By Benji Ho - September 8th, 2009 | Updated February 13th, 2011
It is funny how many of my friends from back home would now greet me with “hey! how’s the beach life?” or some variety of that. Even my dad said goodbye to me with “have fun on your vacation!” It is true. I do live in “paradise” now. But in reality, med school makes me busy enough to forget this…
By Benji Ho - September 7th, 2009 | Updated February 13th, 2011
The posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of vertebrae C1-C4.
That’s the origin of the Levator Scapulae.
And that’s one of the many hundreds of things I am learning already, and have to remember for life. The mindset I have being in medical school is so different from the mindset I had as an undergraduate and post-bacc. When I was…
By Benji Ho - September 5th, 2009 | Updated February 13th, 2011
Today I’ve been studying all day. The bulk of my time is actually spent on catching up on the background details behind the lectures, the stuff I’ve learned during my post-bacc years that I need some brushing up on. Molecular Cell Bio and Histology so far have been mainly review for me, but what is new to me is that…
By Benji Ho - September 3rd, 2009 | Updated March 24th, 2011
While I was reviewing over what we covered in anatomy today, I stumbled upon this video posted by my anatomy professor on Angel. It just made my day!
**READER COMMENTS **
Inica Gunho says:
How educational! I love it! It makes me want to make a video like this too! I’m going to keep watching it and doing it with…
By Benji Ho - September 3rd, 2009 | Updated March 25th, 2011
Today we had our first day of class. After four years of preparing and waiting, this day has finally come. The work has begun and I am at a new beginning.
I am amazed by the diverse backgrounds for my professors. In Molecular Cell Bio I, which is actually an eclectic course of Cell Bio+Genetics+Biochem, we will have four professors,…
By Benji Ho - September 2nd, 2009 | Updated March 25th, 2011
I enjoyed writing on my blog so much that I almost forgot there was a Welcome Mixer at the Rotunda at 6:00pm. So by the time I remembered, it was already a little late. I left at 8:00pm. During the short walk there, I saw my roommate walking back and he said the food was just about gone! Caribbean-style beans…
By Benji Ho - September 2nd, 2009 | Updated November 8th, 2011
Today was formal orientation where the higher officers of the school officially welcomed us. For three hours, they introduced us to the honor code, the school policies, activities and services offered on campus, and general information. Here are some of the speakers today:
By Benji Ho - September 1st, 2009 | Updated July 21st, 2018
I received an email from a friend asking about accreditation of Caribbean medical schools, so I thought it might be helpful if I posted my answer here for anyone who has similar questions...
By Benji Ho - September 1st, 2009 | Updated November 8th, 2011
After the Wellness Workshop, some friends and I went to go explore Cupecoy Beach, less than 10 minutes walk from campus. When we got there, we saw some nude (European) sunbathers on the beach, so we took pictures of the rocky coastline instead! A lot of times I prefer places like this over beaches. A beach isn’t intellectual. The cliffs,…
By Benji Ho - August 31st, 2009 | Updated March 25th, 2011
Orientation Time! This is the time in which I will be trained to become a medical student. Out of all the schools I’ve attended, AUC is by far the most diverse. I am amazed by all the heritages represented in the student body. Just today waiting in line to register, I met a Bahamian guy, a downright Texan, and a…
By Benji Ho - August 31st, 2009 | Updated April 14th, 2015
As aspiring physicians, we are people who should be not only championing health but also keeping up with our own health as well to be a model for our patients. We must practice what we preach. This is especially true in med school when we could get too focused in the books and not allow ourselves a break to move…
By Benji Ho - August 30th, 2009 | Updated February 13th, 2011
Today I met two first semester students who said that AUC is the top choice school they applied to. The guy was definitely not lacking academically. He made a high 36 on his MCAT and he found going to a school like AUC very appealing. He also decided late that he wanted to go to medical school and by applying…
By Benji Ho - August 30th, 2009 | Updated November 8th, 2011
Hello all! Here are some pics from around campus and my dorm. Matriculants can choose whether to live in a single-bedroom suite or a two-bedroom suite during their first semester at AUC. I chose the latter since it was $800 cheaper, and I liked having a roommate. I have my own bedroom and bathroom. Plus, the two-bedroom suites have balconies…
By Benji Ho - August 29th, 2009 | Updated November 8th, 2011
Grand Bahama, San Salvador, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Gorda… As I counted the islands below me, it slowly sunk in me how far away from home I was going. I’ll be away from my loved ones: my friends, my family, and Irene, and I’ll miss the suburban lifestyle I was used to in all its sprawling glory. As the plane…
By Benji Ho - August 29th, 2009 | Updated March 24th, 2011
It’s great. I just leave Skype on and they just leave Skype on and we just continue doing what we need to do. How great of a distance is two worlds apart anymore in this day and age? The portal is open and life goes on on both sides.…
By Benji Ho - August 28th, 2009 | Updated December 15th, 2013
About: We often focus too much on the destinations that we forget the journey is often times the best part, and the sky is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Highlights: When you're flying from the States to St. Maarten, you'll pass by the Bahamas. It's a joy seeing all the different islands below and imagine what it's like living on a tiny dot in the middle of the vast ocean. Remember to have your map out ready!
By Benji Ho - August 26th, 2009 | Updated December 12th, 2011
Earlier yesterday, I received a call from Mr. S of AUC offering any advice or help on any last minute questions I may have had before I head down to the island. I hadn’t had any in particular, so I made one up on the spot. I’d like to commend AUC for having such great communication with matriculants. During these…
By Benji Ho - August 25th, 2009 | Updated February 12th, 2011
Lately I’ve been searching and reading through numerous blogs of Caribbean medical students, from large schools like St. George’s University to smaller ones like St. James School of Medicine. I would like to create a comprehensive list, essentially a “blog library” where prospective students can reference to get a taste of what life is like in each school in the…
By Benji Ho - August 24th, 2009 | Updated February 12th, 2011
I just booked for us to stay at the Royal Palm Beach Resort when my brothers Jason and Justin, my mother, my girlfriend Irene, and her mother come visit. I found a special deal through hotel.com where if we book for 4 nights, the entire stay is half off, so I took it! The hotel looks much nicer than my…
By Benji Ho - August 23rd, 2009 | Updated December 4th, 2012
Only four more days remain before I fly off to the American University of the Caribbean to begin my medical training. The past few days I have been feeling calm and reflective as I trace back the events of the last four years to find a conclusion to yet another chapter in my life. How did I get to where…
My name is Benji Ho and I am a family physician and graduate of the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), located on the Dutch side of the beautiful island of St. Maarten. My time at AUC has been quite a worldwide adventure, studying two years of Basic Sciences on the island, then completing my clinical rotations in the US as well as the UK. I completed my family medicine residency at Mercer University / Navicent Health in Macon, Georgia. Today, I am a board-certified family physician practicing outpatient family medicine in Macon, Georgia. I hope you enjoy my site as I share with you my journey. Thanks for visiting Diary of a Caribbean Med Student!
It is funny how many of my friends from back home would now greet me with “hey! how’s the beach life?” or some variety of that. Even my dad said goodbye to me with “have fun on your vacation!” It is true. I do live in “paradise” now. But in reality, med school makes me busy enough to forget this…
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Benji