St. Martinus University - Keep this in Mind

[Iwilbadoctr]

To all:

Maybe its just me, but considering the last few posts on this site (Martinus Medical School), I am becoming more and more reluctant to come down to Curacao. What did I get myself into? I've already turned in my seat deposit and bought my plane ticket. Leaving the country and going down to the Caribbean to study medicine is already a big enough step as it is, but this forum, for future, present, and past medical students at SMU is ridiculous. People have real concerns about how to adapt to the new lifestyle and it seems this forum has only been about bashing people, other schools, former professors, etc. What is this "pissing contest" all about. I thought the caribbean lifesyle is relaxed and laid back. I pray to God I didn't make a poor decision and I hope the entering class of September '08 is no where near as to what I have been accustomed to on this forum.

[DOCplucinski]

i think this "pissing contest" as you put it is a big red flag to avoid the school. that seems pretty obvious to me.

[jameslynton]

You have to consider several things in heading to an island medical school:
1. Does the school have a good history.
2. Who is behind the school financially and the administration.
3. For the time it has been going how many people graduate and have careers in medicine.

Then look at Step pass rates, clinicals, teachers...

Medical school is well - medical school and is difficult in itself due to the content of the material you have to cover. When you look at the schools that started in the same time period as this school - where are they now?

Research and answer the above questions - see if you are still happy!

[Doctor Ali]

Can you apply to other Carribbean Medical Schools like Windsor? I am going to Windsor. You can ask for a refund of the air ticket you have brought. Just an advice nothing more.

Thanks,

Doctor Ali




To all:

Maybe its just me, but considering the last few posts on this site (Martinus Medical School), I am becoming more and more reluctant to come down to Curacao. What did I get myself into? I've already turned in my seat deposit and bought my plane ticket. Leaving the country and going down to the Caribbean to study medicine is already a big enough step as it is, but this forum, for future, present, and past medical students at SMU is ridiculous. People have real concerns about how to adapt to the new lifestyle and it seems this forum has only been about bashing people, other schools, former professors, etc. What is this "pissing contest" all about. I thought the caribbean lifesyle is relaxed and laid back. I pray to God I didn't make a poor decision and I hope the entering class of September '08 is no where near as to what I have been accustomed to on this forum.

[lswiltshire]

You probably dont need a refund of the ticket

You only need to have the second leg from Puerto Rico to St Kitts rewritten

You will most likely have to stop over in Puerto Rico after the first leg of your trip

[Hawk-Eye]

The human head weighs 7 pounds.

[lswiltshire]

James Lynton has made some good points that are worth considering.

I want to state clearly that St Martinus has always been my favorite school at which I have taught. I have fond memories of my time there but when James Lynton’s parameters are applied to St Martinus the answers are not good.


1. Does the school have a good history.

Well It started in 2003. It has found it very difficult to attract students, or to keep faculty.
Recently there was a post by a teacher called Microgen who left after two weeks. This was the second time that he left teaching at the school.

The following are posts that point out difficulties that other staff members have had with this school. One of the problems faced by teachers in most of its existence is that they were not paid on time. When this info trickled down to the students it always gave them a sense of uncertainty.

http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/157394-why-did-new-micro-genetic-immuno-faculty-leave.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/157394-why-did-new-micro-genetic-immuno-faculty-leave.html)
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/158854-trimester-system.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/158854-trimester-system.html)
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153985-accepted-may-2008-a-2.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153985-accepted-may-2008-a-2.html)
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/index5.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/index5.html)
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/19851-smu-doa.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/19851-smu-doa.html)

One wonders why the second Chancellor left and didn’t stay too long at the helm! He is now at UHMS- a real and recommended medical school.

http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/109093-installation-new-chancellor-st-martinus-university-medical-school.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/109093-installation-new-chancellor-st-martinus-university-medical-school.html)


It would be interesting to know if, and how this HISTORY has improved, but the above is the accurate history.

2. Who is behind the school financially and the administration.

The school is now under new financial backing, of http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153582-mr-henry-chau-appointed-chairman-s-m-u.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153582-mr-henry-chau-appointed-chairman-s-m-u.html)

But the Basic Science and Clinical Deans who supervised the most stable period of the school’s existence between mid 2005 and mid 2007 are no longer there. They now have their 4th Dean since the 2003 inception.

As recently as December the previous owner and CEO was jailed in Curacao.
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/146994-president-chairman-martinus-youtube.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/146994-president-chairman-martinus-youtube.html)

None of the above would encourage me to send either of my sons to this school.

3. For the time it has been going how many people graduate and have careers in medicine.

Only one student has finished studies and found a residency by the school's own admission, but there should be close to half dozen who should do so soon and perhaps a dozen by year end.
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/155735-residency.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/155735-residency.html)
http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153134-new-doctor-curacao.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153134-new-doctor-curacao.html)

4 When you look at the schools that started in the same time period as this school - where are they now?

AUA is the prime example of a school that started in the same time period (2004) that is doing much better. But then again AUA is run by experienced medical educators, who were able to hit the ground running.

ST JAMES also started in that time period. ST JAMES has always readily attracted new students


Read this post by a At Martinus student student American AA.

I can elaborate on the last vision. St Martinus University has the best reputation in the Caribbean in:

Telling lies, one after another. Lies coming from all levels of admin, from the new president to the vice president to the director of operation. The last lie about the new loan was really shocking.
Deception about how the students are doing at USMLE. No school ever did so poor as St Martinus in terms of progression academically. There are few students who did extremely well in the USMLE, but that does not mean the majority. No school started some 6 years ago and still has handful of students in each class like St Martinus.

scroll to end of http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153582-mr-henry-chau-appointed-chairman-s-m-u.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/153582-mr-henry-chau-appointed-chairman-s-m-u.html)

I can honestly corroborate what American AA has said from the time I spent teaching there. Don’t expect American AA to be objecting anymore to anything about St Martinus on VMD. This is monitored and strictly prohibited.

Read the post http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/155737-loans-2.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/155737-loans-2.html)

You will notice that when the new teacher microgen told the truth of his original experiences at St Martinus as alluded to in the answering post that followed that he was advised to erase it!

The truth must not be told about St Martinus ever ! It must be expunged always, if it cannot be sucessfully called psychobabble.

One poster has pointed out, I believe accurately that .......
"About 14 students have passed their USMLE Step 1 Exam, as they are in clinicals in both the US and The Netherlands."

As can be seen in another (new) thread, we recently heard that 2 students passed their USMLE Step 2 Exam, both CS & CK.

http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/113767-has-anyone-passed-step-1-a-2.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/113767-has-anyone-passed-step-1-a-2.html)


The above is a fairly accurate post about St Martinus, as is the one below.

http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/136444-message-former-student-who-had-over-3-7-gpa.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-martinus-medical-school/136444-message-former-student-who-had-over-3-7-gpa.html)