The purpose of this page is to relate advice from those in terms five and six back to us
             who are still in Grenada.  Read what they have to say, and feel free to write them:
 

       Reid Boyce, term six, and my favorite Grenada EMS partner, submitted:

           "My advice- choose your books carefully. I have three medicine books and Harrison's
                 CD.  The only ones that are useful are the Merck Manual and Harrison's. Do not buy
                 big Katsen. The smaller review book is much more representative to what you are
                 required to know."

       Patrick Greiffenstein, term six Columbian bagpiper, states the following:

           "Don't bring any books from Grenada except a good medical dictionary.  I like to use
                 lots of sources but the notes are very complete and additional resources are readily
                 availible in the library so I find I hardly ever crack open my own books.  Don't count
                 on the book store to supply you your books on time.  If you really want a book, get it
                 in the states and bring it back...but buy the Pharm course syllabus...it's essential.  I
                 highly recommend picking up First Aid for step I if you don't have it already, and a
                 "Pocket Pharmacopia" as it's what you will be using from now on, especially in the
                 wards.  This is a very challenging term but just think of all the dribbling idiots and
                 dolts who have completed it successfully before you and you realize it's entirely within
                 your reach."

       William Duggan, EMC President in the Fall term of 2000, now term six states:

           "For those coming to Grenada - You are a guest in a foreign country so act like that to its
                  citizens.  Join all the clubs, you will have enough time for them all.  Don't let people
                  pursuade you from attending a foreign school.  Stay away from people named
                  Bizzaro.  Get involved with community events.  In other words give back to the people
                  who live in Grenada what you will learn at St. George's."

            "For those going to St. Vincent's -  People should know the drill by now.  People in St.
                 Vincent's are much nicer than those in Grenada.  Get as much out of the hospital visits
                 as you can.  All the physicians are always eager to teach you.  Buy the Merk Manual
                 and Lippincott's Pharmacology (red book).  Those are the only books you need.  And
                 don't bring your path book except for baby Robbins.  First Aid for the USMLE is good
                 too if you want to get a head start for the BSCE or USMLE."

           "Oh and of course....Get a hair cut."

       Marko Bukur, term six, and probably the hardest working MD student I have met here,
            submits the following:

        "In general I have found this to be the most demanding term thus far in my medical
                curriculum.  Not that material is hard, it is the voloume plus all the extra-curriculars
                (hospital, pharm small group, waste of time PD)  don't let the above statement
                discourage you...if you stay focused and caught up, there is no reason why your
                performance should drop this term.  Classes rock cause you are learning to treat,
                instead of ok this is out of whack, but what am I going to do about it...
           Advice that may/may not help learn pathology, if you don't you are up the creek
                for pathophys - about 50-70% is what you have already learned in your path class.
                Take advantage of the professors there.  They are outstanding and really want you to
                succeed.  If you can really master pathology and start thinking in a clinical way, it
                will really reduce the amount of work you have to do for the 14 credits.
           Read your micro/immuno review over the break...why the hell should you?  Cause they
                don't teach you what you need to know in the micro department.  Maybe this
                changed this term, but I doubt it.  Case in point...our ID hotshot from Cornell
                commented "you did have microbiology in Grenada, didn't you?"   Should be self
                explanatory.
           For pharm...really treading new ground here.  However, if you know ANS
                (sympathetics,parasympathetics), receptors (nicotinic, muscarinic, adrenergic, etc),
                signal transduction (2nd messengers, G-protein coupling,etc), math, and
                physiology, you will have a huge jump on the class.  This class is not difficult
                if you are a thinker, if you like to memorize you may be SOL.
           Books...  forget this Cecil's and whatever crap.  Buy Harrison's if you can.  Consider it an
                investment...you will be using it for the rest of your life anyways.  The Merck
                Manual is great as well.  Pharm books are good.  I bought all of them and have used
                them all.  Rest of books you can probably do without.  Fluids and electrolytes in the
                surgical patient is an excellent book.  They hammer this stuff in surgery, so if you
                are considering this as a career you should buy it - even if not it would be excellent to
                have.  FIRST AID IS A MUST.  Your boards are coming and it would not hurt you to
                thumb thru this, plus it is great for pharm.  You should be using this book already
                other books...at your discretion, you should know by now what resources you need at
                your disposal.
           Work on you history taking if you can, this is paramount if you have not figured that
                out already.   Don't be shy about it...the only way to get better is to practice.
            In the hospital don''t be afraid to answer the doctors questions but at the same time
                don't be afraid to admit you don't know the answer.   remeber you are only
                second year's and will not know everything.

           In general this term will well prepare you for your  clinicals and the usmle if you apply
                 yourself.  best  of luck to all of you...

           READ THE DES PACKET PRIOR TO COMING..."

       Kelly Garrett, term six's radiation of beauty,submits the following:

         "Definitely don't bring too much stuff.  I shipped stuff home from Grenada with DHL
                and it was kind of expensive but you can pay by credit card and my box was waiting
                on my porch when I got home.  I thought that the container thing was going to be a
                nightmare - like having to wait forever and not being able to find my stuff.  But, it was
                fine.  The only thing is that the container didn't arrive until after a week of being here
               so come prepared with at least a weeks worth of stuff.  As far as bank, phone,
                transformer, and car go; its the same as Grenada.  Don't really need a car unless you
                like to go out to dinner and you don't like taking taxis.  The bus is a pain I guess but it
                works.  Oh, and you can rent a transformer for the semester from this guy.  He also
                rents TV's and VCR's and blenders and microwaves and coffee makers, etc.
            Yes, there really is a casino but casino night was much better.  The casino only has a
                couple of blackjack tables and slot machines.   No craps tables or anything like that.
            As far classes go, I don't know what Marco is talking about.  This term is challenging
                but if you do well in Path and keep up in Micro most of the stuff is review.  Yes, you
                have forgotten it all but it comes back.  And the classes are well taught because there
                are mostly visiting professors.  The hospital is really great.  If you want to do extra
                rotations (which I think is a good thing to do to prepare for next year) do them early
                in the term before everybody else catches on.  Nothing changes - believe me.  Its a
                new island and a new campus but you still see the same people every single day.
                And you still see the same people that walked into class late in Grenada, walk into
                class late in St. Vincents.  Oh and if you have time (if you don't have time - try to make
                time) do some travelling on the weekend.  This is the last time for a long, long, long
                while that you will be in the Caribbean (I'm sure most of you are saying, "Thank
                God.")  Trust me, take advantage while you still can.  If you want to know about Chris
                Boyes - haven't seen him in two months.  I think he is permanently stuck in front of
                the television.
            Find out before you come down here what kind of kitchen stuff your landlord  has.
               So, you will know what kind of plates, pans, pots, etc to bring from Grenada.  Also,
               the supermarket is worse than FoodFair so be prepared.  And I found a worm in my
               lettuce the other day so beware.  If you have really bad allergies to mold - if you
               thought Old Lecture Hall was bad, the lecture hall in St. Vincent is 100 times worse.
               I hear at least 400 sneezes during each class.  Multiply that by 4 classes a day, thats
              1600 sneezes a morning, so bring your claritin.  As far as the gym goes, there aren't
               any stationary bikes or stairmasters or anything like that but there is an awesome
               aerobics class twice a week at the Prospect Raquent Club."

      Deena Athas, term six's New York connection, submits the following:

           "What to bring?  Path notes, especially Dr. Green's hematology and some kidney stuff.
               Also, passport photos (2). some longsleeve shirts - the lecture hall is chilly. and
               dress clothes/shoes or hospital.
            How to ship?  Do it through SGA (I am biased, OK?) but, its easy, cheap, and organized.
            What about the bank, phone? Scotia bank is a good choice.  My phone is is my
               landlady's name, so i pay her every month.  Most students do that - it saves a trip to>
               C&W.  But i set up the internet acct in my name, which requires you go to town to
               pay it.   I didn't have an acct in grenada, but it seems cheap here (about
               $140EC/month for 50hrs service).
            Do I need a transformer?  Most likely NOT.  Most appts have them provided by
               landlords or past students.
            Where do I get a beer?  I like the scene @ Mariner's Hotel, but students will tell ya
               aquatic club, Dry dock, or lime 'N pub.
            How is the hospital?  Awesome!!  I did my first vaginal/pelvic exam yestreday.  It has
               been a great experience - no complaints here.
            BAD NEWS: no places to rent DVDs (at least i have not found one yet) but there's a cool
               little movie theatre...w/ good movies...and beer...
            What should I do this summer to prepare?? party like a rockstar, and get a chick to take
              you shopping for some fly dress clothes for the hospital."

      Chris Boyes, term six's Prarie Fox gives the following advice:

             "Here's my nickels's worth of advice.  Take advantage of your hospital rotations here and
                practice your history taking and presenting.  The physicians here are very helpful and
                understand that we are only second year students so they don't expect to much from us.
                Many of them are SGU grads so they empathize with our conditions.  However, they do push
                you to think.  As SGU students we aren't as experienced in the clinical setting as our
                colleagues in the States.  I know the history taking and examinations get monotonous but
                that's all you're going to be doing for the next two years.  So practice now so you don't screw
                up later.
            Next, I'm sure you've heard it before but here it is again.  Bring a USMLE First Aid book.  Also,
                I've found the Rapid Interpretation of EKG's by Dubin to be very helpful for Cardio.  Some
                have found the Pathophysiology for the Boards and Wards to be helpful as well.  I would also
                suggest to bring your Micro/Immuno book down.  As Marco stated before, the Micro
                department doesn't really prepare you enough for what you need to know in a clinical
                setting.  This book might be a useful reference.  Another useful reference book is
                Harrison's.  Other books from Grenada are just dead weight.
            Lastly, the professors here are VERY good.  Most of them are MD's, so their topics of
                discussion are more practical and easily applicable to a clinical setting.  It's a nice change
                from the "why the hell are we learning this" we've been use to for the last year and a half.
                So take advantage of what they have to offer.  Also, get your noses out of the books and
                enjoy what many refer to as a Caribbean paradise.  St. Vincent's and the surround islands
                are aesthetically breath taking.  Get out and take advantage of your last four months in the
                Carribean.  It will probably be your last visit down here for many years.  The next time you're
                down here you'll be big pimpin' on your yacht."
 
 

        THANK YOU to all of the above SGU students, who have now finished their terms in St.
             Vincent's, and are making their ways out into the real world of clinical medicine.  Good
             luck to you all on your boards, and have a great time doing your clinicals.  I wish I was
             there with you guys like I should be.
 

Do you have some words of advice that you would like to pass on to other 

            students that you feel could be of assistance to them?  Drop me an email...