St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its first-ever class the end of August, as new and returning students began the fall term at the medical school.
Of the initial 20 veterinary students, one is Caymanian and the rest are from the US and Canada. Anne Lichtenwalner, dean of the school, is pleased with the group and looking forward to the first year.
She added that the students are still adjusting to life in Cayman.
‘We are looking out for the students. Some are going through culture shock, some are going through weather shock.
‘Some are older, with most having worked as veterinary technicians before.
‘We’re delighted with how they are doing,’ she said.
The school attracted its first class through advertising at various conferences and sending outreach letters announcing the opening of the school to veterinarians practising in the US, she explained.
‘I’ve told the students, ‘You are the charter class. It’s an adventure, an opportunity. At the start, it’s going to be more difficult but it will be easier later on, and it will be exciting,’ Ms Lichtenwalner said.
The teacher-to-student ratio is excellent, with the three faculty that are on staff now, she explained. With each new class every semester, the school will be adding faculty, until there is a full complement of 22 professors by the end of the seventh semester.
‘I hope we don’t grow too fast, we want to make sure to give the students what they need,’ she said.
Ms Lichtenwalner worked as a veterinarian in Cayman, from 2000-2003, at what was then Cayman Veterinary Associates. Most recently, she practised in Oregon.
‘It’s really been exciting to come back to Cayman in a different capacity with the opportunity to do something on a bigger scale on the island. Hopefully, the students will be able to contribute something to the community while at school here,’ she said.
The vet students join 180 first-year and 20 transfer medical students (from other schools in the Caribbean). The entire student body totals about 500.
At the moment, the two schools are sharing the same building, but the vet school will move into an adjacent facility as soon as possible, according to Ms Lichtenwalner.
Vet school plans
Michael Harris, president and CEO of St. Matthew’s University outlined the plan for the vet school.
‘We are in the process of purchasing 10 to 15 acres in rural Cayman. As soon as we can make final arrangements, we can proceed with breaking ground.
‘We plan to move into the permanent facility by January ’07,’ he said.
Ms Lichtenwalner explained that they are looking to create a farm-type setting. ‘We will be building a facility that will allow us to have our own animals for teaching purposes,’ she said.
Mr. Harris added that the Department of Agriculture will be cooperating with the new school based on discussions he has had with Chief Agriculture and Veterinary Officer Dr. Alfred Benjamin.
‘Dr. Benjamin has expressed a desire to work with the veterinary school, for example the new slaughter house may provide anatomical specimens,’ he said.
Mr. Harris is optimistic about the vet school expanding.
‘We already have 30 or 40 students interested in joining in January. Each class will be larger as the school’s reputation grows,’ he said.
Mr. Harris expects additional dormitory space to become available by mid-October when the former Indies Suites will have been converted into the school’s Residence Suites.
The move to start a vet school seemed quite natural to Mr. Harris.
‘My brother is a vet and I’ve observed him through the years and his dedication to the field of veterinary medicine. And there’s quite an overlap between the teaching of veterinary students and medical students.
‘St. Matthew’s University had the basic foundation – the library, IT, administration and financial aid – without a tremendous amount of new technology necessary. The transition has been relatively easy. One of our best assets is our reputation,’ he said.
Harvard connection
Mr. Harris added that St. Matthew’s just signed a strategic association with Harvard Medical School to participate in joint projects throughout a three-year period.
‘We are also talking with representatives of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (the teaching hospital for Harvard) to open a hyperbaric research centre in the Cayman Islands,’ he said, adding that he might be signing the agreement soon.
Hyperbaric chambers are used in wound healing and for poor circulation, in addition to treating dive-related injuries, he explained.
The medical school also has an ongoing relationship with Cayman Islands Hospital for fourth and fifth semester students.
‘We have an agreement with Cayman Islands Hospital that allows our students to participate in what we call a shadowing programme where the students interact with the doctors on staff and observe their treatment of patients,’ Mr. Harris said.
Computer upgrades
St. Matthews has also upgraded its computer system, as part of the rebuilding efforts post-Hurricane Ivan, according to Steven Durksen, associate director of medical information technology at St. Matthew’s.
‘The only blessing from Ivan was to be able to get all new equipment. We have now come up with a system even better than before,’ he said.
Mr. Durksen explained some of the advantages of the system, which requires each student to have a laptop.
The day before each class, lectures will be posted online. The students can then download the PowerPoint presentations, bring them to class and add notes to them directly onto their computers.
‘Professors can create on-line classes. All material can be posted online. And we have a wireless campus. Students can access information from anywhere with their user ID and password.
‘A lot of universities and colleges in the US are going this way. We’re trying to be on the cutting edge of information technology among Caribbean as well as North American medical schools,’ Mr. Durksen said.
With all this new technology, the faculty is determined not to lose sight of each individual student. Stephen Heller is the Dean of Student Affairs as well as an associate professor of psychiatry. His job is to support the students.
‘I work with students and assist them if a personal issue or difficulty is interfering with their academic success. I serve as a liaison between the students and the administration,’ he said.
Mr. Harris believes that St. Matthew’s has all the tools necessary to ensure that academic success.
‘If you want to be a centre of excellence – which St. Matthew’s strives for – you have to offer cutting edge technology along with high standards of faculty and quality facilities,’ he said.
Mr. Harris, who was a practising obstetrician/gynaecologist for 21 years, is enjoying this new phase of his career.
‘My greatest satisfaction was dealing with patients, but now I get as much satisfaction graduating new doctors as I did delivering babies. I feel blessed to be a part of this process,’ he said.
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