Govt to probe new medical school

[Genossa maximillian]

... "Can you believe that a school can be WORSE THAN IUHS and UHSA? "

Yes, I believe it.

[lswiltshire]

In my previous posts I pointed out that at SPSOM …….
a) There are inadequate staff levels – ONLY TWO TEACHERS

b) There is poor administration and leadership from the EMAIL TELEPHONE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE of running a medical school.

c) The teachers at SPSOM must (most) often teach out of their areas of expertise, rendering them often ineffective

d) the COMPLETE ANATOMY or PHYSIOLOGY COURSE were not taught in either of the first two semesters (8 months or so) during which this school has existed, as would be the case at real medical schools- IN FACT NO COMPLETE COURSE WAS TAUGHT IN THE 8 MONTHS

e) IN FACT NONE of the courses that would be taught at real medical schools in the first two semesters have been taught completely, or properly, because teachers were not given ample time to do so. The effect of this, is that when the students are exposed to more difficult material, they did not have the foundation to grasp it.

f.) Consequently, it is true to say, that after two semesters at this school, you cannot transfer to another school elsewhere if you wish.

g) In the first two semesters, it is quite possible to transfer from one offshore medical school to another, if the requisite courses have been completed in the approved way. Students from offshore schools can transfer to any one of twelve US schools. This is contrary to the lie reported by the silly journalist from the mouth of the informed EMAIL DEAN.

Having discussed what was presented in the first four months or first semester at this bogus backayard institute, let me illustrate further some issues afore discussed by revealing what was done in the second four month period.First, they attempted paragraph (BLOCK 4) in the USMLE objectives. In one week, SPSOM claim to have covered the paragraph on Skin and related connective tissue.

If you study this paragraph, you will note that the section on normal development and structure, and age-related changes is well suited for teaching by the Anatomist. Also you will notice that the section on normal processes is well suited for teaching by the Physiologist.

Now you will appreciate what I meant when I said that these men taught in their areas of competence, off and on, here and there, and when and then,………but not consistently, so as to finish either course in unit time that would allow a student to transfer, if they wished so to do.

You can well imagine the difficulty experienced by both teacher and student when the Physiologist was required to teach the “Abnormal processes” or Pathology section or the Principles of therapeutics or Pharmacology section, or the Psychosocial, cultural, and environmental considerations. Clearly this man was out of his league since the closest he has ever been to being a doctor is to be married to one. Clearly he could not teach what he did not learn or did not know.

How could the students learn, if they did not have a teacher? On their own of course? Is that’s what they are paying US $51 K for? Will you pay this school US $51 K for NO TEACHING OR GUIDANCE? WILL YOU?

If the Anatomist & Physician was teaching all the classes for this block, as was reported, then indeed we had a school with a solitary pedagogue. ONE TEACHER ONLY. Friends this is the pedagogy that was recommended to, and which the government of the Cooks islands accepted as satisfactory Medical education. The man who recommended these poor standards to the government of the Cooks islands must have known that when he himself went to medical school, there were more than two teachers at his school.

I am sure that there are more than two teachers in each of the primary schools in Rarotonga. So why not in the Medical school there?
So what happened next? After all that was only one week, right?Well for the next four weeks they did paragraph or BLOCK 5 according to their syllabus, and the USMLE objectives.

You can see that both our Anatomist and Physiologist friends again got another chance to do some off and on, here and there, and when and then teaching in their areas of specialty, as they presented the normal development and structure lectures and those pertaining to normal processes since these were in the ambit or sphere of their competence or specialty.

Now the Anatomist/Physician is a specialist in sports medicine, so again he was deployed to teach the Pathology, Pharmacology and Psychosocial, cultural, and environmental considerations for this block. Quae cum ita essent (This being the case) then we must agree again that indeed we had a school with a solitary pedagogue. ONE TEACHER ONLY. Friends this is the pedagogy that was recommended to, and which the government of the Cooks islands accepted as satisfactory Medical education.Friends, the government of the Cooks islands is actively promoting a poor quality school which is grossly understaffed.

So what happened next? After all that was only five weeks, friends.Well for the next five weeks they attempted to study Gynaecology. They fooled around with paragraph 10 on Female Reproductive system in the USMLE objectives.


So how do you think they proceeded? Both the Anatomist and the Physiologist got the chance for a little more “off and on, here and there, and when and then” teaching in their area of specialty. Then the Anatomist/Physician/Sports Medicine Specialist put on his Gynaecology hat.

Tell me friends, surely you know that US medical schools don’t teach Medicine in this hodge podge, willy nilly, hit and miss, mix and match fashion. Nor does the normal offshore American offshore schools elsewhere in the world. THIS POOR TEACHING IS NOT EVEN SEEN AT IUHS & UHSA!!!Yet the Cooks government approves this circus as a medical school and seeks to give its approval to its continuance.

Now you can understand why that lad did not come back after the Christmas holiday. The boy is an intelligent lad, and knows poor quality when he sees it.

Now you can understand why the others are committed to their studies ---they have no other choice. After all, they cant transfer until after the USMLE step 1 exam or they will loose their fees and eight months of their lives.

They have to struggle through on their own hoping against hope that things will get better, and they have to back their abilities to pass step one, with very little help from the school..

Now if you have not yet enrolled and paid all your money upfront, it is not too late to go to a proper school where the administration knows what it is doing and have years of experience of running a medical school.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

If I were you, I would go to a proper Medical School, like I did.
Friends, there are too many better schools around.

[dgjomo12]

this is good info - very helpful . if there is a probe going on already...not good news. i feel bad for those students already enrolled and paid up...

[lswiltshire]

Time Is Longer Than Twine

Day Runs Until Night Catches It

[atlanticvioxx]

You make some great points, I tend to look at it a little pragmatically. If a school cannot answer how many profs and students on an open forum, there is probably an issue.

[bruggadown]

I have been reading this story for almost two months now, because I really want to go to this school, but I am having lots of unanswered questions.Can anyone answer my questions, or give me any advice?
Are all the things reported by lswiltshire on this page really true? The things he said are certainly most worrisome.
Does the Government of the Cooks, ECFMG, IMED, FAIMER etc know that there are inadequate staff levels, and that there are only two teachers at this school? Is this really true? Why has no student or official said otherwise?
What kind of probe did the Government of the Cooks really do?
Does the Government of the Cooks, ECFMG, IMED, FAIMER etc know that there is poor administration and poor leadership at this so called Medical School, as alleged? Is this really true? Why has no student or official said otherwise?
Does the Government of the Cooks, ECFMG, IMED, FAIMER etc know that at this so called Medical School, that the tutors must teach out of their areas of expertise, and that this renders them ineffective, as alleged? Is this really true? Why has no student or official said otherwise?
Is it really true that none of the courses that would be taught at real medical schools in the first two semesters have been taught completely, or properly, because teachers were not given ample time to do so, as alleged?
How is it possible for a medical school anywhere on the globe to not present the accepted Anatomy and Physiology courses completely during either of the first two semesters of its existence, as is the norm?
How is it possible for a medical school anywhere on the globe to not present completely, or properly any of the courses that would be taught at real medical schools in the first two semesters of its existence
How is it possible for a medical school anywhere on the globe to be run by an in absentio Dean by email or telephone?
Is the government of the Cook islands really serious about having proper medical education on its shores, or is it just playing games?
Is it really true to say, that after two semesters at this school, you cannot transfer to another school elsewhere if you wish, as is the case at other schools once the requisite courses have been completed in the approved way as alleged?
Is the government of the Cooks islands really actively promoting a poor quality school which is grossly understaffed?
Is the government of the Cooks islands really actively promoting a poor quality school which has no laboratory, no library, none of the very complex and very expensive facilities that any good medical school would require as alleged?

Is it true that the Cooks government wanted to register the new medical school with the World Health Organisation, but its application has been refused?

Is it true that the Cook Islands government is truly re-evaluating whether it should accept this school or are they being taken for a ride by promises by some con artists?

Is lswiltshire telling lies? He certainly sounds convincing. I dont want to loose my money.
Can anyone at SPSOM contradict anything that he has written on this forum?
Can anyone give me any answers or advice? Help!!

[bruggadown]

On your website you say that you are different, but what makes you different?

SPSOM is the only English speaking medical school specifically designed to recruit and train medical students desiring to integrate their Christian faith into their medical practice.
QUESTION! How is SPSOM designed to train students to integrate their Christianity into their practice. Can you really prove that or that you are the unly school tryeing to do this?
Furthermore, SPSOM has a special vision to assist persons who desire to serve the underserved as God may lead them.
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain the boasts above? How will they do all this? I am interested in this kinda thing.
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain this statement below?
SPSOM has enriched its curriculum with special opportunities to explore cross cultural ministry, Biblical ethics, and the totality of intellectual, spiritual, and physical aspects needed for lifelong learning in becoming a medical professional.
Tell me what does all of this lot of chat mean. I don’t see no Bible courses advertised in yur program.
SPSOM talks a lot about Christian physicians, but how is this school a place that produses anything Christian since it seems to be unethical in not having a sufficient number of staff members? Also if the program is so good, why did a student with a scholarship quit so urly in the program?
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain this statement? I wandering cause the school don’t have no grads as yet.
SPSOM dedicates itself to partnership with other persons and ministries worldwide to offer a coherent and effective health care witness wherever its graduates may be found.
I continue to be confused by the unlikely promises on this website. Usually, when something is too good to be true, it usually is. Also can you say if all the things that your former teacher said are true or not? Why is it that you have not responded to any of his allegations? Tell me SPSOM officials what makes you different? I am really confused.

[Genossa maximillian]

Nice try asking these folks all these questions, but unfortunately you just shot a lot of bullets in the air. Most likely SPSOM will never answer your questions on this forum. Actually very few schools do. The only one that I have seen most recently has been Xavier and a student from AUA.

You may email them all those questions and see if they reply.

Originally Posted by bruggadown

On your website you say that you are different, but what makes you different?

SPSOM is the only English speaking medical school specifically designed to recruit and train medical students desiring to integrate their Christian faith into their medical practice.
QUESTION! How is SPSOM designed to train students to integrate their Christianity into their practice. Can you really prove that or that you are the unly school tryeing to do this?
Furthermore, SPSOM has a special vision to assist persons who desire to serve the underserved as God may lead them.
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain the boasts above? How will they do all this? I am interested in this kinda thing.
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain this statement below?
SPSOM has enriched its curriculum with special opportunities to explore cross cultural ministry, Biblical ethics, and the totality of intellectual, spiritual, and physical aspects needed for lifelong learning in becoming a medical professional.
Tell me what does all of this lot of chat mean. I don’t see no Bible courses advertised in yur program.
SPSOM talks a lot about Christian physicians, but how is this school a place that produses anything Christian since it seems to be unethical in not having a sufficient number of staff members? Also if the program is so good, why did a student with a scholarship quit so urly in the program?
QUESTION! Will the school officials of SPSOM explain this statement? I wandering cause the school don’t have no grads as yet.
SPSOM dedicates itself to partnership with other persons and ministries worldwide to offer a coherent and effective health care witness wherever its graduates may be found.
I continue to be confused by the unlikely promises on this website. Usually, when something is too good to be true, it usually is. Also can you say if all the things that your former teacher said are true or not? Why is it that you have not responded to any of his allegations? Tell me SPSOM officials what makes you different? I am really confused.

[dgjomo12]

i agree that the folks who can answer the questions probably won't do so in this forum... but from my viewpoint, one of the first things I would want to ask a school is how and if they can back up and validate their claims. I think posting these questions is a good reminder of that fact.... especially with new schools like spsom/imsa... theres so little info out there and so few who have been exposed to them as yet... glad for this forum...

[bruggadown]

MORE QUESTIONS ARISING FROM ARTICLE IN COOKS NEWSPAPER OF JANUARY 22 ENTITLED MEDICAL SCHOOLS ANSWERS TO ALLEGATIONS & THE SPSOM WEBSITE
Though I have got no answers, I will continue to ask more questions.
QUESTION #1
Dr D---- says the school follows an American curriculum and of course there will always be rumblings and mumblings about how the course is delivered.

Does this mean that there is always rumblings and mumblings about how the course is delivered in American schools, and in schools which follow an American curriculum. I’m confused here,
QUESTION # 2
Dr D--- says the bottom line remains that the professors are the best in their respective fields.


Does this mean that they are therefore expected to teach consistently out of their subject areas as has been alleged and clearly set out in the posts of LSW?

Since these good doctors are the best in their respective fields, why were they paid so poorly as alleged by LSW? Or is he telling lies? Are we to conclude that the total inability to counteract or refute any thing posted by LSW means that he is telling the whole truth as he claims? I’m confused here,


QUESTION # 3
The newspaper article alleges that one of the four original students decided not to return to Rarotonga and requested a transfer of his units to the US.Dr D--- says that this student (who had a scholarship provided by the school) had not yet returned from holiday at the time of the interview with the news reporter.

Has this student returned yet?
How is it that the student with the scholarship provided by the school was most tardy in returning to school?
Are we to conclude that his lack of interest was due to his lack of appreciation of the standard of education he was receiving?
Did he return late/or not at all because he knew he wont be missing much?
Has this student returned yet?

QUESTION #4:
Dr D-- says an approval will allow them to accept more students and get their first project underway and that is to build a proper campus in the Cook Islands.

It seems to me that the recruitment of a proper number of capable staff in all subject areas , and a large student body is a greater priority than building a proper campus in the Cook Islands. Don’t you think? Certainly the fees of a large number of students are needed to build the campus.
LSW definitely outlined clearly that there is inconsistent teaching staff and curriculum being provided to students. What is being done about this by the school?
What is the Cooks government planning to do in the light of the clearly articulated facts presented by LSW? Will this affect their granting of a charter? Is the probe we heard about still ongoing?


The school’s website says that they would like to become a model of educational excellence in the International Medical School field, and that they will spare no expense, not in the physical facilities of the campus, or in the technological array of educational tools that will allow our students to be leaders and the best prepared medical doctors trained by the best U.S. Professors.

But we understand that the facilities on both campuses poor. At one school a one door classroom, at the other a hostel. Are these schools serious? Or merely liars who intend to scam poor would be doctors.