Okay, Greg is here. Sorry I haven't been around much gang, but my computer fried and so getting access to the internet has been difficult recently.
About the prison rotation... I'm pretty much with Park on this one. If you have specific concerns, you should address the administration directly and not seek slanted, student views from this forum. And this doesn't just apply to NSU, but at all schools that have prison rotations (and there are others). In fact, one of the prison hospitals we will be affiliated with has been hosting OUCOM students for years as well as MD/DMD residents from the University of Florida. Also, there is active AIDS research going on at this hospital. Medical education at this facility is not a new concept.
The only thing I'll add is this: You won't be "in prison" in the sense that most of you are thinking of. There is a prison hospital here in Florida where prisoners are sent for their medical care. It looks pretty much like any other hospital with all of the different departments for acute/chronic ailments as well as rehabilitation. Of course there is one added bonus: guards everywhere. So you aren't walking into a cell and asking to take blood -- get those thoughts out of your mind. You are in a hospital, plain and simple. And you are treating patients who need and want your help.
Some final points made by the physicians that presently work at this facility:
* Prisoners have 100% control over their health care. They are only sent to the hospital if they wish to seek treatment for their illness. Combative, objecting prisoners are simply not transported from the prison to the hospital.
* You will be left alone with the prisoner ONLY if you request the guard to leave.
* The prisoner will remain handcuffed unless you request the cuffs to be removed.
* Prisoners are not allowed to speak to you unless you speak to them first.
* The rotation is setup to address the interests of the students. If you are interested in practicing procedures, that's the direction they will send you. If you like radiology, they'll have you working there. The students have input into their activities and responsibilities (can't say that about most other rotations).
Also, this won't be affecting the entire class. Maybe 20-30 students will actually go, and many of those slots will be filled with volunteers. I am sure that if there are legitimate personal concerns about participating in this rotation that the administration would accomodate you. They are already doing this for other rotations, so I am sure they would be flexible with this rotation.
I really resent the comments many of you have made concerning NSU and the administation there (in other threads). I'm the President of the first year class and let me tell you that my experience with the administation thus far has been a very positive one indeed. They have gone out of their way to make our transition into medical school easy and enjoyable. I could give you a rather lengthy list of things I accomplished with the help of the administration at NSU, including moving of exams and cancellations of other time-consuming events scheduled prior to exams. They definitely work with the students, and anyone that suggests otherwise is speaking from ignorance. If anyone has changed their mind about attending NSU based on comments made here in this forum, I'm glad. Anyone that doesn't have the wisdom to thoroughly research the statements made here and direct questions to the source doesn't deserve to attend NSU.
Forgive the harshness but I love my school and I object to the way it has been portrayed here. Given the choice, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the country.
Finally, I still recommend that anyone with specific questions and concerns should address them DIRECTLY to the faculty and administration at NSUCOM.
Gregory Gulick, M.A. MS-I
Nova Southeastern University
College of Osteopathic Medicine