Comments on: Studying Medicine in the Caribbean

By: abdul

abdul — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:00:12 +0000

Iam a medical student,I want to to residency in Accident and Emergency as soon as am done with ma courses
can anyone inform me what are the procedures in joining Residency in Cuba,,,,in either university of Havana or Universidad de La Habana
hve nice time all you all

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By: Jack Jacquet

Jack Jacquet — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:04:45 +0000

Just proves the old adage. It’s an ill wind that blows no good. – A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is just putting on its shoes. – Mark Twain 1835 – 1910

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By: John

John — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:01:39 +0000

Thats a picture of the bottom at saba it looks like…. All i know is the person who wrote this article isnt a caribb med student. And to all the students on the islands, back me up when i say the reason we are down there is the sun and jetskis. lolol
I’m now on my second island and in my third year trying to complete the basic sciences. And it is tough to believe I know, but the caribbean is no picnic. It is a great option for students to go to medical school, but the students on Saba really dont spend that much time sipping pina coladas on the beach. At least I didnt. Im sure the guy who wrote the article isnt a student down here, and with all do respect, you have no idea how far mistaken you are about everything. But it seems like many people are confused about what is really the situation with the schools down in the caribb. Ok see ya!

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By: Benji

Benji — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:33:32 +0000

Hi Julie,

I enjoyed reading your article and I think you put a positive light to coming to the Caribbean for medical school. However, there are some important pieces of information that I’d like to clarify for you for this article.

First, I think it is noteworthy to distinguish between regional medical schools and off-shore medical schools.

Regional medical schools in the Caribbean are geared towards students from the Caribbean who plan to practice in the Caribbean in the future. In the list, UWI, U.A. Santo Domingo and U Habana are regional schools, designed for local students of those countries to practice in their respective countries.

Then, there are off-shore schools, primarily designed by American educators for-profit to train American and Canadian students to eventually return to to the States or Canada to practice. In the list, St. Matthew’s, AUA, and Ross are off-shore schools. Of the off-shore schools, the only four schools that are completely accredited by all 50 states and considered “first-tier” are Ross, AUC, St. George’s, and Saba. Schools like St. Matthews and AUA are considered “second-tier” because they are not accredited by all fifty states. St. Matthew’s have tried years to get accreditation from California and other states without success. AUA is in a lawsuit with Arkansas right now because of that state’s refusal to recognize AUA graduates. In the list, I would definitely expect St. George’s, AUC, or Saba to come before AUA and St. Matthew’s.

Also, please note that Ross University School of Medicine is located on the island of Dominica, not St. Kitts. The campus on St. Kitts is Ross’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Again, I admire your attitude and goals for this article. I just would like to clarify some information in case any prospective students come across this article.

Thanks for understanding,
Benji

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By: MissCrabette

MissCrabette — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:32:15 +0000

Julie,

I must say that, like DT, I am also very surprised that St. George’s University and American University of the Caribbean were not mentioned in your article. They, along with Ross University and Saba University, are the first (and probably only) Caribbean medical schools that a US citizen should consider.

I find it laughable that St. Matthew’s University and American University of Antigua made it onto your list (as “highly ranked medical schools”, no less), considering that their graduates cannot be licensed in all 50 US states like the graduates of the other four schools I mentioned. Actually, they have both been disapproved by the Medical Board of California and a few other states.

To top it off, it’s interesting that you are using one of my pictures of the Saba University campus, but there is no other mention of the school in your entire article. Also, please note that the Creative Commons license associated with that photo does not allow any derivative works, including cropping.

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By: De La Cruz

De La Cruz — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:58:39 +0000

“One of the Caribbean’s oldest universities” = The oldest university in all of the Americas.

De La Cruz

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By: Basquiat

Basquiat — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:59:32 +0000

About the University of Santo Domingo you say is “One of the Caribbean’s oldest universities”. This university is the first founded in the New World (October 28, 1538)
Please correct.

Basquiat

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By: DT

DT — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:32:28 +0000

I’m surprised to see that St. Georges University (SGU) nor American University of the Caribbean (AUC) made it to the list. Most US students who want to practice in all 50 states in the US choose one of the Top 3 – Ross, SGU, AUC (in no particular order). I’ve recently also heard the list maybe expanded to include Saba as well, although I’m not 100% sure if they have received accreditation from all 50 states. Either way my experience from being an AUC student has been amazing and I can definitely attest to the fact that you will get a great education there. Island life can be very difficult for those who haven’t been away from the comforts of home or even the US, but being on St. Maarten makes it a lot easier than being on some of the less ‘touristy’ islands like Saba, Dominica (Ross), Grenada (SGU). Either way if medicine is your dream don’t let the Caribbean school stigma get in your way!

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By: malcolm x

malcolm x — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:14:23 +0000

if u have a problem with the research then y dont u do your own and stop complaining

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By: alexis wolff

alexis wolff — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:28:21 +0000

Really interesting article, Julie. Caribbean medical schools get a bad rap, but there are certainly some advantages, as you point out. I've heard from med school friends that St. George's in Grenada actually has a great residency placement rate.

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