Doctors who went to Caribbean medical schools or DOs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an allopathic doc from a very reputable American med school, I can say without reservation the admission criteria to American MD schools is more stringent (GPA/MCAT scores) than DO and Caribbean schools. I.e. it’s easier to gain admission to those aforementioned schools. Having said that, we all have to pass the same usmle exams to gain a license to practice medicine. A large benefit to American MD schools is we get (in general) better access to better residencies, which may lead to better training. I do work with foreign and DO grads all the time and for the most part they serve and practice admirably. One thing I see in my health system, however, is that DO and FMG account for a higher proportion of medical errors up for review. Take it FWIW.

As an FMG from Eastern Europe I greatly benefitted from taking the USMLE when it was graded---scored 99th percentile for part 1 and 2 and got into top 5 residency in the field I wanted...a couple of years ago they decided to make it just P/F (I wont comment why that was done) it will make it much harder for DOs, FMGs and even Caribbean grads to separate themselves to their advantage.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My cousin went to Ross. Smart guy, got sick and didn’t get a high score on his MCAT. He could wait and retake or not waste more time and go to the Caribbean. He chose the latter. According to him, most people get weeded out. Yes the school will accept you and take your money but you are likely going to flunk out by the second or third semester if you’re not cut out for med school.

Then comes passing your step 1,2,and 3 and securing a residency. Only the strongest candidates make it to the end.

agreed, sometimes the ones who had a personal struggle become better docs

[Anonymous]

No to DOs and Carribean med school schools. Admissions is not stringent.

With the very rare exception( like unicorn type situation) is if they trained at Harvard, UCSF, Duke or Wash U, etc for residency and fellowship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an allopathic doc from a very reputable American med school, I can say without reservation the admission criteria to American MD schools is more stringent (GPA/MCAT scores) than DO and Caribbean schools. I.e. it’s easier to gain admission to those aforementioned schools. Having said that, we all have to pass the same usmle exams to gain a license to practice medicine. A large benefit to American MD schools is we get (in general) better access to better residencies, which may lead to better training. I do work with foreign and DO grads all the time and for the most part they serve and practice admirably. One thing I see in my health system, however, is that DO and FMG account for a higher proportion of medical errors up for review. Take it FWIW.

As an FMG from Eastern Europe I greatly benefitted from taking the USMLE when it was graded---scored 99th percentile for part 1 and 2 and got into top 5 residency in the field I wanted...a couple of years ago they decided to make it just P/F (I wont comment why that was done) it will make it much harder for DOs, FMGs and even Caribbean grads to separate themselves to their advantage.....

Step 2 is still scored so residencies use that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an allopathic doc from a very reputable American med school, I can say without reservation the admission criteria to American MD schools is more stringent (GPA/MCAT scores) than DO and Caribbean schools. I.e. it’s easier to gain admission to those aforementioned schools. Having said that, we all have to pass the same usmle exams to gain a license to practice medicine. A large benefit to American MD schools is we get (in general) better access to better residencies, which may lead to better training. I do work with foreign and DO grads all the time and for the most part they serve and practice admirably. One thing I see in my health system, however, is that DO and FMG account for a higher proportion of medical errors up for review. Take it FWIW.

NP/PA's make even more probably.

Just need to make a comment here as the critiques of NPs and PAs has flared a bit. I was a bedside nurse for a long time, mostly critical care. Medical errors are made by bedside nurses, but also prevented by bedside nurses, in far greater numbers. Experienced nurses, especially at training hospitals, will question orders that may not be ideal or wrong, pharmacy checks doses, etc. MDs are not infallible.

[Anonymous]

This thread seems awfully xenophobic. Keep in mind that some Caribbean countries have longer life expectancies than the US (Barbados and Dominica).

[Anonymous]

A girl I was in HS and MS became a doctor in one of the Caribbean med schools. She heads up a pediatric Dept in a hospital in Pennsylvania now. I don't think she had any trouble getting hired at any point in her career (now mid-50s).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread seems awfully xenophobic. Keep in mind that some Caribbean countries have longer life expectancies than the US (Barbados and Dominica).

These aren’t med schools for people of Caribbean backgrounds. These are Americans going to med schools in the Caribbean. I went to undergrad at an Ivy with a bright woman who didn’t get into a US school, went to Ross and is a PCP. I would think she’s good, really wanted to be a Dr, very empathetic, good listener. While I agree it’s a bit of a red flag, I’m not sure not getting stellar grades in physics and organic chemistry at a tough undergrad really is indicative of whether someone can be a good physician, particularly for something like internal medicine.

[Anonymous]

I find the DOs seem to do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread seems awfully xenophobic. Keep in mind that some Caribbean countries have longer life expectancies than the US (Barbados and Dominica).

It must be awfully exhausting always looking for a reason for outrage where non exists.

[Anonymous]

There are 160 med schools and 40 DO schools in the us.

The reality is I doubt the Caribbean schools are worse than the bottom 100 med schools in the us.

Since I really prefer a NP for many things I really don’t think it’s a big deal to see a MD from a Caribbean school,

If I had a serious condition I’m going to someone at medstar or Hopkins and expect them to weed out the doctors.

The reality is I’m pretty unimpressed by most MDs educated in the US.

[Anonymous]

I have a relative who is currently engaged to a young doctor who graduated from St. George's University in Granada. Many US doctors graduated from SGU.

Here's my take on this particular medical school:
- They (obviously) accept students with grades and MCAT scores far lower than American med schools. Your GPA still needs to be above a 3.0, though. C students won't make it in.
- The drop out rate is far higher than American med students, probably because they accepted students who were not doctor material to begin with. If you drop out, you won't have that doctor salary you'll need to pay back your med school loans.
- You still need to pass the US medical licensing exams and score well to be placed into a residency.
- The school boasts a 93% residency match rate while US medical schools have match rates close to 100%. The 93% number is probably due to the fact that less capable students have already dropped out. If you don't match to a residency in your first year, you can try again the next year but the chances you'll ever be a practicing doctor are far lower.
- An SGU grad is far less likely to match to a residency of the more desired specialties such as surgery. A grad is likely going into an internal medicine residency. My relative's fiancé matched to a rehabilitation medicine specialty in Detroit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread seems awfully xenophobic. Keep in mind that some Caribbean countries have longer life expectancies than the US (Barbados and Dominica).

It must be awfully exhausting always looking for a reason for outrage where non exists.

I think you meant "none"

[Anonymous]

My OBGYN went to a Caribbean school and I love her. She’s been my doctor for many years. I saw Caribbean medical schools being discussed on here once and I searched all of my doctors out of curiosity. That’s how I found out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an allopathic doc from a very reputable American med school, I can say without reservation the admission criteria to American MD schools is more stringent (GPA/MCAT scores) than DO and Caribbean schools. I.e. it’s easier to gain admission to those aforementioned schools. Having said that, we all have to pass the same usmle exams to gain a license to practice medicine. A large benefit to American MD schools is we get (in general) better access to better residencies, which may lead to better training. I do work with foreign and DO grads all the time and for the most part they serve and practice admirably. One thing I see in my health system, however, is that DO and FMG account for a higher proportion of medical errors up for review. Take it FWIW.

NP/PA's make even more probably.

Just need to make a comment here as the critiques of NPs and PAs has flared a bit. I was a bedside nurse for a long time, mostly critical care. Medical errors are made by bedside nurses, but also prevented by bedside nurses, in far greater numbers. Experienced nurses, especially at training hospitals, will question orders that may not be ideal or wrong, pharmacy checks doses, etc. MDs are not infallible.

I posted the above comment and also agree with you...we all should be checked by others--it makes patient care much better..the problem is that it often comes with eye rolls--MD to NP, vice versa, doc to nurse and vice versa...our jobs are hard in medicine and more compassion by all the players is needed.