Blog – Page 6 – SJSM Store

April 12, 2022

10 Key Tips for International Medical Students Living in the Caribbean

Being a medical student is more than memorizing procedures and preparing for the next round of tests in medical studies. It is also about experiencing the culture and local history of the island you live on. That is why the Med School Minutes podcast recently sat down with Dr. Jose Ramirez, the Assistant Clinical Dean at Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM), a leading Caribbean medical school, and Dr. DeJuan…

March 17, 2022

Preparing for the Medical Residency Match

Gearing Up for the ‘Match’ Process Prospective and current medical school students wonder what it takes to make it through a competitive medical school program. What is required, not only to survive, but to excel. The Med School Minutes podcast met with Dr. Aqsaa Chaudhry, an alum of Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM), and Joe Torres, the Assistant Manager of Clinical Services at SJSM. Both of these individuals lend…

March 9, 2022

The New Accreditation Outlook for International Medical Schools

All Caribbean Medical Schools must be legitimately accredited by 2024 Due to a requirement by the Education Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates, only students from schools who are accredited by a World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) recognized accreditor would be allowed to appear for the USMLE Exams starting 2024. To gain some insight into med school accreditation, the Med School Minutes podcast had the opportunity to sit down with…

January 25, 2022

ECFMG Year 2024 Rule- what it means to you!

The Education Commission on Foreign Medical Education (ECFMG) is the primary body in the United States that oversees the policies and regulation around licensing International Medical Graduates (IMGs). In order to take the USMLEs, and to apply for residency all IMGs must be certified by ECFMG. This certification typically takes place after the completion of the 2nd year of a medical program, and before taking the USMLE Step 1 examination.…

December 21, 2021

USMLE Step 1 Dec Blog

Every three to four years, the USMLE Management Committee conducts an extensive review and analysis of the passing standard for each USMLE Step 1 exam. This is done to ensure the passing score is consistent with the expectations of the level of content proficiency needed to apply important concepts to the practice of medicine. While the USMLE Step 1 exam measures the student’s general understanding of Basic Science concepts and…

November 20, 2021

The Time I Led a Code at the Airport by Iris Monica Vargas

The one question I’ve never been capable of answering properly, or in a completely satisfactory way is, why do I want to become a physician? It probably has the same answer as “why am I a writer?” and I cannot answer that either. I want to be both. Perhaps we do the things we know that we can do well. Or maybe we do what this organism inside us feels…

October 13, 2021

STUDENT SPOTLOGHT: AJ PASCASIO

As individuals, what is the driving force behind our passions in life? Is it to follow in the footsteps of our loved ones or to redefine one’s path with continuous education to better ourselves and those around us? As medical professionals, we continue to evolve, find new solutions to the problem at hand, and how to use compassion to better connect/understand our patients. That is why Saint James School of…

September 2, 2021

A LETTER TO INCOMING STUDENTS

Dear Incoming Student, Welcome to Saint James School of Medicine! I hope this letter finds you well as you are getting ready to move to another country to start your first semester of medical school. When I first started, I was so nervous and the whole situation of moving so far from the life I previously knew felt daunting. Apart from the school’s admissions team, who was very helpful, I…

September 1, 2021

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Erika Singh

Saint James School of Medicine is proud to highlight Dr. Erika Singh as this month’s Alumni Spotlight. Dr. Singh completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Indiana University Northwest, intending to become a psychologist after graduation, but a course in Anatomy and Physiology set her on a different path. “Physiology was my strength, and I enjoyed studying and teaching the material at hand,” Dr. Singh said. “I chose to pursue…

June 29, 2021

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JOYCE CHENG

In every person’s life, there comes a time that will define who they are and what they hope to accomplish going forward. For Dr. Joyce Cheng, that time came in March 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We previously chatted with Dr. Cheng in 2018 as she was on the cusp of starting residency. Growing up in California, Dr. Joyce Cheng enjoyed science and working in collaboration with…