| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
| 2024-01-01 | - |
| 2024-05-01 | - |
Program Overview
Through hands-on experience in Cayman Island's healthcare system, students prepare for the USMLE exams, explore medical specialties, and pursue residencies.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
St. Matthew's University School of Medicine's MD program integrates basic and clinical sciences to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the human body in both health and disease. The program's objective is to equip students not only to treat patients but also to prevent disease and promote overall well-being. The first two years incorporate clinical medicine courses focusing on patient care and preventive medicine, uniquely integrated with Cayman Island's healthcare system. This integration provides students with hands-on experience in hospitals and community clinics, as well as opportunities for hospital-based research. The program is divided into two segments: Basic Sciences and Clinical Rotations. The program starts in September, January, or May.
Outline:
The MD program consists of five semesters of Basic Sciences followed by five semesters of Clinical Rotations.
- Basic Sciences: This segment prepares students extensively for the USMLE Step 1 exam. It utilizes small class sizes and expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, including gross anatomy labs.
- Clinical Rotations: This segment includes core rotations in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Elective rotations are also available in various areas of medicine. The elective portion is designed to help students prepare for the residency process. However, this calendar does not map directly to specific course modules or their scheduling within the Basic Science and Clinical Rotation segments.
Assessment:
The provided text mentions that students take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams. Passing the USMLE Step 1 exam, and achieving a high score, is crucial for securing preferred residencies. The USMLE Step 1 exam tests knowledge of basic sciences through multiple-choice questions. USMLE Step 2, consisting of Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills sections, assesses the ability to apply basic science knowledge in a clinical setting through multiple-choice questions and patient diagnostic challenges.
Teaching:
St. Matthew's employs a variety of teaching methods. Small class sizes are emphasized, allowing for individualized learning. The faculty is described as dedicated and committed to student success, fostering a family-like atmosphere. For Basic Science courses, faculty offer review sessions, small group tutoring, and one-on-one time for exam review. The university also provides Teaching Assistants (upper-semester students) and individual Peer Tutors (students who excelled in specific courses) at no cost to students (except for individual peer tutoring, where fees are arranged between the tutor and student). Academic advisors provide assistance with organization, time management, study skills, stress management, and assessment of academic strengths and weaknesses.
Careers:
The program prepares students for careers as physicians. Clinical rotations allow exploration of different medical specialties to help students identify areas of interest and prepare for the residency application process.
Other:
St. Matthew's University School of Medicine sponsors Continuing Medical Education Conferences in collaboration with organizations like Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic. These conferences feature presentations from leading medical professionals and are attended by students, faculty, and Cayman Islands medical professionals. The text lists numerous seminar topics covered in these conferences, spanning various medical specialties. The university's student body is described as diverse, with a roughly even gender split (52% male, 48% female) and an average age between 25 and 27. Students come from the United States, Canada, the UK, and other countries. The university's location in Grand Cayman is presented as a distraction-free environment conducive to studying. The MCAT is required for US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, and strongly encouraged for other applicants, particularly those with outdated science coursework, coursework completed at a community college, or grades of "C" or lower in required science courses.
