Statement

[rlewkowski]

To all ValueMD users writing negative posts on our forum:
1. CMU will operate no matter how many negative posts you'll write, so don't waste your time, focus on your study and become good doctors.
2. CMU is a legit school with the ability to provide excellent education, clinical rotations and prepare its students to pass USMLE. The time will show.
3. No other Caribbean medical school had such a good start as CMU, some started in barracks, some in garage, and some in hotels or small shopping malls. After years of operations they are still there.
4. CMU is located on amazing, student friendly island, in great facilities, unlike many others has dorms, a lot of available clinical rotations, access to local labs and hospitals, affordable tuition, scholarships and many more advantages over older schools.
5. The strength of CMU is its students, faculty members, administration and we are very proud of them.
6. We have started a month ago so don’t expect that everything will be perfect at the beginning. Give us some time.
7. I personally thing that the all the negative posts come from people who are afraid of CMU, otherwise no one would bother to spend so much time and energy to badmouth our school. It just shows their weakness.
8. We appreciate all the productive comments about the areas that we need to improve. We will do it ASAP, but 90% of the posts are just inductive, dishonest, black PR and unfair.
9. We don’t badmouth other schools and are just fairly competing with them.
10. I think ValueMD is supposed to be a place to exchange valueble information about medical career and the way some of its users behave makes me doubt they will ever become doctors. Please show that you're professionals. Therefore I will not respond to any unfair allegations because we have much more other important things to do than replying to those posts.

Good luck to all of you.

[stephew]

11. These comments can appy to CMU students as well as non-CMU students.

[tomthediver]

To all ValueMD users writing negative posts on our forum:
1. CMU will operate no matter how many negative posts you'll write, so don't waste your time, focus on your study and become good doctors.
2. CMU is a legit school with the ability to provide excellent education, clinical rotations and prepare its students to pass USMLE. The time will show.
3. No other Caribbean medical school had such a good start as CMU, some started in barracks, some in garage, and some in hotels or small shopping malls. After years of operations they are still there.
4. CMU is located on amazing, student friendly island, in great facilities, unlike many others has dorms, a lot of available clinical rotations, access to local labs and hospitals, affordable tuition, scholarships and many more advantages over older schools.
5. The strength of CMU is its students, faculty members, administration and we are very proud of them.
6. We have started a month ago so don’t expect that everything will be perfect at the beginning. Give us some time.
7. I personally thing that the all the negative posts come from people who are afraid of CMU, otherwise no one would bother to spend so much time and energy to badmouth our school. It just shows their weakness.
8. We appreciate all the productive comments about the areas that we need to improve. We will do it ASAP, but 90% of the posts are just inductive, dishonest, black PR and unfair.
9. We don’t badmouth other schools and are just fairly competing with them.
10. I think ValueMD is supposed to be a place to exchange valueble information about medical career and the way some of its users behave makes me doubt they will ever become doctors. Please show that you're professionals.
I will not respond to any unfair allegations because we have much more other important things to do than replying to those posts. Good luck to all of you.

Nice try...... Got governmental permission to operate university???? It's just a question so do not hesitate to answer..... Have a nice day....Cheers....THD

[rlewkowski]

Nice try...... Got governmental permission to operate university???? It's just a question so do not hesitate to answer..... Have a nice day....Cheers....THD

Please carefully read paragraph 2 & 10.

[tomthediver]

Please carefully read paragraph 2 & 10.

I did read both, still do not see permission even between lines... just promises... Have a nice day..... cheers.... THD

[dt]

Nice try...... Got governmental permission to operate university???? It's just a question so do not hesitate to answer..... Have a nice day....Cheers....THD


Is Curacao that loose? Do you think the Curacao government would shut down this medical school if it is not allowed to operate?

[gawtti]

the youtube publicity stunt isn't helping CMU. come on, how can we take your school seriously when the school itself doesn't?

To all ValueMD users writing negative posts on our forum:
1. CMU will operate no matter how many negative posts you'll write, so don't waste your time, focus on your study and become good doctors.
2. CMU is a legit school with the ability to provide excellent education, clinical rotations and prepare its students to pass USMLE. The time will show.
3. No other Caribbean medical school had such a good start as CMU, some started in barracks, some in garage, and some in hotels or small shopping malls. After years of operations they are still there.
4. CMU is located on amazing, student friendly island, in great facilities, unlike many others has dorms, a lot of available clinical rotations, access to local labs and hospitals, affordable tuition, scholarships and many more advantages over older schools.
5. The strength of CMU is its students, faculty members, administration and we are very proud of them.
6. We have started a month ago so don’t expect that everything will be perfect at the beginning. Give us some time.
7. I personally thing that the all the negative posts come from people who are afraid of CMU, otherwise no one would bother to spend so much time and energy to badmouth our school. It just shows their weakness.
8. We appreciate all the productive comments about the areas that we need to improve. We will do it ASAP, but 90% of the posts are just inductive, dishonest, black PR and unfair.
9. We don’t badmouth other schools and are just fairly competing with them.
10. I think ValueMD is supposed to be a place to exchange valueble information about medical career and the way some of its users behave makes me doubt they will ever become doctors. Please show that you're professionals. Therefore I will not respond to any unfair allegations because we have much more other important things to do than replying to those posts.

Good luck to all of you.

[mistyblue]

CMU students do take the school seriously. I believe the problem is that students from other schools do not know how to have fun. Medical school is a lot of hard work so you have to find ways to relax and have fun and all. In that manner, the video was one of the ways to provide entertainment.

[rlewkowski]

Is Curacao that loose? Do you think the Curacao government would shut down this medical school if it is not allowed to operate?

How many time I need to tell you guys that CMU is a legit organization and there is a link on our website to the Chamber of Commerce of Curacao that allows CMU to operate on the island. You can very easily check that.

http://www.curacao-chamber.an/c-reg/content/Excerpt.asp?mode=edit&companyid=6985&establishmentnr=-1&legalformid=81 (http://www.curacao-chamber.an/c-reg/content/Excerpt.asp?mode=edit&companyid=6985&establishmentnr=-1&legalformid=81)

[mistyblue]

You guys need to seriously read the posts before you guys look silly.

[tomthediver]

How many time I need to tell you guys that CMU is a legit organization and there is a link on our website to the Chamber of Commerce of Curacao that allows CMU to operate on the island. You can very easily check that.

http://www.curacao-chamber.an/c-reg/content/Excerpt.asp?mode=edit&companyid=6985&establishmentnr=-1&legalformid=81 (http://www.curacao-chamber.an/c-reg/content/Excerpt.asp?mode=edit&companyid=6985&establishmentnr=-1&legalformid=81)

Hi All, ......How many times do i have to tell you it's not what you have to have. anybody can register foundation with a purpose of education..... based on registration at the COC you do not have right to issue MD diploma. I looked other universities' sites and found the following.....The University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine (http://eustatiusmed.edu/recognitions-charter.html)....... I am sure that CMU does not have necessary papers and not legitimate....Have a nice day.....Cheers......,THD

[rlewkowski]

You want to be smarter than lawyers? The difference is that St. Martinus and most of the caribbean medical schools are corporations, mainly established for profit. CMU is a foundation. To issue a MD diploma you need recognition from the Ministry of Health which has already happened, so please concentrate of your md degree and stop pretending to be a poor "lawyer".

[tomthediver]

You want to be smarter than lawyers? The difference is that St. Martinus and most of the caribbean medical schools are corporations, mainly established for profit. CMU is a foundation. To issue a MD diploma you need recognition from the Ministry of Health which has already happened, so please concentrate of your md degree and stop pretending to be a poor "lawyer".

Now everybody believes that you owe school and it's not for profit......Then what for?.....For fun?.....Have a nice day,.....Cheers,....THD

[rlewkowski]

To Show Other Medical Schools Like St. Martinus That There Is A Better Way To Run A Medical School.

[socalheli]

To Show Other Unprofessional Medical Schools Like St. Martinus That There Is A Better Way To Run A Medical School.


as an agent of CMU why are you lashing out at other schools, it is really hurting your credibility and the image of CMU. also, are you a CMU employee, or is CMU your client?

why dont you worry about making your school better rather than trying to make other schools look bad, the only reason for all the backlash is that CMU has been caught in a lie.

[rlewkowski]

Its not badmouthing, its the real reason CMU was established.
What lie are you talking about?

[socalheli]

Its not badmouthing, its the real reason CMU was established.
What lie are you talking about?

who cares what the real reason the school was established, as an official you dont go on a public forum and say that another school is bad. you go on here and and say that the school was established because you want to help the medical field........(fill in the rest with your mission statement)

the lies i am referring to are the plagiarism, and the documents that people have asked you to produce regarding the schools ability to issue degrees.

all i am saying is that CMU needs to do the right thing and establish their image.

also, are you an employee of the school? or is the school a client of yours? please disclose your full ties to the school.

thanks

[tomthediver]

also, are you an employee of the school? or is the school a client of yours? please disclose your full ties to the school.

thanks

He is the school's owner.....

[summerwind]

Your comment about tomthediver "pretending to be a bad lawyer" is counter to your point #7 on your opening post. To quote you, "the negative posts are from people who are afraid of CMU". What are you afraid of?

Your comment bashing St. Martinus is counter to your point #9 on your opening post. To quote you, "we don't badmouth other schools".

Please take your own advise. To quote you again "please show that you are professionals". From your point #10.

[tomthediver]

Your comment about tomthediver "pretending to be a bad lawyer" is counter to your point #7 on your opening post. To quote you, "the negative posts are from people who are afraid of CMU". What are you afraid of?

Your comment bashing St. Martinus is counter to your point #9 on your opening post. To quote you, "we don't badmouth other schools".

Please take your own advise. To quote you again "please show that you are professionals". From your point #10.

He just wants us to leave him alone so he can continue to scam students.....THD

[Sree Cheruku]

school a client of yours? please disclose your full ties to the school.

Well, at least he's pretty good about disclosure. From his public profile, Medical Education Management Group Corp. (http://www.memg.us)

[socalheli]

Well, at least he's pretty good about disclosure. From his public profile, Medical Education Management Group Corp. (http://www.memg.us)


I noticed that, that is why i wanted him to clear it up. Does he work for a MEMG or is he directly on the school payroll? it has been suggested that he is the owner but I have not seen anything to back it up.

Either way, the school has a lot of explaining to do. Hopefully they will be able to pull it all together so that their student body will be able to succeed without being hindered by the school.

[diogenes]

Is this consultancy group - MEMC - a ''not for profit'' foundation too?

[tomthediver]

I can't play nice. :(

[jameslynton]

He just wants us to leave him alone so he can continue to scam students.....THDThat's a pretty strong statement! So far there is no proof CMU has scammed anybody. What is your reason for joining VMD and then spending most of your posts slamming this school? It is easy to write negative things about a school that is just opening. Were you scammed by them? What school do you go to? Do you work for a school and are an unregistered agent on VMD for that school? Inquiring minds want to know. RL has done meet VMD's requirements and registered as an agent of his school and business.

[stateofequilibrium]

I'm just waiting though for a response though on the legitimate concerns of the website and clinical rotation spots. Those are not negative "allegations."

[jaywalk81]

I'm just waiting though for a response though on the legitimate concerns of the website and clinical rotation spots. Those are not negative "allegations."
same here!!!!!!

[jaywalk81]

and instead of the school official responding or trying to stop the bickering and trash talking on vmd, i think the more urgent or important matter is to address the 2 problems cmu has on its hands: plagiarism and PA rotations

[rokshana]

and instead of the school official responding or trying to stop the bickering and trash talking on vmd, i think the more urgent or important matter is to address the 2 problems cmu has on its hands: plagiarism and PA rotations

and yet this CMU school offical has pointedly avoided these topics.

also it should be easy enough to show a copy of your charter- it would be the easiest way to shut up the naysayers about the legitamacy of your school.

[finishingfifth]

You want to be smarter than lawyers? The difference is that St. Martinus and most of the caribbean medical schools are corporations, mainly established for profit. CMU is a foundation. To issue a MD diploma you need recognition from the Ministry of Health which has already happened, so please concentrate of your md degree and stop pretending to be a poor "lawyer".
I sure hope I am smarter than a lawyer, I am 4 months from an M.D.!! CMU is still a joke, not because it is new, but because of its cult like endless cheerleading . Let one student from CMU pass step 1, step 2CK, and Step 2CS, and get a residency, then you can say something. Your rabid sycophantic attitude towards your institutuion sounds more like a late night informercial than an institute of medical education. The reason many of us dislike CMU's tactics is that from the view of many US program directors, carib grads are all the same, regardless of which school. So when one of us acts foolish, we all must deal with the consequences. So, please, start acting professional, stop with the idiotic reality tv stuff. Also,the school official contantly on the student forum truly shows how desparate school admin must be.

[stephew]

all users: you agreed to the terms of use which inclulde no flaming. please review your posts. if in violation you may receive an infraction. this goes to ALL users.

having said that, I would like the PA issue addressed; that would be a nice start on substantial issues.

[atlanticvioxx]

Also,the school official contantly on the student forum truly shows how desparate school admin must be.


Seems to me many other caribbean schools are jealous of this one due to how much time they spend on this board.

[finishingfifth]

Yes, you caught me, I am soo jealous. My school only has all 50 states, thousands of graduates who are board certified. We can rotate at major univeristy hospitals. A match list with fantastic residency appointments. We have an original website (not SGU's). Please, can I come to CMU. I always choose a school based on you tube videos.

[stephew]

ok lets cool off a bit with the snarking. lets see if someone can address the substantial issues raised.

[gawtti]

Affiliated Hospitals (http://www.cmumed.org/academics/hospitals.htm) i guess they removed PA?

[Founder's Library]

ok lets cool off a bit with the snarking. lets see if someone can address the substantial issues raised.

Hi Everyone,

It seems that things have become a bit heated. Let us try to have cooler heads prevail. I would like to make the following proposal....let me know what you think.

What if all of us who attend schools other than CMU wish their new students good luck on their journey and cease posting on their forums. Although the level of cheerleading is somewhat absurd, they are the innocent bystanders here. Their dreams are our dreams, let us not question their dedication and desire to go out and make the world a better place as physicians.

As for the major issue of plagarism, we all know that we have people on our side (I can only speak for SGU) who will be working to take care of these issues. Let us be intelligent, we all know that a school that has only been open for 1 week cannot compete with us as an institution, but we should not take our annoyance out on their student body

I for one personally know one of their new students and as simplistic as this sounds, he is a very nice person and I wish him nothing but the best.

Let us all take the high road, let them do all the cheerleading they want, but I suggest a moratorium from posting on their forums, this way they can focus on what they claim to have come to school for, to study and become doctors.

I wish all of the students the best of luck and to the CMU administrator please stop posting and get to work addressing your blatant unethical stealing of my future alma mater's curriculum and website. Outside of that issue I wish you nothing but success. Please take my criticism as constructive.

Regards,
Founder's

[stephew]

im sure they are decent good folks who want the same we all do. and i do wish them the best.

[rlewkowski]

Thanks Stephew. We try to do our best for the students. Thats what we are here for.

[stephew]

Thanks Stephew. We try to do our best for the students. Thats what we are here for.

that's good. making sure that only students with a reasonable chance of passing their boards are admitted and kept is one good way to do this; some schools dont care how much time and money a student invests so long as they keep on paying. making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are doted and students know where they can legitimately rotate for credit (ie NOT PA) and which states they can- as of the day they enroll- get licensure in is key. Honest USMLE reporting rates, with info about the drop out/dail/decel rate provided up front. These things are key bits of info that an honest school must provide so as not to take advantage of students who dont know what questions to ask, and who's hopes to be an MD blind their common sense.

I would also suggest that CMU would also gain in stature in the public eye by distancing itself from student marketing efforts; im sure your pleased by enthusiastic support of your students. But a serious institution of medicine- particuarly a new school that hopes to be seen as such, wouldnt want its officals publically supporting unauthorized promotions in general, let alone ones with an mtv hiphop video tone in particular. let students make such things and if they appeal to other kids, fine. but those representing the institution as officials should seriously consider how they want the school's offical image to be. there's some free marketing advice for you.

[IMG SURVIVOR]

that's good. making sure that only students with a reasonable chance of passing their boards are admitted and kept is one good way to do this; some schools dont care how much time and money a student invests so long as they keep on paying. making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are doted and students know where they can legitimately rotate for credit (ie NOT PA) and which states they can- as of the day they enroll- get licensure in is key. Honest USMLE reporting rates, with info about the drop out/dail/decel rate provided up front. These things are key bits of info that an honest school must provide so as not to take advantage of students who dont know what questions to ask, and who's hopes to be an MD blind their common sense.

I would also suggest that CMU would also gain in stature in the public eye by distancing itself from student marketing efforts; im sure your pleased by enthusiastic support of your students. But a serious institution of medicine- particuarly a new school that hopes to be seen as such, wouldnt want its officals publically supporting unauthorized promotions in general, let alone ones with an mtv hiphop video tone in particular. let students make such things and if they appeal to other kids, fine. but those representing the institution as officials should seriously consider how they want the school's offical image to be. there's some free marketing advice for you.

Now thats a beautifull advise:cool:, and is free.

[DOCplucinski]

that's good. making sure that only students with a reasonable chance of passing their boards are admitted and kept is one good way to do this; some schools dont care how much time and money a student invests so long as they keep on paying. making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are doted and students know where they can legitimately rotate for credit (ie NOT PA) and which states they can- as of the day they enroll- get licensure in is key. Honest USMLE reporting rates, with info about the drop out/dail/decel rate provided up front. These things are key bits of info that an honest school must provide so as not to take advantage of students who dont know what questions to ask, and who's hopes to be an MD blind their common sense.

I would also suggest that CMU would also gain in stature in the public eye by distancing itself from student marketing efforts; im sure your pleased by enthusiastic support of your students. But a serious institution of medicine- particuarly a new school that hopes to be seen as such, wouldnt want its officals publically supporting unauthorized promotions in general, let alone ones with an mtv hiphop video tone in particular. let students make such things and if they appeal to other kids, fine. but those representing the institution as officials should seriously consider how they want the school's offical image to be. there's some free marketing advice for you.
it's been awhile since i've seen useful advice like this.

[rlewkowski]

that's good. making sure that only students with a reasonable chance of passing their boards are admitted and kept is one good way to do this; some schools dont care how much time and money a student invests so long as they keep on paying. making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are doted and students know where they can legitimately rotate for credit (ie NOT PA) and which states they can- as of the day they enroll- get licensure in is key. Honest USMLE reporting rates, with info about the drop out/dail/decel rate provided up front. These things are key bits of info that an honest school must provide so as not to take advantage of students who dont know what questions to ask, and who's hopes to be an MD blind their common sense.

I would also suggest that CMU would also gain in stature in the public eye by distancing itself from student marketing efforts; im sure your pleased by enthusiastic support of your students. But a serious institution of medicine- particuarly a new school that hopes to be seen as such, wouldnt want its officals publically supporting unauthorized promotions in general, let alone ones with an mtv hiphop video tone in particular. let students make such things and if they appeal to other kids, fine. but those representing the institution as officials should seriously consider how they want the school's offical image to be. there's some free marketing advice for you.

Regarding our admission process we are aware that some of the schools accept everyone that pays tuition, however CMU is not for profit, it’s a foundation so we cannot have profit therefore we focus on quality of education, not income. There are students now who wants to transfer into rotations but we don’t accept them until they pass Step1. That’s the rule at CMU, no exception. And again, we are not looking for their tuition, even though without our own students doing rotations we take a risk of losing some hospitals. But we don’t want to admit transfers without Step1 cause it will lower our Passing Rate.
CMU will post REAL USMLE passing rates, but I worked at one school that advertises on its website 73% where the real rate is 28.

Regarding the videos
We don’t support unauthorized promotions. It’s done by our students and they do it for fun, not to advertise CMU. We support SGA that represents students and I know they are involved in creating the videos. We have to respect the way they organize their activities. They represent the student’s body and we as CMU Administration will always respect that. Even negative posts from our own students will make us improve the school.

Thank you for your good advices. That’s this type of negative messages that are very productive and I really appreciate that.

[dt]

Regarding our admission process we are aware that some of the schools accept everyone that pays tuition, however CMU is not for profit, it’s a foundation so we cannot have profit therefore we focus on quality of education, not income.
...

I dont why this type of statement is made. Heck, it's easy for a legal entity (corporation or foundation) to not make a "profit"! Any "profit" is just funneled to the owners as big humongous salary/bonuses.

[stephew]

the concept of "real" usmle pass rates is complex. because you can be truthful but very misrepresentative. for instance, showing a 95% pass rate but not informing people this only includes the 50% of the students who MADE it to the boards with their incoming class. This is an issue for all offshore schools (not US schools who dont really advertise their pass rates as they're assumed to be good).

I will readily admit I dont understand the distinction between a foundation and "for profit" this case (save to say many "non for profit" organizations are hardly not profiting in some very material way).

Also, and correct me if im wrong; is it not a little premature to talk about losing hospitals and functional policy on rotations if you have just 12 students? are any in rotations yet? Im just unclear on the logistics of this at this stage in the game.

I do take issue with the notion that CMU hasn't been supporting unauthorized videos. I do believe the (particuarly early) school official's commentary on vmd with regard to the videos constitute active and public support. Saying you support the sgu who make the videos is a real finesse. Again, I just think that is a very bad idea as a policy, even if youre speaking of the highest standard production (in terms of representation; not video quality) And in my view the nature of the videos in question dont represent that standard. They're fine for what they are; student produced blogs.

I will say the person who has been posting as the sga rep on the other hand has approached the sort of standards a medical school would want to be associated with. Kudos to him/her.


Regarding our admission process we are aware that some of the schools accept everyone that pays tuition, however CMU is not for profit, it’s a foundation so we cannot have profit therefore we focus on quality of education, not income. There are students now who wants to transfer into rotations but we don’t accept them until they pass Step1. That’s the rule at CMU, no exception. And again, we are not looking for their tuition, even though without our own students doing rotations we take a risk of losing some hospitals. But we don’t want to admit transfers without Step1 cause it will lower our Passing Rate.
CMU will post REAL USMLE passing rates, but I worked at one school that advertises on its website 73% where the real rate is 28.

Regarding the videos
We don’t support unauthorized promotions. It’s done by our students and they do it for fun, not to advertise CMU. We support SGA that represents students and I know they are involved in creating the videos. We have to respect the way they organize their activities. They represent the student’s body and we as CMU Administration will always respect that. Even negative posts from our own students will make us improve the school.

Thank you for your good advices. That’s this type of negative messages that are very productive and I really appreciate that.

[diogenes]

........................I will readily admit I dont understand the distinction between a foundation and "for profit" this case (save to say many "non for profit" organizations are hardly not profiting in some very material way). .........................................
I'm surprised and disappointed that the school official is still using the 'not-for-profit foundation' line as a major selling point.
Firstly, CMU is not unique in this respect. I see that SABA has similar status and so does St. James; there may be more.
Secondly, as others have suggested, while the foundation may not dish out profits to shareholders it can be very lucrative for its founders who are also its employees: generous salaries and bonuses may be paid.
Thirdly, in this particular case the same school official is also CEO of this company -
Medical Education Management Group Corp. (http://www.memg.us/)
which provides 'management solutions' for medical schools - including, I note with wry amusement 'innovative marketing'.
Of course MEMG could also be a charitable foundation! Somehow I doubt it.

[malloy]

it's been awhile since i've seen useful advice like this.

I agree. I think VMD should be primarily for students, and school officials should answer the questions without emotionally charged statements.

Also, while I am here to decrypt the mystery of the Caribbean schools, it surprises me how unprofesionally some of these med students are behaving.

Personally I believe, med students should not have to defend their choice of med schools, or dissect their choice to see if they are on the right track, as they have much better things to do. But again, looks like there is a lot of substandard med schools around to counter that argument.

[stephew]

I agree. I think VMD should be primarily for students, and school officials should answer the questions without emotionally charged statements.

Also, while I am here to decrypt the mystery of the Caribbean schools, it surprises me how unprofesionally some of these med students are behaving.

Personally I believe, med students should not have to defend their choice of med schools, or dissect their choice to see if they are on the right track, as they have much better things to do. But again, looks like there is a lot of substandard med schools around to counter that argument.
it sounds like youre off to a good start Malloy. for better or worse, you'll see that US med students dont behave any better or worse that offshore ones; the net gives a feeling of anonymity wherein integrity - that quality of knowing how someone behaves when they think no one is watching - really is revealed.

[stephew]

interesting pick up.I'm surprised and disappointed that the school official is still using the 'not-for-profit foundation' line as a major selling point.
Firstly, CMU is not unique in this respect. I see that SABA has similar status and so does St. James; there may be more.
Secondly, as others have suggested, while the foundation may not dish out profits to shareholders it can be very lucrative for its founders who are also its employees: generous salaries and bonuses may be paid.
Thirdly, in this particular case the same school official is also CEO of this company -
Medical Education Management Group Corp. (http://www.memg.us/)
which provides 'management solutions' for medical schools - including, I note with wry amusement 'innovative marketing'.
Of course MEMG could also be a charitable foundation! Somehow I doubt it.

[stephew]

...on a brighter note. some will remember a certain similarly charged atmosphere around SMU about 1 year ago and that forum grew up. so here's to hoping.

[DOCplucinski]

...on a brighter note. some will remember a certain similarly charged atmosphere around SMU about 1 year ago and that forum grew up. so here's to hoping.
i'll drink to that.

[rlewkowski]

Firstly, CMU is not unique in this respect. I see that SABA has similar status and so does St. James; there may be more.

St. James is N.V /corporation/, I don’t know about Saba tough but I think is N.V. as well. The difference is that foundation cannot have profit and doesn’t have shareholders or owners, unlike N.V or B.V. This results that after 6 years of operation St. James still rents its main building for $300 per month since the entire profit stays in Chicago.

[Silenthunder]

St. James is N.V /corporation/, I don’t know about Saba tough but I think is N.V. as well. The difference is that foundation cannot have profit and doesn’t have shareholders or owners, unlike N.V or B.V. This results that after 6 years of operation St. James still rents its main building/looking like a barrack/ for $300 per month since the entire profit stays in Chicago.

is it professional to directly criticise another school, if you're an official of one school?

Silenthunder

[rlewkowski]

It’s not criticizing, its just basic information. Is it unprofessional to say that CMU doesn’t have any graduates? Is it unprofessional to say that other schools are business corporations or rent main school building for $300/month? I don’t think so.

[diogenes]

St. James is N.V /corporation/, I don’t know about Saba tough but I think is N.V. as well. The difference is that foundation cannot have profit and doesn’t have shareholders or owners, unlike N.V or B.V. This results that after 6 years of operation St. James still rents its main building/looking like a barrack/ for $300 per month since the entire profit stays in Chicago.
Saba's own website describes the school as a 'nonprofit foundation'.
As for St. James, I'm afraid I broke one of my own cardinal rules and passed on something I read on vmd without verifying it first:oops:

I'm glad that we agree that there are no profit-leeching shareholders in a nonprofit foundation. That much is fairly obvious.
However, it is still quite disingenuous (or naive) of you to use this legal status in the way that you do (on 4 separate occasions). Foundations may generate a revenue surplus (profit, in plain English). They may pay very generous salaries to their employees (and to their 'consultants'). They are not immune to failure through foolish management and even greed.
Conversely, a 'for profit' corporation may invest wisely, ploughing profits back into the business, keeping its shareholders waiting for a payback until its future is secure and its customers/clients highly satisfied with the product.
I would agree with you that there are examples of Caribbean schools whose shareholders took the money and ran. On the other hand most of the largest and most prestigious schools are run on a commercial basis: they have excellent facilities and broadly satisfied customers.
What matters in both models is the quality of the business plan and management.

[Silenthunder]

It’s not criticizing, its just basic information. Is it unprofessional to say that CMU doesn’t have any graduates? Is it unprofessional to say that other schools are business corporations or rent main school building for $300/month? I don’t think so.

but what you put in your OP was that it resembled 'barracks'. this is your opinion - and one that I took to be negative.

- I've seen pics of it - and while it ain't as pretty as some - its also quite adequate to teach class in. The class rooms at CMU seem quite similarly equipped in fact.

I find it a bit abhorrent that one school official is targetting another SPECIFIC school and using them as an inferior example - quoting your opinion of the other school's appearance.

the difference between what you're doing and what other people in this thread have done is that you, sir, are an official representative of CMU. Your opinion will hold sway with your students - and your opinion represents the image of the school as a whole.

Silenthunder

[rokshana]

ahem- sgu, ross, auc, FOR PROFIT

schools with the best chance of good residencies- sgu, ross, auc

the 2 are NOT mutually exclusive

[stephew]

i got news for you; med schools are for profit in the us. the issue isnt for profit or not. its quality and do they give you what they promise or not.

[Maxinne]

who cares what the real reason the school was established, as an official you dont go on a public forum and say that another school is bad. you go on here and and say that the school was established because you want to help the medical field........(fill in the rest with your mission statement)

the lies i am referring to are the plagiarism, and the documents that people have asked you to produce regarding the schools ability to issue degrees.

all i am saying is that CMU needs to do the right thing and establish their image.

also, are you an employee of the school? or is the school a client of yours? please disclose your full ties to the school.

thanks
Things have not changed.