A Brief History of Saint Lucia by The World Factbook

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979. Read More...

About Us

Statement of equal educational opportunity

No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by Spartan Health Sciences University on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, religion, sex or handicap.

Spartan Health Sciences University hereby reserves the right to change fees, rules, calendar, curricula, degree program, degree requirements, graduation procedures, change or withdraw courses, and any other requirements affecting students at any time. Changes will become effective whenever proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and to those who are already enrolled.

Charter & Accreditation

Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine is an independent medical institution established on January 7, 1980.

The Government of St Lucia has chartered and licensed the University. It is also accredited by the Monitoring Committee appointed by the Government of St. Lucia to oversee Spartan's standards are comparable to those set by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education as required by the Department of Education in the United States.

The University is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Spartan is also in the International Medical Education DIrectory (IMED), maintained by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) of Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) of U.S.A.

Mission and Objectives

The Mission of Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine is to train doctors of all races, nations, and for the world rather than indulgence in parochialism of medical education. Its mission is also to serve the public in general, in improving the health standards and primary health-care delivery systems in particular, of St Lucia.

The primary objective of the University is to provide qualified students with the opportunity to fulfill their lifelong ambition of serving humanity with medical education, prolongation of human life through medical care, and research.

The University strives hard to attain a high standard of education with affordable tuition fees ever since its inception. This does not in any way compromise the standard of medical education offered by this institution.

Spartan Health Sciences University is dedicated to train its graduates with an excellent medical knowledge and competent skills in order to ensure that the medical profession meets the health care demands of the societies to which they belong. It is also the commitment of the University to provide its students with quality medical education.

The program of medical education leading to the Doctor of Medicine will prepare graduates to:

1. Enter and complete post-graduate medical training and qualify for licensure
2. Provide high competent medical care
3. Acquire a level of knowledge, both in theoretical and clinical competence and analytical thought processes to make safe clinical decisions.
4. Pursue advanced medical and clinical research at reputable Institutions, attain an educational background and disposition necessary for continued learning.
5. Become sufficiently familiar with disease conditions in St Lucia as well as cultural aspects of medical practice to enable them to function competently in the island.
6. Serve the public and medical profession in a patient-friendly and compassionate ways.
7. Approach the delivery of medical care in a scientific way and with high ethical standards.

The Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine will also work in conjunction with institutions such as the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in its execution of the Department of Health Sciences program.

Faculty and students at Spartan will satisfy local standards set by the St Lucia Medical Council by way of qualifications, experience and competence to function appropriately within the country's hospitals and health centers.

The Students

The University's student body comprise of students from multiracial backgrounds. Some of the students were professionals in their fields before they were admitted; some were pharmacists, biochemists, engineers and researchers with postgraduate degrees.

The University is a microcosm of the United Nations in pursuit of the eradication of diseases that plague the human race. Students come from different continents around the world (90 countries): North & South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Program

Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine offers a five-year (40 calendar months) academic program leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), and is taught on a trimester (four months) schedule.

The curriculum of the University's Doctor of Medicine degree program encompasses a comprehensive course of Basic Sciences, Pre-clinical, bridging curriculum and Clinical Sciences that is five (5) academic years. The trimester period commences in January, May, and September of each year. A student may elect to enter in any one of the three (3) trimesters.

To provide the best possible medical education to the students, the curriculum is under continuous review by the Deans of Basic and Clinical Sciences in conjunction with the faculty, consultants, and Board of Trustees.

The five trimesters of the Basic Science program is an integrated presentation of the following:

• Basic medical sciences include Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Behavioral Sciences, Pharmacology, and Pathology.
• Pre- clinical didactics include General Introduction to Medicine and Physical Diagnosis. Didactic lectures in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Surgery.
• A bridging curriculum is introduced for integration of Basic Sciences into Clinical Sciences.

The Clinical Science program consist of five (5) trimesters and is committed to broad exposure in the major clinical disciplines of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Psychiatry.

The Bridging Curriculum consists of series of problem solving exercises and clinical case studies, some in small groups settings, intertwined with the Basic Sciences and Introduction to clinical sciences. Students will apply acquired basic science knowledge to pre- clinical science topics using critical decision making techniques. They will also engage in a sequential process involving:

• Acquisition and presentation of medical knowledge
• Data Interpretation
• Problem Analysis
• Guided and self-directed learning activities
• Application of New Knowledge

The challenges of increased demands in the clinical curriculum and the emphasis on the integration of basic and clinical data in modern medical education necessitate the addition of a fifth trimester to the existing on-island curriculum. The inclusion of a fifth trimester with an organ-system review and expansion of the basic-clinical sciences interrelationships will better prepare our students for their clinical experiences and U.S.M.L.E. examinations.

Organ system review of the basic sciences in the fifth trimester will prepare students to meet the challenges facing modern medical education.

All students are required to demonstrate competency in the basic medical sciences before being permitted to begin clinical rotations. Competency is assessed from the University administered and required Comprehensive Exit Examination at the end of Basic Sciences program and passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1.

No student will be eligible for graduation until all academic requirements and financial obligations to the University have been fulfilled.

Research

ESTABLISHMENT

The Community Health & Research Center of Spartan (CHARCOS) is a not-for-profit community health research unit. CHARCOS was established in 2011 at Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, St. Lucia campus. The CHARCOS office was inaugurated on Thursday 14 June 2012 by Dr. William Ayers, President, Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine.

Initially, investigators and researchers at the CHARCOS were faculty members & students of Spartan Health Sciences University. Currently, investigators and researchers from other institutions have also shown interest to collaborate / contribute to the work of CHARCOS.

VISIONS, VALUES & PRINCIPLES

This unit embraces the Primary Health Care Policy of the Ministry of Health, St. Lucia - thus; focusing on basic chronic health diseases/challenges directly affecting the population.

The Community Health & Research Center of Spartan (CHARCOS) seeks to enhance health, wellbeing and equitable outcomes in St. Lucia by contributing to improving the quality of primary health care, health promotion and population health initiatives through research, evaluation and building the capacity of the workforce.

MISSION

• To advance understanding of health and illness in the community, workplace and family;
• To design innovative interventions to promote health and prevent disease;
• To inculcate knowledge in the community for advancement of health.

SCHOLARLY GOALS

• Development of critical thinking skills
• Commitment to a topic of interest
• Close collaboration with active faculty members who are leading scholars
• Application of knowledge to real-world situations

Admission

In evaluating individual applicant's credentials, the Admissions Committee looks for the applicant's capacity to do academic work for absorption of material, a pre-requisite for a sound foundation in the basic medical sciences. Evaluation is also based on Grade Point Average (GPA) from individual colleges and universities and letters of recommendation.

However, academic background is not the only criterion for selection; individual character and motivation to become a physician serve as essential determinants in the admission process.

Tuition and Fees

(Effective 01/Aug/2011)

Tuition Fees per Trimester

• Basic Medical Sciences- per semester: U.S.$ 6250.00
• Clinical Sciences (hospital fees are included): U.S.$ 9,500.00-$ 10,500.00

Scholarships and Awards

• St. Lucian Citizens (50% scholarship discount excluding the hospital fees): U.S.$ 3125.00

Note

• All prices are listed in US dollars.
• The Comprehensive Exit Examination is mandatory to complete the Basic Science Program and to begin Clinical Science Program.
• Clinical Credit will be listed for every sixteen (16) weeks.
• The original clinical evaluation forms have to be on file.
• No partial clinical credit transcript will be issued.
• Student has to be in Good Standing and current with his/her account with school.
• For transfer students: No transcript will be issued unless official transcript from the transferring institution is on file.

Academic Calendar

Futher Information

Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine (Spartan) welcomes you to request additional details and have your questions answered about by our attentive and knowledgeable staff.

For detailed information, please contact us.