Why are so many seasoned professors leaving Saba?

[Experienced]

A whole slew of the professors who have been at SUSOM the longest have recently left or are leaving: Dr. K (neuro - 10 yrs), Dr. A (genetics/biochem - 6 yrs), Dr. C (psych - 6 yrs), others to be revealed soon. Not to mention Dr. J (path, probably the best prof ever at Saba) and the dynamic Dr. F (ethics/psych). Word is that others are actively seeking a new home.

Is it just a coincidence or should there be concern?

E.


-

[darkmansaad]

if i had to guess its that saba is a completely different school now than it was 4 years ago, heck 18 months ago. If i applied now i would never have gotten in......but thats what happens when your schools name grows, their match list gets better and better (derm? mayo clinic?) and overall becomes more "corporate" and focused on results as opposed to the student-teacher vibe that brought a lot of earlier students. Not that im opposed to it , i was never really "close" with any prof but its sad, they did help a lot and they def helped those on the borderline even more as they were utilized most. In the end its what you make of it as always hopefully the next crop of profs are as good as the ones before......

[TravisB]

When I left the dive industry in August of 2007 to come work at the school, so many people were leaving the dive shop that it would have looked like a mass exodus to someone who didn't know the details:



The senior boat captain was leaving because he'd been at the shop for several years and was simply pursuing another option.
His girlfriend was the office manager and of course left with him.
I, the second most senior boat captain, was leaving for this job.
The third most senior boat captain's contract was up and he was simply leaving to pursue other options. (This is how things usually work in the industry.)
An experienced crew member was leaving before his contract expired for personal reasons.


So that was 3 out of 4 boat captains, the office manager, and one crew member all leaving within two weeks of each other, and it was all coincidence.

Be careful of how you present info: leading with 'jumping ship' can be seen as cheap spin.

Regards,

-Travis

[Saba5th]

Oh no, Dr. C is leaving psych? I hate to hear that. Well I hope he is off to bigger and better things.

[FutureStudent]

1) Some are not up to the standards that Saba demands, and are not willing to fight the battle to stay (humiliation factor).
2) Some are not willing to bow down to a very strong administration. A strong administration is not necessarily a bad thing, when you have so many different personalities, you need strong leadership. But it can be frustrating if you are the one or two who think your way is the right way.
3) Some want a more laid back life style- less competitive students, less academically gifted students, less work, less prep, less bother- so they go to a lesser school where they can be the big fish in the small tank.
4) Maybe they were quietly asked to leave Saba, ever think of that one?:faint:

[mario345]

^ummmm, i love how people who have never stepped their foot on saba have an opinion on what goes on there.

NONE of those qualities are attributable to ANY professors, and ALL saba students, regardless of how they like/dislike certain professors owe their success and careers to them, because after saba, NO one will spoonfeed you and teach you and whatever you learn at saba, thats it - you just buildup on that.

never forget where you come from when you bring down people, esp. when they will be teaching you how to be a doctor.


humiliation factor? easy lifestyle? LOL. are you trying to tell me that a professor is not smart enough to adapt to a student or administrations needs? LOL...

and why would a professor be intimidated by some caribbean students who werent good enough themselves to get into a U.S. or cdn school?? hahahah...

pce

[FutureStudent]

Saba has a very high standard of education equal to the US and Holland's standards (obviously the NVAO agrees). Saba will continue to compete academically with the other top Caribbean medical schools (St. Georges, Ross and AUC). If a professor does not meet or exceed Saba's standards, and does not want to follow the plan to come up to these standards, many times an agreement is made in which the professor seeks employment elsewhere and the school gives a good recommendation for him/her. There is no shame in that, it is a reality.

[mario345]

^ again, you dont make any sense. you dont know anything about the professors on saba and what they are made up of. you really think that they are scared of improving saba's standards and instead want to be lazy and leave?!?!?! LOL LOL LOL LOL
you have no clue as to how our graduates do on the board exams, and how we behave in class and on rotations. we have always had very high standards and our graduates have always done well on board exams, so its obviously not about 'meeting and exceeding saba's standards' (whatever that means, btw). we are not windsor univ. school of medicine here and our students are well prepared once they leave.

and its obviosuly not about getting better and more talened faculty, its about managerial issues and treatment which may have many faculty to leave.

so again, your depiction of possible events leading to ths professor exodus on saba is way off as its based on your assumption that you actually understand what goes on in saba. you cant read something on VMD and make up an opinion, dear.

[Experienced]

^ummmm, i love how people who have never stepped their foot on saba have an opinion on what goes on there.

NONE of those qualities are attributable to ANY professors, and ALL saba students, regardless of how they like/dislike certain professors owe their success and careers to them, because after saba, NO one will spoonfeed you and teach you and whatever you learn at saba, thats it - you just buildup on that.

never forget where you come from when you bring down people, esp. when they will be teaching you how to be a doctor.


humiliation factor? easy lifestyle? LOL. are you trying to tell me that a professor is not smart enough to adapt to a student or administrations needs? LOL...

and why would a professor be intimidated by some caribbean students who werent good enough themselves to get into a U.S. or cdn school?? hahahah...

pce

Ditto what Mario, who btw slew Step 1, says. But thank you for your esteemed opinion from someone who obviously knows many things about Saba, perhaps even more than someone who is Experienced. Because of TOS, we are blessed with your insight.

E.

-

[Experienced]

and its obviously not about getting better and more talented faculty, its about managerial issues and treatment which may have many faculty to leave.

Amen. Not ONE faculty member in my list of who has left was "asked to leave" but all resigned because they were fed up with the new owners and their minion here on the island.

E.

-

[FutureStudent]

Sour grapes only taste good when the other person is eating them.

Saba is a great medical school and I am sorry you have not experienced that. If you are so against the way the medical school is run on Saba, and so dedicated to the professors who have left Saba, why not follow them and finish medical school where they are?
BTW, please improve your use of the language before you attempt clinicals.

[mario345]

Sour grapes only taste good when the other person is eating them.

Saba is a great medical school and I am sorry you have not experienced that. If you are so against the way the medical school is run on Saba, and so dedicated to the professors who have left Saba, why not follow them and finish medical school where they are?
BTW, please improve your use of the language before you attempt clinicals.
what sour grapes? did you actually read what was written or do you just post blindly?
i actually LOVE saba and had a GREAT experience, mostly because of all the professors that I had. it has given me an opportunity to do what i love.
and btw, i was there on the island when the professors started leaving first. infact my class was in the middle of it as it was one of our best professors who recieved the brunt. i, along with everyone attending saba at that time knew what went on, and some of the decisions made by the admin were questionable, but whatever - we stuck by it and everything calmed down eventually. again, if you had known this fact ahead of time, it would have prevented you from making ignorant statements.
btw, who said i am against the way medical school is run in saba? buddy, you have absolutely NO idea what happens there, how its run, and how little power (or any power) students have in decision making. we can only bring up points that may be 'considered', but usually not materialized - which is fine. again, you wouldnt say such things if you were actually attending saba.
and im actually doing my rotations right now, and i dont need to follow any professor to teach me. they have taught all of us quite well, and its upto us to expand upon the knowledge we recieved on the island. but unlike you, most of us are very respectful to our professors and try to keep in contact with them regularly, because we tend not to forget where we came from and who helped us along the way, and during that 20 month period on that small little island, they were more than just mere professors.
as for my language, its perfectly fine. dont expect me to throw flowers at people who write stupid things and talk out of their behind.

[JLea]

Sour grapes only taste good when the other person is eating them.

Saba is a great medical school and I am sorry you have not experienced that. If you are so against the way the medical school is run on Saba, and so dedicated to the professors who have left Saba, why not follow them and finish medical school where they are?
BTW, please improve your use of the language before you attempt clinicals.

You obviously don't go to Saba. Otherwise you would know with whom you are debating. :doh:

The professors who are on the OP's list are among the best professors in the Caribbean. I know each of them personally and they all left for reasons other than not wanting to have high standards. Saba is worse for their departure and the medical schools where they go are far better off.

[JLea]

what sour grapes? did you actually read what was written or do you just post blindly?
i actually LOVE saba and had a GREAT experience, mostly because of all the professors that I had. it has given me an opportunity to do what i love.
and btw, i was there on the island when the professors started leaving first. infact my class was in the middle of it as it was one of our best professors who recieved the brunt. i, along with everyone attending saba at that time knew what went on, and some of the decisions made by the admin were questionable, but whatever - we stuck by it and everything calmed down eventually. again, if you had known this fact ahead of time, it would have prevented you from making ignorant statements.
btw, who said i am against the way medical school is run in saba? buddy, you have absolutely NO idea what happens there, how its run, and how little power (or any power) students have in decision making. we can only bring up points that may be 'considered', but usually not materialized - which is fine. again, you wouldnt say such things if you were actually attending saba.
and im actually doing my rotations right now, and i dont need to follow any professor to teach me. they have taught all of us quite well, and its upto us to expand upon the knowledge we recieved on the island. but unlike you, most of us are very respectful to our professors and try to keep in contact with them regularly, because we tend not to forget where we came from and who helped us along the way, and during that 20 month period on that small little island, they were more than just mere professors.
as for my language, its perfectly fine. dont expect me to throw flowers at people who write stupid things and talk out of their behind.


Wow! We agree about something! Will wonders never cease? :)

[mario345]

^we agree on many things Jlea! :p

[JLea]

^we agree on many things Jlea! :p

I know, I know... just trying to put some lightness to this thread.

It is truly sad to see the professors go. When we started at Saba, it was a much different place than it now is.

Do well in clinicals, my friend. You are going to be an excellent doctor.

[mario345]

Ditto what Mario, who btw slew Step 1, says. But thank you for your esteemed opinion from someone who obviously knows many things about Saba, perhaps even more than someone who is Experienced. Because of TOS, we are blessed with your insight.

E.

-
Hhaha, i think most people coming out of saba can slay step 1...! ;)

i wouldnt say i know more than anyone else...i just make sure to be honest and confident with whatever i do know...

you raised a very good point, the reason could be just co-incidence as travisB pointed out, but personal experience on the workings of the island makes me think that its probably more of a managerial/political move.

i really dont know for sure though. i can only speculate :)

[Experienced]

Do well in clinicals, my friend. You are going to be an excellent doctor.

Amen and Amen!

E.

-

[Experienced]

and btw, i was there on the island when the professors started leaving first. infact my class was in the middle of it as it was one of our best professors who recieved the brunt.

Likely the best professor Saba has ever had, and the new owners and their minion blew it. Btw, who followed this great Dr. J to Statia?

Dr. C, fwiw.

E.

-

[JLea]

Likely the best professor Saba has ever had, and the new owners and their minion blew it. Btw, who followed this great Dr. J to Statia?

Dr. C, fwiw.

E.

-

Saba's loss = Statia's gain

[Hugh_Mongous]

I can't say that I am not worried about the future at saba, considering the outflux of what seems to be outstanding profs who were known to be student advocates.

Don't forget the anatomy prof, Dr. R who went to Grand Cayman.

Regardless, considering there is seemingly nothing to be done, I will put my head down and study and work and do what I must to move forward.

[raptors]

I believe a very good PD prof is returning.

A new anatomy prof seems to have some great credentials and I've talked to him. He's super friendly and approachable.

The new neuro prof this past semester really prepared us for the shelf even though it seemed hard at times during the course.

I can't argue and I agree that we lost some great professors. But by the same token, we gained a few as well. Change is tough, but work hard, have faith, we'll be ok.

[krust3]

geez i was hoping to see familiar faces when i come back to visit before residency... man that sucks, i loved Saba.


i hope the school doesn't lose sight of how it got to where it was when i finished basic. well established, happy profs who actually cared translated to students' success beyond the island. at this rate, we'll be no different than Ross, AUC, or St. Jorge'.

[Experienced]

A whole slew of the professors who have been at SUSOM the longest have recently left or are leaving: Dr. K (neuro - 10 yrs), Dr. A (genetics/biochem - 6 yrs), Dr. C (psych - 6 yrs), others to be revealed soon. Not to mention Dr. J (path, probably the best prof ever at Saba) and the dynamic Dr. F (ethics/psych). Word is that others are actively seeking a new home.

Is it just a coincidence or should there be concern?

E.
-

I humbly bump.

[wolfvgang22]

I am grateful to Dr. C, the psych professor, most particularly for his optimism and infectious enthusiasm about teaching and psych, which made Saba a much more fun place to be. I especially appreciated his Hawaiian shirts, congenial smile, and laid back style, like a breath of fresh air amidst the tenseness of medical school. I also appreciate his effort to say hello anytime a student passed by his office door in the library.

I also fondly remember Dr. J, who was a terrific teacher as well and made pathology seem fun and easy for me.

Dr. K, well, he helped prepare me for difficult attendings who pimp mercilessly on rounds, and suprised me by giving me the grade I earned in fairness, not the one he probably thought I would earn in the beginning.

Dr. A, the biochem professor was very supportive, yet demanding of excellence, which I appreciated very much.

I am certain I left many out, as Saba faculty provided a terrific education overall.
Thanks for reminding me how much I owe Saba faculty, who in the end did their job very well despite whatever minor complaints I had as a student, I learned something from everybody!

[Tellingitlikeitis]

its always amazing to me that people on saba get so happy about a teacher thats competent.

[B_W_]

It's called being appreciative.

[mario345]

its always amazing to me that people on saba get so happy about a teacher thats competent.
its always amazing to me that people who dont even go to saba are always stalking this forum. they fail to realize that their chronic negativity is laughable, and no one takes them seriously. :):lol::lol:

[Tellingitlikeitis]

dude. soon to be a saba grad. i just dont like saba, the way its run, having to do all my vlinicals on my own as well as set up my own cores, because saba is so incompetent and always losing rotations

[B_W_]

That's unfortunately one of the drawbacks to not getting into a N. American med school. We've just got a few extra hoops to jump through.

[doc2be1day]

Amen. Not ONE faculty member in my list of who has left was "asked to leave" but all resigned because they were fed up with the new owners and their minion here on the island.
-

Dr A and Dr C are now at MUA, where I am a student. I can't speak to their motives, but it obviously isn't because of the owners of Saba -- MUA is owned by the same company. I would guess they just wanted to get off the rock and maybe have a beach handy or space to roam around. In any case we are happy to have them.

[JLea]

Dr A and Dr C are now at MUA, where I am a student. I can't speak to their motives, but it obviously isn't because of the owners of Saba -- MUA is owned by the same company. I would guess they just wanted to get off the rock and maybe have a beach handy or space to roam around. In any case we are happy to have them.

Dude, you obviously do not know with whom you are debating - Dr. C. is at MUA? Are you absolutely sure?

Don't know about Dr. A., but I seriously doubt that she is at MUA.

[atropine]

Dude, you obviously do not know with whom you are debating - Dr. C. is at MUA? Are you absolutely sure?

Don't know about Dr. A., but I seriously doubt that she is at MUA.
Dr. A is at MUA. She told the entire biochemistry class that she was leaving to attend MUA. Gotta love the Saba rumour mill!

[JLea]

Dr. A is at MUA. She told the entire biochemistry class that she was leaving to attend MUA. Gotta love the Saba rumour mill!

Then I stand corrected about her.

[atropine]

Then I stand corrected about her.
No idea about Dr. C. though...does anyone have any first-hand info?

[Dr Coconut]

Statia. He's at Statia.

[dolhan16]

Dr C is on Statia, Dr A and Dr F are at MUA, Dr R is at St Matthews. Thats all i know.

They have their reasons, none of them remotely related to being dismissed or being underqualified in any way. Ive actually spoken with some of them and, yes, it has directly to do with the current administration and new changes being made within the school.

Oh, and E, lea, mario, I agree with you on so many levels.... glad to hear that SUSOM students are not only prepared but exceeding in their endeavors.