Six students may not be significant for statistical purposes, but how do you think that SGU, in Grenada started? It was a laughing stock just like IUHS IS NOW. a REFUGEE SCHOOL for U.S. STUDENTS WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE. I was in the Coast Guard in 1983 when the U.S., invaded Grenada and we rescued those first students. I wish you could have seen those facilities, it was pathetic.

That said, look at how respected SGU is 20 some years later. They grew and matured, maybe IUHS will do the same, who knows. But the same criticism you and many others give to this particular school, are exactly the same Ross, AUC and SGU had many years ago. Regardless all these schools are considered and will always be considered money making machines. Some do it better than others.

I base my opinion on many years dealing with different characters from different medical schools, and I have seen my fair share of everything. From those who consider basic sciences as a prep course for the USMLE(Both from the U.S. as wel as Caribbean schools) to those who consider basic sciences sacred religion. I have seen excellent basic sciences students who don't have a clue as to how medicine works until their clinical years, some in residency. (Both U.S. and Caribbean) and I have seen those who have mastered this science from day one.


Unfortunately the medical boards won't license people from KAPLAN studies. I agree though, that many exceptionally brilliant people who have never seen a medical school can take and pass the USMLE with a KAPLAN REFRESHER COURSE. and that is precisely my point concerning distance education and BASIC SCIENCES.

I do believe, however that eventually many,NOT ALL, U.S. Schools will do their basic sciences online, or independently like O.S.U. with some sort of supervision. My point is, that by the day they attempt this, it has already been done in Australia and the Caribbean. That the IUHS Model may be a failure or not, let time be the judge of that, not us. At least it has not been a failure at Ohio State or Sydney.

In my case, as long as the guy stiching me passed his clinicals and residency at a good hospital and passed his boards and is respected among his peers, I can care less were he learned basic sciences. Bear in mind, many U.S. SCHOOLS as well as MANY international schools won't let you to see patients during basic sciences. The great exception I would say are Osteopathic schools. Notice is used the word MANY, not all, so I am being exclusive not inclusive here.

WE are all speculating here as to how the future will turn out. Some of us are more optimistic than others. This has been a great exercise.

Lets remember, the future is just once second ahead of us, and the past is one second behind.

I am leaving now for my 32 hour shift.