One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | Accredited caribbean medical school

For the past decade and a half, The World Pediatric Project (WPP), has been conducting general and specialized surgical missions to St. Vincent.  For the very first time, there was a visit explicitly to perform craniofacial procedures for Eastern Caribbean pediatric patients in need.

The new team was lead by pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon Dr. Jennifer Rhodes of the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU.  She was supported by anesthesiologist Dr. Seamus Dore, plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Lew, and OR nurse Molly McCabe.  The team’s focus was to evaluate and provide care for children with complex head and facial anomalies, and to follow up cases of children seen by previous surgical teams.  Joining them in triage, prep, OR, and recovery, were Trinity 5th term students.

Earlier this month, Trinity School of Medicine held its white coat ceremony for the January 2019 starting class.  Along with the new matriculants, parents, relatives, friends, and other well-wishers gathered to celebrate the day on Trinity's campus in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Presiding over the event was Trinity dean Dr. Linda Adkison with guest speakers Vincentian government minister, Hon. Luke Browne, and keynote Dr. Sherian Slater of Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

There are a lot of spectacular reasons to earn a masters degree. From personal academic enrichment to general career planning, all the way down to specific job requirements, graduate degrees are a viable path to expertise and growth. A masters degree is not, however, a requirement to practice medicine, nor even a recommendation. Despite this, they have become a begrudgingly common method for attempting to pad a GPA after a difficult admissions cycle in a US and Canadian medical school admissions process already placing too many barriers in front of qualified applicants. Today, we're going to look at this phenomenon, dig into some data, talk to our students, and offer some insight into why it may not be what it's cracked up to be and what other options may be out there for you.

Earlier this month, the World Pediatric Project (WPP) held its first mission for 2019 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Its focus was on general pediatric surgery with Dr. Jeffrey Lukish, pediatric surgeon from Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC as team leader. 

For the unaware, the WPP offers surgical and diagnostic care to children in the Eastern Caribbean and has been actively working in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since 2002. Trinity School of Medicine students are frequently in the mix with them in a volunteer/learning capacity. This mission was no different, with Trinity students taking part, re-dedicating the school to clinical education and community service.  The busy visit was a productive one. On consultation day alone, forty-one local children, and an additional fifteen from neighboring islands, were seen by Trinity students and the visiting team of surgeons. 

Ten years ago, Trinity School of Medicine opened its doors and welcomed its small charter class. Those students are now alums, practicing as fellows and attendings, and changing lives across the US and Canada. This week, with the close of 2018 and our decade anniversary, we look back on what makes Trinity such a good option for so many students and celebrate the coming of the next ten years. 

The Governor General of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, US-trained cardiologist Sir Frederick Ballantyne, MD, GCMG, is fond of saying, "Trinity isn't about being a good 'Caribbean' medical school, it is about being a good medical school, period." Over the years, Trinity has distinguished itself from other schools in the Caribbean. We, as an institution, always strive to reach the gold standard in medical education, a standard set by US medical schools and the LCME. Today, we're going to walk through some of those key similarities that set Trinity students apart and give our applicants the opportunities and experiences they couldn't find at home.

There are quite a few medical schools operating in the Caribbean. This has been a source of everything from hope and opportunity to stress and uncertainty over the past half century or so for US and Canadian students. And while we obviously think that we're the best choice for anyone considering an international medical education, we wanted to take an opportunity to discuss a major ally of ours in the fight for quality: The ECFMG. 

Today, we're going to discuss what the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) actually is and what it isn't. We'll also get into how they're making the Caribbean a better place for students considering an education abroad. (You will be unsurprised to find that Trinity ticks all of their boxes as one of the best schools in the region).

Trinity School of Medicine has always prided itself on the strength and ambition of its students. So many future physicians come our way looking for something new; whether that's a unique learning environment built on support and a strong relationship with the faculty, a curriculum with an emphasis on clinical skills and service to patients, or just a true opportunity to live up to their potential. In this next edition of our alumni spotlight, meet Dr. Mary Anne Brett, McMaster undergrad alum, Trinity graduate, and anatomical pathologist in Calgary, AB.

Late last month, Trinity held its 4th annual charity 5k in conjunction with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Association (SVGMA). The route, going from the Arnos Vale Playing Field to the National Lotteries Tennis Court in Kingstown, was full of walkers and runners enjoying the lower temps on a rainy Sunday. The event involved everything from fierce competition to 3.1 miles of laughter for fun-runners and culminated with the presentation of a check for $9,520 from Trinity to the SVGMA. Read on for a gallery, a race report, and the future of another successful Trinity-student initiative. 

In Canada in 2017, only 2,617 of the 13,690 applicants were admitted to medical schools. An astonishing 81% of the applicants- many of whom would make phenomenal physicians- found themselves rejected at home. For many people considering medicine, becoming a doctor is a calling. So, a large percentage of those Canadian applicants without a seat looked abroad—most of them to the Caribbean, but some considering Ireland, Australia, and Eastern Europe as well. But, what happens when school is over? In 2018, of the 1,758 international medical graduates (IMGs)- most of whom were Canadians that tried to match back home- only 123 were selected. This is by no means to say that this isn't still a viable path for Canadians, and a fair number of Trinity graduates have matched in places like Ontario, Calgary, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba.  

The point is that the decision to study abroad is a major one, with many factors to consider, from proximity to home, to academic approach, matching, cost, and long term career plans.