Saba University School of Medicine

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Saba University School of Medicine
Saba University School of Medicine Logo.png
MottoEmpowering the Next Generation of Doctors
Type Medical School
Established1992
President Cyndi McLeod
Location
Saba
Website www.saba.edu

Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) is a private medical school located on the island of Saba, a special municipality of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. SUSOM offers an internationally accredited 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. [1] It is owned by R3 Education, Inc. of Devens, Massachusetts, which also owns St. Matthew's University and Medical University of the Americas. [2]

Contents

History

Saba University School of Medicine was founded in 1992 as an international alternative to U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Since its founding, 3,000+ students have earned their medical degree at SUSOM. [3]

In 2006, the people of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire agreed to dissolve the Netherlands Antilles. [4] Upon the imminent dissolution of the country, the ministers of health of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles requested the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) to assess the quality of all medical schools in the Netherlands Antilles. [5] SUSOM was the only medical school in the Netherlands Antilles that earned accreditation, and thus was the only medical school to be allowed to stay in those islands. [5]

Curriculum

Basic Science curriculum

Saba University School of Medicine Campus Saba University School of Medicine 2025.jpg
Saba University School of Medicine Campus

The first five semesters of SUSOM's MD program, called Basic Science, [6] follow an outline comparable to those of U.S. medical schools. These semesters consist of lab work and course material, following a progression beginning with foundational concepts in biomedical sciences and leading to organ-systems focused courses that relate each foundational discipline to human function and disease. Applications of basic science to clinical medicine are highlighted throughout the five semesters. All classes are taught in English. [7]

"Research: Literature Review and Analysis" module

In the fifth semester of the SUSOM MD program, students complete a "Research: Literature Review and Analysis" module, [8] designed to further develop the ability of student to evaluate and assimilate scientific evidence and reinforce the skills for critically appraising and communicating medical knowledge.

Students analyze a current and complex medical care question, develop a hypothesis, analyze the literature, and write a paper that is evaluated by a faculty committee. According to the school's website, students have had their papers published in medical journals and have also reported that their research played a role in obtaining a residency appointment. [9]

Clinical Medicine curriculum

The Clinical Medicine [10] component of the SUSOM MD program occurs during semesters 6-10. It consists of required and elective rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S., and select elective rotation sites in Canada. Students who successfully complete the Clinical Medicine program are awarded their medical degree and are ready for residency. The SUSOM Clinical Medicine curriculum consists of:

During rotations, MD program students work in concert with licensed medical doctors and hospital staff, conducting hands-on examinations, treatments and general care. This on-site experience is supplemented by additional case studies and associated assignments.

Academic outcomes

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 75% of U.S. medical students completed the MD program on time in 2019. [11] This figure dropped down to 30.43% (14 of 46) in 2023. [12]

Pass rates of its students and graduates on the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) in calendar year 2023 were as follows: [12]
Step 1 – Basic Science: 96.88%
Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge (CK): 97.53%

Based on those results, Saba graduates demonstrate Step 1 and Step 2 of their Clinical Knowledge scores portions of the USMLE that are on par to the pass rates among the 110 ranked medical schools as reported by U.S. News Best Medical Schools rankings in 2019: [13]
Step 1 – Basic Science: 96.3%
Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge (CK): 96.6%

Accreditation and approvals

Saba University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). [14] SUSOM is the only medical school in the Caribbean to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation. MD program graduates go on to practice in the United States, Canada and internationally.

SUSOM has been approved by the following U.S. states, [15] which have separate review processes for the purposes of licensure, rotations and residency:

SUSOM is approved to participate in U.S. Title IV Federal Student Aid programs offered through the U.S. Department of Education. [17] Canadian students in the MD program are eligible for government financial aid in their province or territory of residence.

Student life

The SUSOM MD program features two years of classroom and lab-based learning (Basic Science) on the island of Saba, and students are required to attend in-person. [18] First-semester MD program students are encouraged to live on campus, in the Hillside Dorms. [19]

Hillside Dorms for Saba University School of Medicine MD program students Saba University School of Medicine Student Dorms.jpg
Hillside Dorms for Saba University School of Medicine MD program students

SUSOM students have access to different academic and personal support services, [20] including:

Student clubs and organizations also exist, [21] including:

Related Research Articles

A Doctor of Medicine is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree of physician. This generally arose because many in 18th-century medical professions trained in Scotland, which used the M.D. degree nomenclature. In England, however, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) was used: in the 19th century, it became the standard in Scotland too. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries, the M.D. is a research doctorate, honorary doctorate or applied clinical degree restricted to those who already hold a professional degree (Bachelor's/Master's/Doctoral) in medicine. In those countries, the equivalent professional degree to the North American, and some others' usage of M.D. is still typically titled Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Master of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (MD), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Many medical schools offer additional degrees, such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), master's degree (MSc) or other post-secondary education.

A medicalintern is a physician in training who has completed medical school and has a medical degree, but does not yet have a license to practice medicine unsupervised. Medical education generally ends with a period of practical training similar to internship, but the way the overall program of academic and practical medical training is structured differs depending upon the country, as does the terminology used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Matthew's University</span> For-profit Cayman Islands university

St. Matthew's University (SMU) is a private for-profit offshore medical school located in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. SMU has a School of Medicine and a School of Veterinary Medicine, which confer M.D. and D.V.M. degrees, respectively. St. Matthew's University is owned by R3 Education, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical University of the Americas – Nevis</span> Private for-profit offshore medical school in Charlestown, Nevis

Medical University of the Americas (MUA) is a private medical school on the island of Nevis. It is owned by R3 Education, Inc. which also owns Saba University School of Medicine and St. Matthew's University. MUA offers an internationally accredited MD program that confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, as well as multiple pre-medical programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American University of the Caribbean</span> International medical school

The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) is a private for-profit medical school. Its main basic science campus is located in Sint Maarten, and administrative offices are located in Miramar, Florida, in the United States. AUC is owned by Adtalem Global Education. The executive dean of AUC manages the medical school from offices in Miramar, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American University of Antigua</span> Medical school located in Antigua and Barbuda

American University of Antigua (AUA) is a private for-profit international medical school located in Antigua and Barbuda.

Medical school in the United States is a graduate program with the purpose of educating physicians in the undifferentiated field of medicine. Such schools provide a major part of the medical education in the United States. Most medical schools in the US confer upon graduates a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, while some confer a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Most schools follow a similar pattern of education, with two years of classroom and laboratory based education, followed by two years of clinical rotations in a teaching hospital where students see patients in a variety of specialties. After completion, graduates must complete a residency before becoming licensed to practice medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribbean Medical University</span> Medical School

Caribbean Medical University (CMU) is an independent, for-profit, U.S. curriculum-based medical school. It is located on the island of Curaçao in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The main campus is located in the Piscadera Bay area of Willemstad. After a total of four years of training, students are awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Medicine and Health Sciences</span>

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences is a private, for-profit medical school located in Basseterre, Saint Kitts in the Caribbean. UMHS confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The university also has a 5th semester campus in Portland, Maine and an administrative office in New York, New York. The University of Medical and Health Sciences has acquired the Ross family owned previously affiliated International University of Nursing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross University School of Medicine</span> Caribbean medical school in Barbados

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is a private, for-profit medical school. Its main campus is in Barbados, and its administrative offices are in Miramar, Florida. Until 2019, the university's main campus was in Portsmouth, Dominica. RUSM is owned by Adtalem Global Education Inc.

The American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS), is a private for-profit offshore medical school with a single campus located in Barbados. Founded in 1999, it was formerly known as the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine (USESOM). For a period, the school was based in Sint Maarten, where it was taken over by IEMR LLC, a US-based company. Since October 2017, AUIS has operated in Barbados, and it is currently a candidate for accreditation by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).

Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) is a private for-profit offshore medical school which had two basic science campuses, one in British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, and the other in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it was considered one school with two campuses. Saint James confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. In 2024 Saint James School of Medicine decided to consolidate at its St. Vincent location and closed its location on Anguilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aureus University School of Medicine</span> Medical school in Aruba

Aureus University School of Medicine is a private university located in Oranjestad, Aruba. Aureus confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

Windsor University School of Medicine is a private offshore medical school located in Cayon, Saint Mary Cayon Parish, Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. Windsor confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The university also has clinical education campuses in Carbondale, Illinois and Houghton Lake, Michigan. Administrative offices are located in Monee, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avalon University School of Medicine</span> Medical school in Willemstad, Curacao

Avalon University School of Medicine (AUSOM) is a private medical school located in Willemstad, Curaçao, in the Caribbean. AUSOM confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Administrative offices for the university are located in Youngstown, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American International School of Medicine</span> Private medical school in Guyana

The American International School of Medicine (AISM) is a private medical school with its main campus in Georgetown, Guyana, and a US information office in Atlanta, Georgia. Clinical placements in the United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Canada, and some sites in Africa. Graduates obtain a Medical Doctorate upon successful completion of the four or five years of didactic education and training candidates earn the doctor of medicine degree to exit the medical program successfully.

An offshore medical school is a medical school that caters "primarily to foreign students, wishing to practice medicine in the US and Canada" according to the World Bank, compared to local schools that focus on their home nation. Such schools are chiefly located in the Caribbean basin, but also includes schools in other locations, such as Mexico and Australia, which run programs that target American students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints University School of Medicine</span>

All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica (ASUDOM) is a private medical school located in the Caribbean. The schools' campus is in Roseau, Dominica, and is administered from Toronto, Ontario. There is also an office in Chicago, Illinois.

St. George's University School of Medicine is the medical school of St. George's University located in St. George's, Grenada. The school was founded by Charles R. Modica on July 23, 1976. Because of its size, the school placed more doctors into first-year US residency positions than any other medical school in the world between 2011 and 2012. It was rated by The Princeton Review as one of the "Best 168 Medical Schools" in 2012. There are 158 accredited MD-granting institutions in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Saba University School of Medicine". Saba University School of Medicine.
  2. ↑ "R3 Education Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek". Investing.businessweek.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  3. ↑ "Why Choose Saba". saba.edu.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ Radio Netherlands (12 October 2006). "Caribbean islands become Dutch municipalities". Archived from the original on 13 December 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  5. 1 2 "Caribbean_admin, Author at Caribbean Medicine". 20 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Basic Sciences Medical Program | Curriculum | Saba". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  7. ↑ "FAQ's". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  8. ↑ Saba University School of Medicine (2016-09-15). Dr. Bruzik shares about RLRA, a research done by every student at the end of their basic sciences . Retrieved 2025-01-24– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "Basic Sciences - Research Module". saba.edu.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Clinical Medicine & Clinical Rotations Medical Program | Saba". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  11. ↑ "Foreign Medical School Information" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-05-17.
  12. 1 2 "Saba University School of Medicine". studentaid.gov. US Department of Education. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Kowarski, Ilana (4 June 2019). "How to Interpret Med School Licensing Exam Results". www.usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Accreditation and Approvals". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  15. ↑ "Why You Should Choose Saba Medical School". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  16. ↑ "Kansas State Board of Healing - Medical Schools". Kansas State Board of Healing.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Financial Aid". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  18. ↑ "FAQ's". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  19. ↑ "Housing". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  20. ↑ "Student Support Services". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  21. ↑ "Student Life at Saba | Top Caribbean Medical Schools". Saba University School of Medicine. Retrieved 2025-01-24.

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