A Brief History of the Netherlands Antilles by The World Factbook 2008

Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979. Read More.

The Trinity Advantage - "We are Trinity"

Much thought has gone into the selection of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the home of Trinity School of Medicine. There is a long history in St. Vincent of providing quality medical education to individuals aspiring to a career in medicine. The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital is a bona-fide teaching hospital and through our partnership with that organization and established clinics throughout the island, students at Trinity will be exposed to clinical medicine throughout the five (5) semesters of instruction on the island. Required courses in the curriculum including Clinical Applications, Doctor Patient and Society and Introduction to clinical skills and therapeutics will take place at the hospital campus and these courses will be fully integrated with the more traditional foundations of medicine courses (basic sciences) traditionally offered during the first 4 or 5 semesters of medical education.

Quality Commitment

Goals for the Curriculum
The curriculum reflects the best thinking of our faculty, as informed by national and international trends and experts. Its goals, which are to facilitate the learning of our students, are consistent with the expectations of postgraduate medical educators and licensing and accrediting bodies, and responsive to the public trust. In order to achieve these goals, the faculty and students together establish a mutually supportive learning community--an educational partnership from which both can benefit and to which both must contribute.

The over-arching goal will be the graduation of physicians with the requisite general knowledge, skills, and attitudes to advance to the next stage of their clinical training and to be able to continue to learn and grow as professionals thereafter. Through continued training and focused learning in postgraduate education, they will ultimately acquire the ability to function responsibly and independently as licensed physicians and attain board certification in their chosen specialties. They will be: genuinely devoted to caring for their patients in a scientifically competent, compassionate and humane manner; will be committed to following, and if possible contributing to the advancement of, medical science; and in their areas of work, will be able to function successfully in the diverse roles expected of physicians: those of medical expert, scholar, communicator, collaborator, health advocate, manager, and professional.

Our Approach

At Trinity School of Medicine , our approach is to mirror the best among US medical curricula and teaching principles!

Faculty Approach

1. The integration of the basic and clinical sciences throughout the 4 semesters of foundations of Medicine, leveraging our relationship with the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and its clinics on St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
2. Provide students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes they will need to practice patient-centered medicine in the world of tomorrow.
3. The incorporation of and adherence to established learning principles.
4. Seek to constantly improve our curriculum so that it responds to and incorporates changes in medical knowledge and practice.
5. Embrace the values of the medical profession and incorporate those values into our curriculum.

Student Learning Approach

1. Definition of course objectives.
   1. Every course has learning objectives and includes a plan that will guide students through mastery of those objectives.
   2. The utilization of appropriate assessment tools to ensure students meet the required objectives.
   3. Exams that assess student preparation, participation, critical thinking skills and knowledge application.
   4. Evaluation through various formats that assesses each student’s capability to demonstrate problem solving and professionalism.
2. Small Group setting.
   1. Multidisciplinary PBL cases in all courses.
   2. Small group sessions consisting of PBL, laboratories, conferences, seminars, and computer-assisted learning, which complement full class overview lectures.
3. Clinical Exposure
   1. Clinical exposure begins during the first week of medical school and continues through all of the basic sciences semesters.
   2. The development of clinical skills.
   3. Tracking cases throughout the semester that build upon content knowledge being mastered in the basic sciences.

Official Recognition, Approvals & Accreditation

Accredtitation
The Trinity School of Medicine was granted full accreditation by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines effective April 11, 2008.

Concurrently, the Government has granted to Trinity School of Medicine a charter with exclusive rights to The Milton Kato Memorial Hospital for its medical school and a preparatory program (Access MD), and with the right to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine after the successful completion of the prescribed accredited curriculum (10 semesters) and to engage in all necessary and appropriate activities which are incidental to the operation of a medical college.

Trinity School of Medicine’s accreditation is also approved by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and lists TSOM in its International Medical Education Directory (IMED) effective September 19, 2008.

This listing in FAIMER/IMED and the assignment of a code provides the sanction for TSOM students to register for and take the USMLE Steps 1, Step 2 and Step 3 examinations. Students who successfully complete Step 1 and Step 2 (CK) and (CS), and otherwise meet the requirements for graduation from TSOM, are then authorized by the ECFMG to register for and participate in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP).

United States Licensing Examinations (USMLE)
These tests assess a student’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts and principles as well as to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. The sequence is as follows:

USMLE Step 1 – taken prior to entering the clinical clerkships – after Semester 5 and prior to starting Semester 6 at Trinity School of Medicine

USMLE Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS) – taken after completing a minimum of 40 weeks of clinical clerkships and prior to the final four months of the medical school curriculum

USMLE Step 3 – taken after graduation from Trinity School of Medicine and prior to the completion of residency training

ECFMG Certification – Trinity School of Medicine students are now eligible for ECFMG certification to sit for USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 and they must be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to register for and participate in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP)

Additional Resources:
United States Medical Licensing Examination website: www.usmle.org

American Medical Association web site: www.ama-assn.org

Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) web site: www.ecfmg.org

Curriculum

Semesters 1 and 2
The first year (semesters 1 and 2) centers on normal human structure and function and these are offered as integrated courses of closely related topics – gross anatomy, biochemistry and genetics, cell biology, histology and embryology, neuroscience and physiology along with the Clinical Applications course and the Introduction to Clinical Medicine – Doctor, Patient and Society.

Semesters 3 and 4
During the 2nd year (semesters 3 and 4) the courses are more integrative and advanced as students master the content of host defense and microbial pathogens – microbiology, virology, immunology and mycology. And the bulk of the 2nd year involves mastering the tools for diagnosis and therapy – through in depth study of pathophysiology and Therapeutics 1 and 2 and the continuation of Clinical Applications and the Introduction to Clinical Medicine courses.

Semester 5
The 5th semester is the capstone semester for the foundations of medicine program and as the formal Advanced lntroduction to the Clinical Sciences (AICM). Students are immersed in the tools for diagnosis and therapy and during the 15 weeks they master the clinical skills – techniques for conducting the physical examination, refined diagnostic skills and expanded critical thinking skills demonstrated through oral and written presentations in a patient care setting. The clinical case studies and the exposure to direct patient care and physician interactions represent an important hands-on component of the program. Finally, a full review of the Foundations of Medicine program and formal preparation to sit for the USMLE Step 1 are incorporated into this Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine.

Successful completion of the foundations of medicine, the Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine and achieving a passing score on the USMLE step 1 leads to the completion of the clinical clerkships.

Years 3 and 4
These represent the clinical clerkships that are devoted to the study of health and disease in the various clinical departments of our affiliated teaching hospitals. During the 75 weeks of clinical medicine, the student must complete six core rotations consisting of either 12 or 6 week blocks - as follows:

*Of these 27 weeks, at least 8 weeks must be an elective in internal medicine and 4 weeks must be an elective in surgery

The order in which clerkships are completed offers flexibility – to enable students to complete electives at the time of their choosing. All cores however must be completed no later than the 4th month of the final year of studies. Following completion of the core rotations, students must prepare for and successfully complete the USMLE Step 2 (CK – clinical knowledge) and (CS – clinical skills) in order to qualify for graduation and proceed to residency training.

Graduation
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree is awarded upon successful completion of the Foundations of Medicine curriculum, the Clinical Sciences Clerkships and the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 (CK) and (CS). The entire program consists of 10 fifteen (15) week semesters (150 weeks).

The foundations of medicine program and the Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine will be conducted at the Trinity School of Medicine campus in Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The 75 weeks of Clinical Clerkships will be offered at ACGME approved clerkships in teaching hospitals affiliated with TSOM.

Residency Training
Graduating students will register for the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) which is a paired choice system for matching applicants to available residencies that takes place every March. Students train in a residency program for two to five years during which time they sit for the USMLE Step 3. Upon completion of their residency (fellowship) and passing USMLE Step 3, candidate physicians are prepared for licensure.

Hospital Affiliates

Semesters 6 through 10

The clinical clerkships will be conducted on medical campuses in the United States.

Our goal is to establish formal affiliation agreements with ACGME recognition for each of the clerkships offered that will enable a student to complete all core rotations (48 weeks) on a particular campus (location) and many of the required 27 weeks of elective clerkships at the same campus.

Some students may choose to take electives at other locations – in a state where they may wish to eventually practice medicine, at a particular hospital with a strong program in a desired elective or at a hospital being considered for residency training – thus giving the student the advantage of having completed a rotation on site and gained knowledge of key physicians and residents prior to applying for residency.

Our geographical focus in the early years will be in the Northeast, the Mid Atlantic and the South. As the recruitment at Trinity becomes national/international in scope, we will seek additional affiliate hospitals/medical programs in the Midwest, the southwest, the far West and the Southeast.

The key commitment to our students is as follows: All clerkships - required and elective - will be conducted in the US at hospitals with ACGME approved clerkships.

Admission Process

Trinity School of Medicine has an admissions committee comprised of faculty members representing the foundations of medicine and the clinical sciences. The non-voting chair of the committee is the Director of Admissions. Completed applications along with the results of the interview conducted at the Miami office are sent to the committee (St. Vincent) for its review and recommendation. Typically admissions decisions are received within two weeks of the submission of the application and all supporting documents to the committee. Once the decision is rendered, the applicant will be notified immediately regarding the decision and next steps in the process.

Application Deadlines

Trinity School of Medicine offers three enrollment opportunities each year: September, January and May. We use rolling admissions and there are no application deadlines. However, for best consideration we encourage applicants to submit all materials for consideration within 4 to 6 months prior to the requested start date. If it is determined that you will be offered an interview, you can expect to receive notification from the admissions office within two weeks of the receipt of your completed application. At that time, an interview will be scheduled to be held at our national admissions office in Miami, Florida.

Financing Your Program of Study

Tuition and Fees (effective January 1, 2008)

• All fees, tution, or monitory amounts mentioned on the site are in U.S. denominated funds.
• Application Fee - $75.00
• Non-refundable initial Tuition Deposit (due 2 weeks following Receipt of the formal letter of admission) - $500.00
• Non-refundable final tuition deposit (due 3 months before The start of classes) - $500.00
• Graduation fee - $500.00

  Semesters I – IV
  Tuition	$10,000.00
  Student Activity Fee	$50.00
  Total	$10,050.00

  
  

  Semesters V – X
  Tuition	$11,600.00
  Total	$11,600.00

*Health insurance coverage is required for all students. Look for information in your acceptance package or speak with your admissions officer for additional information.

Other Expenses:

• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Fee (semester V) - $225.00

Textbooks
Trinity will order the books and supplies for each student and have them shipped to the island prior to registration. This eliminates a lot of issues with students trying to get their books through customs and weight restrictions airlines impose for travel bags. Students also save money since we buy bulk at a larger discount. Books are not marked up by Trinity, we do this as a convenience and service to our students and the price students pay are inclusive of customs fees and shipping costs. Costs are communicated to the students in advance and payment must be received at registration by Trinity. For students looking for supplementary books and supplies, please visit the online bookstore at http://www.universitybooksonline.com/trinity.

Clinical Attire and Medical Kits
Clinical attire, consisting of lab jackets, scrubs, dissection kits and patient examination kits will be required during the foundations of medicine semesters. You should budget a total of $750.00 for these items which can be purchased in advance of your arrival in St. Vincent.

Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory while students are enrolled at Trinity School of Medicine. Students can either enroll in the insurance plan provided by Trinity or provide proof of private coverage to the Bursar at the time of registration for the semester. Insurance costs are currently $350 per semester and coverage is provided by United HealthCare Insurance Company.

Housing
Housing is coordinated through the office of the director of housing. Only apartments that meet the college standards are certified for habitation by Trinity students. Costs range from $500 to $1000 per month depending upon amenities and location. We encourage students to make housing arrangements prior to arriving on campus for the first semester. There is a onetime housing deposit of $750 due 45 days prior to the formal registration for the semester.

Living expenses
Food and entertainment is estimated to cost approximately $1200 – 1500 US / semester.

FINANCIAL AID
To be eligible for financial aid, Students must be accepted into Trinity School of Medicine and enrolled on a full time basis. US citizens may find their options limited based on the current financial conditions in the United States. You are eligible to apply for private educational loans that may be available from various private lenders. Each financial institution maintains its own set of lending policies and standards for loan approvals. Their decision to fund a loan request is based on many criteria with credit score being one of the most important factors. It is advisable that students obtain their credit score from all three major credit bureaus to ensure their credit rating is based on the most current and accurate data. There are many organizations that provide this service, but one of the less expensive alternatives is AnnualCreditReport.com.

Private Student Loan Alternatives For Canadian Students: T.D. CANADA TRUST, RBC Canada, BOM - Bank of Montreal.

Private Student Loan Alternatives For US Students
Due to the continuing credit market issues in the US, Trinity School of Medicine has developed its own Private Student Loan program to address the financial needs of newly accepted US students. The program is available to students who cannot obtain financial support through traditional programs offered by US financial Institutions. Our current program requires a minimum FICO (Fair Isaac Credit Organization) score of 680. If your score is less than the minimum, a co-signor with credit score of 680 or better is required. Our loans are a variable rate instrument as rates are based on the WSJ (Wall Street Journal) index of Prime plus a 6% margin. It is a competitive private student loan rate based on the current US banking industry. We are optimistic the US financial market will return to normalcy within the next 12 to 18 months. As the industry recovers, more loan alternatives with enhanced rate structures should emerge and be made available to students. If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact us.

Trinity School of Medicine reserves the right to change tuition and adjust fees or to establish additional fees/charges whenever in their opinion such action is deemed necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will I qualify to practice medicine in the United States if I attend Trinity School of Medicine?
A. Absolutely! Trinity School of Medicine is entirely focused on preparing students to practice medicine in the United States. Our curriculum is based on the United States Medical School model.

The top US Medical Schools introduce clinical training into the basic sciences curriculum. To effectively administer a program of this caliber, a tightly integrated hospital relationship is a requirement. At Trinity School of Medicine, we are tightly integrated with Milton/Cato Hospital in Kingstown, St. Vincent. This 220 bed hospital and its staff have had over 30 years of experience working with and training medical students in clinical medicine. We introduce clinical medicine in the first semester curriculum and carry the training through the entire basic sciences course study.

We work diligently with students to prepare for the United States standardized examinations required of all medical students (USMLE Step 1, Step 2 (CS) and (CK) and USMLE Step 3, by providing the proper curriculum, smaller classes and a higher teacher/student ratio and the incorporation of a formal Step 1 test preparation program within the 15 week AICM offered in St. Vincent given by a professional team of educators.

Q. How long does it take to become a licensed US Medical doctor at Trinity?
A. There are 10 semesters of approximately 15 weeks each. The first 4 semesters (basic sciences) and the 5th semester (introduction to clinical medicine), are taught at Trinity School of Medicine’s campus in St. Vincent and at Milton/Cato Hospital in close proximity to our St. Vincent campus, which is a total of approximately twenty (20) months. The clinical rotations (5 semesters) are taught within the United States at one of our affiliated teaching hospitals. Our medical degree program is 40 months in total.

It is important to note that our 5th semester (introduction to clinical medicine) is taught in St. Vincent. This means you will not have to move to another location and learn another hospital system all over again as with many of the other Caribbean Schools. Many other Caribbean schools do not have teaching hospitals and the required integration and must rely on extended relationships that aren’t fully integrated throughout their course of study of the first 5 semesters. This requires the student to move twice in a four month time period, once to the teaching hospital for the 5th semester, and again for clinical rotations as they are rarely at the same Hospital.

Q. What about US residency programs?
A. Graduates are eligible for the NRMP Residency Placement Match program. Once students have successfully completed Step I and Step II of the USMLE and Clinical Skills Assessment Test and have received their ECFMG certification, they are eligible for residency training in the United States.

Q. What are the distinctive Characteristics about Trinity School of Medicine that distinguish it from other medical schools?
A. Our first distinguishing characteristic is the fact that we are a medical school – small in size and in number of students but with a richly experienced faculty and staff with a sophisticated and timely curriculum that will best prepare our students for success on the standardized examinations required of all medical students (USMLE Step 1, Step 2 (CS) and (CK) and USMLE Step 3. Due to our low teacher/student ratio we offer Supplemental Instruction to students as needed, individual tutors, and learning resources to ensure that students completing the Foundation of Medicine program and the Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine – are fully prepared to take their place along sides students from US medical schools who are embarking upon the clinical years of their training.

Second, Trinity has adopted curricular changes that are consistent with those offered by the best medical schools in the United States. Our focus is on teaching and learning processes as we attract and select a qualified group of candidates who will benefit from a curriculum that is based upon the best of adult learning theory and practice. What does this mean? It means that we will be incorporating the latest in technology, problem based learning, and, most importantly, the integration of the foundations of medicine (basic sciences) with clinical disciplines and applications. From the very first day of class and throughout the 5 semesters in St. Vincent – students will be exposed to the clinical relevance of basic sciences content and, through a clinical applications module that follows, several complex case studies as they develop. Subsequently, case studies will be integrated into courses throughout the 2nd year and in a capstone course that serves as the Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine (semester 5).

Our third distinguishing characteristic has to do with our location on the beautiful island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. What makes the locations so special? Beyond the fact that St. Vincent is one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean and that locals provide a warm and friendly environment and are proud to be in partnership with the medical school, St Vincent is home to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital – and that is arguably the most important distinction of Trinity. Milton Cato Memorial Hospital is a bona fide teaching hospital and has served in this capacity for more than 30 years and will serve as the affiliated teaching hospital for the Trinity students in St. Vincent. The presence of the teaching hospital on St. Vincent provides a formal and structured setting for the clinical training that will be incorporated in the curriculum from semesters I through V.

Our final distinguishing characteristic is the incorporation of a formal Step 1 test preparation program within the 15 week AICM offered in St. Vincent. The best among the master teachers throughout the United States who specialize in preparing students for the USMLE Step 1 will be brought to St. Vincent to offer their particular areas of content – covering all the basic sciences and the integration of the basic sciences into clinical situations and scenarios. As a Trinity student you will leave St. Vincent with confidence and assurance that you have received the best possible preparation to enter the next phase of your medical training, the required and elective clinical clerkships – leading to the award of the MD degree and acceptance into a competitive residency program of your choosing.

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