No Degree Offered to Liberian Students St. Luke Says It's Operating Legally

Africa News May 30, 2005 Monday


Africa News

May 30, 2005 Monday



No Degree Offered to Liberian Students

St. Luke Says It's Operating Legally

The Management of the St. Luke Medical School says there has been no degree offered to any Liberian student as is being alleged by Dr. Mohammed Sheriff.

The CEO and President of the St. Luke School of Medicine, Dr. Jerroll Dolphin said his institution has only awarded online degrees to students who have their Masters or Doctorate degrees.

Dr. Dolphin explained that some of the students who the institution confer degrees on are people who are highly qualified with some having more than ten years of experience in various areas of the medical profession.

He pointed out that the students have had two years of clinical rotation before enrolling in the online program, which he considers a difficult task to undertake.

The St. Luke CEO and President dismissed claims by Assemblyman Dr. Mohammed Sheriff that the St. Luke School of Medicine is a bogus organization which was established by people with dubious intent.

He explained that his institution is operating under the laws of Liberia, and has been issued a permit to operate by the National Commission of Higher Education.

Dr. Dolphin said an Act granting the school a chapter status was signed by former President Charles Taylor and approved by the National Legislature in 2003.

The Ministry of Health & Social Welfare also accredited the St. Luke School of Medicine to operate within the Republic of Liberia.

In a letter accrediting the school, which was dated August 2000 under the signature of Health Minister, Dr. Peter Coleman, the Ministry said the Medical School will grant a four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) and is regulated through the Ministry of Health.

The St. Luke School of Medicine is located in Gay-town on the Old Road. It has not officially commenced academic work. However, authorities of the school have brought in equipment valued thousands of United States dollars in anticipation of future academic work.

Meanwhile, a report from a joint committee of Health & Social Welfare and Education & Public Administration, has recommended the closure of the Medical School with immediate effect and all assets frozen pending the conclusion of an inquiry by the Ministry of Justice.

The committee's report submitted to plenary last month also recommended that all medical degrees offered by the school should be nullified and anyone found using said degrees be prosecuted.

 

Dolphin is actually a carp

See links to news stories at http://www.hep.uiuc.edu/home/g-gollin/pigeons/.

Dolphin's statements are unreliable.