Now I'm pumped!

[thezohan]

I was excited to get into Ross a while back (for Sept), but not entirely estatic. Yesterday I went to get my physical and immunization sheets signed off on (Ross and Dominica seem to require twice as many as other schools/countries.) Guess what? The doctor happened to be a Ross graduate and works in preventative medicine. I was surprised since I was getting a physical at my college student health annex and my college also has a well known medical school. He seemed to be the most professional, personable, articulate, "normal" physician I have ever met. I can't wait to get started now that I've seen first hand what carib medical students can become! I don't know if he is representative of the majority of Ross grads, but definately made an impression on me!

[kryptik]

nice little story. one can definitely make it from most carib school, it wont be easy but its doable. :)

[jabee_usm]

Yep, I agree!:)

[DrMS]

I was excited to get into Ross a while back (for Sept), but not entirely estatic. Yesterday I went to get my physical and immunization sheets signed off on (Ross and Dominica seem to require twice as many as other schools/countries.) Guess what? The doctor happened to be a Ross graduate and works in preventative medicine. I was surprised since I was getting a physical at my college student health annex and my college also has a well known medical school. He seemed to be the most professional, personable, articulate, "normal" physician I have ever met. I can't wait to get started now that I've seen first hand what carib medical students can become! I don't know if he is representative of the majority of Ross grads, but definately made an impression on me!
Having a high GPA and a great MCAT score doesn't necessarily make for a great doctor. I know several practicing doctors who have graduated from Ross, SGU or Saba who are very competant, successful doctors in various specialties. It is unfair to think that just because one graduated from a Caribb school, they would less than their American Grad.

[nmmiller]

That must have been a great feeling to see your end result doing what you will be doing someday, thanks for sharing.

The only anesthetist where we live (Ashland, WI) went to medical school in Mexico. He is wonderful, talented and said that if he could have changed things he wouldn't have; he received alot more hands on training then some of the US students he later did his residency with. I know we believe there is NO difference on where you go to school but others may, every time I tell people where we are hoping to go for Nick's schooling, they ask if Nick will be a "Real Doctor"?

[jazzyman50]

I love how so many people apparently think that doctors don't exist outside of the US....even though our health care isn't rated the best in the world...

[kryptik]

I love how so many people apparently think that doctors don't exist outside of the US....even though our health care isn't rated the best in the world...
yeh especially when they start to go on and on about how scoring great on the mcat or the verbal section predicts how successful one will be as a physician, there are millions of very skilled physicians around the globe that will score very low on the mcat or the verbal section if they had taken it.

[thethom]

There are plenty of Neurosurgeons, Heart Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons from Carib schools, and many practice in the academic setting at well known medical schools... You can do anything/everything...

[jazzyman50]

There are plenty of Neurosurgeons, Heart Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons from Carib schools, and many practice in the academic setting at well known medical schools... You can do anything/everything...


So basically, nmiller, tell the naysayers to suck it! :D

[txdoc22]

I know an anesthesiologist and an ophthalmologist who both graduated from Mexico and are very successful. My first clinical rotation in 5th semester was with an internist who graduated from Ross. She has an office in a group practice near Ft. Lauderdale. She's a great doctor and it was good to see success stories. She also said that is makes no difference where you went to med school; no one ever asks. Some of the people who teach in 5th or at the UMBR are Ross grads. One was in an ortho residency and the other is an endocrinologist. It's true, Ross does graduate good, successful physicians.

[thezohan]

A friend went to a "midlevel" US medical school and when he started inquiring about competitive residencies. Apparently, in the last year only 1 student matched neurosurgery (they average about 1 per year) and for 3 years no one has matched plastic surgery (in 2007, not sure about this year's match). The point being that US grads also face a good deal of competition.

[EM DEE]

I think its all about the mindset you have going into med school that makes you what you are. I haven't started med school yet (merped dec) but I have seen many friends become successful as FMG's. It just depends on how much you want it. In a positive perspective, I think being a FMG molds you into being a tougher competitor because you're not spoonfed things us grads are, you have to get up and get it yourself and in the end after this harder struggle you might grow to appreciate where you came from and respect the career more.

[vahe99]

cool dude haha

[stateofequilibrium]

The moral of this thread is: You can do it!

But just because SOME have done it, does not guarantee you will. A lot of people try and fail, especially at the Caribbean school. Look to these examples as proof as it's possible, but work hard to achieve it!

[Cuando2]

I noticed how many have identified possible ross grads in exotic residencies. But it is not always these residencies that harbor excellent physicians (since from what I read, that is what you were labeling as someone you'd like to become). People ALWAYS tend to make associations...the common one is bad physician assoc with carib grad, and good physician assoc with US grad.

This is highly untrue. Its not which medical school you went to...its your own personality. if you have good worth ethic and good personality, you will become a good physician no matter where you go to school. Also, some of the smartest and best physicians are not only the ones who are neurosurgeons or orthopods or ophthalmologists/dermatologists, they in fact include several internists or family practice physicians also...and vice versa...I just consulted one of the most ridiculous physicians at my program recently...and he is an ophthalmologist.

[jabee_usm]

I know an anesthesiologist and an ophthalmologist who both graduated from Mexico and are very successful. My first clinical rotation in 5th semester was with an internist who graduated from Ross. She has an office in a group practice near Ft. Lauderdale. She's a great doctor and it was good to see success stories. She also said that is makes no difference where you went to med school; no one ever asks. Some of the people who teach in 5th or at the UMBR are Ross grads. One was in an ortho residency and the other is an endocrinologist. It's true, Ross does graduate good, successful physicians.

This makes me happy!:)

[jabee_usm]

There are plenty of Neurosurgeons, Heart Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons from Carib schools, and many practice in the academic setting at well known medical schools... You can do anything/everything...

thethom, I just love the encouragement!:D

[jcu]

A friend went to a "midlevel" US medical school and when he started inquiring about competitive residencies. Apparently, in the last year only 1 student matched neurosurgery (they average about 1 per year) and for 3 years no one has matched plastic surgery (in 2007, not sure about this year's match). The point being that US grads also face a good deal of competition.

I initially read that as "medieval" US medical school. Wow. Anyone else ready to get off the island? lol

[jazzyman50]

I initially read that as "medieval" US medical school. Wow. lol


HAHAHAHAHAHHA me too!!!!

[Laconic]

I am glad you had a motivational experience! The physician while sticking my delts was b-ing and moaning about how bad of a reputation carrib schools have and explaining how I might have a hard time finding a residency. O well, at this point I just kept my mouth shut, got immunized and got outa there.


I was excited to get into Ross a while back (for Sept), but not entirely estatic. Yesterday I went to get my physical and immunization sheets signed off on (Ross and Dominica seem to require twice as many as other schools/countries.) Guess what? The doctor happened to be a Ross graduate and works in preventative medicine. I was surprised since I was getting a physical at my college student health annex and my college also has a well known medical school. He seemed to be the most professional, personable, articulate, "normal" physician I have ever met. I can't wait to get started now that I've seen first hand what carib medical students can become! I don't know if he is representative of the majority of Ross grads, but definately made an impression on me!

[bd.longstroke]

I initially read that as "medieval" US medical school. Wow. Anyone else ready to get off the island? lol


Yep, me too...and I'm not even on the island. I had images of Steve Martin as the midieval barber on SNL.