Medical School Now Possible via Distance learning!

Discussion in 'Nursing and medical-related degrees' started by japhy4529, Aug 22, 2007.

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  1. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Actually, the first two years (pre-clinical) of Medical School may now be completed online. The 3rd and 4th year may be completed at a teaching Hospital in the U.S. (or Samoa).

    This both exciting and frightening to me!

    http://www.oceaniamed.org

    - Tom

    P.S. The first course "Introduction to Medicine" may be completed in Samoa (or an affiliated college in the U.S.). The rest of the pre-clinical courses are all conducted online.
     
  2. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    $$$$$

    Wow! At $6300 USD x 18 blocks = $113,400.

    Rather expensive distant learning education for a degree that will certainly pose difficulties obtaining licensure in the USA but if you want to practice medicine in Samoa then go for it! Unfortunately, a Samoan physician probably makes that in a life time but what the heck, practicing medicine is a calling not a profession??!! sarcasm
     
  3. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Not for me. Just thought I would pass the info along...

    - Tom
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Like many graduates of foreign medical schools, with this one a student can get American licensure by passing the USMLEs. That's how graduates of Caribbean medical schools practice in the U.S.

    -=Steve=-
     
  5. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Partially correct

    Your statement is only partially correct. I have done some research in the area after getting accepted to a caribbean medical school. I decided to get my family nurse practitioner license instead.

    This is the process for obtaining licensure in the USA.
    1. Must attend a medical school listed in IMED http://imed.ecfmg.org/search.asp
    2. After basic science completion year 1 and 2, one is eligible to take the USMLE step 1.
    3. After completing USMLE step 1, one can continue on to clinical clerkship rotations for year 3 and 4. This requirement is usually set by the medical school for liability reasons.
    4. After graduation, USMLE steps 2 and the step 2 clinical skills assessment is taken to apply for and become ECFMG (Educational Commision for Foreign Medical Students) certified.
    5. Once certified a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) is able to participate in the match for a residency http://www.nrmp.org/
    6. After completing post graduate residency training one can apply for licensure in a state. http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_eliinitial.html
    some states require the entire residency completed for foreign medical students and some states require as little as 1 year of post graduate training (PGY).
    7. There has been extensive research on the validity of doing the basic sciences online or through distant learning and many states will not accept it for licensure. I suggest you call the state medical board and ask them if they will accept online basic sciences. Here is a link of someone who did just that.
    http://www.valuemd.com/state-medical-licensing-information/81270-online-classes-state-licensure.html
    There are at best 1 or 2 states that will accept it so do your homework before you spend $100k plus on an internet medical diploma. The vast majority will not! As a matter of fact, getting a residency is not easy to obtain as well. I have friends who attended non internet based medical schools and passed all the Usmle steps and still are unable to get a US residency. These foreign medical schools are a business first and love customers. The more money they make the happier they are.

    If unable to get into a US medical school (MD) try a US DO doctor of Osteopathic school. If still unable go to Physician Asistant or Nurse Practitioner school. If you have a burning desire to become a MD than absolutely go to a well respected foreign medical school that has very high USMLE pass rate history with their students getting a U.S. residency.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 22, 2007
  6. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    I've never considered the DO to be a consolation prize to the MD. Both are physicians.
     
  7. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    additional option

    If the comment came accross as a consolation prize, I apologize. I mearly suggested it as an alternative to going to foreign medical school for someone that is interested!:D

    Quite frankly, I feel like I waste my time responding on this forum. Go ahead, spend $100 k plus on a distant learning degree in medicine and find out for yourself, I could care less!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 22, 2007
  8. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    The first two years of a four-year medical school are typically science education, not medical education . . . which is how the University of Miami (and other schools) justified their two-year MD programs for people who had advanced science degrees.

    Here's a profile of president Taffy Gould (with Rudy Giuliani); sounds like a good person. http://tinyurl.com/33u2zu

    When the impolite "Delta" writes, "I could care less!" what he or she means, of course, is "I couldn't care less."
     
  9. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    World full of good peope with good intentions.

    The world is full of good people with good intentions. I don't have anything against Taffy Gould or Oceania University. I'm simply stating one should check with the state medical boards before investing a significant amount of money and time in a medical education!

    Typically the basic sciences include:
    Gross Anatomy
    Biochemistry and genetics
    Neuroscience
    Physiology
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Pathology
    Pharmacology
    Behavioral science

    A solid foundation in these sciences is absolutely necessary to be a well rounded physician. I believe Oceania claims to offer a problem based learning (PBL) approach while simultaneously integrating all these basic sciences. I believe PBL is a wonderful way to learn but one has to have a mastery of the basic sciences to fully appreciate the case studies. In other words, one should learn the basic sciences first then use a problem based learning approach. Granted, some of the basic sciences can probably be taught online with no problem but others aspects need a practical lab component ie: dissecting cadavers, looking through a microscope and so forth are lacking in delivery through the internet.

    Bottom line, check with the state medical boards on their acceptance of these programs. Perhaps in time they will recognize the validity of a distant learning delivery and change their laws.
     
  10. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    .

    Sorry for being impolite. Delta
     
  11. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    International Virtual Medical School

    The International Virtual Medical School, announced five years ago, seems to be moving slowly and steadily forward, having also added plans for an International Virtual Dental School and an International Virtual Nursing School. http://www.ivimeds.org

    Here is part of the first article on it in the Chronicle:

    Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 1, 2002

    Colleges in 16 Countries Work to Create a Virtual Medical School

    Led by Scotland's University of Dundee, an international group of medical schools is trying to create the world's first online medical school.

    More than 50 institutions in 16 countries have helped plan the International Virtual Medical School, which its organizers plan to open in the summer of 2004. The institutions include all five of Scotland's medical schools, at the Universities of Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St. Andrews....

    The virtual school would allow students around the world to pursue a medical education through a combination of computer-based learning and clinical experience in local health facilities.... Degrees would be granted by the participating medical schools, each of which is already accredited....

    Like those enrolled in traditional programs, students in the virtual medical school would spend their first two years immersed in an intensive study of basic sciences and the next two to three years applying their knowledge in clinical settings. But instead of learning in a classroom, they would take online courses, engage in online group activities with other students around the world, and tap into computerized data-bases and "virtual practices."....

    Among the American medical schools participating in the project are those at Brown, Wake Forest, and West Virginia Universities, and the University of Miami.
     
  12. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Change

    I'm all for change "Delta". It just takes time.

    Hopefully, some fine physicians will be produced by these schools and State medical boards will change their policies but for now, Caveat emptor "let the buyer beware".
     
  13. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Oregon state website

    Since so many on this site give regard to the Oregon State unaccredited list I though it would be noteworthy to point out that Oceania online med school of Samoa is on the list.

    http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 15, 2007
  14. bullet

    bullet New Member

    On this point, I agree with DELTA.

    You place your Medical Licensure at risk by doing "online" coursework in the basic or clinical sciences.

    The risk seems to be geared towards the USA, I am not sure about Canada, but they pretty much follow the same process(es).

    My opinion:

    STAY AWAY FROM ONLINE MEDICAL EDUCATION if you want to become a licensed M.D. in the USA.
     
  15. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    Here is another interesting Medical School

    College of Medicine and Science, West Indies.

    This medical school appears to address the "online stigma" by having the medical student attend basic sciences on campus for the first month of each semester and then utilizing online lectures and assignments for the remaining of the semester. I wonder if this style of mixed on campus and dl learning doesn't show on the radar when applying for licensure in the USA. The student presents a passport stamped a few times a year and is able to show proof of residential learning.

    http://www.medstlucia.info/homepage.html
     
  16. DameronBA

    DameronBA New Member

    May I ask why you have so many posts but they all seem to be biased? We can go to the websites ourselves and make our own judgement. If you dislike distance learning Medical schools so much, why do you keep looking for more of them in the Internet? Your like a blind mind picking out his favorite porn video.

    There are people here who actually need credible information on how to further their education, like myself, through non-traditional ways (distance learning). We don't have time to read your bickerings and how you feel about on-line medical schools. Sorry, pal.

    This is an old post, I should have schooled you sooner!
     
  17. DameronBA

    DameronBA New Member

    May I ask why you have so many posts but they all seem to be biased? We can go to the websites ourselves and make our own judgement. If you dislike distance learning Medical schools so much, why do you keep looking for more of them in the Internet? Your like a blind mind picking out his favorite porn video.

    There are people here who actually need credible information on how to further their education, like myself, through non-traditional ways (distance learning). We don't have time to read your bickerings and how you feel about on-line medical schools. Sorry, pal.

    This is an old post, I should have schooled you sooner!
     
  18. raristud2

    raristud2 New Member

    I am in favor of delta's scrutiny of online medical schools. As an advocate and entrepreneur in the field of distance education, I draw the line when it comes to earning a medical degree fully online. That's just my opinion. I would accept a hybrid program that includes residencies and on-campus laboratories.

    "There are people here who actually need credible information on how to further their education, like myself, through non-traditional ways (distance learning)." - It is strange that you are posting this since you are bickering about delta's feelings about online medical schools. Well guess what, I have presented my opinion. If you don't like how I feel about online medicals, get the hell out of this forum. Sorry, pal. Opinions are part of this discussion board.
     
  19. raristud2

    raristud2 New Member

    Now that we have an understanding. Welcome :D
     
  20. raristud2

    raristud2 New Member

    What are the accreditation standards in samoa? Has anyone completed this hybrid program in the US?
     

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