Thread: MD1 faculty feedback

When I was researching these schools before I came down here it was hard to get any info about the faculty at the school. This is a post for any prospective students out there that are starting in MD1. Remember this is just my opinion and can't be used as a collective assessment from all students. Very few students post on this site so i'm trying to fill any voids out there.


Anatomy

This class is taught by Dr. G, who I think really wants all his students to succeed and implements every kind of teaching method possible so you will know the material. There are cadaver dissection labs which are held at the hospital. You will learn a great deal from this class and I think it comprehensively covers all you need to know for the anatomy types of questions on the USMLE.

recommended books: Clinically Oriented Anatomy, A.D.A.M Interactive Anatomy software (ver. 3), BRS Gross Anatomy (I didn't use this but as I look back it would help)
lab: lots of gloves, dissection kit, Netters Anatomy Atlas

Embryology

Also, taught by Dr. G this semester and was similar to how anatomy was taught. I know at some schools these two classes are integrated and in many USMLE review books they are too, so it was good to have the same teacher for both.

recommended books: Clinically Oriented Embryology

Biostatistics/Epidemiology

This course was taught by Dr. R. and was another good class to be in. His lecture style of talking through his notes and having open discussions was exactly what I was used to. Attending all of his classes and being active in the discussions is the best way to be successful in his class.

recommended books: If you take good notes then these are your best resource. He covers everything that is pertinent to what is covered in the USMLE review books. I found that First Aid 2008 is a good resource for filling in any blanks.

Histology

This was taught by Dr. B, who took over one month into the class after a previous teacher. Dr. B. teaching style is very straightforward, and by keeping up with the class is the best way to be successful. He incorporates slides into the presentations and exams which I found to be very helpful in learning the material.

recommended books: Basic Histology text & atlas, histology websites (blue histology was recommended by one of the students), any atlas that you can find.

It seems that in any of these schools teachers change often so these may not be the same teachers forever. The new admin is bringing in more faculty so one or two classes may change. This info should help those out there who are just starting if it stays the same.

Thanks for the detailed post Chris. It really helps to get a feel of things before we get there; and thanks for the book recommendations as well. All prof descriptions you made sound positive and have one common theme - good preparation for USMLE. I hope all that reflects in our step scores. The school should really try to put up statistics of step scores AND current students in residency up on their website.

Also Chris, what's the exam schedule like for 1st semester? And when is the very FIRST round of exams...I'm assuming it's about a month after classes start.

Who are the new faculty, what classes will they teach and where are they from (hopefully from the US??)

Originally Posted by Southerndoc

Also Chris, what's the exam schedule like for 1st semester? And when is the very FIRST round of exams...I'm assuming it's about a month after classes start.

For every class the grading weight follows this setup:

1st exam - 25%
midterm exam -25%
final exam -35%
quizzes - 15%
total -100%

Exams are usually given after every four weeks, so the first round should be the beginning week of October. Exam week is setup where you will have classes on Monday, then exams will take place the rest of the week at scheduled times. Quizzes in most classes are held every week, so you will keep up with the material. You will receive a syllabus in each class so you will know what to expect, but it usually doesn't deviate from this setup.

Originally Posted by DoctorSammy

Who are the new faculty, what classes will they teach and where are they from (hopefully from the US??)

I'm not sure where the new faculty are from or what they are going to teach. Though, the new histology teacher we had, that the new admin brought in, graduated with a PhD and is from the US. Just have to wait and see in September how it plays out.

I agree that in an ideal environment faculty information should be made available, but I believe there are at least two good reasons why this may not happen in the near future.

First, in the five semesters I was in Aruba, not counting the Anatomy teacher there was a more than 100% turnover in faculty at the med level. This includes four teachers for biochemistry, three each for pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, embryology, histology, physiology, and two each for genetics and biostatistics. Am I leaving something out? If history repeats itself, the school may not want to post teacher info for fear of being accused of a bait-and-switch when students show up expecting to see one set of teachers, only to find them all replaced.

Second, the history of Caribbean med schools is replete with raids on faculty between schools. It's no secret that a slight increase in pay can lure teachers away from any of these schools, as there is no career path, no incentive other than pay to keep a good teacher from leaving for more money. I empathize with them, as I was in a field for 32 years in which there was no reward other than money.

To bring a better caliber of teacher to Xavier and to motivate them to stay, I urge the new owners to provide additional incentives, such as research or other publishing opportunities. You don't need a multimillion dollar lab to do meaningful research; a good microscope and a few test tubes and reagents will do it. Affilialiation with the laboratory staff of the hospital might enable teachers -- and possibly students -- do to small research projects, like they do in U.S. schools.

Well, I met 3 of "them". One is going to be good, from the US, a PhD and very bright. I am concerned about the other two. Class, I'm afraid we've got another MUMBLER. And arrogant to boot.
With any luck at all this will be a temporary?

I've met Dr. G, and I really like him.
From the PreMed side, we don't have any teachers that I'm raving about yet. They're all acceptibly decent. Down here, the teachers teach the book, so make friends with the book and you'll be more than ok.
Dr. O for calc is good, but you have to sit near the front, seeing as her accent is so thick.