Goodbye to Saba's Pathology Professor ??

[aspiringmedstudent]

It seems that Saba is losing one of the best professors at the university.

As a Caribbean student, you have to expect that professors come and go. Good professors eventually have to leave. Sometimes the not-so-great professors stay for longer than we would like. The teaching experience between classes can be very different because of this, and it's something that must be accepted. It's something that we have no choice but to adapt to. We are, after all, Caribbean medical students, whether by choice, or last resort....

What's unfortunate, though, is when a professor leaves, not because he wants to, but because of problems/pressures with an administration. I hope this is not the main driving force for the resignation. I don't know what's going on with administration on Saba - I have been off island for a good 3 months now. It seems, though, since there has been a change in hands, there are some very strange things going on. It _seems_ as though a lot of decisions being made are those that are not in the best interest of the students. This bothers me. After all, where would Saba be now, without its students? You can flip us through and take our money, but without the success of the students, the school would be nowhere. Our success is no doubt our own - we wouldn't be in medical school if we weren't motivated and goal-oriented.

The difference, to me, is having great professors to help and guide us along the way. Any one of us can sit down with a text book and memorize. The difference is having people to challenge us, pick our minds, and teach us to THINK... To think like doctors, and like clinicians. I cannot imagine my experience of medical school without some of the wonderful teachers we've had along the way. And for me, Dr. J is one of them.... - as a person, as a motivator, as a mentor, and as a teacher. A teacher in the true sense of the word.

There are other rumors floating around as well. One is that the Anatomy professor came back from break to find many of his lectures cut. Also of a Clin Med professor who came back from break to find that his contract was not renwed?

And now, giving so much grief to J for a few points adjustment on a Path test? It is my understanding that the adjustment was not even "free points" but to give credit for a miskey or ambiguous question? Not sure! This is why I am posting.... More information is needed!

What the heck is going on? Maybe I am being misled by rumors. News on Saba travels very quickly - all around the island - to each class - and even back to the States/Canada. Every time a story is told, it's tweaked.

I just wanted to open this up for discussion amongst the students so that all students, on-island, off-island, and prospective students can get an idea of what's going on!

I care a lot about our school, and once regarded it as the best school in the Caribbean. That's why I chose it over SGU, Ross, and AUC. I am afraid, though, that my opinion is about to change.

I hope this is not over. I imagine the 4th and 5th semester classes are in a huge uproar over this. And I hope hope hope that Dr. J fights it through a bit more.

[honest2beme]

Dear Students,
Please note, there will be a great deal of reaction towards what I am about to say. Keep in mind that the faculty at SABA have accounts on here and will pretend to be others when posting comments in defending their position with regards to MY EXPERIENCE here which seems to parallel most students here.
I regret to inform all students of thinking in applying to SABA or coming to SABA to strongly reconsider (Please DO NOT APPLY/ATTEND SABA ).
I am a first semester medical student attending SABA. I had much fear about coming to a Caribbean medical school vs. not going to medical school and decided to put my fears aside for SABA due to good PAST reputation.
My cousins came and graduated from here and are doing very well now in Canada and the States. Today, the school has a different policy with different goals in mind. First, it was NON-profit, now it is FOR profit and the issue stems from here and all the way to a power struggle amongst faculty on SABA. It has been my experience that this school ‘s primary goal is profit---NOT EDUCATION. One can have both profit and education, sadly SABA has decided to drop the latter with the newly created policies.
The strategy is admitting as many students as possible for tuition purposes (with little room in the ANATOMY lab), and failing out as much as possible because there are not enough clinical spots for rotations by the end of 5th semester. The current 5th semesters are already having to wait for a bit before starting clinical due to backed up/ few clinical rotations/ losing clinical spots from SABA (just lost a NY and Chicago clinical rotation check on it). The evidence is there… YOU as you consider SABA for an education, must try to find this out for yourself. The current situation will not be honestly addressed by Admin/ gardner or SABA ----You must research yourself, and my best advice as I did before coming here was talking to students that are HERE NOW.
The first semester class this past May started out with 90 students (the largest class SABA has ever admitted thus far) now it is down to around 60 in both classes (the highest drop rate in SABA history). The class has been wiped out/is being wiped out. How?
In Histology, exams have been made deliberately difficult by the course director and Academic dean. Dr. S pretends to be nice and caring towards students meanwhile he is aiding the school in weeding people out unjustly. The average histo exam score (this semester) on the past 3 histo exams have been in the 60’s. The pass rate at SABA is 75, meaning that more than half the class is failing. There are several students that are repeating histology from last semester with our class, and they have stated over and over again that Dr. S’s exams have been on a different level then previous semesters even last. After the third exam with an average in the 60’s one has to wonder what else can be done. Students have been going to TA reviews and his reviews and working hard as other can see. He is also the assistant dean of students, with tremendous influence on what occurs at this school and he is abusing his powers.
In anatomy, traditionally, there has been Dr. R, ask any student who has attended SABA about him (they have no reason to lie) and they will state how he taught them Anatomy on such a level that while taking the USMLE they can hear his voice telling them what is being asked and how to answer it. He spends time explaining concepts, although he might go over the “time limit” which I don’t mind while some students do, he explains the material in such a manner that you will never forget it because he understands it. Due to all the propaganda going on at this school, he refused to play as a puppet and has stepped down from course director only to leave it to another prof that uses an Atlas to Id structures in lab. The 2 profs left teaching anatomy, both are not anatomist, they cannot communicate the info to students, and in fact have taught various WRONG information to first semester students. One has been teaching a 5th sem class, after receiving terrible reviews he was “demoted” to teach anatomy. I feel cheated, I am not getting a solid foundation from the basic sciences thus far, and it seems as if the first semesters feel the same way. Many are taking steps of transferring/leaving to other schools for a better investment in time and education.
In speaking my cousins and upper semester students at SABA I have discovered who the best professors are due to majority opinion. All students tend to question around and find out who the best professors are for courses while in University or professional school. NOT THE EASIEST, but the BEST. Best being knowledgeable about the subject they are teaching and communicating the information to the students. Over and over again the following the same professor’s names kept coming up.
1. Dr. R- Anatomy- status- Stepped down—on the way out
2. Dr. A- genetics- Status- left SABA—one more semester and she is gone
3. Dr. S- Physiology – Status- Stepped down
4. Dr. K- Neuro—still here-- might be leaving soon?
5. Dr. B—Dr. A’s husband- Leaving after this semester
6. Dr. W- Micro- Still here—
7. Dr. D- Dean -hope that he would follow his heart soon and do the RIGHT thing
8. Dr. M- Pharm- Still here.
9. Dr. J- Pathology- STATUS- AS OF July 1, 2008 LEAVING SABA
All of these changes have happened this semester-drastic changes. There is a constant struggle between the prof’s that care/educated/interested in teaching students as much as possible vs. profs that are in solitude with the school’s new policy of making money and getting as many students out as possible after taking tuition. Two profs have been hired here last year (Dr. L –path Dr. W- immune) were fired from AUC for failing too many students and creating much trouble amongst faculty members. Dividing people amongst each other and creating “southern clicks.” SABA has hired the doe that they claim to have taught at Duke University Medical School. The evidence on the contrary shows that one worked in a lab at Duke and the other taught at a PA school, don’t take my word for it research it. All of this information would be irrelevant if one is getting a good education. It is hard enough to be a medical student but having to deal with lies and profs/administration power struggle/owners that are making money at your own expense is unfair. It is hard to focus amongst such drama. Due to change of focus on students to power and money, Dr. J decided to leave the school today after hitting a brick wall with the Dean in trying to help medical students (3 pt curve due to Dr. L mis-keyed exam). He was demoted in front of students today by the dean coincidently after the return of Dr. L to the island. The dean abruptly walked in and interrupted class and unprofessionally demoted Dr. J from course director to give it to Dr. L – the OTHER path prof (one of the inadequate profs (as per AUC students AND SABA students-- along with wife Dr. W-Immuno). Now, the director of PATH is Dr. L—one of the worst profs in this school along with Wife Dr. W…. Now much more people will be failing. After Dr. J decided to leave there was a student rally at SABA to show how people feel about their education and the good hard profs here willing to teach it to us. This school is headed down hill in every aspect and it is an insecure place filled with drama NOT EDUCATING FUTURE DOCTORS. I wish that I would have known about this before investing in my education at such a medical school. I will not be replying /reading any comment/reply/see any comment on here.
( I know that most will be by profs/admin/prof’s pretending to be students, students on SABA are fed up).
These are merely my experiences thus far and I intend on leaving SABA as soon as I can to go to another medical school. I don’t have a reason to post such a letter, if events were not taking place. I want to give the future students a heads-up with much concern in mind and state that SABA is not a good medical school, I would have never applied here based on the current reputation and I DO NOT recommend it to any student coming in. PLEASE think before coming to SABA look at other medical schools.
God bless and good luck.

[JeebusLives]

Dr. J is gone, many more will soon follow. You cant disrespect a widely loved person like that and expect no repercussions.

Half of the school was up in the administration lobby protesting the schools decision and we were all shot down.

Admin made an appointment to speak to the 4th semesters to talk about issues they are having. It turned into a half hour session of reprimanding them for their opinions.

There was also a meeting scheduled with the 5th semesters but after the protest it was canceled.

Its sad to see all of this firsthand.

Being as respectful and classy as Dr. J is he asked us to calm down and not make a fuss over what happened to him.

It was a stunning day.

O and as a side note, there was a histo exam today. I only heard 3 passing grades. Apparently the exam was testing not the course material but the students special topic presentations.

[aspiringmedstudent]

Wow. This is really all unbelievable.... :(

How can they keep their position when so many students are obviously against this? It just does not make any sense.

[GQ-Loud]

The 4ths and 5ths have done all they could, with private meetings and general ones as a class. It seems that they are turning their heads to whatever the students have to say.
Students today finally stated the truth and were not hiding behind the bushes but still they looked at us as if we had no idea of what we were talking about.

I feel sorry for the students, the great professors and definitely I feel sorry for SUSOM.

[icesage]

Dear Students,
Please note, there will be a great deal of reaction towards what I am about to say. Keep in mind that the faculty at SABA have accounts on here and will pretend to be others when posting comments in defending their position with regards to MY EXPERIENCE here which seems to parallel most students here.
I regret to inform all students of thinking in applying to SABA or coming to SABA to strongly reconsider (Please DO NOT APPLY/ATTEND SABA ).
I am a first semester medical student attending SABA. I had much fear about coming to a Caribbean medical school vs. not going to medical school and decided to put my fears aside for SABA due to good PAST reputation.
My cousins came and graduated from here and are doing very well now in Canada and the States. Today, the school has a different policy with different goals in mind. First, it was NON-profit, now it is FOR profit and the issue stems from here and all the way to a power struggle amongst faculty on SABA. It has been my experience that this school ‘s primary goal is profit---NOT EDUCATION. One can have both profit and education, sadly SABA has decided to drop the latter with the newly created policies.
The strategy is admitting as many students as possible for tuition purposes (with little room in the ANATOMY lab), and failing out as much as possible because there are not enough clinical spots for rotations by the end of 5th semester. The current 5th semesters are already having to wait for a bit before starting clinical due to backed up/ few clinical rotations/ losing clinical spots from SABA (just lost a NY and Chicago clinical rotation check on it). The evidence is there… YOU as you consider SABA for an education, must try to find this out for yourself. The current situation will not be honestly addressed by Admin/ gardner or SABA ----You must research yourself, and my best advice as I did before coming here was talking to students that are HERE NOW.
The first semester class this past May started out with 90 students (the largest class SABA has ever admitted thus far) now it is down to around 60 in both classes (the highest drop rate in SABA history). The class has been wiped out/is being wiped out. How?
In Histology, exams have been made deliberately difficult by the course director and Academic dean. Dr. S pretends to be nice and caring towards students meanwhile he is aiding the school in weeding people out unjustly. The average histo exam score (this semester) on the past 3 histo exams have been in the 60’s. The pass rate at SABA is 75, meaning that more than half the class is failing. There are several students that are repeating histology from last semester with our class, and they have stated over and over again that Dr. S’s exams have been on a different level then previous semesters even last. After the third exam with an average in the 60’s one has to wonder what else can be done. Students have been going to TA reviews and his reviews and working hard as other can see. He is also the assistant dean of students, with tremendous influence on what occurs at this school and he is abusing his powers.
In anatomy, traditionally, there has been Dr. R, ask any student who has attended SABA about him (they have no reason to lie) and they will state how he taught them Anatomy on such a level that while taking the USMLE they can hear his voice telling them what is being asked and how to answer it. He spends time explaining concepts, although he might go over the “time limit” which I don’t mind while some students do, he explains the material in such a manner that you will never forget it because he understands it. Due to all the propaganda going on at this school, he refused to play as a puppet and has stepped down from course director only to leave it to another prof that uses an Atlas to Id structures in lab. The 2 profs left teaching anatomy, both are not anatomist, they cannot communicate the info to students, and in fact have taught various WRONG information to first semester students. One has been teaching a 5th sem class, after receiving terrible reviews he was “demoted” to teach anatomy. I feel cheated, I am not getting a solid foundation from the basic sciences thus far, and it seems as if the first semesters feel the same way. Many are taking steps of transferring/leaving to other schools for a better investment in time and education.
In speaking my cousins and upper semester students at SABA I have discovered who the best professors are due to majority opinion. All students tend to question around and find out who the best professors are for courses while in University or professional school. NOT THE EASIEST, but the BEST. Best being knowledgeable about the subject they are teaching and communicating the information to the students. Over and over again the following the same professor’s names kept coming up.
1. Dr. R- Anatomy- status- Stepped down—on the way out
2. Dr. A- genetics- Status- left SABA—one more semester and she is gone
3. Dr. S- Physiology – Status- Stepped down
4. Dr. K- Neuro—still here-- might be leaving soon?
5. Dr. B—Dr. A’s husband- Leaving after this semester
6. Dr. W- Micro- Still here—
7. Dr. D- Dean -hope that he would follow his heart soon and do the RIGHT thing
8. Dr. M- Pharm- Still here.
9. Dr. J- Pathology- STATUS- AS OF July 1, 2008 LEAVING SABA
All of these changes have happened this semester-drastic changes. There is a constant struggle between the prof’s that care/educated/interested in teaching students as much as possible vs. profs that are in solitude with the school’s new policy of making money and getting as many students out as possible after taking tuition. Two profs have been hired here last year (Dr. L –path Dr. W- immune) were fired from AUC for failing too many students and creating much trouble amongst faculty members. Dividing people amongst each other and creating “southern clicks.” SABA has hired the doe that they claim to have taught at Duke University Medical School. The evidence on the contrary shows that one worked in a lab at Duke and the other taught at a PA school, don’t take my word for it research it. All of this information would be irrelevant if one is getting a good education. It is hard enough to be a medical student but having to deal with lies and profs/administration power struggle/owners that are making money at your own expense is unfair. It is hard to focus amongst such drama. Due to change of focus on students to power and money, Dr. J decided to leave the school today after hitting a brick wall with the Dean in trying to help medical students (3 pt curve due to Dr. L mis-keyed exam). He was demoted in front of students today by the dean coincidently after the return of Dr. L to the island. The dean abruptly walked in and interrupted class and unprofessionally demoted Dr. J from course director to give it to Dr. L – the OTHER path prof (one of the inadequate profs (as per AUC students AND SABA students-- along with wife Dr. W-Immuno). Now, the director of PATH is Dr. L—one of the worst profs in this school along with Wife Dr. W…. Now much more people will be failing. After Dr. J decided to leave there was a student rally at SABA to show how people feel about their education and the good hard profs here willing to teach it to us. This school is headed down hill in every aspect and it is an insecure place filled with drama NOT EDUCATING FUTURE DOCTORS. I wish that I would have known about this before investing in my education at such a medical school. I will not be replying /reading any comment/reply/see any comment on here.
( I know that most will be by profs/admin/prof’s pretending to be students, students on SABA are fed up).
These are merely my experiences thus far and I intend on leaving SABA as soon as I can to go to another medical school. I don’t have a reason to post such a letter, if events were not taking place. I want to give the future students a heads-up with much concern in mind and state that SABA is not a good medical school, I would have never applied here based on the current reputation and I DO NOT recommend it to any student coming in. PLEASE think before coming to SABA look at other medical schools.
God bless and good luck.

I could not have written better than honest2beme. Well done honest2beme. Every detail is true. I wish it were not the case but unfortunately honest2beme is not telling any falsehoods at all.
All I can say is that I am in the fifth semester and I could not believe what happened today. It was shocking. Admin could not care less about the students or its best professors. It was very emotional for the great many students present outside the dean's office listening to Mrs. J speak on her husband's behalf as to why they were leaving and that it was their own choice. I feel that it was their own choice but events here definitely expedited their decision to resign. Already first semesters and third semesters are thinking of transferring. I myself, after having seen how the students were treated as though we were garbage, and as though we were not worth talking to, am of the opinion that unfortunately this school is going downhill. Admin does not even care to listen to the students and yet they want to us to fill out assessment forms for each professor. There is hypocrisy here of the worst kind. It is not a conducive environment for learning which we all came to do when we do not know when the next good professor is going to leave or how admin is going to act. The only crime/mistake a professor can make on SABA is to be knowledgable and caring towards his/her students. I came to SABA after rejecting other schools in the Caribbean because I heard of its reputation. Now I feel like a fool. I truly felt cheated today. I am not one to dissuade students from coming here but in this case I would ask perspective students and current students to reconsider their decisions after first hand veiwing the intransigent attitude of our administration which I used to respect. I hope some good may be realized from the loss of a great professor but I fear this is merely the beginning of a slippery slope. I urge other students to speak out. Our school is not listening to us. Voice your concerns in a professional manner as people from administration do scour this website. Just remember, truth will always win, it cannot be suppressed for long.

[kryptik]

maybe they are replacing him/her with an even better professor?

[AZcopperJim]

maybe they are replacing him/her with an even better professor?

I jumped the gun. sorry dude.

[aspiringmedstudent]

maybe they are replacing him/her with an even better professor?

I wish that were a possibility.... but considering the quality of Dr. J, I doubt it. I personally think Dr. J is in a class of his own. BUT, to each his own.. Right?

I can think of another prof that could have been replaced by a better one ;-)

[icesage]

maybe they are replacing him/her with an even better professor?

If that were the case, there would not be tears of frustration and helpnessess. You obviously are out of touch with what is happening here or you are part of admin. Dr. J is definitely not being replaced by a better professor, he was the best professor here never mind being the best Path professor. The professor who is replacing him as course director of pathology did not have his contract renewed by AUC.

[icesage]

:) Just be careful AZcopperJim. You do not know who is scouring this space. However, I do not disagree with you. :)

[kryptik]

i only asked a question, go vent somewhere else and stop the personal attack.

[covarubious]

thats how this forum works. ;) from our chats I doubt kryptik is almni, hes a future student so I don't think he is out of touch because unfortunately we haven't met Dr. J and looks like we probably won't... Although any school that gets him would be the place to apply/transfer to...

i only asked a fakin question, go vent somewhere else and stop the personal attack.

[litt]

well done honest2beme

[AZcopperJim]

i only asked a fakin question, go vent somewhere else and stop the personal attack.

nerves are frayed here on Saba. I thought you were a brown noser from the boom boom garbage dump. I did not realize you were not a current student. My apologies.

[gridlock]

I hope the administration rectifies their mistake and re-instigate the rightful professor to his rightful position.
It is the other disrespectful couple that should have left..

[cant polish a turd]

Keep dreamin' telephone scatologia fans. The school is headed on a fast track to failure. Saba will implode from lack of revenue. The island economy will DIE. I predict 2 semesters MAX until we see the fall. Dr Fred (southern gentleman), step in now, before your baby is lost. Your carpet bagger is well underway to destroying what you created from the dirt of Saba.

[gumby]

The only thing I have to say about today is that Y and Dr. J handled everything with class and honor. It is obvious that they still have their dignity in tact. As for the the man in the back office suffering from testicular atrophy, I think his actions reveal his total lack of character. I'm sad to see both Y and Dr. J go, but I'm happy for them. At least they don't have to put up with large piles of duke material.

[shdc1000]

so what are current saba students planning to do? are there anyone planning to transfer?

[cant polish a turd]

*****************I'm outta here

[darkday]

What can we do? Medicine is still our dream.

A lot of people are contemplating their future right now. If you're a first semester, easy, apply and go to another school.

If you're finishing third semester, it should be fairly easy to transfer because you should have a good solid core that you can squeeze into another program and continue. I heard there was a bunch of people going to admin to fill out the transfer papers but admin stepped in and said they ran out of forms. Who knows. It's hard to separate rumor from reality now because rumors are turning out to be true.

If you're fifth, finish the step and transfer after that.

For the other semester, I don't know. Try and persevere! Don't let what's happening make you sad, or even worse, apathetic. This is your dream. Make it happen. So what if we have extra hurdles that others don't have.

[cant polish a turd]

Money talks. Hear this turds...
I am leaving this dump. You will soon have a new and empty building. Teach the cockroaches low yield non-step 1 details. Transfer forms??? Just leave. If Saba gives you a HASSELL, that's what attorneys are for.

[Rebbster18]

kml@equinox-capital.com

Instead of all of us venting our opinions on this site which administration and better yet Equinox Capital never appear on, I believe that if some of the well stated remarks on this site (such as the letters) were to be sent to our new owners, that there may be some pressure to force a change. Whether this will be for the better or the worse... We can only hope that things can restore to the "old Saba" that was so highly viewed by students, faculty, and the medical community!

[cant polish a turd]

Equinox is the DEVIL!!!

[darkmansaad]

you may or may not be right....but i have accumulated two infractions for a) quoting happy gilmore and b) saying the words "qq more noob"

i've seen some users that were solely created to make inflammatory comments in two threads and they have ZERO infractions. The iceman race card has now been played.................

[litt]

Does anyone know who the next person up the chain of command is. It is obvious that the Deans at this school are simply not receptive to the concerns of Saba students, but who do we turn to next? Is Dr. F still in charge? and what the heck is Equinox? Is there an actual person that we can address these letters to?

[aspiringmedstudent]

Agreed, Rebbster. I've actually already started a letter. :)

[AZcopperJim]

This school has changed for the worse. I am going to leave. Saba is not the only game in town.

[kryptik]

nerves are frayed here on Saba. I thought you were a brown noser from the boom boom garbage dump. I did not realize you were not a current student. My apologies.
accepted, my bad for the harsh response, and am not an alum or professor;)