Wk of 2.20.17

There is no difference between the education received by US medical schools to those based in the Caribbean. This false equivalent is merely a rumor mill similar to the one made against DO physicians, which were actually the first medical licensed doctors before the "MD" was created. Just like any college or educational system, you get out what you put in. If you dedicate your time to medicine there is nothing separating the knowledge and skills base from the two different camps. The books are the same, the tests are the same, the requirements are the same... the only difference is the artificial borders that separate US physicians from Caribbean physicians. Unlike International medical school, like those based out of south and central America, Caribbean medical students spend their entire clinical experience in the United States just like the so called "Upper Tier" US Medical Schools. So unless their are some statistics to prove the studying closer to the equator under higher UV rays effects your ability to study, I rest my case.

While the article sheds light on problems Caribbean medical schools have had in the past, it fails to show its progress. Specifically, foreign medical graduates value every opportunity. It’s an enormous sacrifice to pursue a medical education in the Caribbean when one is away from the comforts of home. The unwillingness to make such a sacrifice has been the reason many people opted into another career. Although many Caribbean medical students understand the obstacles ahead, they have shown time and time again that they are willing to go the extra mile to succeed because the passion to become a physician does not fade in times of hardship. It is incumbent on residency programs to look past the school an individual attended and value character, hard work and contact the references in order to truly explore the applicants background.

There is definitely a stigma associated with being a Caribbean Medical Student; one that is unjust to say the least. I was admitted to a 7 year combined BS/MD program after high school at the University of South Florida. I successfully matriculated through the first 2 years of the program which included clearing the GPA requirements in addition to the interviews, however was unable to meet the MCAT requirement needed to matriculate directly into the medical school. The same was true with many others in my program; many of them either changed their majors to dental/pharmacy or even extended their program to a 8 year program and ended up applying for DO. In fact, two students who were lucky enough to matriculate into the USF Medical School ended up failing their second year, had to repeat the whole year, but still ended up matching into their top choice programs in the field of psychiatry ironically - I highly doubt that the same outcome would have happened had this occurred with an IMG student or even one from a Caribbean Medical School. Just like Dr. Singh from the article, we all have our own stories and situations that have resulted in going to the Caribbean for medical school but it is also true that for every student that had a low MCAT score or subpar qualifications there are also students in the Caribbean who had better scores than DO students and would have been admitted to a US school under different situations. The curriculum is the same, the board exams are the same, but the hurdles towards residency are not which to me personally has only added fuel to the fire. The whole situation reminds me of the saying "it is not the clothes that make the man, but the man that makes the clothes" in regards to the passion and desire that resonate from all students especially Caribbean in regards to residency and becoming great physicians. The goals are the same but why are the hurdles different? Doesn't seem like a balanced equation.

As mentioned in the article, there is a shortage of doctors not only in California but nationwide - particularly observed in the area of primary care. Also mentioned in the article, 94% of US medical graduates match into US residencies in comparison to 54% of Americans who study medicine offshore. There is obviously a huge need for doctors in primary care setting, which I feel that Caribbean graduates can help address. Judging from the national trend, US graduates are less likely to work in lower socioeconomic status areas within the US whereas Caribbean students are more willing to work within these populations. I believe that the nation’s prosperity is dependent on the overall well-being of all its populations regardless of socioeconomic status. Therefore, I feel that Caribbean graduates have a place within the nation health system where they can collectively treat and improve the health of overall US population along with their US-educated counterparts.

This article points out the demise of IMGs. From the article,it shows there have been a strong dispute about the medical students from cattiness medical schools getting spots in hospitals. Carribean medical schools have over the years been looked upon as inferior when compared with the American medical schools. Student from carribean medical schools are given the "scraps" of the medical field when the residency spots are been applied. I am a medical student from Dominica and I know the work I put in just to get through. The criticism that IMGs are intertwined or are receiving substantial training it's not true. In medical school, students put in about 60% of the effort so if people who have made these comments met students that didn't meet their expectation I would say it's not the schools fault it might just be the students. I have met both carribean medical students and students that studied in the states and not to be biased there is no difference because we have the same curriculum. However,if one was better than the other it's because of the extra effort of each of the students.

The article definitely shows the Caribbean medical student in a better light. It focuses on the struggles and challenges we face competing on island to stay in our respective programs as well as showing that once in residency we are no different than our peers from US medical schools. In fact it gives examples of those who go beyond the norm, like Bajwa to give his patient excellent care. I do believe this article can change the minds of those who think that receiving an education from a Caribbean school somehow makes one less able to tackle residency or lesser doctors somehow. There is discrimination in the residency process where US medical students are preferred over IMGs in certain programs and hopefully articles such as these and students such as these can help convince programs to take in more Caribbean students. Residency programs should look at the work ethic and determination instead of just which school you went to. That I think will still be a struggle, but articles such as these help change preconceived thoughts residency programs may have about Caribbean students.

Its interesting that I've heard some of these same issues being discussed in our office. It has always seemed to me like if your going to attend a Caribbean medical school you have to be even more determined to get ahead than if your going to attend an American medical school because the odds are going to be stacked against you from the start. Unfortunately American residency programs and fellowships are quick to sterotype applicants when they only have a piece of paper in front of them. That being said its becoming more and more necessary that we have physicians who are willing and able to care for underserved populations. This seems to be a growing need that Caribbean medical students can fill and thrive in.