One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | world pediatric project

Last week, we talked about Integrated Clinical and Community Medicine (ICCM) at Trinity.  We hinted towards the end of that piece that our approach to early, in-depth clinical training during basic sciences culminates in the 5th term.

Today, we're going to explore that and dig into the benefits of more time and responsibility in the hospital, working with the World Pediatric Project, and the final push towards a great score on the USMLE Step-1 exam before heading to clinical clerkships in Baltimore, MD. 

Trinity's Society of Medicine and Surgery  (SMS) a has donated a sum of money to the World Pediatric Project (WPP) late last week. Trinity student and SMS president David Hobby presented the check to  Lauren McIntosh, executive director for the Eastern Caribbean of the World Pediatric Project at the Trinity campus in the presence of Dean Adkison and other members of the SMS leadership team.  President Hobby explained the purpose and inspiration of the donation. “Over the past few weeks, we have been wanting to give back to the WPP,” he said, “With the close relationship between Trinity and the WPP, we get to assist them on their mission trips and engage in other learning activities when they’re here. The WPP does a great number of surgeries on pediatric cases throughout the region and they are extremely effective in changing lives for many people.  It made sense to give back to the organization that is giving us a lot of advanced access and experience while also supporting the local population.” 

 The second World Pediatric Project scoliosis mission for 2017 took place last week at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown and, as is typically the case, Trinity students were right there with the visiting team. Over sixty children were seen, nine of which ultimately had complex surgical procedures performed by the visiting team comprised of pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Tuten; Dr. Mike Estes, pediatric anesthesiologist; Dr. Joanna Horstmann, pediatric orthopedic surgeon; Erin Rose, neurophysiologist; Cathy Rosenbaum and Mary 'Debbie' Walton, both OR nurses. 

Trinity students were on hand for eight spinal fusions and a hard ring adjustment from a prior procedure. Five of the families were flown in on a private charter from hurricane ravaged Dominica to the stability and care of St. Vincent. 

The World Pediatric Project's (WPP) 10th visit to St. Vincent of 2017 turned out to be incredibly busy for the volunteers and, as is often the case, Trinity students were right there with them. 

While the World Pediatric Project typically holds an annual scoliosis clinic in St. Vincent in November, during the last visit, the number of cases proved to be overwhelming for the available time.  As a result, an additional surgical scoliosis clinic was scheduled for early Summer 2017. As always, a team of students from Trinity School of Medicine joined the visiting physicians to learn and assist.

The World Pediatric Project conducted another mission to St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinity students were, once again, at bedside with the visiting specialists.  This third visit of 2017 was focused on cardiology and headed by pediatric cardiologist, Dr. William Moskowitz. The trip culminated in the consultation and treatment of 178 children with congenital defects and rheumatic heart disease.

In the first week of March, the World Pediatric Project returned to St. Vincent, this time for an ophthalmology clinic. The WPP trip, the third for 2017 thus far, brought another group of the NGO's seasoned specialists to the island nation's Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. As is usually the case, a group of Trinity's 5th term students were there to assist, observe, and learn.

Trinity's ongoing partnership with the World Pediatric Project has lead to another successful trip to the Eastern Caribbean. The final mission of 2016 was recently conducted at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown earlier this month, this time bringing international experts to focus on advanced scoliosis treatment.

Med students around the world know the anxiety of deciding on a specialty, so it's always heartening to hear a fifth term student (Trinity's final year of basic sciences) moving confidently towards a professional focus, and having that inclination confirmed by practical clinical experience during the early stage of medical school.