Govt to probe new medical school

[weatherman]

If SPSOM folds then the Nuevo Guerreo Campus automatically folds. This was specified in the charter from the Mexican Government. End of story.

Weatherman

[Genossa maximillian]

amen to that !

Originally Posted by weatherman

If SPSOM folds then the Nuevo Guerreo Campus automatically folds. This was specified in the charter from the Mexican Government. End of story.

Weatherman

[dgjomo12]

Local News - this week's major news stories

Local News

WEEK ENDING Wednesday 28 March 2007

Medical school doctors' qualifications questioned
24 March: A report by Health Specialists (NZ) consultant Debbie Sorensen on the South Pacific School of Medicine (SPSOM) expressed concern that some of the school's seven lecturers are not real medical doctors.
Sorensen told government that many of the doctors associated with the school are trained in veterinary medicine and not in human medicine.
In a brief to cabinet last month, the findings of Sorensen included the fact that the school was unable to present a clear organisational structure or documentation to verify sources of funding, revenue, legal entities and links to a parent organisation.
"The experience, qualifications and skills of the proposed faculty clearly show limited clinical and academic experience and coupled with lack of evidence of documentation, would indicate lack of capacity to operate as an internationally recognised school," said the brief.
Sorensen's report describes the school as unable or unwilling to answer a number of questions making it undesirable for government to support them.
In undertaking the report, Sorensen reviewed the school's presentation to cabinet, met with the dean of the school Dr Lew ****, reviewed CVs of the staff, and reviewed Dr Robert Woonton's report on the school.
"During the interview with Dr ****, he was unable to provide a level of confidence that the school was able to deliver what it purported to. He was unable to clearly specify what the advantage was to the people of the Cook Islands, government or health services. The claim that it would provide a solution to the medical workforce challenges appeared to be unproven and given the regional experience with medical workforce was unlikely," says Sorensen's report.
Sorensen's advice to government was to not approve the school's request for a temporary three-year charter and support of its recognition as an international school. SPSOM has now been operating for ten months.
SPSOM caretaker and lecturer Dr David Inaho confirmed that he had received a letter from government early last week informing him of their decision not to support the school. Inaho described the decision as a disappointing state of affairs.
Inaho was one of only four (out of seven) doctors whose qualifications were reviewed in the report. Inaho's credentials include a bachelor of medicine and surgery, a post graduate diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology from the University of PNG, and a masters degree in sports medicine from the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has one year's experience as a senior tutor at UPNG.
Dr Edwin (Henry) Daiwo who was previously working for the Cook Islands Ministry of Health as the hospital pediatrician was one of the seven proposed lecturers of the school.
Concern was raised over at least two other doctors' qualifications and experience in training students. American doctor Harold Laughlin is not a medical doctor, according to Sorensen's report. He has a bachelor of arts in biology and chemistry and a PhD in physiology and biophysics. His current position is at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Dr Bedolla is qualified as a medical doctor but has never practiced medicine. He has a masters in public health and a PHD and is currently a consultant in ethics and private practice. - Helen Greig

[bruggadown]

How on earth could it be possible that in a medical school that most of its lecturers are not medical doctors?

How on earth could it be possible that in a medical school that many of the doctors associated with the school are trained in veterinary medicine and not in human medicine?


How could Dr D be such a dunce to hire folk trained in veterinary medicine?

Since there were only two full time teachers in December according to very reliable sources here in the Cooks, how come all of a sudden that there are seven, especially when there were no new students in January?

That there is no clear organisational structure is clear from the website and the detailed posts of lswiltshire (which seemed to stop very abruptly) but alleged that there was no organisation at the school(s).

Sorensen's report describes the school as unable or unwilling to answer a number of questions making it undesirable for government to support them.

Well that’s nothing new. The school has been unable or unwilling to answer ANY question raised in this forum in the last two months, in which it has been consistently attacked in this forum. We are therefore not surprised to see this comment from the investigator.

How could Dr D expect to run a medical school with inexperienced, unqualified or unskilled faculty and then say in his website that the students would get an education on par with students in American schools? From reports on this forum it seems things are no better in the sister school. Hmmmmmmmmm

In undertaking the report, Sorensen reviewed the school's presentation to cabinet, met with the dean of the school Dr Lew ****, reviewed CVs of the staff, and reviewed Dr Robert Woonton's report on the school.

Well Woonton's report on the school which was quoted in the local paper in January clearly shows that Woonton was very biased in favor of the school.

"During the interview with Dr ****, he was unable to provide a level of confidence that the school was able to deliver what it purported to. He was unable to clearly specify what the advantage was to the people of the Cook Islands, government or health services.

How could he? Here is a boy trying to do a man’s job it seems from all reports, both locally and as reported on the forum. The man is clearly incompetent and incapable of doing the job he was hired to do.

The claim that it would provide a solution to the medical workforce challenges appeared to be unproven and given the regional experience with medical workforce was unlikely,"

How on earth could this unorganized bogus school provide a solution to the medical workforce challenges of the Cooks, when the program conducted locally was designed to benefit American students who could not otherwise afford to get into American schools as clearly set out in the schools website. It is said that when you lie that you have toalways remember the lies you told before at all times. This is clearly demonstrated here. This Dr D man is certainly some sort of King Liar, or maybe he just grasping at straws like a drowning man.

All in all this SPSOM has been exposed in the Cooks for what it really is-- a totally bogus charade!

BRUGGUDOWN!

[bruggadown]

If the Dean had any experience he would have demonstrated how SPSOM would [could]contribute to the development of health services of the island.

He might have detailed the possible research that might have been done to facilitate the above.

He might have investigated and found out what equipment might have been donated to the local hospital, and what staff might have been provided to run local clinics at which students could be taught, and at which local folk would be the beneficiaries of improved health care.

He might have shown how teaching staff could contribute possibly n

He might have demonstrated how he would at least exhibit partnership instead of parasitism.

If only……………the Dean had any experience

[lswiltshire]

Mr Bruggadown In time it will be revealed why I stopped posting.

As to your naughty statements suffice it to say now, as we say in cricket YOU DONT HAVE TO PLAY AT EVERY BALL.

With respect to your note above about the inabilities of the Dean suffice it to say now, as my Dear grandmother used to say

IF WISHES WERE HORSES BEGGARS WOULD RIDE!

[bruggadown]

They have a saying that says "pressure burst pipe." I believe in that and I will stick with that for the time being. I intend to keep posting and asking questions. Hopefully my persistence will force either the school officials, or a student, or the payed off lswiltshire, or some one else to comment and tell us more than we have been told so far.

It’s a matter of time! Something has to give! Some pipe got to burst! Some more answers have to come out

Will the pressure put on Dr D cause the end of his reign of deception here in the Cooks? Seems to me that KING LIAR DEFINITELY HAS TO GO!

Bruggadown!

[Enterflex]

Another Faculty member with veterinary qualifications.

ISP Council

[bruggadown]

It seems that Dr D was overwhelmed by this chaps resume and didnt recognize that the guy is a vet...............or he just could not find medical staff members............or he really planned to have a vet school LOL
OMG

But wait? Since the names of the staff members are not posted on the school's website, then that last piece of info must have been released by a student or someone here in the Cooks that has seen the report by the NZ consultant.

[bruggadown]

Seems we all missed this article from Cook Island News last week

Govt to cancel medical school's permit
22 March: Development Investment Board chief executive Mark Short says that cabinet's decision to not support the South Pacific School of Medicine means the school's registration as a foreign enterprise granted in 2005 will now be cancelled.
Short says the process involves giving the school the opportunity to respond to the advice from government, and registration of the school and the report to cabinet must now be looked at by DIB directors.
The medical school's caretaker manager, Dr David Inaho, said yesterday he had received a letter from government early last week informing him of the cabinet decision to not support the school. Inaho described the decision as a disappointing state of affairs.
He and four medical students make up the school based at the Rakahanga Hostel.
Inaho says classes are not running at present due to the dengue fever outbreak on the island.
He says he is waiting for a response from the school's central headquarters in the United States before making any statements to local media. He said he would definitely make a critical and personal response to government's decision before he leaves the island.
Health minister Dr Terepai Maoate did not issue a statement yesterday on the cabinet decision to stop the Rarotonga-based SPSOM from operating ten months after it opened its doors to American students.
Maoate's office relayed that the DPM wanted to wait until the school was notified. Maoate was to issue a press statement on the issue yesterday.
Cabinet's decision was based on a critical report on the school by the health ministry review consultant Debbie Sorensen. It is understood the qualifications of Inaho and others raised concern with the consultants who recommended that government not give the school the three-year charter they were considering.
Many critics of the school and its American founder Dr ***** Sands raised concern over the Cook Islands government giving it approval. - Helen Greig