Trinity School of Medicine Blog

Dr. Skelton Announced as Dean of Trinity School of Medicine

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Trinity School of Medicine’s Chancellor, Steve Wilson, introduced the current Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Dr. Douglas Skelton, as Trinity’s new Dean in a recent announcement to faculty and students.

As yet another distinguished member of Trinity’s leadership, Dr. Skelton has extensive experience in many aspects of medicine, including 16 years as Dean of Mercer University School of Medicine of Macon, Georgia. Dr. Skelton, an Emory University School of Medicine graduate and later, professor, also served as The Chief of Psychiatry at Grady Hospital as well as Medical Director of the Georgia Mental Health Institute, and Chaired the Georgia State Health Policy Council for 10 years as an appointee of two Georgia Governors. 

An aspect of this that will be very beneficial to Trinity is his previous experience as a member of the House of Delegates for the American Medical Association representing the Section on Medical Schools. Chancellor Wilson noted that, "Dr. Skelton served on Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) committees that accredited US medical schools which will serve us well in our future endeavors towards additional accreditations.

Dr. Skelton will serve simultaneously as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs as well as Dean. Some of his many initiatives in the coming years will be to, "coordinate and direct the Deans in the improvement, revision and evaluation of existing programs as well as in the development of new teaching, scholarship and service initiatives."

Chancellor Wilson also commended Dr. Skelton because, "he will provide leadership qualities and experience that a growing medical school needs to progress and thrive."

Chancellor Wilson closed his announcement with, “We will continue to build on our strong foundation. The next few years will have their share of challenges, but we also have some lofty goals identified in student achievement and faculty expansion. We are fortunate to have Dr. Skelton’s leadership to guide us.”

Read more on Dr. Skelton's experience and background. 

Trinity School of Medicine announces results of the 2012 National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and 2012 Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS).

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Trinity School of Medicine announces results of  the 2012 National Residency Match Program  (NRMP) and 2012 Canadian Resident Matching  Service (CaRMS).

According to the ECFMG, the organization that certifies International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to enter US graduate medical education, for the tenth  consecutive year, the number of first-year  residency positions offered through the National  Resident Matching Program (NRMP) increased. The  number of IMGs who matched to first-year residency positions in 2012 increased by 260 from the previous year. Of the 11,134 IMGs who participated in the 2012 Match, 4,886 (43.9%) matched.

Small Class, Big Results
When Trinity welcomed our charter class in the Fall of 2008 thoughts of residency matches were still a distant goal, though one that the faculty, administration and new class were focused on from day one. Eight of the twelve students who participated in the 2012 NRMP Main Match obtained a first-year residency position. To have achieved such strong results so early in our history is a real testament to our students’ determination and speaks volumes to the strength of our faculty and overall program.

From Trinity’s charter class, two Canadian citizens participated in the Canadian Resident matching Service (CaRMS) and one obtained a first-year position. These same students both matched with first-year positions through the US NRMP.

Below is our short but significant list representative of their success.

Caribbean Medical School Students Excel in US Clinical Clerkships

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International Medical Gradutes (IMGs), from the Caribbean medical school, Trinity School of Medicine, are making a big name for themselves in their clinical rotations in Trinity's affiliated hospitals and clinics in the U.S.

We asked several of our senior med students to compare their skills and clinical acumen with their US-educated counterparts, and found that Trinity educated students were some of the highest ranked students in their clerkships, and were often in the position to impress their preceptors and fellow students when proclaiming their Caribbean medical school roots.  

Trinity School of Medicine students attributed their clerkship successes to these unique offerings:

1) Clinical experience at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, starting in Term 1, allowed students to gain valuable hands-on clinical examination skills, and introduced them early on to the realities of doctoring. 

2) American, Canadian and European faculty and professors who have been practicing medical professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe, teach and mentor at Trinity.

3) Trinity, unlike many other medical schools, requires their students to take and pass the USMLE Step 1 before they can begin their US-based clerkships. 

Listen as Trinity students share their experiences.

With both U.S. and Canadian medical schools only accepting a fraction of their applicants, Caribbean medical schools are becoming a ready and accepted solution to help mitigate the North American physician shortage. Trinity School of Medicine's curriculum is based on a U.S. education model, where students receive one on one attention in classes and in USMLE preparation, many of the faculty and visiting professors are from or have taught in programs focused on North American standards, and our students complete their 3rd and 4th years in the U.S. As you saw in the video above, regardless of where our students are from, all of them are proud of their Trinity education, and their Caribbean experience. 

Check out our on-demand-webinar for prospective students and watch the videos on our website to hear more from actual Trinity students about the quality and benefits of their education. 

Caribbean Medical School Goes Big with Small Class Sizes

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"When you're in medical school, you'll have a lot more questions than you did in undergrad," stated Vincent Izzi, a Trinity School Of Medicine student, in a webinar for prospective international medical students. And you need to get those questions answered if you're going to be a successful doctor. 

One way to be the big fish that gets their questions answered is to ensure you're in a small, supportive pond where you can get the personal attention that you need. Are there medical schools out there where the classes are small enough and the professors are dedicated enough to know every student's name? 

Listen as Vincent tells us what it's really like being a big fish at Trinity School of Medicine.

Devon Charlton, a 2012 graduate who recently matched for an Internal Medicine residency, fondly recalls how Trinity's small class sizes (video link) fostered daily support from his professors and classmates when he was in his first terms at Trinity.    

A very unique waythat Trinity's faculty and staff assist the students in "carrying through" the sometimes-difficult process of medical school, is the Academic Progress Committee; it is a staple at Trinity School of Medicine.                                                                                                                                                               

 Vincent expounds on this crucial program.     

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the island nation that Trinity calls home, could be considered a small pond, but Trinity School of Medicine is a big fish in that small pond. Trinity has fostered a win-win relationship with Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, a 220-bed, teaching-hospital, in the capital of Kingstown where Trinity students begin weekly rounds as part of their Introduction to Clinical Medicine in their very first semester. (Watch this video of students in action at the hospital.)

Because Trinity is a big fish too, the island government gives it personal attention; as such there are ample opportunities for volunteer medical work on the island, from setting up clinics with local doctors to hosting asthma awareness seminars. Research opportunities also help med students become better doctors. Dean Edward Johnson explains some research opportunities that have been created with the Vincentian government. 

Small class size, personal attention and hands on clinical experience all help to make great medical students, but all great medical students have to take and pass the USMLE in order to become licensed doctors in North America.

Trinity makes this a very high priority, Kat Jurecki, a Canadian currently on clerkships in Chicago, shares more.

What appeal does being a little fish in a big pond have over developing supportive relationships with highly experienced medical professors, always being able to get your questions answered, and attending a school that emphasizes individualized USMLE preparation? Apply to Trinity, and see for yourself! Your small pond is waiting for you! 

Highlights of 2011, Trinity School of Medicine, Caribbean Medical School

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2011 was a fantastic year for Trinity School of Medicine

• The addition of many new clerkship sites in Washington DC, Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey and Utah expanding our students clerkship options beyond existing sites in Illinois, New York and North Carolina.
• 2011 Step 1 results will be released in February. We're on track for maintaining the strong pass rate achieved in 2010, once again validating the strength of our faculty and the value of our comprehensive Step 1 preparation program.
• 100% Pass Rate for USMLE Step 2 CK & CS.
• Our 4th year students applied for both the National Residency Match Program in the U.S. and CaRMs in Canada. Look for our announcement in March on our students success in achieving residency placements.
• Two of Trinity's Senior Med students were selected to join the medical corp of the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity in Haiti.
• While many Caribbean medical schools lost their student loan offerings due to the volatile financial markets, Trinity was able to maintain and add programs to enable students to finance their medical school education and related needs such as housing, living expenses, books and travel.
• We increased enrollment by over 200% while holding our attrition rate to a mere 2%. And though we're growing, our signature small incoming classes still provide students with a unique level of personal attention.

Trinity from an Applicants Perspective: Part Three

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There is so much to be said about my trip to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that perhaps I should author a short novel. But I’ll spare you the long-windedness -- since after all, you’re all busy Pre-Med’s or perhaps already Medical Students -- and simply address that which we are all curious about: the academics. 

After meeting with Dean Johnson in person for over two hours (I still can't believe he was willing to meet with a prospective student for such a long time), speaking with both permanent and visiting professors, and pestering students (JOKE -- I hope I wasn’t too bothersome with my extensive questioning), I have acquired answers to all of the pertinent questions I had in choosing the right medical school. The transparency of the faculty as well as the student body was so refreshing, and I feel that I have gained a true understanding of the technical aspects of Trinity. So without further delay, here is what I found:

1. Does Trinity adhere to more of an advocacy curriculum, or one of global health?
   Global health. In fact, many of the Trinity students have a particular interest in treating underserved populations, such as the two students who recently travelled to serve in Haiti (see previous Trinity blog post below)
2. Are the clinical clerkship rotations already established, or must we apply for them like some of the other Caribbean Schools?
   Trinity is different from other Caribbean medical schools in that the clinical clerkships are already scheduled for you. You do not need to apply for them separately. They are completed in a number of places including Chicago, Atlanta, NY and Washington DC.
3. Is there an option to apply separately for Away Rotations during the 3rd and 4th year, that may be at hospitals/private clinics back home?
   Yes! The core rotations must be completed through Trinity's affiliated hospitals, but for electives, students may opt to apply for away rotations elsewhere!
4. Typically, US medical students have a break between 1st and 2nd year of medical school. Trinity, being based on a trimester system, does not. If a student is interested in pursuing medical research (i.e. applying to one of many Research Institutes that sponsor summer research for medical students), could Trinity work with that student to allow them to conduct research?
   Absolutely! Dean Johnson is extremely supportive of anyone wanting to pursue medical research, and seems open to working with students to incorporate any research endeavor into their education. Not only that, but I was ecstatic to learn that Trinity itself has several research opportunities available for students; namely, research involving acute rheumatic fever and RHD (Streptococcal study).
5. Is Trinity considered an off-shore US medical school, or an international medical school?
   The academic curriculum is US-based, and rigorously prepares students for their USMLE Board exams - the certification exams for all physicians wanting to practice in the US. That being said, students who have studied at a school outside of the US are considered International Medical Graduates or IMGs.
6. How are the exams structured? Specifically, how much emphasis is placed on Clinical Vignettes?
   At least 80% of questions are vignettes! In fact, Dean Johnson even let me glance at an exam. This is extremely important because the Board certification exams will be structured in this way, with a patient history presented before asking about a particular signaling pathway involved.
7. Although the residency match for 2012 has not yet occurred (it will in March 2012), can you possibly tell me the ratio of number of residencies applied for versus number of interviews received? Also, is there an available list of residency types for which your 2012 graduating class applied?
   Students are encouraged to apply to at least 10 different hospitals for residency. There is no data as of yet about matching (the residency Match does not occur until March for US-hospitals), but most if not all of the students have received interviews. The most common residency picks of Trinity students are Internal Medicine and Surgery.

I hope this information has been as helpful to you as it was for me. With these questions answered, I am absolutely confident that Trinity School of Medicine is an excellent institution, and one that will push, challenge, and prepare me to be the best Doctor I can be.

Mission Trip to Haiti Recap by Trinity School of Medicine Students

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After being sponsored by Trinity School of Medicine to participate on the medical services team for the Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity International in Haiti, Senior Medicine Students Crystal Shaw and Sarah Theart discuss their experience and how it reinforced why they are pursuing their Doctor of Medicine degrees—to provide health care to the under-served, a common thread amongst many Trinity MD students.

Sarah:  Arriving in Haiti for the week of service with Habitat of Humanity was a dream come true. Being Haitian American, I longed to go back to the country of my birth to help in anyway possible. It was hard work in modest accommodations but I received so much more than I gave. I was able to be resourceful yet patient, compassionate, and understanding. I found it humbling to receive such gratitude from the families and volunteers by providing access to health care with very limited supplies. This experience only reinforced my commitment and dedication to providing access to health care to the under-served not only here in the United States but abroad. I'm so grateful again to Trinity for the opportunity to represent our school in Haiti.

Crystal:  It was a blessing and honor to spend a week serving with Habitat for Humanity in Haiti. We were part of the emergency medical team, working long hours in the heat, providing first aid, medical management and trauma care for more than 600 volunteers and local homeowners. The inspirational volunteers worked hand-in-hand with President Jimmy Carter to build houses for over 100 families whose lives were devastated following the earthquake. I am grateful to Trinity School of Medicine for the fun adventure and useful training, but much more so for reminding me of my true motivation in the pursuit of medicine, to help the under-served.

Doctor and Medical Team Supervisor:  Both Sarah and Crystal were welcome additions to our medical team. Even though there were no traumatic events, I feel both students benefitted and learned from the experience. The hours were long, weather hot and humid and the living conditions were spartan, however they did all that was asked of them enthusiastically without complaint. By the end of the week they were well established as members of the "medical team" and if schedule permits, I look forward to them joining us each year.

Read more about the Habitat for Humanity Int'l Carter Work Project in Haiti

Trinity School of Medicine from an Applicant's Perspective: Part 2

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This is Gily, reporting to you live from 25,000 feet in the air, on a plane from Barbados to Grenada, and subsequently St. Vincent. It has been a long, exhausting day full of airport  security checks and connecting flights, but the adrenaline rush of finally arriving at Trinity is overpowering my fatigue.  Instead of worrying about my luggage (which has been lost somewhere en route from Miami to Barbados), I have been busying myself with writing down the scope of everything I want to ask the Dean, Chancellor, professors, and students during my preview visit.

In a way, for me it’s sort of symbolic that my luggage has been lost in transition; for you see, that is exactly the kind of thinking I have in choosing Trinity as the school for me: minimalism. I am ready to cast aside the comforts of everyday life, the high heels and HDTV, and focus solely on my ultimate goal: my MD. And what better place to do it than on a beautiful Caribbean Island? The calm ocean-view outside the window, the distractions of life back home far away, and nothing but medicine and me for the next 20 months.

I spoke with my friend Rachel (a current 4th year student at a US medical school and future OB/GYN resident) just before boarding my flight in Atlanta, and she suggested I investigate as much as I can about Trinity’s residency match. As she is currently undergoing the US residency match, she knows what to look for in a medical school that will prepare you for residency, and so she shared her thoughts with me. 

Essentially, as I see it, medical school may be triaged to two primary aspects: Board scores and residency. The first two years of core curriculum are intended to prepare students for the Step 1 exam. The next two years of clinical clerkships and the Step 2 exam, prepare students for their residency. Thus, I too will tackle my search for medical school as a two-pronged investigation, reporting to you my findings in the coming days. 

I will present to you here the questions I have formulated which I plan to ask the faculty and students of Trinity. My hope is that some of you out there are wondering the very same things, and so will be able to garner insight about Trinity alongside me as I visit the school for the first time. The questions I have thusfar are as follow:

1. Does Trinity adhere to more of an advocacy curriculum, or one of global health? (Note: most US medical schools adhere to either one or the other)
2. Are the clinical clerkship rotations already established, or must we apply for them like some of the other Caribbean Schools?
3. Is there an option to apply separately for Away Rotations during the 3rd and 4th year, that may be at hospitals / private clinics back home (ones unaffiliated with Trinity -- i.e. with my primary care physician)?
4. Typically, US medical students have a break between 1st and 2nd year of medical school. Trinity, being based on a trimester system, does not. If a student is interested in pursuing medical research (i.e. applying to one of many Research Institutes that sponsor summer research for medical students), could Trinity work with that student to allow them to conduct research?
5. Is Trinity considered an off-shore US medical school, or an international medical school?
6. How are the exams structured? Specifically, how much emphasis is placed on Clinical Vignettes? 
7. Although the residency match for 2012 has not yet occurred (it will in March 2012), can you possibly tell me the ratio of number of residencies applied for versus number of interviews received? Also, is there an available list of residency types for which your 2012 graduating class applied?

I encourage you to leave a comment on this blog if you want, with a pertinent question you have, and I will ask your question to the faculty and students in person, and report back on my blog their answers verbatim.

If you notice, I haven’t included any questions as of yet about Island life. I figure that will come naturally once I arrive on the Island... so stay tuned!  I must go, as the cabin is preparing for landing in St. Vincent now. So goodnight to all, and I will be in touch soon. 

Yours, Gily

Trinity School of Medicine from an Applicant's Perspective

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Gily is preparing for her latest adventure, one in a long line of adventures and experiences that the future medical school student and world-traveler has embarked upon in her 24 years of life.  Gily's trip starts tomorrow, she's leaving Augusta, Georgia for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and more specifically Trinity School of Medicine.  This is the last step in Gily's extensive research to determine if she's found the medical school program that is ideal for her.  We asked Gily if she would share her experiences with other prospective students, honest and unfiltered:

GILY - I'd be thrilled to share my experiences, and I think it will be a wonderful "First Impression" guide for future students / applicants visiting the Island.

A little background on Gily, she graduated from the University of Georgia in December of 2009 Cum Laude with a double major in Biology and English.  Additionally she was a 2009 National Amgen Science Foundation Scholar, 4 year member of the UGA RedCoat Marching band and was a study-abroad student at Oxford University.

GILY - As you well know me by now, I have networked with dozens of medical professionals, physicians, nurse practitioners, admissions directors, etc., in the US, inquiring about Caribbean Studies, about St. Vincent itself, and about Trinity School of Medicine. I have to tell you that every single person I have sat down with (and that's a lot of Starbucks coffee dates - let me tell you!) has been wholeheartedly supportive of my endeavour. There are so many IMGs {International Medical Graduates} around, so many graduates who have gone on to do phenomenal things. I met with an opthalmologist who owns a private practice in Columbus, GA. He had studied at St. George's in 1984 (just 7 years after it had opened), and was on the St. Vincent campus, so he had much to say in the way of Island exploration. In his words, "I took a risk, but I had no doubt I would succeed. Us doctors are a different breed. When we've got the drive within us, we're unstoppable!".

The amount of positive feedback I have received has been overwhelming, and I can confidently say that I know that I am absolutely making the right decision by attending Trinity. In fact, (and I may have to wait until I return from my preview trip to confirm this) I think Trinity is a better fit for my medical education than most mainland US schools. The amount of support and encouragement from Trinity's student body has been unprecedented. They have thrown open their doors with open arms, and have warmingly invited me to stay with them -- to get the full medical-student experience, and to sleep in their dorms. These are people I have never met before in my life... simply students doing a favor for another! This sense of community, this closeknit family, is unlike most other academic institutions. Bianca and her friends have planned dinner for me when I arrive on Thursday night, despite having a quiz Friday morning. Hector has offered space at his house to store anything. Beatriz has kindly extended her room, and Madison and I have going-out plans Friday night. I am beyond thrilled, and cannot wait to meet these people in person! It seems as though every person at Trinity is a truly dynamic individual. They have a zest for learning, interlaced with a passion and love of life. They are exactly the kind of people I want to surround myself with, and whom I want to be my colleagues.

We'll be looking forward to Gily's next installment upon arrival, later in the week.

Trinity School of Medicine Students Selected to Serve in Haiti

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A common thread that unites many students from Trinity School of Medicine is their desire to assist under-served communities through the power of medicine.  Two Trinity students, Ms. Crystal Shaw and Ms. Sarah Theart accepted the call and on November 5, 2011 began what will be a challenging and rewarding journey. 

Senior MD students, Crystal Shaw and Sarah Theart were selected to partipate in the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity. From Nov. 5 to Nov. 12, 2011, the former U.S. president and First Lady will join hundreds of volunteers in Haiti to help Haitian partner families rebuild their homes and lives since the devastation of the 2010 earthquake.  During the Carter Work Project, volunteers will build 100 earthquake-resistant homes in the city of Léogâne, located less than 20 miles from the epicenter in Port-au-Prince. 

Ms. Shaw and Ms. Theart will be playing a critical role during the mission trip, utilizing what they've learned in their years of medical school by supporing the Physicians within the Medical Corp at the Léogâne build site.  Their volunteer participation will likely be extremely challenging given the existing conditions and long hours that everyone involved will be devoting.  From their endeavors they are sure to return with a genuine sense of accomplishment and having learned a great deal as well.  Both Trinity Students have special connections that will offer even more personal meaning for each.  Ms. Shaw has been involved with Habitat for Humanity builds for many years and was previously scheduled to serve in Haiti, but the trip was cancelled for security reasons.  For Ms. Theart, being of Haitian descent, the opportunity to serve in Haiti was a way to give back to the country of her ancestors and of her current family.

We look forward to sharing pictures and additional stories from these two fantastic students at the end of their experience and wish them the very best as they are serving the volunteers and the the community in Haiti.