The Cuban Solution

[redqueen]

Back when Melissa was a premed student at Howard University, studying in the dark was never an issue. But this isn't Washington. This is Cuba, where Melissa, Revery and 95 other Americans are studying medicine in a country that's been an anathema to the United States for almost five decades. Thanks to Fidel Castro, their education is free. But that doesn't mean they aren't paying a price for turning to Cuba in their quest to become doctors. They've given up creature comforts most Americans take for granted, struggled to master hematology and other complicated subjects in a foreign language, and have no guarantees they will get a chance to practice medicine in the United States.

Right now, though, Melissa, 25, and Revery, 26, aren't thinking about any of that. Melissa, a third-year student, says she has to do well on this test because the professor is on her case. Cuban doctors place a premium on basic skills -- interpreting breath sounds from a stethoscope, for instance -- that have been deemphasized in the high-tech world of U.S. medicine. Not long ago during rounds, Melissa's professor exploded at her when he asked for a diagnosis of a patient, and she replied that the lab results weren't back yet.

"Are you planning to become a doctor or a lab analyst?" he growled. "Tell me what you heard and felt and saw."

....

Thompson mentioned that some areas of his district in northwestern Mississippi were woefully underserved by doctors, and he remembers Castro saying: "We would love to help you address some of those inequities. If the Black Caucus can identify students who are willing to come and attend medical school, we make that offer free of charge." Soon afterward, Castro announced he was offering up to 500 scholarships for American students who were committed to serving impoverished U.S. communities but were unable to afford medical school.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071901380_pf.html

[Sammy Pepys]

1. I have little doubt her basic skills will be top notch...

...but she and her peers experience with the kind of medical technology available in the US will probably be somewhat inadequate.

Great, realistic portrait of Cuba though. Things do move a lot slower there. "It's on the way..." is a common phrase :)

[Little Star]

2. Wow! What a great article. Thanks. n/t

[TomClash]

3. The net effect

is a Class War being waged by Miami Cubans and their far right allies in the US Government against African-Americans in Northern Mississippi over the right to basic medical care. It is disgusting. Medical care is a basic human right under Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

[Jeanette in FL]

4. Awesome article

Thanks for posting this. I think Melissa will be one of the best doctors because of her experience and her ability to give back to her community.

What an eye opener about the state of our medical schools here in this country. Rich kids, with one of the parents already a doctor, discussing which are best paying specialties.

[sgxnk]

5. recognition

would a MD from cuba's medical degree program be recognized in the USA?

what's the process? would they have to pass the boards and be accepted, or would there be curriculum review first, or what?

[redqueen]

7. They have to pass the boards...

I think this is a great idea since many areas in this country are underserved by GPs.

It's a long article, but well worth the read.

[sgxnk]

8. sounds reasonable

[malaise]

6. Viva Fidel

Without Cuba our hemisphere would have serious medical problems.

[sgxnk]

9. fidel

is a vicious dictator

sorry. i hate fidel-shilling. but we can agree to disagree

[redqueen]

10. I view this as less about Fidel than about the number of doctors. n/t

[sgxnk]

11. i agree

i have no problem with the program

i have a problem with people who shill for fidel

fidel sux