It's sometimes very difficult to walk the line about how much to disclose when writing anonymously on these forums. One runs the risk of "outing" oneself if too much is said, and it can then become easier to discern who a poster is in real life. While doxxing is expressly prohibited on this forum, it doesn't mean that people who don't like what you say - and with some minimal effort - can then determine who you are in real life and potentially use what you write here against you... in real life. Adverse opinions posted that countervail the current cultural zeitgeist can have very real - and dire - consequences if they become attributable, including loss of employment. (I know for a fact that a similar-type incident happened to a physician personally known to me, and he was summarily terminated for cause from his former group.)
Suffice it to say that, when someone happens to disagree with something I post, it humors me when one of the strategies used against that argument is the "
poison the well" type, because I have been far more
actively involved in GME than I always let on. I work with all manor of medical students, graduate trainees, and faculty-level attendings who discuss these and other matters on a daily basis. We'll leave it at that. I try to protect my anonymity.
With that said, back to the point...
I've said it before innumerable times on this forum, but it bears repeating:
- The "stigma" of being a matriculant of a Caribbean medical school is leveled, if not erased, when you are invited to a residency interview. The key point there is getting invited to the interview. With that, choosing the right school is paramount.
- All schools have a track record. All of them. Programs also have a track record. Even U.S. schools and programs. Sometimes, by either superiority or necessity, a student/graduate of a lesser-known, lesser-established Caribbean school will get a spot at a program de novo and unexpectedly. This person has a lot on their shoulders, whether they realize it or not, because the subsequent experience with that person will sort of prejudice that program about how well they were "pre-trained" (i.e., have the foundations) in undergrad med.
- LoRs matter. Scores matter. How you dress/act/interact on the interview trail matters.
- Go back to the honey hole where you caught the most fish. What do I mean by that? Every school has a list of graduates that got into a program somewhere. Those are the programs one should apply to. That is your best chance at getting into a residency program.
The program that I am affiliated with just accepted a graduate from one of the lesser-known Carib schools. I'm not going to, apropos of the above, tell you who or where. But, suffice it to say, there will be a lot of scrutiny on this person, who is just completing their internship. So far, my interaction has been a little weak with this doctor. Some stuff I would expect any graduate from
any medical school
anywhere to know... eh... we'll see. I just seemed to get a glazed look.
And, that's the key: graduate programs expect you to know the basics when you graduate from medical school. We don't want to have to teach you how to compose an H&P, how to navigate your way around a hospital, how to talk to people in a professional manner, etc. Just because you got into residency doesn't mean you're going to
stay in residency. The GME landscape is littered with bodies of trainees who didn't get their contracts renewed.
So, what's the big picture? Your focus in choosing a school is
getting into residency. And, when you get there,
staying in residency. There are many schools in the Caribbean - and elsewhere - who will help you to achieve this. Some are riskier than others. But, know that just because you got into residency doesn't automatically mean you are prepared to be there and/or you're gonna finish your training.
Be vigilant. Make
good choices about the school you choose based on their specific track record of getting graduates into residency in the geographical area you want to train and live, and in the program you want to train.
Do not focus on the supposed "Big 3" or "Big 4" or "Big 5" or whatever - it's irrelevant. That progressively becomes less and less important the farther along you go and the more and more you are judged as an individual. Focus on the things I said above. And know that, until you have finished your training, have an independent license, are board-certified, and are out in practice, the scrutiny does not end.... and, even after that, you will have peer review.
Make sure you want all of this. It is not so much about the stigma of being a Carib graduate. It is more about your own individual accomplishments and the image you cultivate as a calm, professional, competent medical professional who regularly demonstrates sound, practical knowledge and good judgment. That starts
now.
-Skip
