Princess Margaret Hospital, Roseau, Dominica

[Dru]

Princess Margaret Hospital, Roseau, Dominica

[ross123]

Has anyone done a core rotation at PMH that can share their experiences? Some of us are interested in going to dominica to "give back". If someone has rotated there, please share with us which rotations you did there, your expereinces, thoughts, and overall impressions. THank you and good luck to all.

[DrX]

I'd also like to hear of any experiences rotating at PMH. Which rotations are available and how difficult is it to get rotations here?

[BrotherMan]

I know of a few people who did rotations on the island. Apparently, its not too difficult to do as they are fairly flexible concerning start dates and such. Again, this is just what I have heard. I may be going back to do my surgery and peds rotations. Apparently, in the US, they are running short of Peds; I will not be able to get an open spot until late september of 2007, and the earliest surgery is late april of 2007, unless I want to do it at wyckoff. So, I think this is the best option for me, although I really hate the island.

[FoxTrot]

how can you even consider going back to that dumpt to do surgery and peds? You just haven't researched your options well enough yet, so dont give up by going back to that joint.

[BrotherMan]

I have no real desire to, but I don't really want a large gap in my education,as I desire to take step 2 sometime next year say, in july or august

[DrVinsk]

There are many ways to 'give back'...going back to Dominica to do a rotation isn't one of them. I don't see how you feel you need to give anything to Dominicans...but that's your business. As far as rotations go, try and take your medical career seriously. Dominica is far behind in health care and you will be robbing yourself of information by going to such an underdeveloped country. Did you not know the nurse that worked in the Ross clinic on campus? Why she was even allowed to be in that office is beside me. She was completely incompetent in regards to health care. I had the unfortunate experience of taking a friend to Princess Margaret Hospital for an illness. It was the most ridiculous example of health care I had seen since the Ross study group lady tried to participate in a 'STAN' session. Do not go back to Dominica for any rotation. It's such a shame to read people saying things like, 'it's a great rotation....it's easy..you can leave early anytime'. I hardly consider that a good rotation. Dominica is a giant dump.....you should already know that.

[newB]

Vinsk, your comments are way out of line and very rude and nasty.... People like you give the school a bad name and really have no idea about life and what it offers. You have to take Dominica for what it is, a small island struggling to make itself better. I loved my experience on the island as did so many of my friends that were there, and are considering going back to live after residency for awhile. Yes the hospital in Roseau is pretty bad and probably not a good place to do core rotations like IM and surg, or even OB... But you comments regarding the nurse at the school clinic are pretty nasty and what did she do to you. She is a clinic nurse, in her twilight years... Yes, she is not the sharpest nurse you'll see, but here in the US, I have seen a lot worse work in hospitals.... People that consider Dominica a dump are so blind, its a shame..... My advice to those people considering going back to Dominica for rotations, only do electives, NO CORES... If you work hard enough here in the states regarding scheduling stuff, you can get everything you want, pretty much back to back.... I wanted to do some electives in Dominica, but time was an issue and so is the match/interviews/rank, etc... Good luck all!

[Student_02]

MEEeeoww.. okay enoug on that.

ANYWAYS --> there are always options even if your advisor(s) tell you differently... NY clinical sites do have alot of limits to how many students can take and you do unfortunately have to wait for these sites other then Wyckoff for surgery (Peds is actually a good program at Wyckoff and most likely, you'll have to wait there too in getting a spot) -- ANYWAYS, last resort is Chicago hospitals -- YES -- Chicago -- as much as your advisor will say it's competitive to get in, it's acutally not. For chicago rotations, you have to call the hospitals medical director yourself and set up those rotations with him/her and then notify your advisor (you can't go through your advisor first to get the spots cause they will tell you it's full which is always not true)... hopes this helps.

ok.. no cat fights please :)

[jepo]

You will be happy and thankful doing pediatrics with Dr. Mac, OBGYN, and as well as surgery. the experience is one that you won't receive in the Us till such time when you will have become an MD.

[chickshpro]

[quote=DrVinsk;501171]There are many ways to 'give back'...going back to Dominica to do a rotation isn't one of them. I don't see how you feel you need to give anything to Dominicans...but that's your business. As far as rotations go, try and take your medical career seriously. Dominica is far behind in health care and you will be robbing yourself of information by going to such an underdeveloped country. Did you not know the nurse that worked in the Ross clinic on campus? Why she was even allowed to be in that office is beside me.

I cant imagine having u as my doctor with that view and attitude...obviously u where so muchhhhhhhhhhh better you went to get your education in a 3rd world country. I agree with what was said above... obviously u did not learn humbleness :eek:

[nrai2001]

MEEeeoww.. okay enoug on that.

ANYWAYS --> there are always options even if your advisor(s) tell you differently... NY clinical sites do have alot of limits to how many students can take and you do unfortunately have to wait for these sites other then Wyckoff for surgery (Peds is actually a good program at Wyckoff and most likely, you'll have to wait there too in getting a spot) -- ANYWAYS, last resort is Chicago hospitals -- YES -- Chicago -- as much as your advisor will say it's competitive to get in, it's acutally not. For chicago rotations, you have to call the hospitals medical director yourself and set up those rotations with him/her and then notify your advisor (you can't go through your advisor first to get the spots cause they will tell you it's full which is always not true)... hopes this helps.

ok.. no cat fights please :)

Why are the Chicago programs a last resort?

[BrotherMan]

For anyone who has done, or knows someone who has done pediatrics on the island: What are the hours like? Did you (they) live in Portsmouth and commute, or live in Roseau? What is the call schedule, if any, like? And whom did you schedule the rotation with- the Ross office in New Jersey, or contacting Dr. Cooles?
Any answers would be much appreciated.
Chris

[nrai2001]

For anyone who has done, or knows someone who has done pediatrics on the island: What are the hours like? Did you (they) live in Portsmouth and commute, or live in Roseau? What is the call schedule, if any, like? And whom did you schedule the rotation with- the Ross office in New Jersey, or contacting Dr. Cooles?
Any answers would be much appreciated.
Chris

Why would you do any rotation on the island?

[BrotherMan]

I would prefer not to, but considering the situation that is currently present at Ross concerning our clinical rotations, or rather, lacktherof, there are not many options considering pediatrics. I have asked the former advisor LD on many occasions, for the past year for this rotation, and still have not been able to get it. I have even gone to the Ross office in New Jersey to obtain this rotation on multiple occasions. So, I am really fed up with this situation and in an act of desperation, I am resorting to this option.

[Junito]

I would prefer not to, but considering the situation that is currently present at Ross concerning our clinical rotations, or rather, lacktherof, there are not many options considering pediatrics. I have asked the former advisor LD on many occasions, for the past year for this rotation, and still have not been able to get it. I have even gone to the Ross office in New Jersey to obtain this rotation on multiple occasions. So, I am really fed up with this situation and in an act of desperation, I am resorting to this option.

Before going that route, contact the Graduate Medical Consultants group (GMC) and try to get a peds rotation in Youngstown, Ohio (Forum Health???). Call the people up and see what they can do first: Home - Clinical Rotations for International Medical Students and Graduates from GMC (http://www.gmcgroup.org)

Another option would be to do a rotation at San Juan Municipal Hospital. Don't know how if you have to go through Ross to do this one.

[pure_jkz]

For anyone who has done, or knows someone who has done pediatrics on the island: What are the hours like? Did you (they) live in Portsmouth and commute, or live in Roseau? What is the call schedule, if any, like? And whom did you schedule the rotation with- the Ross office in New Jersey, or contacting Dr. Cooles?
Any answers would be much appreciated.
Chris


Start everyday at around 8am.
I lived in Portsmouth and drove down everyday...but only because i tutored on campus every night. Though Roseau is a pretty ok place to live; unfortunately not a lot of Rossies know, but you can find ANYTHING you want in Roseau.
There is no call. You schedule with Ms. Pascal down on the island, though i'm sure Dr. Cooles or NJ could also direct you.
Overall it's a pretty chill rotation. You round in the morning with the interns, who are really nice and always take time to teach you. Then you either round with either Dr. M or Dr. O...or go to clinic. (Dr. m and Dr. O are absolutely brilliant and they're awesome at teaching by the bedside)
You get to do a lot: iv lines, IVP, neonatal intubation, neonatal ressusc, suprapubic urine draws... not sure if we'd be allowed to do these at US hospitals due to legal issues.
The latest i stayed at the hospital during my Ped rotation on the island was 1:30pm. Great for someone like me who gets more done reading a Peds book by myself than having conferences/lectures.
Overall i enjoyed it, and would definitely do it again.

[BrotherMan]

Start everyday at around 8am.
I lived in Portsmouth and drove down everyday...but only because i tutored on campus every night. Though Roseau is a pretty ok place to live; unfortunately not a lot of Rossies know, but you can find ANYTHING you want in Roseau.
There is no call. You schedule with Ms. Pascal down on the island, though i'm sure Dr. Cooles or NJ could also direct you.
Overall it's a pretty chill rotation. You round in the morning with the interns, who are really nice and always take time to teach you. Then you either round with either Dr. M or Dr. O...or go to clinic. (Dr. m and Dr. O are absolutely brilliant and they're awesome at teaching by the bedside)
You get to do a lot: iv lines, IVP, neonatal intubation, neonatal ressusc, suprapubic urine draws... not sure if we'd be allowed to do these at US hospitals due to legal issues.
The latest i stayed at the hospital during my Ped rotation on the island was 1:30pm. Great for someone like me who gets more done reading a Peds book by myself than having conferences/lectures.
Overall i enjoyed it, and would definitely do it again.

Hey man, thanks for the heads up.

[BrotherMan]

Well everyone, I am 99% confirmed to do peds on the island. P.P scheduled me for the 30th of this month; all I have to do now is have the ross office in NJ send a letter of good standing. I'll be leaving on the 28th or 29th of April and finish on the 8th of June and leave the next day. Does anyone know how to obtain housing in roseau since the housing office does not list housing in that area?

[pure_jkz]

Most of us (clinical students and 5th semester students) just walked around and asked the locals in Goodwill about apartments. Most locals know which neighbor is renting etc.

(Goodwill is the name of the area that the hospital is in. That's where you wanna live. You won't actually be living 'in' Roseau, though Roseau as you remember is only about 10 min walk from the hospital)

A better option is to try to get a hold of the current 5th semesters, and ask them about apartments. If you're lucky, some of them might even want a roommate. Also ask PP, she might know people. Back when i did it about 6 months ago, one of the doctors was renting a room, and PP hooked a student up with that room.

Make the most of your time down there....rent a car, go hiking on weekends, go scuba diving, and just relax and take it easy!

[BrotherMan]

Most of us (clinical students and 5th semester students) just walked around and asked the locals in Goodwill about apartments. Most locals know which neighbor is renting etc.

(Goodwill is the name of the area that the hospital is in. That's where you wanna live. You won't actually be living 'in' Roseau, though Roseau as you remember is only about 10 min walk from the hospital)

A better option is to try to get a hold of the current 5th semesters, and ask them about apartments. If you're lucky, some of them might even want a roommate. Also ask PP, she might know people. Back when i did it about 6 months ago, one of the doctors was renting a room, and PP hooked a student up with that room.

Make the most of your time down there....rent a car, go hiking on weekends, go scuba diving, and just relax and take it easy!

Thanks for the info...

[BrotherMan]

Has anyone else besides me done rotations in Dominica recently?

[BrotherMan]

Is anyone scheduled to do rotations at this site soon?

[RIRossStudent]

I did my Peds rotation in Dominica from 7/23/07-9/3/07 (as part of the "special rotations") because there was no 5th semester or 4th semesters (on vacation). I was hoping to have the whole six weeks with Dr. McIn***, but she suddenly went on vacation. I thus really did not learn much, as there were just interns and residents on the Peds ward. Dr. McIn** only showed up for one week in my rotation.

I did not like what Dr. McIn*** did....she gave me a B+, even though she was not even there for 5 weeks to evaluate me. She took her vacation time without telling me. As I found out later, Dr. McI**** is a hard grader.....she really does not give out As. What really annoyed me is that she was not even there and yet she gave me an evaluation. All of the other docs there told me that they would give me an A, but that did not happen.

Moral of the story.....DO NOT GO TO Dominica. I only went because I did not want to stay home for six-nine weeks after taking usmle step 1 and run the risk of not making the match. Also, the clinical dean at Ross told me that it is very hard to get Peds in the US as well.

If you want to go to Dominica and get a B in Peds be my guest. Housing is very hard to find near the hospital unless you want to pay a lot, and it is just not worth the money because the attending docs do not really show up. It is a good place to study if you doing the rotation right before taking step 2 as you will have time to study, but that is it. Hrs are 8:45AM-12or1PM. There are 2-3 calls total for the whole rotation.

[Somogyi]

Why the heck would you do any rotations on the island??? It makes no sense. There are PLENTY of sites to do your rotations at in the USA... with the pediatrics situation, you just have to be patient on that.. BUT they will give it to you, especially if you are in your last semester or are in danger of not matching.. YES THEY WILL because THEY HELPED ME... going back to the island is a drastic decision and one that is costly (financially considering air ticket and all).. unless you like being there, good for you.. but going out of fear or not getting US sites is just ridiculous!!!

[Somogyi]

PS.. most resident programs prefer if you do your clinical training in the USA just FYI

[ILPsychDoc]

Anyone complete peds or obgyn at PMH and have trouble with residency?

[free2rime8]

is it better to live in roseau for PMH?

[shardy]

i liked it. did my peds there as special rotation. mcI is a hard grader, but she has excellent fund of knoweldge - and thus, her resi's have collected the same fund. if you know ur stuff and demonstrate 'pimp-ableness' then its a good rotation for learning and relaxing.

plus i loved dominica and logged about 80 dives during my stay.

[shardy]

oh i lived in picard and commuted - memorizing Goljan every day on the 45 min public transport for 8 EC.