One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | Trinity students

Last month, the World Pediatric Project returned to St. Vincent to provide cardiology services to the Eastern Caribbean pediatric patient population. As is always the case, Trinity students were with them, lending a hand and gaining invaluable experience. 

Earlier this month, Kid Companions visited their young friends at the St. Benedict Children's Home on St. Vincent. Each trip has a theme, with carnivals, arts and crafts, and field day games being popular choices among students and residents alike. Today's introduced a new and exciting variable for the kids: a well stocked and adaptability-inclusive water balloon fight. 

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.

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.

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. 

Earlier this month, a group of second year Trinity students and faculty physician-supervisors traveled to Georgetown, the most northerly town on St. Vincent. They worked with the Rotary Club of St. Vincent to take part in a Village Doctor Exercise, bringing medical care to under-served communities in the small island nation. Trinity students have worked with the Rotary in this capacity for years, as the event aligns the school's culture of global health outreach and clinical experience. Read on to learn about what student responsibilities entailed and what both they and faculty thought of the day.

Trinity School of Medicine is proud to announce first term student Vincent Shieh as this year's Chancellor's Scholarship recipient. The Chancellor's Scholarship is a merit based award open to select recipients of Trinity's Physician, Dean, and President awards. 
In winning, Vincent is awarded $50,000 disbursed evenly over the ten terms of study. In total, this one scholarship covers nearly 40% of Mr. Shieh's four-year tuition.

We spoke briefly with Mr. Shieh and are proud to share the perspective of this future physician studying at Trinity. We have also included, at the behest of the administration and with Vincent's permission, the paper he submitted to the award committee.