Short Hiatus to Long Sabbatical & Advice for Pre-Health Fields...

[bjcheung77]

Just came back from a short hiatus off work (took about 10 days to cleanup the garage) and now construction is starting, we demolished the garage and we're building a carriage/coach home or laneway house, whatever that thing it is called!

*sigh* That garage wasn't even 8 years old! But alas, it was a better deal to "build" than to purchase an apartment condo, the overall value would be better and so would the ROI in the long run. This is our second build of this sort...

Anyways, I will take a Long Sabbatical from work (and the boards/forums), going to focus on my Masters studies during this Covid-19/Coronavirus Pandemic. I have applied to all the ones with competency based degrees, namely the non-competitive ones, now I am going to apply to the ones with more selective entry requirements...

My cousins have decided to go into the health professions, but hasn't fully decided which program and school to get into. Interests are in Alternative Medicine (Complementary/Homeopathic/Integrated, etc), Nursing (move up to nurse practitioner later), Physician Assistant (Masters), DO, OD, or MD, DVM.

What I have told them is to make sure to get the Pre-requisites done for the degree they're interested in first, then move down that chain if they can't get into the program of choice. The chances to get into a program would be greater down that chain if they have all their bases covered.

My suggestion is to go for the DO, OD, or MD, DVM options first, PA (Masters), second, Nursing third and any alternative medicine as the final option if none of the previous three options were successful. I've informed them it's best to study in the local state or country, but if not, try a Carribean school.

Here is my list of recommendations for them, in Tiers... I recommend Tier 1 first, then Tier 2, lastly, Tier 3.
International Medical Schools (Caribbean schools and Oceania University of Medicine)

Tier 1: Accredited, WFME, NCFMEA, NY, CA, Title IV, 50 States
- American University of Antigua (AUA) – accredited by CAAM-HP
- American University of the Caribbean (AUC) – accredited by ACCM
- Medical University of the Americas (MUA) – accredited by ACCM
- Ross University – accredited by CAAM-HP
- Saba University – accredited by NVAO
- St. George’s University (SGU) – accredited by CAAM-HP

Tier 2: Accredited, WFME, NCFMEA
- St. Matthews University (SMU) – accredited by ACCM
- Trinity School of Medicine (TSOM) – accredited by CAAM-HP
- University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) – accredited by ACCM
- Xavier University – accredited by both CAAM-HP and ACCM

Tier 3: Conditionally & Provisionally Accredited, WFME
- Avalon University – Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.
- All Saints University – Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.
- St. James School of Medicine (SJSM) – initial provisional accreditation on probation extended for 1 year by CAAM-HP in 2018. Conditional accreditation by ACCM to May 31, 2022.

- American University of Barbados (AUB) – provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
- International American University (IAU) – provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
- Spartan Health Sciences University – provisional accreditation extended by CAAM-HP in 2018
- Windsor University – accredited by the Accreditation Board of St. Kitts and Nevis, which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA. Not accredited by CAAM-HP in 2018.

Tier 3: Distance Learning (first two of four years) - 2 years "Basic Sciences" done online, 2 years residency at teaching hospital sites
- International University of Health Sciences (IUHS) – accredited by St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board, which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA.
- University of Science, Arts, and Technology (USAT) – accredited by Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC), which is non-WFME and non-NCFMEA; not accredited by CAAM-HP in 2012
- Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) - internationally accredited by Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), non-WFME and non-NCFMEA

Tier 3: Any other medical schools mentioned on Wikipedia not listed above: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_schools_in_the_Caribbean

[letterchaser202]

No feedback. I just wanted to say congratulations- this is your 5,000th post! What a legend.

[LongRoad]

You, and your wonderful advice, will certainly be missed. Even as a newbie, I have discovered the amazing amount of information that you've shared.

I wish you all the best on your master's degree. Please come back.

Also, I'm not sure if it's still accessible, but Cuba has a medical school. At one point, I think it was during one of the Bush's administrations, they started accepting American students. It seems to me that it's a tough school in part because of the economy of the country. My suspicion is that it graduates doctors who know how to examine a patient and diagnose without all the latest and greatest equipment.

Say what you will about the system of government in Cuba, but I think that their exporting of doctors to help in other countries (yes, I know, it helps their government financially, too) is a smart idea. I think I'd be more likely to appreciate someone who shows up in my country with a medical bag than with an M-16.

[ctcarl]

Enjoy, BJ, and stay safe. I believe I owe you a cold beer when you get back!