Challenges with Regard to Undergraduate Medical Education in Offshore Caribbean Medical Schools

Abstract

The article examines challenges facing undergraduate medical education at offshore Caribbean medical schools (OMS) with reference to the literature and the authors’ personal experiences. While some of the challenges have been highlighted in the literature, a comprehensive overview of this important issue is lacking. The authors searched the Pubmed and the Google scholar database using the search terms ‘Caribbean medical schools’ and ‘offshore medical schools’. The articles retrieved were critically examined by the authors. The selected articles were used in writing the manuscript. Among the challenges identified were geographical and social isolation, decreased opportunities for faculty development, less emphasis on practical skills and small group learning, greater emphasis on didactic lectures, social accountability and community-based learning, less emphasis on research and publication, problems with clinical teaching facilities, changing accreditation requirements, and climate change. Possible solutions and lessons for educators elsewhere are also mentioned. These challenges require innovative solutions.