I had to respond to the Saba California issue

[MrScottyMD]

First of all it is extremely impressive that a medical school on a 5 square mile island in the Carribean had the credentials to even warrant a site visit from California. Secondly by the time the entire application was completed it was probably in the beginning of 2001. Then California went back and forth with different requests for documentation for roughly a year and then a site visit was planned. This visit was pushed back once or twice and then it happened. ( apparently due to budget cuts which I have no doubt was the case, just read the paper on CA budget crisis)Something tells me the State of Board of Medicine in Calif has alot on the their plate as it is. Having participated on a State Board I can tell you first off they only meet once a month in many cases for decsion making type hearings . Secondly foreign med school approval is low on the totem pole Im sure. They have to handle complaints, license revocation, license renewal, licensce applications, law changes, physician investigations, physician hearings and appeals, physician fines and penalities, need I go on. Anyone who thought the CA thing was a year or two undertaking was sadly mistaken. Saba may or may not get CA approval, my feeling is they will, but overall the process has gone fairly smooth. A 10 year old school that has permanent licenses in 35 states is not too shabby. Best of Luck to all.

Scott Jones MD DC FP R1
Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ

[azskeptic]

Dr. Scott, Saba has made some amazing strides and you are an example of the type of doc they are putting out. Mayos is lucky to have you here in Arizona and I hope that our state is able to keep you when you are done with your residency.....we'll try to keep the good weather so you are enticed...ha ha....az skeptic

[MrScottyMD]

Nice to hear from you. Just finishing OB this month, the hardest month Im told, and so far it was the toughest by far. Hopefully the back end of this year will lighten up a tad, intern year is now officially half over. Yahooo.

Scott

[wolfvgang22]

Thanks a lot, Scott, you always give great advice on this forum.
Take it easy, and good luck!