graduates and underserved communities benefit

Graduates should remember the reason why they chose to become a doctor- to help save the lives of others. Who needs the most help but under-served communities? More medical schools should adopt Cuba’s idea of having graduates work in their community. Most underserved communities lack primary care physicians. I think by having graduates do their initial training in these communities, graduates gain experience and the underserved communities gain a doctor. In the video, Venezuela opposes the idea of having Cuban doctors practicing in their country, stating that Cubans are taking away the opportunity for Hondurans to practice. This is not a valid point because Cubans are not intruding in communities where Hondurans practice- they are practicing where Hondurans are unwilling to practice.

Makes sense to me!

I believe that what the Latin America School of Medicine is doing is inherently good. I believe that this is a great opportunity for graduates to apply what they have learned in the 4 years of schooling. In addition, I feel that in serving under-served communities young doctors are being challenged, equipped, and prepared for future practice. Most importantly, they are making a great contribution to the people of this world and learning the art of compassion.

I do not believe that the opposition makes a valid point because as someone said in the clip, Cuban doctors are going to remote areas of the world where native doctors would probably not go. In addition, I believe that yes a person should have the free-will to practice where he/she wishes to practice, but I think that every trained doctor should regard it as an honor and as their responsibility to serve the under-served.

From a financial standpoint this also makes sense simply because Cuba is providing the resources for students to study medicine. It therefore makes sense that in return students would be assigned to serving an under-served community.

two way trend

It's amazing how peoples dream are met, the opportunity to become doctors in Cuba and also get the opportunity to practice what they are being thought. Helping people as a doctor to me means going an extra mile to save lives, thus this system is not only benefiting from these doctors but also benefiting because they are getting first hand practice with these patients in these remote areas.

Nothing is for free so, if this is how the government in Cuba is handling it health care then good for the Cuba, because its necessary to serve this community. Health care must be universal for all which I totally agree so if the doctors are happy about what they are doing then there is no problem.

Healthy people in a country makes awealthy nation...getting people primary care is essential for the growth of that country. I like what Cuba is doing so far!!

from the community, for the community

The idea to me sounds fantastic and I give the kudos to the Latin America School of Medicine. The philosophy of the medical school appears to be rooted in reaching the underserved within Cuba’s borders and poor communities abroad. From testimonies given by medical student, it appears many students from some of the poor communities are award comprehensive scholarships in exchange for a commitment to return and serve their community. The video made the statement: “The doctors are from the community working for the community.” This is a great example reaching out and training local community members with medical skills, people who already have personal vested interest in particular poor communities who know the unique culture, language, and people personally; medical training is the easy part, the latter cannot be taught in school.

I personally believe the testimony of the young medical doctor who was “required to serve” four months in a poor community and had the following to say: “ … it severely hurt my social life….it [the time spent] cured me of my desire to save the world,” is not a an opposing but a supporting argument. It seems to me the small trade of “a social life, ease and comfort” is a small price in exchange for a free/greatly discounted medical school education. Additionally, I believe the experience within rural and impoverished communities creates an impassioned response from the majority of medical doctors.

In rebuttal to a second argument made in the video, I believe was done sufficiently. Short clips from a Venezuelan protest and of Honduran medical doctors complaining of the presence of Cuban medical doctors taking away opportunity for native doctors was well refuted explaining the Cuban doctors work in rural and poor communities where the native physician’s are unwilling to practice. It would be interesting to know whether the Cuban doctors charge for their services and medicines.

In conclusion, I believe the Latin School of Medicine appears to be following a great philosophy and helping to build within their medical students a heart of gratitude and a heart of service to their local underserved communities and those abroad.

Cuba-niversal!!!!

I definitely think that yes, as a medical student graduating from the Latin American School of Medicine, students should be required to help work with the under served. I think it is fair to say that when you graduate, you have acquired all this knowledge and since, you have been using the resources of Cuba to learn, grow and live during medical school, one should give back to the community. This is also a great way to open your eyes and see a certain part of the world and how their medical needs are and serve them. It might even change your perspectives about what type of doctor you want to be or what type of people or area you want to work in. Being a doctor should not be about making money, even know here in the US and other parts of the world it is...In Cuba, helping the under served is a great thing to do. I am sure the students knew the rules before enrolling in the medical school programs, so its not a surprise that they must complete this after graduating. I enjoyed the part in the video when they said "health care is universal" because I think it should be.

I think it is a good idea to have medical graduates to serve under-served communities within countries or even abroad. Most of underserved population has too few primary care providers and high burden of diseases. They have even greater obstacle to access to basic health care due to vulnerable status such as low-income, uninsured and elderly. Integrating post-medical education to deliver health care to these communities is beneficial for both communities and students. Students have an opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of medical needs while communities can get access to basic primary care from them in return.

It is really great that Cuban medical education tries to reach out beyond its borders to educate and provide care for disadvantaged communities internationally. Cuba is renowned for educating doctors and exporting them where they needed the most. But I was wondering what they are getting back from sending new doctors around the world. Or they just have strong desire to help vulnerable populations throughout the world. One thing different from America is that Cubans see medical care as a right, not as a commodity and to see their own role as one of service for vulnerable.

The Joys of Altruism

I believe that the practice of physicians serving in poor, undeserved communities after medical school is a wonderful, two-fold idea. First, it is obviously great for the community to receive primary care that they aren't receiving. Although, the quality won't be the best from these new naive physicians, but still the people will be receiving care that they wouldn't have received and they'll have a doctor around that they never had.

I think the Hondurans having a problem with the Cuban doctors is ridiculous. I say the crux of the matter is pride. I sense a, "we'll take care of our own people, you take care of yours" mentality. The Cuban doctors are going to places the Honduran doctors aren't. So, thats a good thing, people that aren't getting help are receiving it. The Cuban doctors aren't taking the Honduran's opportunities, they are making their own.

Secondly, serving the poor will also be beneficial to the new doctor. Nearly all doctors become doctors because of an innate desire to help people. From my own personal experience, when one serves in a poor community, this allows much time for introspection. For a doctor to save lives, shouldn't he be sure of his own values, beliefs, and life? Fresh out of medical school, a new doctor's malleable heart will be influenced and motivated in beneficial ways by serving in a poor community. By living with and serving the poor, one is able to understand and experience the joys of altruism.