Short Hiatus to Long Sabbatical & Advice for Pre-Health Fields...

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by AsianStew, May 17, 2020.

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  1. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    Just came back from a short hiatus off work (took about 10 days to cleanup the garage) and now construction is starting, we demolished the garage and we're building a carriage/coach home or laneway house, whatever that thing it is called!

    *sigh* That garage wasn't even 8 years old! But alas, it was a better deal to "build" than to purchase an apartment condo, the overall value would be better and so would the ROI in the long run. This is our second build of this sort...

    Anyways, I will take a Long Sabbatical from work (and the boards/forums), going to focus on my Masters studies during this Covid-19/Coronavirus Pandemic. I have applied to all the ones with competency based degrees, namely the non-competitive ones, now I am going to apply to the ones with more selective entry requirements...

    My cousins have decided to go into the health professions, but hasn't fully decided which program and school to get into. Interests are in Alternative Medicine (Complementary/Homeopathic/Integrated, etc), Nursing (move up to nurse practitioner later), Physician Assistant (Masters), DO, OD, or MD, DVM.

    What I have told them is to make sure to get the Pre-requisites done for the degree they're interested in first, then move down that chain if they can't get into the program of choice. The chances to get into a program would be greater down that chain if they have all their bases covered.

    My suggestion is to go for the DO, OD, or MD, DVM options first, PA (Masters), second, Nursing third and any alternative medicine as the final option if none of the previous three options were successful. I've informed them it's best to study in the local state or country, but if not, try a Carribean school.

    Here is my list of recommendations for them, in Tiers... I recommend Tier 1 first, then Tier 2, lastly, Tier 3.
    International Medical Schools (Caribbean schools and Oceania University of Medicine)

    Tier 1: Accredited, WFME, NCFMEA, NY, CA, Title IV, 50 States
    - American University of Antigua (AUA) – accredited by CAAM-HP
    - American University of the Caribbean (AUC) – accredited by ACCM
    - Medical University of the Americas (MUA) – accredited by ACCM
    - Ross University – accredited by CAAM-HP
    - Saba University – accredited by NVAO
    - St. George’s University (SGU) – accredited by CAAM-HP

    Tier 2: Accredited, WFME, NCFMEA
    - St. Matthews University (SMU) – accredited by ACCM
    - Trinity School of Medicine (TSOM) – accredited by CAAM-HP
    - University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) – accredited by ACCM
    - Xavier University – accredited by both CAAM-HP and ACCM

    Tier 3: Conditionally & Provisionally Accredited, WFME
    - Avalon University – Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.
    - All Saints University – Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.
    - St. James School of Medicine (SJSM) – initial provisional accreditation on probation extended for 1 year by CAAM-HP in 2018. Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.

    - American University of Barbados (AUB) – provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
    - International American University (IAU) – provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
    - Spartan Health Sciences University – provisional accreditation extended by CAAM-HP in 2018
    - Windsor University – accredited by the Accreditation Board of St. Kitts and Nevis, which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA. Not accredited by CAAM-HP in 2018.

    Tier 3: Distance Learning (first two of four years) - 2 years "Basic Sciences" done online, 2 years residency at teaching hospital sites
    - International University of Health Sciences (IUHS) – accredited by St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board, which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA.
    - University of Science, Arts, and Technology (USAT) – accredited by Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC), which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA; not accredited by CAAM-HP in 2012
    - Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) - internationally accredited by Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), non-WFME and non-NCFMEA

    Tier 3: Any other medical schools mentioned on Wikipedia not listed above: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_schools_in_the_Caribbean
     
  2. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    I have questions for you.

    Do you have a ranking within your Tier 1? Seems there could be a material difference between widely-known schools that have been 50-state for a long time like SGU, and newer entrants that have only become 50-state in recent years, here if I'm not mistaken AUA and MUA.

    Is there any point at which your tier list of Caribbean medical schools "breaks," and you'd recommend an applicant either pursue either a different health profession in the U.S., a year of record improvement and reapplication, or medical school in another part of the world? Or are you saying the school with the worst student outcomes history in your lowest tier is preferred to any of those alternatives?
     
    Johann likes this.
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That's a good question, Jonathan. I'd like to hear the answer, too. While we're waiting, here's an article that concerns the ASIC accredited school on the list. https://www.bvibeacon.com/montserrat-medical-school-sanctioned-in-us/
     
  4. copper

    copper Active Member

    My advice for anyone interested in the healthcare/practitioner field is to start with something straightforward like going to EMT school. See if you like it! Some people faint at the sight of blood or don’t like being around sick people!

    Pre-medical courses for the most part, don’t give you exposure to the “clinical experience” so start off with something doable!
     
    Jahaza and Jonathan Whatley like this.
  5. Jahaza

    Jahaza Active Member

    DO, OD, or MD, DVM options first

    Physician, optometrist, and Veterinarian are vastly different careers. I can't really imagine putting them in the same category.
     
  6. copper

    copper Active Member

    Your labeling of Tier 1 Caribbean medical schools leads one to believe the degree will be readily accepted for entry into a US residency program. Although legitimate, these schools are still foreign schools and therefore graduates face additional challenges and face barriers dissimilar to US graduates, more like a Tier 1.9. The unmentioned “tier 1”Puerto Rico medical schools are considered US medical schools and graduates would have greater chances obtaining a US residency than other Caribbean graduates.

    You also mention homeopathy as a consideration and overlooked the many accredited ND schools that have pathways to practice. Also the DPM, DDS, DPharm, DC, AuD, DPT, etc., are worth exploring.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2020
  7. copper

    copper Active Member

    In addition, many if not all these universities are looking for volunteer/shadowing and/or professional experience in healthcare to be considered for admission followed by letters of recommendation by health care professionals.
     
    Vonnegut likes this.
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Indeed, but at least those are all real, unlike homeopathy.
     
  9. copper

    copper Active Member

    I personally believe if one wants to be gainfully employed in the US, attending a foreign school can be costly and may be unfruitful. I’m not convinced US schools are that much more expensive or competitive to attend than foreign schools! Are there complications receiving financial aid when studying overseas? Are there licensing issues? Are there prejudices faced in the workplace? I simply don’t know. I noticed the OP attempts to prioritize the various medical fields with perhaps foreign schools as a last resort followed by other medically related fields? Why is that? At a minimum, I give him credit for attempting to do some research but it seems haphazard and lacks focus.
     

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