Send a medical student to Cuba! I may have opened a door to a fine young woman....

[bobbolink]

I was talking with a really sweet high school senior today. I've known her a while, and she is working at WalMart to help support her family. Yes, they are poor.

It turns out she loves science, is fascinated with the human body, and has all A's in science.

When I told her about the Cuban free medical school program she got excited. She would be so great for this... she has a big heart, a wonderful personality, and in school she always stands up for the kids who are bullied. A great doctor!

It's been quite a while since this info was posted at DU, so I thought I"d share this great possibility for this young woman, and bring the info to the attention of DUers:

http://www.ifconews.org/MedicalSchool/main.htm

Program overview
The people of Cuba have extended, to students from the US, the opportunity to study medicine on a full scholarhship at the prestigious Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba. IFCO/Pastors for Peace coordinates this program in the United States.

The Medical School curriculum includes a 12-week intensive Spanish language program for those who need it.

The program of The Latin American School of Medical Sciences is based on intensive advising and tutoring designed to help every student succeed. Students must pass competency exams at appropriate points in their course of study.

The six-year medical school program, which follow the pre-med program, begins every September and is divided into 12 semesters. Students study at the LASMS campus for the first two years, and then go to another of Cuba's 21 medical schools, which are located throughout the island, to complete their studies. The Cuban medical training model combines theory and practice and is oriented toward primary care, community medicine and hands-on internships.

(snip)

There's a picture of the campus, and how the program came to be.

Here's a picture of last year's graduates:
http://18thcubacaravan.blogspot.com/2007/07/bbc-on-us-medical-students-in-cuba.html

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

1. And she may go directly to a U.S.-sponsored prison.

If she is able to get in via a faith-based initiative, best wishes to her!! :hug: Just make sure all bases are covered. I'd hate to see such a lovely and intelligent individual be wasted on political oppression.

[bobbolink]

3. Did you actually read the link, or are you just doing the DU thing.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. No, I didn't read the entire link. My apologies.

I hope she gets the chance of a lifetime.

[bobbolink]

8. Thank you. I was going by the DU rules of 4 paragraphs, although I'm not sure

the limit actually counts with this... it's a pastors' site, so I doubt they have a copyright limit.

IN any case.. this is an exciting program, and I hope you saw the photo of the 8 graduates from last year... they are JAZZED!!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. I'm still wondering how they're able to sidestep the embargo. The site doesn't explain that.

Some kind of exemption?

[bobbolink]

21. Read post #15, please.

And read the part in the article about the Congressional Black Caucus.

Also, the Pastors For Peace have done the arranging for it.

[Judi Lynn]

30. Here's an article which addresses that. It covers last years graduates from the medical school.

Americans graduate from Cuban medical school
The Associated Press
Published: July 25, 2007

HAVANA: Eight Americans who graduated from a Cuban medical school say they will put the education paid for by Fidel Castro's Communist government to use in hospitals back home.

Four New Yorkers, three Californians and a Minnesotan, all from ethnic minority backgrounds, have studied in Havana since April 2001, forming the first class of American graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine.

One other American previously graduated from the school after transferring from an American university, but the six women and two men graduating Tuesday were the first Americans to complete the entire six-year program since Castro offered the free medical training to American students. The offer followed a meeting with a delegation from the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus.

"I've learned that medicine is not a business, it's social, it's humane," said Toussaint Reynolds, a graduate from Massapequa, New York. "I will be a better doctor in the United States for it."
(snip)

Washington's 45-year-old embargo prohibits most Americans from traveling to Cuba and chokes off nearly all trade between the countries. But the State Department has not opposed the medical school program, saying American policy hopes to encourage contact between ordinary Cubans and Americans.

The students said that much of what they learned in Cuba matched the curriculum at American medical schools, but that instructors here placed a special emphasis on preventative care.

"I will be heading back to the United States with a great advantage over the American students who have stayed there," said Wing Wu, from Minneapolis.

U.S. authorities have suggested, however, that it is unclear whether Americans who receive Cuban medical training can meet licensing requirements in the United States. The graduates will have to pass two exams to apply for residency at American hospitals, then eventually pass a third.

But the American transfer student who graduated from the Cuban school recently began his residency at a New York City hospital. His experience gave hope to Tuesday's graduating class.

More:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/25/news/cuba.php

Photos:

Ellen Bernstein and Teresa Thomas, (right)
6th year student at Latin American Medical
School.



USA

“Our primary focus is to prepare for the US boards.
We’re taking more initiative and taking some courses
earlier in the curriculum, for example, pharmacology,
biostatistics, and ethics. We’re planning to take
the exams earlier than in the past, taking Step 1 by
the third year, and Step 2 by the fifth."

Jamar Williams and Kereese Gayle, 2nd Year
http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/elam-voices.html

http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/elam.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Struggling students opt for medical school in Cuba
http://vivirlatino.com/2007/07/25/

In what may be Fidel Castro's best PR moment of the year, and, coincidentally, excellent promo for Michael Moore's new film Sicko, 8 American students have graduated from medical school -- in Cuba. Reports the International Herald Tribune:

Four New Yorkers, three Californians and a Minnesota native, all from minority backgrounds, have studied in Havana since April 2001.

The six women and two men made up the first class of Americans to graduate from the Latin American School of Medicine since Castro offered free medical training to U.S. students after meeting with a delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus seven years ago.

"I've learned that medicine is not a business," said Toussaint Reynolds, a graduate from Massapequa, New York. "I will be a better doctor in the United States for it."

http://vivirlatino.com/2007/07/25/struggling-students-opt-for-medical-school-in-cuba.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For D.U.'ers who haven't heard much about the program:
Don't let someone calling this a P.R. move throw you. Cuba has been educating students from other countries for decades.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eight Americans graduate in boost for Cuban health care
· Students plan to use skills to treat poor people
· Public relations coup for Castro government
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent The Guardian, Thursday July 26 2007

Eight American students have graduated from a Cuban medical school after six years of free tuition, giving a fresh boost to the reputation of the communist government's health care system.
The first class of US graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine, a Fidel Castro brainchild on Havana's outskirts, plan to return home and take board exams for licenses to work as doctors in US hospitals.

The Americans were among more than 2,100 students from about 25 countries who received diplomas this week in a high-profile ceremony at Havana's Karl Marx theatre. The six women and two men, all from US ethnic minority backgrounds, said they would use their skills to treat poor people, in keeping with the humanitarian ethos of the school.

"Health care is not seen as a business in Cuba," Kenya Bingham, a 29-year-old Californian, told the Associated Press. "When you are sick they are not going to try to charge you or turn you away if you don't have insurance. We have studied medicine with a humanitarian approach."
(snip)

The first class of US graduates, which started the course in 2001, has been followed by about 90 other Americans. A further 18 are due to enrol next month, making the Americans a small but high-profile minority among the more than 5,000-strong student body.

The communist authorities rely on the US Congressional Black Caucus and a non-profit group, Pastors for Peace, to select candidates. Washington's embargo bans most Americans from travelling to Cuba but an exemption has been made for the medical students.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/26/internationaleducationnews.usa

[bobbolink]

33. "I've learned that medicine is not a business, it's social, it's humane"

Brilliant!

These will probably be our best doctors.. they haven't been poisoned in med school.

Thanks for the article -- this is great... makes me tear up!

[angstlessk]

4. well, they can't arrest her till she comes back..and 6 years is a LONG TIME

at least in boosh years!!!!

[bobbolink]

5. It would be really nice if you would actually read it before spouting such nonsense....

:crazy:

[Nutmegger]

2. R&K!

Thank you! :kick:

[bobbolink]

6. I was so excited to see the picture of the graduates in July... to think of someone I know going...

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[caseycoon]

9. K&R! This is amazing!

I had never heard of it. Great that you could tell that girl about it, and great that you posted it! Thank you! :D

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[Lisa0825]

13. I love your sig pic!

Such a cute angry kitty!

[dajoki]

10. My questions are...

Why can Cuba do this for Americans? Would the US do this for Cubans? I know Fidel Castro is no prince, but we have not only punished him, we have punished the Cuban people and Americans who could have taken advantage of these kind of opportunities. GREAT STORY!! K&R

Applicant criteria

Applicants should:

-Be US citizens
-Be between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of registration
-Be physically and mentally fit
-Come from the humblest and neediest communities in the US
-Be committed to practice medicine in poor and under served US communities after graduation

[roody]

14. Those damn commies!!!

[Joe Chi Minh]

17. Many millions would argue about Fidel not being a prince. And who's to say

the opinions of oppressed poorer folk rescued from the worst oppression and penury, are less valid than those of the beneficiaries of our vandal-capitalist, MSM-propaganda?

[bobbolink]

19. Very well put! So much depends on the view from where you sit, eh?

:thumbsup:

[lightningandsnow]

11. That is wonderful!

Great idea... hope she does well. I wish her all the best - she sounds like she'd be an amazing doctor!

[Kajsa]

12. That is great, Bobbie!

I wish her all the best in her studies!

She will make a great doctor.

:hug:

[roody]

15. Strange but true.

Colin Powell actually lobbied for these students when he was Sec. of State. They go to Cuba with permission.

[bobbolink]

20. Colin Powell??? Really? I didn't know that.

I hate to do the stereotypical DU thing, but do you have an article or a link about this?

Quite interesting! Thanks!

[LSK]

23. here you go

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=478264

Never underestimate the google.

:hi:

[bobbolink]

24. Very interesting... this is from 2004, so clearly, some of the fears haven't

materialized.

I wonder what happened to the thing about "licenses"...

Thanks for pointing this out... it makes sense now that Powell was involved, and I would hope that he had enough spine to "do the right thing".




edited to add: As for google... I realize that is a usual DU guilt-thing.. please remember that I have very limited time on the library computer. I have many things to look up, and no time to waste. When someone already has the information, I don't think it's a problem to ask them, politely (which is what I did), to post that info.

I would do that for others, and I don't think I should be called to task for asking others to do it for me...

We are ALL, remember, in this together.

[roody]

26. That is hearsay that I heard on a Pastors for Peace

Caravan to Cuba.

[bobbolink]

27. more than hearsay -- link in #23... I think...

I looked it up, but then forgot when I started the reply... sigh..

It's LSK's post...

You've been on a Caravan??!!

Do tell!!!

:toast: :applause: :toast:

[roody]

29. Twice on a caravan. It is a great, though

grueling experience. I am due to go to Cuba on my own.

[bobbolink]

32. Great! Please post a thread on this... must be interesting!

I suppose you have lots of pictures to post of it, too.

Really, there are many who would be interested.. POST!

:toast:

[lonestarnot]

16. Go Bobbolink!

Ironic!

[bobbolink]

22. Thank you!

I do irony quite well.

:hi:

[bobbolink]

25. a kick just because...

:kick:

[apocalypsehow]

28. Excellent, thank you for posting this! K & R.

n/t.

[GreenPartyVoter]

31. Wow! That is so cool. I hope it works out. :^D