough to say that caribbean schools like SGU, Ross, AUC, are better options for foreign than true foreign schools if your primary purpose is to come back to the US. You are correct that caribbean schools do not enjoy special licensure status, but the transition to licensure is definately much more smoother from caribean schools who are 50 state recognized. Attending SGU, you do not have to prove equivalence to the medical boards in any of the 50 states. It has been already established, whereas true foreign medical schools you do, and its just a hassle, and not a guarantee. Although phillipine medical schools are great, going there, and ultimately trying to come back to the US will cause a lot of headaches compared to an established caribbean schools. In regards to profs at SGU, many of them are visiting professors from Canada, US and UK schools. For ex: Cardio section in path was taught by a practicing physician in the US, General pathology section was taught by a practicing pathologist in Canada. A portion of behavioral science was taught by practicing psychiatrist from Canada… the list goes on and on. Many phillipine med schools require you to finish your full 4 yrs there, before allowing you to take the USMLE. So you take step 1, step 2 after you graduate. HUGE disadvantage. To top it off, phillipine med school has NO US affiliations for rotations. Sam.. do you research before posting stupid lies.

Jay
Xavier is not considered one of the good caribbean schools this article speaks of. You might pay just $6k per semester, but you will pay for it, by having a really hard time getting a good residency, in addition, to the huge amount of hassles you will have in obtaining licensure once you have finished residency. It is better to attend schools that are 50 state approved (SGU, AUC, Ross, and maybe SABA (case by case in some states))

]]> By: CmonNow http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8295 CmonNow Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:27:33 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8295 interesting. "Once I matriculate, I’ll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study – ace the usmle – and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality." Good luck to you. But stop making excuses...you'll get further that way. interesting.

“Once I matriculate, I’ll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study – ace the usmle – and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality.”

Good luck to you. But stop making excuses…you’ll get further that way.

]]> By: Sam http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8289 Sam Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:36:03 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8289 It's unfortunate that the article focuses on the most commercialized foreign option for US citizens who want to become IMGs. Carribean schools, above all else, are moneymaking machines: They do not serve a community of patients, and their only focus is the bottom line. To that end, they often employ instructors from English-speaking third world countries, they are located on islands with very low real estate and labor cost, and yet their tuition, housing, food services cost is more like out of state US tuition. An important fact that was omitted is that an IMG is always an IMG. The Carribean doesn't enjoy a special licensure status, and its graduates have the same legal status in the US as the graduates of recognised medical school in Mongolia or Papua New Guinea. Which brings up an important issue: Why on earth would Americans consider the Carribean as their "best" foreign option? I won't recommend a particular country. I found Cebu, Philippines to be a great place to study in English, and feel I'm getting my money's worth from a school that's recognised in all 50 US states, and charges less than $3000 per year. But for those who lack in premedical subjects, who haven't done well in their undergraduate a 6 year program in China, India, Europe might be better suited. Latin America has some great medical programs too, if you speak Spanish. The English-language program at UAG, Mexico is just as overpriced as their carribean counterparts, and will take you 5 years to complete. But UNIBE in DR is a 4 year program that's accepted in all US states except california. My point is that there is a whole world out there. Make educated choices. If you really like a particular Carribean school and you feel it's worth the high price tag - do it! But don't be scared into attending one because you think that a graduate from a foreign school outside of the Carribean can't pass the USMLE, or can't match for Residency. We have doctors from all over the world practicing in the US. They all passed. They all matched. And most didn't have to go broke on Gilligan's Island to do it. Just my 2 centavos. It’s unfortunate that the article focuses on the most commercialized foreign option for US citizens who want to become IMGs. Carribean schools, above all else, are moneymaking machines: They do not serve a community of patients, and their only focus is the bottom line. To that end, they often employ instructors from English-speaking third world countries, they are located on islands with very low real estate and labor cost, and yet their tuition, housing, food services cost is more like out of state US tuition.

An important fact that was omitted is that an IMG is always an IMG. The Carribean doesn’t enjoy a special licensure status, and its graduates have the same legal status in the US as the graduates of recognised medical school in Mongolia or Papua New Guinea. Which brings up an important issue: Why on earth would Americans consider the Carribean as their “best” foreign option? I won’t recommend a particular country. I found Cebu, Philippines to be a great place to study in English, and feel I’m getting my money’s worth from a school that’s recognised in all 50 US states, and charges less than $3000 per year. But for those who lack in premedical subjects, who haven’t done well in their undergraduate a 6 year program in China, India, Europe might be better suited. Latin America has some great medical programs too, if you speak Spanish. The English-language program at UAG, Mexico is just as overpriced as their carribean counterparts, and will take you 5 years to complete. But UNIBE in DR is a 4 year program that’s accepted in all US states except california.

My point is that there is a whole world out there. Make educated choices. If you really like a particular Carribean school and you feel it’s worth the high price tag – do it! But don’t be scared into attending one because you think that a graduate from a foreign school outside of the Carribean can’t pass the USMLE, or can’t match for Residency. We have doctors from all over the world practicing in the US. They all passed. They all matched. And most didn’t have to go broke on Gilligan’s Island to do it.

Just my 2 centavos.

]]> By: Jay http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8270 Jay Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:05:17 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8270 I like this article. Recently i joined in Xavier University School of medicine, Bonaire. I consider this as one of the best Caribbean medical school in teaching and it is cost effective. i paid just 6k for the semester. I like this article. Recently i joined in Xavier University School of medicine, Bonaire. I consider this as one of the best Caribbean medical school in teaching and it is cost effective. i paid just 6k for the semester.

]]> By: interesting. http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8246 interesting. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:49:50 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8246 CmonNow. I will own up to it. As a mother to be, working full time, taking a full course load and managing an $1800 hundred a month mortgage. I didn't have the time needed to study for the mcat, like some of my peers. Sure, I could walk away from my husband and all the responsibilities I have, drop 2 g's on a prep course, screw my benefits paying job, and get that 30+ score I need to get into my one state MD school (I live in a state with one MD school and two DO schools) - Yeah right. Instead, I'll go to my local DO school school with my 3.97 gpa, and my mediocre mcat score. Once I matriculate, I'll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study - ace the usmle - and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality. CmonNow.

I will own up to it. As a mother to be, working full time, taking a full course load and managing an $1800 hundred a month mortgage. I didn’t have the time needed to study for the mcat, like some of my peers. Sure, I could walk away from my husband and all the responsibilities I have, drop 2 g’s on a prep course, screw my benefits paying job, and get that 30+ score I need to get into my one state MD school (I live in a state with one MD school and two DO schools) – Yeah right. Instead, I’ll go to my local DO school school with my 3.97 gpa, and my mediocre mcat score. Once I matriculate, I’ll quit my job thereby giving me an extra 40 hours to study – ace the usmle – and take that bittersweet residency from someone with your exact mentality.

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/07/caribbean-medical-schools-a-good-option/#comment-8144 Jimmy Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:29:12 +0000 http://www.studentdoctor.net/?p=1933#comment-8144 Caution In reply to your post, the hospitals that SGU rotates through are green book rotations. Meaning there are residents actually being trained there as well. If your post is correct, which I'm not questioning, it is also true that these residents are not getting good training. Caution
In reply to your post, the hospitals that SGU rotates through are green book rotations. Meaning there are residents actually being trained there as well. If your post is correct, which I’m not questioning, it is also true that these residents are not getting good training.

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