Clinical Medicine
Semesters 6-10 of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program
The Clinical Medicine curriculum at Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) takes place over the second half of the 4-year MD program – it includes an 8-week research module and 72 weeks of clinical rotations in North America.
Clinical Rotations
For clinical rotations, successful students will leave the Basic Science campus on the island of Saba and join students from other schools at teaching hospitals in the United States (core and electives) and Canada (select electives).
SUSOM carefully manages the Clinical Medicine program to ensure that there are enough rotation positions available so that our students can complete their clinical semesters without undue delays. During these clinical rotations (clerkships), students work directly with physicians and hospital staff, conducting physical examinations, taking histories, presenting cases, analysing lab reports and attending workshops, conferences and grand rounds. The on-site experience is supplemented by additional case studies and associated assignments from the SUSOM team.
Clinical Medicine Curriculum
Research Module
As part of the Clinical Medicine curriculum, students will undertake the Research: Literature Review and Analysis (RLRA) module, which is first introduced near the end of the Basic Science program (semesters 1-5).
The RLRA challenges students to refine research questions, create advanced database searches, critically evaluate scientific and medical evidence, and develop research manuscripts in a scholarly format. Students work closely with a dedicated faculty advisor who provides guidance and support, and the medical librarian who helps them develop appropriate and impactful search strategies.
This structured training helps ensure that MD program students become effective researchers and research evaluators, which will help them stay current as practitioners throughout their future careers as medical doctors.
Core Rotations
Successful MD program participants undertake 42 weeks of core rotations in five foundational medical specialties (see below). Core rotations are conducted at associated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the United States (including ACGME-approved locations).
Students build on skills acquired in physical diagnosis to include the completion of a thorough history and physical examination of primarily adult patients.
Students will be part of the clinical management team and given responsibilities for certain aspects of direct patient care under the close supervision of a preceptor. Students will have clerkship experiences in both inpatient and ambulatory care settings.
Lectures will include the management of commonly encountered disease processes as well as an introduction to the use of diagnostic procedures. Students will be given direct assignments for research and expected to present them at clinical conferences.
Students will be introduced to disease processes that require various levels of surgical intervention. Initially, students will be taught the policies and procedures of the operating room including scrubbing and the maintaining of sterile technique.
They will have opportunities to do pre-surgical histories and physical examinations. Opportunities will be provided for the direct practice of simple procedures such as suturing, debridement, and wound care.
Students will be able to observe and assist during various procedures in the operating room and participate in the follow-up and treatment of post-surgical patients in the hospital and in ambulatory practice settings.
Students will be introduced to the normal course of pregnancy including pre-natal care, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period.
Students will be taught the fundamentals of a proper obstetric and gynecologic history and examination. Observation and participation in a number of live births will be provided. Students will also have lectures and direct experience with various disease processes and complications of pregnancy and delivery.
Students will learn the fundamentals of family planning and dealing with patients with sexually transmitted diseases.
This clinical rotation introduces the student to the challenging medical treatment of infants, children, and adolescents. Students will initially learn to take histories and perform physical examinations on infants and children in inpatient and outpatient clinic settings.
The diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses will be emphasized but the student will have an opportunity to learn about the more rare congenital as well as acquired disorders.
In a primarily institutional setting, the student will learn about major psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, and affective and anxiety disorders. Special emphasis will be placed on the difference between organic and functional mental illnesses through taking a proper psychiatric history and performing a mental status examination.
Students will be instructed in the judicious use of major classes of psychotropic medications.
Elective Rotations
After successfully completing their core rotations, MD program participants must then complete at least 30 weeks of elective rotations. Elective rotations can be completed in the U.S. and Canada.
Our students have completed elective clinical rotations at over 300 sites and developed abilities related to professionalism, reliability and effective care. These skills provide the foundation needed to develop a successful career as a practicing physician.
Please note, all students must complete four weeks of a Primary Care Elective. Additionally, students who plan to practice in California or Texas must take four weeks of Family Medicine in a hospital that has an appropriately credentialed residency training program.
Highly recommended electives include:
- Cardiology
- Family Medicine
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Anesthesiology
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Neurology
- Pathology
- Plastic Surgery
- Radiology
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery
USMLE Step 2 CK
USMLE Step 2 Preparation
The USMLE Step 2 is part of a similar format to USMLE Step 1 in that the exam tests for clinical understanding of medical theory applied in a clinical setting. It uses the multiple-choice examination format to test clinical knowledge. During your core clinical rotations, you will consolidate your medical knowledge, which will help you score highly on the USMLE Step 2. The clinical rotations will expose you to casework, exams, and preceptor feedback, all of which will contribute to preparing you for the USMLE Step 2.
In order to receive school approval to take the USMLE Step 2 CK exam, students are required to demonstrate proficiency by achieving a satisfactory score on a comprehensive exam covering the Clinical Medicine curriculum, such as the Comprehensive Clinical Science Exam (CCSE) and/or another exam.
Importance of USMLE Step 2 Exam
The USMLE Step 2 exam is important for securing your preferred residency placement. In order to acquire your medical license, you’ll need to have passed USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2. Passing both exams is also a requirement for graduation. Among many of the factors that a residency program will consider in its applicants, performance on all licensing exams is the first consideration. Criteria that will be reviewed include how many attempts at passing were needed on the USMLE 1 and 2 and the score on USMLE Step 2. Therefore, you should select a medical program that will do an exceptional job preparing you for these exams. Over the last three years, Saba students have achieved 98% USMLE Step 11 and 99% USMLE Step 2 CK2 first-time pass rates.
1. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time in calendar year 2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 1 exam, the student must successfully complete the Basic Sciences curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.
2. First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time in calendar year 2024. In order to sit for the USMLE Step 2 CK exam, the student must successfully complete the Clinical Medicine curriculum and such other prerequisites as the school may establish at its discretion.
Hospital Affiliations
Saba University School of Medicine has extensive relationships with ACGME-approved teaching hospitals throughout the United States, and university affiliated hospitals in Canada. The following are the major ACGME-approved teaching hospitals in the United States where Saba students regularly do their core rotations. In addition, over the two years, Saba students have completed elective clinical rotations at over 300 sites.
California
Mission Community Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
Connecticut
Bridgeport Hospital – Member of Yale New Haven Health System
Bridgeport
St. Mary’s Hospital – Member of Trinity Health
Waterbury
District of Columbia
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
Southeast Washington
Florida
Community Health of South Florida
Miami
Holy Cross Health
Fort Lauderdale
Larkin Community Hospital
South Miami
Manatee Memorial Hospital
Bradenton
Miami Rescue Mission Clinic
Miami
Louisiana
Brentwood Hospital
Shreveport
Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center – Affiliate of Ochsner Health System
Louisiana
Maryland
Ascension St. Agnes
Baltimore
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
Parole
Spring Grove Hospital Center – Owned and operated by the State of Maryland
Catonsville
Missouri
St. Luke’s Hospital
Kansas
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital
Jefferson City
New York
One Brooklyn Health
Brooklyn
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
Brooklyn
Ohio
The Jewish Hospital – Member of Mercy Health
Cincinnati
Virginia
Northern Virginia Mental Institute
Fairfax County
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Alumni Testimonials
Dhanjit Litt, MD, FRCPC
Class of 2011
General Internist
Program Chief and Medical Director
Ontario, Canada
Maitri Makwana, MD
Class of 2024
Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Missouri, United States
Pouria Sadeghi, MD
Class of 2012
Family Medicine Physician
CEO and Founder of Canada Clinics
Ontario, Canada
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