Thread: Question for current SGU students

Hi!!...i came across this on the SGU website where they talk about the basic science curriculum:

Laboratory experiences are an integral part of these first two years, along with small-group discussions designed for problem-based learning and early integration of basic science into the clinical experience.

i was just wondering if someone could give an example of what exactly do students do in these small groups (ie. what is discussed? is it facilitated by a tutor? etc)

Any information would be greatly appreciated..thanx

our small group sessions have been pretty fruitful. we have had small group meetings in ethics, clinical skills, physiology, neuroscience, basic science foundations, and biochemistry.

we meet in groups of about 10 or so students to discuss clinical cases pertaining to our area of study at the time. for example in the first term when you take biochemistry discussions are held about patients with particular biochemical issues such as metabolism, cholesterol synthesis, drug metabolism.

the discussion revolves around what we learned recently so if you have not covered a certain topic it wont be the focus of the discussion. the clinical tutor mediates the discussion as all the questions get answered.

they are very involving and require some research before you show up. you cant miss a discussion as attendance is recorded for passing the class.

weekly hypothetical patients are given with their problems and we have to identify what the pathology is.

when you get to the 4th term problem based learning is a daily ritual. labs in pathology are 2 hours a day 5 days a week on top of the 10 hours of lecture a week. on top of all that we do clinical cases to encompass everything we have learned up to this point.

sgu is very problem based learning orientated.

hope this helps

class of 2007

thanx for the info restlesseye...really appreciate it!! that was very helpful I was just wondering if some more current students can share their take on the pbl group sessions at SGU?

oh..and one more question......do the students get to see any patients, other than the Standardized Patients, before they start their clinical rotations (i mean in terms 1-6?).

thank you very much once again!!

i wouldnt worry too much about the small groups. some folks will say they love them others will say its a waste of time. the mixed feelings are due to attitude. once you get into med school you will figure it out. quite often younger "unseasoned" students who just got out of college tend to be caulky and impatient. on the other side of the coin you will run into a group of students who are a bit older with multiple degrees and have much more patience.

small group sessions can go either way depending on how well the group functions as a group. if you dont feel your group is doing to well just move to another group.

small groups are a way of "summing up" what you learned in the week and really dont play a massive part in your first year. when you get to 2nd year pathology its a daily 2 hour ritual where you depend on your group and your group depends on you. you are basically being groomed for this class to learn how to function in a group.

im my pathology group this term we had to ask one of our group members to leave because they would not yield to group requests or suggestions. due to this persons unilateral approach we were successful and hence they have found another group.

until you get to st. vincents for 5th and 6th term you wont see anything except standardized patients. they take excellent care of us at st. vincents so we dont look like incompetents when we hit the american wards.

my cousin is an alumni from this university and was telling me that SGU students tend to dominate in the wards due to high standards here.

they may let you in with lower mcat grades and gpa but its still a medical school. they dont issue pass/fail grades here but promotion is based upon GPA. its hard to get good grades without work.

so, long story short, dont worry about small groups or standardized patients. focus on getting the most out of your education but working hard yourself. get a few good friends and form groups to study. you cant get through med school without forming groups.

if you have anymore questions, please post them here i will be happy to post reply.

im in my 4th term in miami right now and will be in vinnies in january.
cheers,
restlesseye

SGUSOM class of 2007

Small groups in biochem were decent... The neuroscience is a big joke. I used to think that gross anatomy was poorly taught (which it still is... but thank god for their guest professors)... but neuroscience will make you laugh how it is taught. 1 professor who likes to say "its not that important" in response to any question you have and another who struggles just to put a sentence together. Those of you who have had neuro will know what I am talking about. Neuro lab is a joke. Just give me the 2 hours off so I can get more sleep.

i would agree with the neuro labs. those labs were a complete waste of time. waste so much time waiting for everyone to finish so we could answer the questions as an entire group.

the clinical cases in class for neuro were pretty useful as they brought in visiting professors from various top notch universities.

like i said. dont worry about the groups until you get to 4th term and are taking pathology. thats where they stuff the money into decent clinical tutors. trust me if we didnt have the clinical tutors we would be screwed.

these tutors are amazing. when you get to pathology you will appreciate all the so called "useless" courses you had before. this is the term that makes you feel like a doctor or that you are actually studying something medical instead of rote theory.

Originally Posted by spawa

thanx for the info restlesseye...really appreciate it!! that was very helpful I was just wondering if some more current students can share their take on the pbl group sessions at SGU?

oh..and one more question......do the students get to see any patients, other than the Standardized Patients, before they start their clinical rotations (i mean in terms 1-6?).

thank you very much once again!!

Don't worry about only seeing standardized patients. That can actually work out better than having real patients because you are just starting out with interviewing skills. And many of the times it is hard to tell they are acting. You'll get to see real patients in terms 5 and 6 while in St. Vincent when you do hospital visits.

The small group sessions depend on your group and your clinical tudor. Some people luck out, others do not. The biochem small groups are run by your fellow students who have previous experience in biochem. The only down side to the groups is that they tend to group you by last names, so you see the same people every time. And that can be good or bad. Sorry for all those Patels and Shaws.

Lots of small groups in every single term. I think that is one of SGU's strong points.

restlesseye - I don't believe we've met *handshake*. Welcome to the forum. Think we oughta just stay here at Barry for 5th and 6th terms?

nah,
i dont like miami at all..... i miss grenada to tell you the truth......

Originally Posted by drnick07

Lots of small groups in every single term. I think that is one of SGU's strong points.

thank you, that's exactly what i was hoping to find out

Thanx drnick and restlesseye for all the info.......the reason i'm asking all these questions is that i'm preparing to make a choice between SGU and U of Queensland and U of Sydney (if i get accepted).....i am just working on my pros and cons list incase i get multiple acceptances...i just had my interview for SGU today and i'm hoping it went as well as i felt it did.....and hopefully, i'll get in.....i'm leaning towards sgu at this point in time because i prefer the idea of lectures being supplimented by small PBL groups rather than lectures being used to suppliment the PBL groups (as it's done in aussie schools)....i'm sure both methods are very valid and have their own good and bad points......so at the end of the day, it's just one's preferred style of learning......i know i might be putting the cart before the horse here and that if, for some reason, i don't get into SGU, then there won't be a choice to make....however, i'm really hoping that i'll get in.....so now it's just waiting and seeing how things pan out...