What's the "real deal" on these Carribean Medical Schools?

[justme1972]

I'm starting to notice a higher number of doctors that graduate from medical schools in the Carribean that practice in the USA.

Anyone know something I don't?

[justme1972]

You know what they call somebody who graduated at the bottom of his class from a Caribbean medical school?

Doctor.

You are right, but chances are somewhere in his career they'll call him something else....

Defendant.

[TiredMD]

Please, higer education in the US is big business. Please don't be fooled by the non-profit status. They're out to make some serious money. We (the public) just don't get a piece of the pie.

This is a cute catch phrase, but the truth of the matter is that there is a big difference between an institution that (1) puts all of their profits back into the organization, vs (2) pays profits out to private investors who put it in their pocket.

And of course, in neither situation does the public get a "piece of the pie". Honestly, I'm totally confused about that part of your comment.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I've known some nitwit MDs that graduated here in the US. I'm not going to judge based on where they got their education. We read on here about people having all sorts of trouble getting into the nursing school of their choice, or any nursing school for that matter. People do what they have to do. Did all of you graduate from the most well respected RN programs with a BSN? Because otherwise, I'd avoid judging the education choices someone else.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure who has been judging. The fact is there is a large attrition rate of students whom attend the Caribbean MD schools. That is not a judgment that is a fact. That should be a red flag if you are about to drop 100k+ into an institution. MDs who get accepted to typical programs have a very high percentage that they will graduate - they have been vetted to that point based on the competitive nature of the programs..... I actually feel bad for those that might not realize the risk or whom select the risk based on the opportunity to become and MD and do not make it through - that is a tough lesson.

It's something that deserves to be recognized - especially when someone is asking for comments on the difference between US based MD programs and Caribbean based programs - that is the entire intent of this thread... to provide contrast not to pretend there is none or to denounce my opinions

[Anxious Patient]

This N.Y. Times article makes the case that U.S. med students might be squeezed out of clinical training in New York because of the influx of Caribbean med students.

New York Hospitals Create Outcry in Foreign Deal

New York City's Health and Hospitals Corporation has signed a 10-year, $100 million contract with a profit-making medical school in the Caribbean to provide clinical training for hundreds of students at the city's 11 public hospitals. Under the contract, St. George's pays the hospitals $400 to $425 per student per week. U.S. Med schools typically pay little or nothing to have their students rotate through the hospitals. Some New York City med schools told the NYT they wouldn't be able to compete dollar for dollar with St. George's.

Foreign med schools are big business, drawing U.S. students who are willing to pay some $50,000 a year in tuition (compared with $40,000 at top American medical schools) and who often can't get into U.S. medical schools.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/nyregion/05grenada.html

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

The article stated that a NY hospital system made a deal with a specific caribbean schools to accept and precept that school's students in return for money. Not only that - but the agreement was based upon that system not accepting any other students from other caribbean schools in return for the reported money amount.

So the case that the US is worried that it would squeeze out students is not really accurate. The case here is establishing a purely monetary relationship with a specific school, and agreeing to exclude all other caribbean schools, in return for clerkship slots....

[MB37]

Even with a high attrition rate, these schools serve a purpose for some people. They allow a route for someone who didn't decide they wanted to be an MD at the age of 3 to become one, since it's possible to get in with a less than perfect GPA. It's good to know that, as Tired MD pointed out, there are a few that are respected over here. If graduates have to jump through a few extra hoops to do their residencies stateside, so be it. Hopefully the hoops are enough to keep out the folks who never wanted to put forth the effort necessary to become a physician while allowing a nontraditional route for those who really work for it.

[TiredMD]

This N.Y. Times article makes the case that U.S. med students might be squeezed out of clinical training in New York because of the influx of Caribbean med students.

In the US, most MD schools have affiliated hospitals, be it hospitals that are a part of the institution (Georgetown, George Washington) or hospitals that have a long-standing relationship with private hospitals (many state schools such as my own). Residents in academic programs (those affiliated with medical schools) train in these hospitals, and usually so do the students from these medical schools.

Carribean schools, due to their location, obviously have to make other arrangements.

NY has a ton of hospitals, and a ton of medical schools. Having designated clinical training sites for medical students is one important aspect of obtaining and maintaining accredidation in the US.

I think, despite the mildly alarmist tone of this article, there is little chance of US medical students suffering any adverse effect from Carribean students training here. Their numbers are small, and they have always been the black-sheep in the medical family.

[queenjean]

Don't nursing schools in the US have fairly high attrition rates as well? I know both my LPN and RN schools did. The two schools that I know of in my area which didn't have high attrition rates have the lowest NCLEX pass rates. Coincidentally (or not) these are the two private universities that cost approximately 2X as much as the state university nursing program and 4-5X as much as the community college programs.

[pielęgniarka, RN]

Hellooooo evereebadee!

"Hi Dr. Nick!"

Just kidding-- when I read this thread I thought of Dr. Nick from the Simpsons! Darn stereotypes!