THE CLINICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM
Clinical Sciences Curriculum
The Clinical Medicine Curriculum is a period of six - twelve week semesters; it provides training in basic clinical skills and identifies areas of medical practice in which students may wish to specialize upon graduation. The program provides training in basic clinical skills through direct patient contact, under close supervision.
The program provides students with a broad overview of medical practice in order for them to understand the interrelationships between various levels of practice and different areas of specialization.
This program provides exposure to clinical correlations and examples of clinical relevance in hospitals and various health institutions for the duration of the instructional program in basic sciences. It also provides a thorough physical diagnosis & introduction to clinical medicine course, which teaches the necessary practical experience and prepares students adequately for their clerkships.
After passing the USMLE Step I, students are ready to enter clinical clerkships, in rotation, in specific fields. There are 48 weeks of required clinical core clerkships and 24 weeks of electives.
Required core-clinical clerkships : 48 weeks
Medicine : 12 weeks
Surgery :12 weeks
Pediatrics : 6 weeks
Family Medicine : 6 weeks
Obstetrics and Gynecology :
Psychiatry :6 weeks
Electives : 24 weeks
The electives are tailored to the student’s individual needs.
The core clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and psychiatry are the basic areas of medical practice in which all physicians need to be knowledgeable. They are included in the curriculum of every medical school. Participation in these clerkships also provides students with an understanding of the various specializations in medicine.
Affiliate Hospitals
During the Clinical Program, students complete core and elective clerkships at affiliated hospitals in Suriname, Curaçao, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. Clerkships can also be arranged in other countries if there is a need.
SAISOM has the advantage of having an excellent teaching hospital as its home campus. The St. Vincentius Hospital which is located adjacent to the SAISOM campus has been one of Suriname’s premier hospitals for over 100 years. Further, SAISOM students can complete clerkships at one of the hospitals in Curacao, which include the Curacao Medical Center (CMC), and the Advent Hospital. All which have qualified, experienced staff fully adept to training students.
Furthermore affiliation arrangements have been made with several US South Eastern ACGMT training hospitals, and in the Netherlands. Placement of students into various hospital clerkships is done by the Office of the Dean of Clinical Medicine.
Required Core Clinical Clerkships (48 weeks)
Medicine: In this clerkship students learn the steps necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment of patients. Students learn how to take complete medical, personal, and family histories, to do a diagnostic "work-up," and to develop a plan for managing a patient's care. They participate in clinical conferences where they learn to report their findings and conclusions logically and succinctly.
Surgery: In the course of the surgery clerkship, students learn about conditions requiring surgical intervention and have opportunities to observe how surgical patients are managed. In the process, they become familiar with policies and procedures followed in the operating room.
Pediatrics: During the pediatrics clerkship students acquire special skills and knowledge required for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents.
Family medicine: In this clerkship, student acquires an understanding of the principles of family medicine and of how these principles apply in community practice. Emphasis is placed on continuous and comprehensive health care for people of both sexes and all ages within the context of their families, social groups and communities. Particular attention is paid to the diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems and to health maintenance, ambulatory care, and continuity of care.
Obstetrics and Gynecology: During this clerkship, students learn about the changes that take place during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period, both normal and pathologic. They also become familiar with diagnosis and treatment of major gynecological diseases and various methods of family planning.
Psychiatry: In this clerkship, students become familiar with the major categories of mental disorder, including diagnosis and methods of therapy. In the process they learn how to take a psychiatric history and to evaluate a patient's mental status.
Elective Rotations (24 weeks)
The 24 additional weeks are spent in elective clerkships; these can be tailored to the individual student’s special needs or requirements. Extra time may be spent in the core rotations or the student may opt for rotations within various subspecialties. We particularly suggest that students have rotations in Pathology and Radiology.
ADMISSION TO THE CLINICAL PROGRAM
Students that have successfully completed the Basic Science portion of the MD program are eligible to continue with the Clinical Sciences program once they have passed the USMLE step1 examination, or an equivalent exam that is acceptable to the South American International University.
USMLE Review course
Once a student has completed the Basic Sciences, it is highly recommended that the student take a USMLE Review course. This stand-alone 8 week program focused on one goal, passing the USMLE Step I. This is specifically tailored to meet the needs of students who need a refresher course prior to sitting the USMLE.
The USMLE review course covers three main blocks namely Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, as well as Psychology and Pharmacology.
- Block 1: Anatomy, covers Histology, Embryology and Neuro-anatomy.
- Block 2: Physiology covers Biochemistry and Neurophysiology.
- Block 3: Pathology covers Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics.
These three primary areas cover the essentials of the basic sciences which one must master in order to obtain a good score in the USMLE Step I. Specific emphasis will be placed on the most important aspects of each course and it’s relevance to the USMLE examination.
In addition to lectures, students will sit two “mock” USMLE Step I Examinations. A full USMLE type Exam will be given at the beginning of the course and at the end of the course so that the student can accurately determine his/her progress.
These exams will be taken on the computer under conditions similar to those of the actual examination. Furthermore, students will have ample opportunity to review the vast database of USMLE Step I questions available at the University.
At the end of the six week review course, special time will be made available for individual discussion of each student’s area(s) of weakness. A self study program will be suggested to further strengthen the student’s preparation in these specific area