Diary of a Caribbean Med Student

Pancakes Every Day

Posted on September 14, 2009March 24, 2011 by Benji Ho

Do you like pancakes? how about 70 of them in one sitting? This video sums up what it is like going to medical school in terms of pancakes. This video is made by St. Louis University medical students who were inspired by a blurb written by Topher, a St. George’s University student. You can read the original story here. Enjoy!… Continue reading

My Review of the White Coat Ceremony

Posted on September 13, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

Overall, I enjoyed and felt guided by the white coat ceremony. It was exuberant seeing the great support we had as AUC students. I saw the significant others, parents, and children of several of my classmates, and for the first time my colleagues were no longer just a familiar face in class but real people with real love and real… Continue reading

White Coat Ceremony Tonight!

Posted on September 11, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

So the white coat ceremony is tonight at 5:15pm! It is my formal induction into the world of medicine, and symbolically a big step for medical students, although it is much easier to attain than say, graduation. For the “first” time, I will be given a white coat, a symbol of professionalism, trust, and compassion. It is a privilege to… Continue reading

Catching Up

Posted on September 11, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

These past few days I’ve just been a bit busy. In the beginning of the semester I thought I would try to read ahead before class, but after two days of doing this, I soon found myself already trying hard to simply “catch up” on my studies. There is just a lot of material. The material is not difficult, like… Continue reading

How’s the Beach Life?

Posted on September 8, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Posterior Tubercles of the Transverse Processes of Vertebrae C1-C4

Posted on September 7, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Anatomy and Rain

Posted on September 5, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Anatomy Joint Movement Movie

Posted on September 3, 2009March 24, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

My Very First Day In Med School!

Posted on September 3, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

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,… Continue reading

AUC Welcome Mixer

Posted on September 2, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Formal Orientation

Posted on September 2, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

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:

Director of Community Services

Associate Dean of Medical Education

Chief Academic Officer

Interim Dean of Basic Sciences

The Accreditation Process of Caribbean Medical Schools

Posted on September 1, 2009April 7, 2019 by Benji Ho

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... Continue reading

Intellectualism and Cupecoy Coast

Posted on September 1, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

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,… Continue reading

Registration Day!!

Posted on August 31, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

AUC Fitness Center

Posted on August 31, 2009April 14, 2015 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Far From “Substandard”

Posted on August 30, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

A Quick Tour of My Dorm

Posted on August 30, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

My First Day In St. Maarten

Posted on August 29, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

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… Continue reading

Hello from Benji, Irene, and Michael!

Posted on August 29, 2009March 24, 2011 by Benji Ho

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.… Continue reading

Flying Over The Caribbean

Posted on August 28, 2009December 15, 2013 by Benji Ho

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! Continue reading