I am no longer involved with St. Martinus University. If anyone has tried to call me at 512-689-3862 or on my Skype Jeff.bowman33 since January 27, 2014, please know that you were not speaking to me. Therefore, if anyone would like to contact me, please call me on my NEW cell 512-221-4436. I wish all students the best and let me know if you ever need any assistance from me! Best regards,
↧
FORMER Director of Admission of St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine.
↧
Too many teachers left, they are about to close.
Too many teachers left, they are about to close.
That crooked teethed Jeff and his ****** team should be banned from existence.
That crooked teethed Jeff and his ****** team should be banned from existence.
↧
↧
SMU about to close again
Prospective and current students please be careful with any advanced tuition payments toward St. Martinus cause I got emails from few friends there stating that professors had left for lack of salary payments and the school is about to close again as it has happened already 3 times in the past.
↧
Vancouver - British Columbia - Canada approves student loans (StudentAidBC)
Good news, last week StudentAidBC.ca approved St. Martinus for student loans. Now you can apply online and find the school but before you do so, ask the school to fill Appendix 3 for you online and provide you with the start and end date, then you can use these date to submit your application online.:clapover:
↧
St Martinus compared (for prospective students). Please give your opinion!
I am a prospective student trying to narrow the choice among around 5 schools now (it doesn't matter mentioning them here as some reasons are purely personal and don't apply to other people).
Point 1: Academic calender/curriculum structure
One of the particularities of St Martinus seems to be that it is one of the only two schools in the Caribbean (the other may be University of Health Sciences - Antigua?) that replicate the 2 semester/year model apparently usual in the US (I am quoting this), instead of the usual 3 semester/year usual in other Caribbean Med schools. St. Martinus site claims this is one of the reasons to be very successful in USMLE results (I am quoting again) and that the 3 semester structure makes harder to retain the vast curricula/volumes of information. Anyway, it is true that this 2 semester structure gives time to remediation (ie, saves periods aside to study further and repeat exams if failed the 1st atempt). It also gives time to some real break (for example it would give me time to visit home in Europe). Furthermore, this means one pays 4 (+4 clinical) and not 5 (+5 or +6) semesters.
But strictly speaking about the academic structure and study/learning process, what is the opinion of people here? Does this make an important diference or does the 3 semester/year may also have advantages and it all may well depend more on teachers and other aspects than the calendar timing only? What about the comparison to US continental classical calendar?
Point 1: Academic calender/curriculum structure
One of the particularities of St Martinus seems to be that it is one of the only two schools in the Caribbean (the other may be University of Health Sciences - Antigua?) that replicate the 2 semester/year model apparently usual in the US (I am quoting this), instead of the usual 3 semester/year usual in other Caribbean Med schools. St. Martinus site claims this is one of the reasons to be very successful in USMLE results (I am quoting again) and that the 3 semester structure makes harder to retain the vast curricula/volumes of information. Anyway, it is true that this 2 semester structure gives time to remediation (ie, saves periods aside to study further and repeat exams if failed the 1st atempt). It also gives time to some real break (for example it would give me time to visit home in Europe). Furthermore, this means one pays 4 (+4 clinical) and not 5 (+5 or +6) semesters.
But strictly speaking about the academic structure and study/learning process, what is the opinion of people here? Does this make an important diference or does the 3 semester/year may also have advantages and it all may well depend more on teachers and other aspects than the calendar timing only? What about the comparison to US continental classical calendar?
↧
↧
Questions - TorontoGuy (Brian)
Hey Brian!
I've read through a good chunk of your posts and have a couple of questions - I'm in Toronto as well! I'm planning to apply at SMU as well as MUA. I would be starting with premed, and then go on to the 4yr md program.
1) I've heard many pros & cons to carribean med schools, has it been a smooth journey thus far?
2) SMU is not accredited by NCFMEA and does not have rotations in cali + ny, is that something to worry about?
3) How are the exams, professors and Step 1 reviews?
4) On the website, it states that you can have NY clinicals, but on another page it doesn't list NY as a state to have clinicals...lol kinda confusing
5) In addition to exams, do you write NBMEs for finals?
This is all I have for now, but if you have any other comments I will appreciate it!
I've read through a good chunk of your posts and have a couple of questions - I'm in Toronto as well! I'm planning to apply at SMU as well as MUA. I would be starting with premed, and then go on to the 4yr md program.
1) I've heard many pros & cons to carribean med schools, has it been a smooth journey thus far?
2) SMU is not accredited by NCFMEA and does not have rotations in cali + ny, is that something to worry about?
3) How are the exams, professors and Step 1 reviews?
4) On the website, it states that you can have NY clinicals, but on another page it doesn't list NY as a state to have clinicals...lol kinda confusing
5) In addition to exams, do you write NBMEs for finals?
This is all I have for now, but if you have any other comments I will appreciate it!
↧
International Healthcare Holding B.V. is currently managing SMUFOM
A few years back, IHH signed agreements to purchase the majority of St. Martinus University N.V. but has failed to fulfill the contract. The shareholders are taking legal action to take back their unpaid shares and there are several lawsuits in Curacao and the United States against this company and the other companies owned by the husband wife duo.
If you are paying anyone or a company other than St. Martinus University N.V. ---- BEWARE as you are not paying your tuition to the University or the real owners!!!
If you are paying anyone or a company other than St. Martinus University N.V. ---- BEWARE as you are not paying your tuition to the University or the real owners!!!
↧
RESIDENCY MATCH SINCE 2010 of SMU.
The husband/wife duo currently managing St. Martinus University advertise a 93 or 94 percent pass rate of the USMLE, which by the way is false, but you can't expect to hear the truth from these corrupt people.
In my opinion, the real question is how many graduates have matched for a residency since they took over in 2010? ONLY ONE, so in my opinion this makes this a diploma mill, NOT a medical school. What do you think?
In my opinion, the real question is how many graduates have matched for a residency since they took over in 2010? ONLY ONE, so in my opinion this makes this a diploma mill, NOT a medical school. What do you think?
↧
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- Bank UK : ( LLOYDS TSB,BARCLAYS,Standard Chartered,HSBC...)
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3 Apartments Available from April 15th, 2015. Call 524-5529
1 Bedroom Apartment $1000 US. Share for 2 Students. $500 Each. Available from April 15th, 2015
In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
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Electricity. Water, Washing Machine, Cable and Internet Included.
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Call 524-5529
1 Bedroom Apartment $700 US. Available from April 15th, 2015
In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
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Gated Driveway for car Included
Close to Supermarket
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1 Bedroom Apartment $650 US. Available from April 15th, 2015
In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
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No Living Room
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In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
Safe, Family Friendly Cul-De-Sac.
Gated Driveway for car Included
Public Transportation in walking distance
Close to Supermarket
Electricity. Water, Washing Machine, Cable and Internet Included.
2 Queen Beds, AC and dresser Included.
Full Bathroom, Full Kitchen with dishes, cutlery, refrigerator, microwave, gas stove Included.
Living room fully furnished with television Included.
Outdoor porch with patio furniture Included.
Call 524-5529
1 Bedroom Apartment $700 US. Available from April 15th, 2015
In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
Safe, Family Friendly Cul-De-Sac.
Public Transportation in walking distance
Gated Driveway for car Included
Close to Supermarket
Electricity. Water, Washing Machine, Cable and Internet Included.
1 Queen Bed with AC Included.
Full Bathroom, Full Kitchen with dishes, cutlery, refrigerator, gas stove Included.
Living room fully furnished Included.
Call 524-5529
1 Bedroom Apartment $650 US. Available from April 15th, 2015
In St. Maria. 15 Min Drive to Otrobanda/Punda/Downtown.
Public Transportation in walking distance
Safe, Family Friendly Cul-De-Sac.
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↧
Off Campus Accomodation
Hi everyone,
I will be attending St. Martinus in September 2015. However, I am hoping to find a place to stay outside the campus that is a walking distance from school since I do not own a car. I am also hoping to get a furnished place if possible that is affordable and with internet included. I do not want a shared accomodation as a family member will be joining me from time to time. Is this possible?
Is there a public transportation available in the Island that I can ride from school to the place that I rented?
I wanted to know also if I can buy the medical school supplies required by the school in the Island or should I buy it from home.
One last question, are there any Canadian students to start this September 2015?
Any tips would be helpful!
Thank you,
E
I will be attending St. Martinus in September 2015. However, I am hoping to find a place to stay outside the campus that is a walking distance from school since I do not own a car. I am also hoping to get a furnished place if possible that is affordable and with internet included. I do not want a shared accomodation as a family member will be joining me from time to time. Is this possible?
Is there a public transportation available in the Island that I can ride from school to the place that I rented?
I wanted to know also if I can buy the medical school supplies required by the school in the Island or should I buy it from home.
One last question, are there any Canadian students to start this September 2015?
Any tips would be helpful!
Thank you,
E
↧
Revoked License question to Administration
[QUOTE=aimu observer;1517572]Could this possibly refer to
the DEAN OF ST MARTINUS MEDICAL SCHOOL
Is a physician whose license has been revoked suitable to teach medical students.
Board of Registration in Medicine - Find a Physician
Last Name: SCHIFF
First Name: HAROLD
1 Physician Found
Yep, that's him, check his wife too, she is a lot of fun. http://psychsearch.net/psychs/ma/02-58-DALA.pdf
There is third one in the batch Dr. FK, DO, did some nasty things to a student while working in one of the schools.
JohnI
the DEAN OF ST MARTINUS MEDICAL SCHOOL
Is a physician whose license has been revoked suitable to teach medical students.
Board of Registration in Medicine - Find a Physician
Last Name: SCHIFF
First Name: HAROLD
1 Physician Found
Yep, that's him, check his wife too, she is a lot of fun. http://psychsearch.net/psychs/ma/02-58-DALA.pdf
There is third one in the batch Dr. FK, DO, did some nasty things to a student while working in one of the schools.
JohnI
↧
St. Martinus in 2018
Hello!
I just recently have been accepted to St. Martinus University in Curacap and I am excited but I have some reservations about accepting their offer. A lot of what I have read is quite polarizing and I want to know for sure what the current status of the university is. Many of the posts on this forum date to almost a decade ago and none are too pleasant and those that are positive almost seem compensated for (yes I am a bit skeptical but I rather be so then have blind trust).
I know there is a stigma floating around claiming that caribbean medical schools are not credible and a huge waste of time and money but I understand its what you make of it at the end of the day. However with that said I rather not commit myself to this university if after my graduation I will be left high and dry without a job offer from the United States.
So if there are any current students that can give me insight on the current workings of the university I will be most grateful. I care about my education but I don't want to be scammed.
I just recently have been accepted to St. Martinus University in Curacap and I am excited but I have some reservations about accepting their offer. A lot of what I have read is quite polarizing and I want to know for sure what the current status of the university is. Many of the posts on this forum date to almost a decade ago and none are too pleasant and those that are positive almost seem compensated for (yes I am a bit skeptical but I rather be so then have blind trust).
I know there is a stigma floating around claiming that caribbean medical schools are not credible and a huge waste of time and money but I understand its what you make of it at the end of the day. However with that said I rather not commit myself to this university if after my graduation I will be left high and dry without a job offer from the United States.
So if there are any current students that can give me insight on the current workings of the university I will be most grateful. I care about my education but I don't want to be scammed.
↧
↧
"Pay-to-play residency lawsuit adds to Pontiac General woes" - Crains Detroit
*Pay-to-play residency lawsuit adds to Pontiac General woes*
August 31, 2018 01:51 PM
Jay Greene
Crains Business Detroit
The owners of for-profit Pontiac General Hospital allegedly required the parents of medical school graduate Varun Chopra to make $400,000 in payments in exchange for...
↧
"Pay-to-play residency lawsuit adds to Pontiac General woes" - Crains Detroit
Pay-to-play residency lawsuit adds to Pontiac General woes
August 31, 2018 01:51 PM
Jay Greene
Crains Business Detroit
The owners of for-profit Pontiac General Hospital allegedly required the parents of medical school graduate Varun Chopra to make $400,000 in payments in exchange for accepting the 31-year-old into the hospital's family medicine residency program during the fall of 2016, according to a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Satish and Poonam Chopra.
Satish Chopra, an architect from Brampton, Ontario, said in court documents that he made the $400,000 payment to Pontiac General officials in three checks on Sept. 19 and Sept 20 because he was told by hospital officials and representatives it was the only way his son, now 33, could gain entrance into the residency program. The parents expressed shock at the demand, but wrote the checks, court records show.
Their lawsuit is one of a number of challenges the hospital and its owners are facing as they deal with an aging building, infrastructure and maintenance problems, charges of employee discrimination, accreditation citations, surprise state health inspections as they invest millions to turn around the hospital.
The hospital's CEO and co-owner, Sanyam $harma, issued a signed residency contract to Chopra the same date as the final check, Sept. 20, a fact that the hospital doesn't dispute. Most unusual, the signed residency agreement also was completed before Chopra had applied to the Electronic Residency Application Service, an established first step that provides a hospital necessary documents to evaluate qualifications of a potential resident.
$harma said in a 2017 deposition that he was told by other hospital officials the $400,000 was a "donation" and not a quid pro quo payment that allowed Chopra to enter the hospital's 16-physician family medicine residency program.
"One was a donation and one was an acceptance into the program," $harma said in his deposition. "They're completely separate."
Several national medical education experts told Crain's they have never heard of a documented case where a hospital charged a medical school graduate a fee to enter a residency program.
While not technically illegal, paying fees for residency slots violates many professional medical standards. To become selected as a resident, student doctors apply early each year through what is called the "Match," which is governed by the National Residency Matching Program. Graduates are selected in March and typically start their residency in June.
Not in dispute is that Chopra was approved for residency by Pontiac General in September after his parents paid $400,000 and was to have started his residency on Nov. 1, 2016, after he secured a J-1 visa and a medical license from the state of Michigan.
Pontiac General spokesman Michael Layne, president of Marx Layne & Co., declined to comment on the Chopra lawsuit.
In the lawsuit filed in 2017 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, the Chopras claim they were instructed to pay the $400,000 to secure the residency position for their son, who had graduated in 2009 from American University of Antigua but was unsuccessful in matching in a U.S. or Canadian hospital residency program for the next seven years.
Andrew Broder, the attorney for the Chopras with Payne Broder & Fossee P.C. of Bingham Farms, said the case has many unusual aspects and difficult to pursue because the Sharmas have been uncooperative, leading District Judge Robert Cleland to cite them for contempt of court.
In his deposition, Sanyam $harma acknowledged that Chopra was admitted to a month-long residency observership program in October before his residency would have begun. Chopra participated in the program in Pontiac from Oct. 3-26. He leased an apartment in a building the hospital owns along with six other residents and 14 medical students.
But at this point, different stories emerge about what happened next. Sanyam $harma said Chopra voluntarily "left" the program. Satish Chopra said Pr1yam $harma, Sanyam's mother and hospital COO, called Poonam Chopra on Oct. 26 to say Varun "was summarily dismissed from the residency program" and must leave, court documents say.
"(Varun) was advised he would not be able to start the residency program" and must leave the country because his J-1 visa sponsorship was being revoked, said Broder, adding that Chopra was not given any more information about why he was being sent home.
Chopra tried for several days while he was at Pontiac General to get residency and hospital officials, including Carol Samson, residency manager, and Nikhil Hemady, M.D., the hospital's program director and chief of staff, to explain why he was being asked to leave. Court documents state he was unsuccessful. On Nov. 2, he left for home in Brampton.
Samson, who has been residency program manager for 20 years, said in a deposition that she was told by Hemady that Chopra would not begin the program Nov. 1 as planned. She confirmed Chopra asked her why he could not begin and she told him she wasn't told and didn't know why. Shortly after, she informed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, which sponsored Chopra's visa, that Chopra would not be entering the program.
"Nothing like this has ever happened," she said in her deposition.
As the lawsuit continues past its 18th month, Cleland reached a major conclusion early on, in June 2017, about key facts of the case.
"It is further ordered as a sanction, and deemed established without further proof, that the donated funds in the amount of $400,000 were in fact an entry fee, and a mandatory component of the terms of the residency agreement, operating as a condition precedent to plaintiff Varun Chopra's entry into defendants' residency program."
In denying a summary judgment request from the Chopras and Sharmas in March, Cleland said what still is in dispute is whether Chopra actually "entered" the residency program. This is because while he was accepted and served a three-week observership pre-residency program, Chopra did not actually begin his residency on Nov. 1, nor did he serve as a resident for "the year" outlined in his contract, Cleland wrote.
On Aug. 29, Cleland issued his latest order denying the hospital's second motion for dismissal. He said Chopra provided "sufficient allegations ... to sustain recovery" of the $400,000 donation. He ordered a conference Sept. 6 between the parties at federal court in Detroit.
Financial turnaround coupled with multiple problems
Pontiac General, legally known as Oakland Physicians Medical Center LLC, has had more than its share of problems over the years as a community hospital.
The hospital has gone through bankruptcy at least four times since it was established in 1910 as a city hospital and twice since 2008. It has gone through such name changes as Oakland Physicians Medical Center, North Oakland Medical Centers, Doctors Hospital of Michigan, Physicians Medical Center, and since 2016 has been called Pontiac General.
In early 2016, Pontiac General emerged from bankruptcy after the Sharmas — CEO Sanyam, COO Pr1yam and $anjay, its chief information officer — acquired a 60 percent interest in the hospital and began making repairs and turning it around. Neurosurgeon Jawad **** owns 25 percent and Surindar Jolly owns 15 percent.
From 2009 to 2015, Pontiac General lost more than $90 million and had gone through several owners. But in 2016 and 2017 under the Sharmas, the hospital has earned net income of $35.3 million on annual revenue that totaled $182 million in 2017, according to Medicare cost reports provided by American Hospital Directory of Louisville.
While Pontiac General is licensed for 306 beds, only 36 are staffed in a medical-surgical unit that averages less than 50 percent occupancy. Two of nine operating rooms are functioning. The hospital also operates a 24/7 urgent care center and a 30-bed adult psychiatric unit that averages more than a 90 percent occupancy.
But two years after emerging from bankruptcy protection, Pontiac General has a whole new set of challenges, including multiple quality, regulatory and accreditation issues — almost all of which it has resolved — based on inspections from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission.
Jack Weiner, director of strategic partnerships for Pontiac General, said in a statement that there are no pending citations from any oversight authority. Repairs to the heating and cooling system will be completed by the end of the year, he said.
"When we bought the building out of bankruptcy in 2016, structural maintenance had been neglected for years," said Weiner, who is the former CEO of St. ****** Oakland Hospital in Pontiac. "Upon acquisition, we made a multimillion-dollar investment and are continuing to invest in repairs, growing the hospital and providing care to our patients."
Still, former nurses, managers and other employees also told Crain's stories of discrimination against Muslim and Arabic workers, lack of nurses to support patient load, not scheduling attending doctors to supervise residents and medical students from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and hiring emergency medical technicians instead of paramedics and nurses during midnight shifts in the urgent care center to save money.
Pontiac General officials denied the practices cited by former employees and said attending doctors are present 24 hours.
Other sources told Crain's about problems in the psychiatric unit where young psychotic patients or those with substance abuse problems are mixed with elderly geriatric patients, creating dangerous situations for patients and staff. Medical screening of patients also is insufficient, leading to poor patient care, sources said.
State health inspectors have documented at least two deaths in the psychiatric unit since the Sharmas have been responsible for the hospital. The first occurred Oct. 9, 2015, shortly after the Sharmas began operating the hospital as a debtor-in-possession, and the second happened on Nov. 22, 2016, after they assumed ownership. Details of the circumstances of the deaths have been redacted from the LARA report for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that Crain's obtained.
Pontiac General denied any psychiatric patients have died at the hospital.
Weiner has told Crain's in previous interviews that patients have never been in danger because of hospital practices.
"As part of our investment, we have hired employees in every department, including skilled medical experts and staff, to serve our patients. Pontiac General Hospital has become the premier hospital for mental health services, providing compassionate and expert care in treating an underserved population," Weiner said.
Last December, three employees filed an EEOC complaint against the hospital, claiming they were discriminated against because of their Arabic ethnicity and Muslim faith. Several other employees quit or were fired because they protested patient care conditions, lack of staffing and alleged disrespect, said four former employees who requested anonymity.
Weiner said two-thirds of the hospital's 295 employees are minorities. "Allegations made by a former employee are untrue and inconsistent with our culture and the values by which we run our business," he said. "We are committed to treating all employees, patients and vendors fairly and with dignity and respect. Discrimination is not tolerated and statements to the contrary are hurtful and damaging."
Hospital officials confirmed the director of nursing and an ICU nurse were fired last summer and several other nurses and employees have resigned for various reasons.
"We are upgrading staff from human resources to dietary, infection control, laboratory, all to improve quality," Weiner said in an interview earlier this year. "We have significant plans to do better."
A nursing manager told Crain's that the decision to do away with clinical nurse administrators who were willing to be advocates for the patients led to the firing of the nursing team in 2017. She said the firings were to silence the employees who were asking for more staff and questioning policies.
Pontiac General officials denied any employee was fired for expressing their opinions.
Weiner said the hospital has increased staff since 2016. However, the hospital has 500 fewer workers than in 2008.
Sources also said nearly all of the hospital's medical coding department have resigned because work is outsourced to a Texas-based company, InfraHealth Group, which is owned by $anjay $harma and uses workers based in India.
Weiner said a small percentage of cases are coded by an outside medical administrative services company in India. He said the hospital has added staff in the medical coding department and denied any staff have left in protest.
Quality inspections show mixed results
Crain's obtained more than 100 pages of state and federal inspection reports through the Freedom of Information Act dating to 2012. Another 100 pages were denied for release. Reviewing the documents, Crain's found that owners before the Sharmas were cited for failure to meet various standards, but some problems continued into early 2018, and some have been fixed.
Inspections by LARA found severe roof damage and inadequate maintenance, water damage in ceilings, stained carpet, lack of proper door seals in the event of a fire and substandard ventilation to prevent infection from spreading.
In 2017, LARA found the hospital had "failed to develop and maintain an active hospital wide infection control program for the prevention, control and investigation of infections." LARA concluded lack of training for an inspection control officer could increase the chances of infections.
In January and March, state inspectors were at the hospital to follow up on new complaints from employees and patients.
LARA spent three days at Pontiac General in January to investigate complaints about burst water pipes and a loss of heat in some patient care areas. Hospital employees told Crain's patients complained, but hospital officials said few patients were affected. LARA said one patient was moved because loss of heat in a unit that dropped the temperature to 62 degrees.
The inspection also found pipes in the ceiling above the cafeteria leaking raw sewage.
Weiner said the roof has been repaired and pipes have been fixed.
However, several other complaints, including lack of telemetry monitoring of patients, psychiatrists holding patients against their will and Medicare fraud were found by LARA to be unsubstantiated.
Over the past year, Pontiac General has spent more than $2 million to upgrade its heating and cooling systems along with improving infection control, Weiner said. The improvements were mandated from an accreditation review last year by the Joint Commission.
Charges in India
In 2010, the $harma family purchased the license of shuttered St. Martinus University Faculty School of Medicine on the Dutch island of Curacao and reopened it in 2011. $anjay $harma is president of the school. It currently is unaccredited but has started the process with the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine, the regional agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education. It is charted by the government of Curacao and recognized by medical education bodies.
Weiner said St. Martinus has about 500 students with a low 2-3 percent dropout rate. He said its match rate to residency programs for students was 66 percent in 2017. Since the school is private and unaccredited, Crain's could not independently verify the data.
In a 2016 interview, Sanyam $harma described the business plans of the family. "We have Infrahealth (medical coding and administrative services) and the medical school. But if we want to really increase our revenue and business, we needed to buy a provider. That's why we identified this project (Pontiac General)."
Sanyam $harma said in 2016 the medical school planned to send 50 students a month to the hospital for rotations in family practice, psychiatry, surgery, pain management and radiology, generating up to $80,000 per month for the hospital by 2018.
Earlier this year, the India Times reported that five people were arrested and three sought in Noida for participating in a fake medical school document scam that sold forged records to people seeking to apply at international medical schools. Crain's was unable to reach the Noida police department for comment.
At least one of the alleged participants is a member of the $harma family who owns Pontiac General and one was an employee of St. Martinus, according to the India Times, which cited a police report filed by Noida Officer Rajeev ***** Singh.
Singh and other police raided an office called Sant Martin Administrative Services and arrested five people, including Marut $harma, on several counts of fraud. Three others were being sought, including $anjay $harma, Pontiac General CIO; and Lalit Arora, who was director of admissions of St. Martinus and is listed as the general manager of InfraHealth.
Weiner said the Indian judicial system differs from the U.S. system. "False and damaging statements were made against St. Martinus Administrative Services which operates by the highest standards and with the utmost integrity, helps collect admissions documents to apply to medical school," he said.
"While no criminal charges have been filed, we are confident that this matter will be quickly resolved in our favor," he said.
Noida police accused Sant Martin employees of charging people about $1,600 each for falsified medical school applications for schools mainly in the Netherlands. St. Martinus is based in Curacao, which is a province of the Netherlands.
Officer Singh said in his report that police recovered fake medical certificates, police verification certificates, birth certificates and fake stamps of some doctors and police officials from their possession, the India Times said.
But the breach of contract lawsuit filed by the parents of Varun Chopra, who says he was promised a family medicine residency position if his parents paid Pontiac General $400,000, is one of the more serious accusations against the hospital.
A spokesman for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits residency programs, declined comment about the status of the Pontiac General program. Weiner confirmed the ACGME recently inspected the program several months ago and it was re-accredited. He said the family medicine residency program has always scored high marks under Hemady.
Two sources told Crain's they have since reported the $400,000 payment and other problems with Pontiac General to the ACGME, the NMRP and the Association of American Medical Colleges, which manages ERAS. Crain's contacted the organizations, and none wanted to comment.
What was donation for?
In his deposition, Sanyam $harma was asked why the Chopras would donate money to a for-profit hospital that they had no connection with and had never seen before. Donations are not tax-deductible to for-profit hospitals.
"There are lots of reasons people donate money," he said, adding that one reason is "they want to see the hospital succeed."
Satish Chopra said in court filings he learned of the possibility of paying for a residency slot from Paraminder Minhas, who also lives in Brampton, Ontario. Chopra said Minhas told him he gave the hospital a donation for his two children to enter Pontiac General's residency program. Crain's could not reach Minhas, but a source familiar with the residency program said Minhas' son, Dijot, is a current resident. Minhas' daughter, Gurman, completed her residency in 2016 and is a family practice doctor.
Court documents provided by Pontiac General show that Minhas donated $99,000 on March 29, 2016, and $100,000 on May 1, 2016. During 2016 and 2017, the hospital collected $679,000 in donations in 36 separate payments. The three Chopra donations totaling $400,000 were not listed.
In a sworn affidavit dated March 27, 2017, Minhas acknowledged making a $250,000 donation to the hospital, but he denied that the money was to secure residency spots for his two children. He said he had made three separate payments to the hospital by the end of summer of 2016.
Broder said Chopra was excited about the opportunity to fulfill his dream to become a practicing doctor.
On October 28, 2016, Varun Chopra emailed Hemady, stating in part, "It was very disappointing to hear that I will not be starting my post graduate training at Pontiac General Hospital. Unfortunately, I have only been told through second hand sources that I will not be starting the program."
On Nov. 1, Sanyam $harma wrote a letter to Varun Chopra stating that he "no longer has a relationship with the hospital because he withdrew from the program." In Sanyam's deposition, he said no hospital officials removed him from the program. However, he was told that there was "an unprofessional demeanor about Varun during the observership program."
In a court document filed by Pontiac General attorneys March 27, 2017, hospital officials said that Chopra was a poor resident candidate, late for mandatory meetings and disrespectful to teaching doctors. Despite those criticisms, after Chopra left the program, "the hospital tried repeatedly to get Dr. Chopra to return to the residency program."
While Sanyam $harma said the hospital did not terminate Chopra's residency, the residency agreement both parties signed includes a provision allowing the hospital to terminate the agreement at its discretion if it finds that the resident has failed to fulfill his or her obligations under it.
"Chopra signed a residency agreement, he had an observership agreement and he had a lease," Broder said. "He was planning to complete the residency program" when he was told he was no longer wanted, Broder said.
Shortly after Varun Chopra left Pontiac for Canada on Nov. 2, the Chopras attempted to get a refund of the $400,000, but the Sharmas refused, asserting it was a voluntary donation.
August 31, 2018 01:51 PM
Jay Greene
Crains Business Detroit
The owners of for-profit Pontiac General Hospital allegedly required the parents of medical school graduate Varun Chopra to make $400,000 in payments in exchange for accepting the 31-year-old into the hospital's family medicine residency program during the fall of 2016, according to a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Satish and Poonam Chopra.
Satish Chopra, an architect from Brampton, Ontario, said in court documents that he made the $400,000 payment to Pontiac General officials in three checks on Sept. 19 and Sept 20 because he was told by hospital officials and representatives it was the only way his son, now 33, could gain entrance into the residency program. The parents expressed shock at the demand, but wrote the checks, court records show.
Their lawsuit is one of a number of challenges the hospital and its owners are facing as they deal with an aging building, infrastructure and maintenance problems, charges of employee discrimination, accreditation citations, surprise state health inspections as they invest millions to turn around the hospital.
The hospital's CEO and co-owner, Sanyam $harma, issued a signed residency contract to Chopra the same date as the final check, Sept. 20, a fact that the hospital doesn't dispute. Most unusual, the signed residency agreement also was completed before Chopra had applied to the Electronic Residency Application Service, an established first step that provides a hospital necessary documents to evaluate qualifications of a potential resident.
$harma said in a 2017 deposition that he was told by other hospital officials the $400,000 was a "donation" and not a quid pro quo payment that allowed Chopra to enter the hospital's 16-physician family medicine residency program.
"One was a donation and one was an acceptance into the program," $harma said in his deposition. "They're completely separate."
Several national medical education experts told Crain's they have never heard of a documented case where a hospital charged a medical school graduate a fee to enter a residency program.
While not technically illegal, paying fees for residency slots violates many professional medical standards. To become selected as a resident, student doctors apply early each year through what is called the "Match," which is governed by the National Residency Matching Program. Graduates are selected in March and typically start their residency in June.
Not in dispute is that Chopra was approved for residency by Pontiac General in September after his parents paid $400,000 and was to have started his residency on Nov. 1, 2016, after he secured a J-1 visa and a medical license from the state of Michigan.
Pontiac General spokesman Michael Layne, president of Marx Layne & Co., declined to comment on the Chopra lawsuit.
In the lawsuit filed in 2017 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, the Chopras claim they were instructed to pay the $400,000 to secure the residency position for their son, who had graduated in 2009 from American University of Antigua but was unsuccessful in matching in a U.S. or Canadian hospital residency program for the next seven years.
Andrew Broder, the attorney for the Chopras with Payne Broder & Fossee P.C. of Bingham Farms, said the case has many unusual aspects and difficult to pursue because the Sharmas have been uncooperative, leading District Judge Robert Cleland to cite them for contempt of court.
In his deposition, Sanyam $harma acknowledged that Chopra was admitted to a month-long residency observership program in October before his residency would have begun. Chopra participated in the program in Pontiac from Oct. 3-26. He leased an apartment in a building the hospital owns along with six other residents and 14 medical students.
But at this point, different stories emerge about what happened next. Sanyam $harma said Chopra voluntarily "left" the program. Satish Chopra said Pr1yam $harma, Sanyam's mother and hospital COO, called Poonam Chopra on Oct. 26 to say Varun "was summarily dismissed from the residency program" and must leave, court documents say.
"(Varun) was advised he would not be able to start the residency program" and must leave the country because his J-1 visa sponsorship was being revoked, said Broder, adding that Chopra was not given any more information about why he was being sent home.
Chopra tried for several days while he was at Pontiac General to get residency and hospital officials, including Carol Samson, residency manager, and Nikhil Hemady, M.D., the hospital's program director and chief of staff, to explain why he was being asked to leave. Court documents state he was unsuccessful. On Nov. 2, he left for home in Brampton.
Samson, who has been residency program manager for 20 years, said in a deposition that she was told by Hemady that Chopra would not begin the program Nov. 1 as planned. She confirmed Chopra asked her why he could not begin and she told him she wasn't told and didn't know why. Shortly after, she informed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, which sponsored Chopra's visa, that Chopra would not be entering the program.
"Nothing like this has ever happened," she said in her deposition.
As the lawsuit continues past its 18th month, Cleland reached a major conclusion early on, in June 2017, about key facts of the case.
"It is further ordered as a sanction, and deemed established without further proof, that the donated funds in the amount of $400,000 were in fact an entry fee, and a mandatory component of the terms of the residency agreement, operating as a condition precedent to plaintiff Varun Chopra's entry into defendants' residency program."
In denying a summary judgment request from the Chopras and Sharmas in March, Cleland said what still is in dispute is whether Chopra actually "entered" the residency program. This is because while he was accepted and served a three-week observership pre-residency program, Chopra did not actually begin his residency on Nov. 1, nor did he serve as a resident for "the year" outlined in his contract, Cleland wrote.
On Aug. 29, Cleland issued his latest order denying the hospital's second motion for dismissal. He said Chopra provided "sufficient allegations ... to sustain recovery" of the $400,000 donation. He ordered a conference Sept. 6 between the parties at federal court in Detroit.
Financial turnaround coupled with multiple problems
Pontiac General, legally known as Oakland Physicians Medical Center LLC, has had more than its share of problems over the years as a community hospital.
The hospital has gone through bankruptcy at least four times since it was established in 1910 as a city hospital and twice since 2008. It has gone through such name changes as Oakland Physicians Medical Center, North Oakland Medical Centers, Doctors Hospital of Michigan, Physicians Medical Center, and since 2016 has been called Pontiac General.
In early 2016, Pontiac General emerged from bankruptcy after the Sharmas — CEO Sanyam, COO Pr1yam and $anjay, its chief information officer — acquired a 60 percent interest in the hospital and began making repairs and turning it around. Neurosurgeon Jawad **** owns 25 percent and Surindar Jolly owns 15 percent.
From 2009 to 2015, Pontiac General lost more than $90 million and had gone through several owners. But in 2016 and 2017 under the Sharmas, the hospital has earned net income of $35.3 million on annual revenue that totaled $182 million in 2017, according to Medicare cost reports provided by American Hospital Directory of Louisville.
While Pontiac General is licensed for 306 beds, only 36 are staffed in a medical-surgical unit that averages less than 50 percent occupancy. Two of nine operating rooms are functioning. The hospital also operates a 24/7 urgent care center and a 30-bed adult psychiatric unit that averages more than a 90 percent occupancy.
But two years after emerging from bankruptcy protection, Pontiac General has a whole new set of challenges, including multiple quality, regulatory and accreditation issues — almost all of which it has resolved — based on inspections from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission.
Jack Weiner, director of strategic partnerships for Pontiac General, said in a statement that there are no pending citations from any oversight authority. Repairs to the heating and cooling system will be completed by the end of the year, he said.
"When we bought the building out of bankruptcy in 2016, structural maintenance had been neglected for years," said Weiner, who is the former CEO of St. ****** Oakland Hospital in Pontiac. "Upon acquisition, we made a multimillion-dollar investment and are continuing to invest in repairs, growing the hospital and providing care to our patients."
Still, former nurses, managers and other employees also told Crain's stories of discrimination against Muslim and Arabic workers, lack of nurses to support patient load, not scheduling attending doctors to supervise residents and medical students from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and hiring emergency medical technicians instead of paramedics and nurses during midnight shifts in the urgent care center to save money.
Pontiac General officials denied the practices cited by former employees and said attending doctors are present 24 hours.
Other sources told Crain's about problems in the psychiatric unit where young psychotic patients or those with substance abuse problems are mixed with elderly geriatric patients, creating dangerous situations for patients and staff. Medical screening of patients also is insufficient, leading to poor patient care, sources said.
State health inspectors have documented at least two deaths in the psychiatric unit since the Sharmas have been responsible for the hospital. The first occurred Oct. 9, 2015, shortly after the Sharmas began operating the hospital as a debtor-in-possession, and the second happened on Nov. 22, 2016, after they assumed ownership. Details of the circumstances of the deaths have been redacted from the LARA report for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that Crain's obtained.
Pontiac General denied any psychiatric patients have died at the hospital.
Weiner has told Crain's in previous interviews that patients have never been in danger because of hospital practices.
"As part of our investment, we have hired employees in every department, including skilled medical experts and staff, to serve our patients. Pontiac General Hospital has become the premier hospital for mental health services, providing compassionate and expert care in treating an underserved population," Weiner said.
Last December, three employees filed an EEOC complaint against the hospital, claiming they were discriminated against because of their Arabic ethnicity and Muslim faith. Several other employees quit or were fired because they protested patient care conditions, lack of staffing and alleged disrespect, said four former employees who requested anonymity.
Weiner said two-thirds of the hospital's 295 employees are minorities. "Allegations made by a former employee are untrue and inconsistent with our culture and the values by which we run our business," he said. "We are committed to treating all employees, patients and vendors fairly and with dignity and respect. Discrimination is not tolerated and statements to the contrary are hurtful and damaging."
Hospital officials confirmed the director of nursing and an ICU nurse were fired last summer and several other nurses and employees have resigned for various reasons.
"We are upgrading staff from human resources to dietary, infection control, laboratory, all to improve quality," Weiner said in an interview earlier this year. "We have significant plans to do better."
A nursing manager told Crain's that the decision to do away with clinical nurse administrators who were willing to be advocates for the patients led to the firing of the nursing team in 2017. She said the firings were to silence the employees who were asking for more staff and questioning policies.
Pontiac General officials denied any employee was fired for expressing their opinions.
Weiner said the hospital has increased staff since 2016. However, the hospital has 500 fewer workers than in 2008.
Sources also said nearly all of the hospital's medical coding department have resigned because work is outsourced to a Texas-based company, InfraHealth Group, which is owned by $anjay $harma and uses workers based in India.
Weiner said a small percentage of cases are coded by an outside medical administrative services company in India. He said the hospital has added staff in the medical coding department and denied any staff have left in protest.
Quality inspections show mixed results
Crain's obtained more than 100 pages of state and federal inspection reports through the Freedom of Information Act dating to 2012. Another 100 pages were denied for release. Reviewing the documents, Crain's found that owners before the Sharmas were cited for failure to meet various standards, but some problems continued into early 2018, and some have been fixed.
Inspections by LARA found severe roof damage and inadequate maintenance, water damage in ceilings, stained carpet, lack of proper door seals in the event of a fire and substandard ventilation to prevent infection from spreading.
In 2017, LARA found the hospital had "failed to develop and maintain an active hospital wide infection control program for the prevention, control and investigation of infections." LARA concluded lack of training for an inspection control officer could increase the chances of infections.
In January and March, state inspectors were at the hospital to follow up on new complaints from employees and patients.
LARA spent three days at Pontiac General in January to investigate complaints about burst water pipes and a loss of heat in some patient care areas. Hospital employees told Crain's patients complained, but hospital officials said few patients were affected. LARA said one patient was moved because loss of heat in a unit that dropped the temperature to 62 degrees.
The inspection also found pipes in the ceiling above the cafeteria leaking raw sewage.
Weiner said the roof has been repaired and pipes have been fixed.
However, several other complaints, including lack of telemetry monitoring of patients, psychiatrists holding patients against their will and Medicare fraud were found by LARA to be unsubstantiated.
Over the past year, Pontiac General has spent more than $2 million to upgrade its heating and cooling systems along with improving infection control, Weiner said. The improvements were mandated from an accreditation review last year by the Joint Commission.
Charges in India
In 2010, the $harma family purchased the license of shuttered St. Martinus University Faculty School of Medicine on the Dutch island of Curacao and reopened it in 2011. $anjay $harma is president of the school. It currently is unaccredited but has started the process with the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine, the regional agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education. It is charted by the government of Curacao and recognized by medical education bodies.
Weiner said St. Martinus has about 500 students with a low 2-3 percent dropout rate. He said its match rate to residency programs for students was 66 percent in 2017. Since the school is private and unaccredited, Crain's could not independently verify the data.
In a 2016 interview, Sanyam $harma described the business plans of the family. "We have Infrahealth (medical coding and administrative services) and the medical school. But if we want to really increase our revenue and business, we needed to buy a provider. That's why we identified this project (Pontiac General)."
Sanyam $harma said in 2016 the medical school planned to send 50 students a month to the hospital for rotations in family practice, psychiatry, surgery, pain management and radiology, generating up to $80,000 per month for the hospital by 2018.
Earlier this year, the India Times reported that five people were arrested and three sought in Noida for participating in a fake medical school document scam that sold forged records to people seeking to apply at international medical schools. Crain's was unable to reach the Noida police department for comment.
At least one of the alleged participants is a member of the $harma family who owns Pontiac General and one was an employee of St. Martinus, according to the India Times, which cited a police report filed by Noida Officer Rajeev ***** Singh.
Singh and other police raided an office called Sant Martin Administrative Services and arrested five people, including Marut $harma, on several counts of fraud. Three others were being sought, including $anjay $harma, Pontiac General CIO; and Lalit Arora, who was director of admissions of St. Martinus and is listed as the general manager of InfraHealth.
Weiner said the Indian judicial system differs from the U.S. system. "False and damaging statements were made against St. Martinus Administrative Services which operates by the highest standards and with the utmost integrity, helps collect admissions documents to apply to medical school," he said.
"While no criminal charges have been filed, we are confident that this matter will be quickly resolved in our favor," he said.
Noida police accused Sant Martin employees of charging people about $1,600 each for falsified medical school applications for schools mainly in the Netherlands. St. Martinus is based in Curacao, which is a province of the Netherlands.
Officer Singh said in his report that police recovered fake medical certificates, police verification certificates, birth certificates and fake stamps of some doctors and police officials from their possession, the India Times said.
But the breach of contract lawsuit filed by the parents of Varun Chopra, who says he was promised a family medicine residency position if his parents paid Pontiac General $400,000, is one of the more serious accusations against the hospital.
A spokesman for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits residency programs, declined comment about the status of the Pontiac General program. Weiner confirmed the ACGME recently inspected the program several months ago and it was re-accredited. He said the family medicine residency program has always scored high marks under Hemady.
Two sources told Crain's they have since reported the $400,000 payment and other problems with Pontiac General to the ACGME, the NMRP and the Association of American Medical Colleges, which manages ERAS. Crain's contacted the organizations, and none wanted to comment.
What was donation for?
In his deposition, Sanyam $harma was asked why the Chopras would donate money to a for-profit hospital that they had no connection with and had never seen before. Donations are not tax-deductible to for-profit hospitals.
"There are lots of reasons people donate money," he said, adding that one reason is "they want to see the hospital succeed."
Satish Chopra said in court filings he learned of the possibility of paying for a residency slot from Paraminder Minhas, who also lives in Brampton, Ontario. Chopra said Minhas told him he gave the hospital a donation for his two children to enter Pontiac General's residency program. Crain's could not reach Minhas, but a source familiar with the residency program said Minhas' son, Dijot, is a current resident. Minhas' daughter, Gurman, completed her residency in 2016 and is a family practice doctor.
Court documents provided by Pontiac General show that Minhas donated $99,000 on March 29, 2016, and $100,000 on May 1, 2016. During 2016 and 2017, the hospital collected $679,000 in donations in 36 separate payments. The three Chopra donations totaling $400,000 were not listed.
In a sworn affidavit dated March 27, 2017, Minhas acknowledged making a $250,000 donation to the hospital, but he denied that the money was to secure residency spots for his two children. He said he had made three separate payments to the hospital by the end of summer of 2016.
Broder said Chopra was excited about the opportunity to fulfill his dream to become a practicing doctor.
On October 28, 2016, Varun Chopra emailed Hemady, stating in part, "It was very disappointing to hear that I will not be starting my post graduate training at Pontiac General Hospital. Unfortunately, I have only been told through second hand sources that I will not be starting the program."
On Nov. 1, Sanyam $harma wrote a letter to Varun Chopra stating that he "no longer has a relationship with the hospital because he withdrew from the program." In Sanyam's deposition, he said no hospital officials removed him from the program. However, he was told that there was "an unprofessional demeanor about Varun during the observership program."
In a court document filed by Pontiac General attorneys March 27, 2017, hospital officials said that Chopra was a poor resident candidate, late for mandatory meetings and disrespectful to teaching doctors. Despite those criticisms, after Chopra left the program, "the hospital tried repeatedly to get Dr. Chopra to return to the residency program."
While Sanyam $harma said the hospital did not terminate Chopra's residency, the residency agreement both parties signed includes a provision allowing the hospital to terminate the agreement at its discretion if it finds that the resident has failed to fulfill his or her obligations under it.
"Chopra signed a residency agreement, he had an observership agreement and he had a lease," Broder said. "He was planning to complete the residency program" when he was told he was no longer wanted, Broder said.
Shortly after Varun Chopra left Pontiac for Canada on Nov. 2, the Chopras attempted to get a refund of the $400,000, but the Sharmas refused, asserting it was a voluntary donation.
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Transfer into Clinicals
We are in the process of interviewing applicants seeking transfer admission into clinical rotations.
Please either PM me here is via email: tipton.carlson[at]martinus.edu
Please either PM me here is via email: tipton.carlson[at]martinus.edu
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Your Path to Medicine...
...need not stop.
If you have been academically dismissed from medical school, please let me know. St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine has a long tradition of offering a fresh start for students.
Please email me directly at tipton.carlson[at]martinus.edu so I can help.
If you have been academically dismissed from medical school, please let me know. St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine has a long tradition of offering a fresh start for students.
Please email me directly at tipton.carlson[at]martinus.edu so I can help.
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Fall 2020 Admission
St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine (SMUFOM), housed on the island nation of Curacao, has enabled both virtual and in-classroom instruction to enable our students to continue on their path to becoming physicians.
In consideration of your international options for medical school, please keep in mind that SMUFOM is the only international medical school whose management group owns and operates a hospital in the US: Pontiac General Hospital. Moving all around the US completing clinical rotations has become the norm for students of international medical schools. Our students stay in Michigan.
I look forward to helping you with any questions you may have.
In consideration of your international options for medical school, please keep in mind that SMUFOM is the only international medical school whose management group owns and operates a hospital in the US: Pontiac General Hospital. Moving all around the US completing clinical rotations has become the norm for students of international medical schools. Our students stay in Michigan.
I look forward to helping you with any questions you may have.
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COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update
To Our SMUFOM Family:
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, St. Martinus University has transitioned to online learning. SMUs proprietary student portal, University Management System (UMS), is designed to support and facilitate online learning and has helped to make this a seamless transition for students and faculty alike. During this unprecedented time, SMU Faculty remains focused on teaching courses and helping students continue their learning journey from wherever they may be.
Frequently Asked Questions
To Our SMUFOM Family:
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, St. Martinus University has transitioned to online learning. SMUs proprietary student portal, University Management System (UMS), is designed to support and facilitate online learning and has helped to make this a seamless transition for students and faculty alike. During this unprecedented time, SMU Faculty remains focused on teaching courses and helping students continue their learning journey from wherever they may be.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What internet speed is required for online classes?In order to participate in online classes, you must have access to a stable and adequate internet connection. The network must be at least 1.8 mbps (up/down)
- What can I expect from online classes?Faculty remains committed to providing an excellent educational experience to all the students. Professors continue to integrate new technologies and teaching methodologies in the virtual classroom to support student learning and enhance the academic experience. Lectures are given via Zoom where students and professors are able to interact as they would in the classroom. All course materials are available on UMS, SMUs online portal, for students to access at any time. Quizzes, assignments, and exams are also given through UMS. In addition to the course lectures, faculty is incorporating problem-based learning, small group facilitated presentations, small group assignments, AMBOSS, and 3D anatomy into their courses.
- What happens to the anatomy labs?Students have access and are encouraged to use 3D anatomy during this time of online learning. When students return to campus, the labs will be integrated into the program again and students will be able to participate in those labs.
- What will happen with exams?Maintaining the academic integrity and reliability of the exams is of utmost importance. Some assessments are being given via UMS; however, additional time is needed to finalize the logistics of administering all of the course exams. More information about this will be provided in the near future.
- How accessible are the professors and Administration during this time?Professors are available to have one-on-one meetings via Zoom or WhatsApp with students and are also reachable via email. The Administration is also available to students as normal via email or phone.
- Is the Curaçao campus currently open?No, currently the Curaçao campus is closed to students and staff in accordance with the government regulations.
- What is the latest travel guidance and/or restriction for Curaçao?Currently the Curaçao borders remain closed to all incoming traffic and no one is permitted to enter the country.
- Will COVID-19 affect the start of the Summer semester beginning in August 2020?The Summer semester for the MD program will begin as scheduled on the academic calendar on August 3, 2020. In lieu of the orientation on campus, there will be a virtual orientation conducted for all the students.
- What is the academic plan for the Summer 2020 semester?Currently, the academic plan for the Summer 2020 semester is to begin with online classes. Once the Curaçao campus is able to open again and students are permitted to return to Curaçao, SMU will transition back to in-person classes. Until that time, SMU will continue with online classes.
- How is COVID-19 affecting clinical rotations?Clinical rotations are slowly being re-established at PGH. Currently, rotations in Urgent Care, Internal Medicine, and Psych have been opened at PGH. All federal, hospital, and local regulations are being strictly followed. All clinical rotations students are being trained by the hospitals infectious disease officer and are required to attend an orientation. All clinical rotations students are provided with all proper equipments to minimize risk of exposure.
- How does COVID-19 affect the requirements for the NBME and USMLE Step 1 exams?The requirements are not affected. The deadlines are subject to opening of the prometric testing centers.
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