Class size in January!!!

[ducman]

I posted this in Dr. Pepper's rant forum, but it may get lost in there:

Maybe I can get this started honestly!

I am upset and concerned at the fact that Saba (Gardner) told us and continues to tell us that the starting class size is 45-50. When I have visited the island and verified that it shall be 75 for the January semester!

There are numerous issues with that:

1) I know the school is putting in the 75th computer in the testing center - so that is covered
2) Will the class size get ridiculously big
3) Can the small anatomy lab and each cadaver handle the class size
4) The dorm shall definitely not have enough space so many first-termers shall be placed off campus (eventhough the dorm is off - campus across the road from the school)
5) I realize that one does have the option to secure their own core clinical rotations, but if that is an issue - the school shall secure them for you. So, does the school plan on increasing its hospital affiliations in order to accomodate more students?

Whew... now - does anybody else have any comments, feedback, etc...

Wolf - I hope this got the discussion going as we use to have in the old days! :D

[swinginislanddoc]

Every semester we hear that the class size is going to be 75 - it's starting to annoy the heck out of the front office because it's never been true. I know they've been trying to add in more computers, but the classroom is at max right now with 60 students. They're building another dorm right now. They have told us that the class size may increase once the new building is built - and that hasn't even been started yet.

We're working on some things in the mean time. About the website - maybe we should all e-mail Fredrick and express our irritation about the misinformation on the site. Perhaps with enough harassment they'll change it.

~S

[ducman]

Thanks for the good info swing

[wolfvgang22]

I'm not really worried about it... yet.
Dorm space shouldn't be that big a deal with a new dorm being built, since most students move off campus as soon as they can, right? :wink:

Personally, I would rather see Saba get wireless internet for students up and running, rather than put additional computers in the library. Students could download powerpoint notes off of a server, and do away with the need for a USB jumpdrive or zip-disks. Also, nobody would have to wait in line for internet access.

Regarding clinical cores, alumni I've spoken to have said that they had more than enough clinicals to choose from when they needed to set up cores. They said the only issue was that if you needed all ACGME cores, you might have to travel around some geographically.
Somebody please correct me if that info is wrong!

I'm planning on looking into doing 3rd year core clinicals in the U.K, because the education there is great according to students who have gone that route from other schools. I think it would be fun to see Europe again, and U.K. clincals are supposed to count as ACGME automatically. Does anybody know a Saba student who did U.K. cores?
Happy Trails!

[classic]

Hey guys, I was actually talking to a physician who teaches at the medical school in East TN two days ago. He was telling me about how students who set up their own clinicals need to go through the dean of students affairs at medical schools associated with teaching hospitals. I guess I hadn't thought of it before, but the teaching hospitals don't typically do full coverage liability insurance on medical students, which means you can pretty much just observe without doing much hands on stuff. So if you're wanting to do third year clinicals in a specific area, you may want to know and contact the necessary people to help you before getting to the island. (At least that's what I'm doing :wink: , maybe I'll be all set for third year clinicals before schools starts 8) )
Hantagirl sighning off!!!!!!

[SKL]

In MUA, students do have liability insurance, it's covered by the school (part of the tuition). I think that's the same for Saba. There's lots of hands on stuff in clinical, definitely not just observing.

[swinginislanddoc]

The last I heard was that, although they do say you can do clinical rotations in Europe, they discourage it because of the cost. You might have a hard time convincing them to let you do it, but since they advertise that it can be done, they're going to have to give a little. I don't know of anyone who has done it.

~S

[wolfvgang22]

The last I heard was that, although they do say you can do clinical rotations in Europe, they discourage it because of the cost. You might have a hard time convincing them to let you do it, but since they advertise that it can be done, they're going to have to give a little. I don't know of anyone who has done it.

~S
Thanks for your response, S.
So, if I understand your post correctly, Saba discourages doing clinical rotations in Europe because it is more expensive for Saba to pay for those rotations. I have heard that cost of living for students is not much different than being in the caribbean.

It seems I'm always being a maverick and taking the unbeaten path! What can I say, it's what I do...8)

Classic, some states (i.e.; Texas) may not grant you licensure if you set up clinicals that are not affiliated (have a contract in writing) with Saba. I'm sure you've already thought of that, though. :wink:
Vaya con Dios!