Medical Student Guide

This guide was compiled by Kieran Deveaux

(Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Class Of 2K17)

•

Cover Design & Optimization for PDF done by Franco Pencle

(Class Of 2K17)

•

Content Review done by Chinelle Miller

(Class Of 2K21)

rev.0006.2022

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Table of Contents

TITLE PAGE

Table of Contents 2

Welcome Message 3

The Faculty of Medical Sciences Website 4

Student Administrative System (SAS) 5

Course Tips 7

Student Portal 8

The Online Financial Services Website 9

Medical Sibling Program 10

Year 1 Book List 11

Extra Pertinent Information 14

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Welcome Message

Dear student,

Congratulations on your acceptance into the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences at the Mona Campus. We have prepared the following document in order to provide you with an adequate guide to important information and advice you will need before arriving on Campus. The information included covers the following:

• The Faculty of Medical Sciences Website• SAS (to register for classes)• The Student Portal (to access your UWI email address etc.)• The Online Financial Services website (to pay tuition)• Extra Pertinent Information

Also, we include a list of the required and recommended books you will need for the your first year of your undergraduate education in the Faculty of Medical Sciences and an explanation for the Med Brother and Sister program in which you will be enrolled.

We look forward to meeting all of you in September and hope you are ready to join an esteemed learning environment that will not only challenge you mentally but physically and transform you into one of the leading physicians of the 21st century.

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The Faculty of Medical Sciences Website

You can access the website at http://myspot.mona.uwi.edu/fms/

From the Website you can click the Current Students tab followed by the Undergraduate tab. You will see a variety of options under Program Resources and Student Resources and Online Systems.

Program Resources

Depending on your intended course of study, you can click either the MBBS or DDS (Undergraduate Dental Programme) tab. Both of these tabs contain invaluable information for your tenure as a student at UWI. We recommend that you look over the following items before arriving on campus;

• Curriculum Guide• Reading List• Program Handbook• Regulations• Student Resources

Important tabs in this section that you must look over include;

• Registration• Financial Aid• Forms and Documents

For those concerned with obtaining exemptions from various courses, below are two links with the relevant information and forms to be completed. This is applicable to individuals who have either taken the equivalent courses at UWI or already have an undergraduate degree that is similar or exactly like the course you will take for the MBBS/DDS degree. UWI policy states that you can only apply for a class exemption before the start of that class.

• Criteria for Exemption from FD and Medical Sciences' Courses• Exemption Matrix

Online Systems

• Bursary Online Student System (BOSS)• OurVLE• Student Administration System (SAS)

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Student Administrative System: (SAS)

Once you have received your second (conformation) letter of acceptance from the admissions department, you will be advised that you can now register for classes. You should register for BOTH semester 1 AND semester 2 classes at the same time. We recommend that you register before arriving to the campus in order to avoid lengthy lines during the registration process. DO NOT register before August or you will have to re-register. Below is the list of courses for which you will need to register. Please note that you must include ALL seminars, tutorials and labs for a given course in order to register. You will not be allowed to register for a course if all required items are not selected. This form Registration will describe step-by-step how to register for your classes. Feel free to ask your Med Brother/Sister for help in this area.

*You may encounter a problem while registering for certain courses. If by chance you receive amessage that states something to the effect of Pre-requisite score needed OR Error: add seminar, you should request an override for the course so it is manually accepted by an administrator.

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YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1

Course Course Code Seminar/Lecture (M11) Tutorial (T) Lab (B)

Fundamentals of Disease and Treatment

MDSC 1000 YES YES YES

Embryology and Histology MDSC 1103 YES YES

Molecular Medicine MDSC 1104 YES YES YES

Locomoter (Musculoskeletal) System

MDSC 1105 YES YES

Cell Biology MDSC 1201 YES

Introduction to Medical Practice MDSC 1202 YES

Foundation

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

Course Course Code Seminar/Lecture (M11) Tutorial (T) Lab (B)

Cell Biology MDSC 1201 YES YES YES

Introduction to Medical Practice MDSC 1202 YES

Health Care Concepts MDSC 1203 YES YES

Basic Hematology MDSC 1204 YES YES YES

Respiratory System MDSC 1205 YES

YES (2 tutorials Eg.

T01 & T21) YES

Neuroscience 1 MDSC 1206 YES YES YES

(2 labs eg. B01 & B12)

Cardiovascular System MDSC 2103 YES YES

Health and Environment MDSC 2105 YES

Foundation

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Course Tips

COURSE CHALLENGES + TIPS

MDSC 1000 Fundamental of

Disease and Treatment (FDT)

• LOTS of information.• Drug List (recommend to make your own and not rely on

preformed lists as there are errors and extra drugs you will not haveto learn).

MDSC 1103 Embryology +

Histology

• Try to find time to look at slides outside of class time and readingthe histology atlas.

• You must read the atlas for background information. Looking at theslides available from the anatomy department is NECESSARY inorder to do well in the class. These are the same slides that will beon the exam. You should look at them at various magnifications inorder to become familiar with them.

MDSC 1104 Molecular Medicine

• UNDERESTIMATING this class. It may seem as an easy course todo well in but you MUST put in the time to study long before theexam.

• This is one of the easier courses to do well AND fail in if you donot apply yourself. The lectures are more than sufficient to studyfrom to do well in this course.

MDSC 1105 Musculoskeletal

system

• Find time outside of class to go into the lab and either dissect orlook at dissections to properly orient yourself and familiariseyourself with the muscles, bones, and vasculature.

• Go to the lab EARLY and FREQUENTLY during the semester. Itis not enough to simply memorize what is in either Last or Grey’s,you must become sufficiently acquainted with the specimens in laband identify various components with ease in order to prepare forthe practical exam.

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The Student Portal

https://mymona.uwi.edu/group/mycampus/home

Username: ID number

Password: yyyy/mm/dd (unless you have changed your password)

Click the Home tab and you will see a QuickLaunch Navigation area. Here you will see various icons that will provide access to several important areas.

Launch Pad

UWI student email address: You will be communicated through this email address ONLY concerning academic information. You can only contact other UWI professors/administrators through this address and NOT your personal email address (Check Daily)

OURVLE: to view the courses you are registered for and any materials professors may upload such as lectures (Check Daily)

Password Self-Service: In the event you need to change your password. If you keep your password as yyyy/mm/dd, it is valid for 3months. After this 3 month period you will have to contact MITS or use this service for them to reactivate your password.

SAS: Access to Student Administrative Services website

BOSS: Bursary Online Student Services website where you can pay tuition

Academics

You can see grades under the Academics tab and tuition balance under the Finances tab

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The Online Financial Services website http://apps.mona.uwi.edu/bursary/account/students/payments.php

The beginning of the semester comes with extremely long lines at the bursar’s office. We recommend paying bills online through a debit or credit card. This can be done by following this link: https://eservices.mona.uwi.edu/finserv/tuition/. Tuition can also be paid at any NCB branch. Persons unable to pay in full at the start of the semester should contact the bursar’s office about a possible payment plan. If you have not paid for the semester before exams you will be unregistered from the program and unable to sit exams. For those living on campus in the various dormitories, it is expected that you provide payment before residing on hall. If you have not paid for room and board before arriving on hall, you will be asked to provide payment once you arrive and before you can be assigned a room. There are certain things that you will need to go to the bursar’s office for and pay in person. These include;

• Student ID• Extension of stay visa payable to the International students office

You will need to pay these in person so you can present a receipt that shows what the funds have been allocated towards.

You MUST sort out your student loans very early. Submit any student loan material to the proper UWI offices. While it may take time for your payment to be received by UWI, once all of your documents have been submitted you will remained registered for course. This is particularly pertinent for mid-semester exams. If you have not paid tuition in full before mid-semesters, you will be unregistered from the program and unable to take any exams.

The same goes for students from contributing countries that are receiving the subvention from their country. You MUST pay your portion of tuition even if your country’s government has not submitted their portion. Your country will submit a list of names to the University listing the students receiving funds and once this is done, those funds will be added to your account. This will NOT happen until a few weeks after classes have begun so it is YOUR responsibility to know what percentage of tuition/room and board etc. you will owe the University once your government has included its funds.

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Medical Sibling Program

This is a program in which each incoming student will be enrolled. You will be assigned a student in the medical class preceding yours to help with the transition into medical school life. Your Med Brother/Sister will also take part in your Pinning Ceremony which is a function organised by the Medical school class preceding yours. It is a simple ceremony where you are formally inducted as a medical student by the placement of your Medical school pin (the pin will be worn once you commence rotations at the hospital.

You can also request who you would like your Med Brother/Sister to be. If you are certain that you will attend the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medicine please navigate to your class’ landing page at: http://mbbsdds2K21.org/2K22. Your landing page becomes available on the first day of medical sciences orientation.

In order to receive the medical sibling of your choice you will be required to fill out the medical sciences registry. It is however, not a guarantee that you will receive that person.

Questions for your Med Brother/Sister

Which residence hall do you recommend based on your needs?

Residence Hall initiation. What is this and what does it entail?

Why can you not be let back on hall for not participating in sufficient activities?

What you can start reading in the summer?

What the dress code is?

E-books?

Campus Activities

Study Tips

How to use the Library

How to obtain your student ID card

Where to eat on campus

Inquire about the different courses

How to prepare for labs and tutorials

Any other information that can help you through medical school? Eg. Recording lectures/labs?

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Year 1 Book List

The books that are highlighted in yellow are those that are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY within the first few weeks of classes starting. The others are also important, but if funds are an issue, acquiring them can be delayed.. Your Med Brother/Sister, once assigned, can also provide you with E-Books (electronic copies) that you can also use in addition/substitution to hard-copies of the books.

The UWI bookstore prices for the books are listed below. These books tend to be very pricy. You can determine whether you would rather purchase the books from the UWI bookstore and not worry about international transportation or even purchasing the E-Books from the University. Second hand books can also be purchased from other students at a discounted price. Several of these books can also be found at the UTECH bookstore.

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1 Course Name Course

Code Required Books Recommended Books

Fundamentals of Disease &

Treatment

Either Robbins pathology book is an EXCELLENT resource.

The required text is significantly larger but will be useful in

future years. The Basic Pathology book provides easier

language to comprehend.

MDSC 1000

• Robbins & CotranPathologic Basis ofDisease: (Robbins Pathology) Vinay Kumar, et al

• Rang & Dale’sPharmacology,Humphrey P. Rang etal

• OR Basic andClinicalPharmacology,Bertram Katzung et al

• Review of Medical Mirobiology and Immunology, Warren Levinson

• Robbins Basic Pathology,Vinay Kumar MBBS MDFRCPath et al (excellent studentresource with simplerexplanations compared to therequired Robbins Pathologytext)

Introduction to Molecular Medicine

MDSC 1104

• Lectures and tutorials

• Human Genetics: Conceptsand Applications, Ricki Lewis,

• Molecular Biotechnology,Principles and Applications ofRecombinant DNA. Bernard R.Glick and Jack J. Pasternak

Embryology & Histology MDSC 1103

• Langman’s MedicalEmbryology, ThomasW. Sadler PhD

• OR The DevelopingHuman, ClinicallyOrientedEmbryology, Mooreand Persaud, SaundersCo.

• Notes on HumanAnatomy, T.L. The,Section of Anatomy,Mona, Jamaica

• Biochemistry (Lippincott’sIllustrated Review Series),Richard A. Harvey PhD, DeniseR. Ferrier

• Study Guide and ReviewManual of HumanEmbryology, Moore andPersaud, Saunders Co.

The Locomotor MDSC • Last’s Anatomy – • Cunningham’s Textbook of

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(Musculoskeletal) System

You WILL need either • Last + Netter’s

Last does not provide any pictures so Netters is an

excellent companion • Grey’s

Provides detail and pictures (not real). A very good text for a

student. Netters can also be used in accompaniment for real

pictures of muscles and limbs if you are not satisfied with Gray’s

alone • Or all 3 texts

1105 Regional and Applied. C.S. Sinnatamby

• Atlas of HumanAnatomy, Frank H.Netter MD

• Gray’s Anatomy forStudents, Richard L.Drake et al (this is agreat tool and a lotmore organised andless verbose thanLast). This should beused inCONJUNCTION withLast.

• Notes on HumanAnatomy, T.L. The,Section of Anatomy,Mona, Jamaica

Anatomy, Oxford Press (This is NECESSARY for learning how to dissect a cadaver. It is not required, however for a better understanding and your benefit in anatomy it is recommended. There are 3 books in total (Head, neck and Brain, thorax and abdomen, Upper and lower limb)

• Color Atlas of Anatomy: APhotographic Study of theHuman Body, Johannes W.Rohen et al

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2 Course Name Course

Code Required Books Recommended Books

Cell Biology

(Year long course)

MDSC 1201

• Biochemistry (Lippincott’sIllustrated Review Series),Richard A. Harvey PhD,Denise R. Ferrier

• Textbook of Biochemistrywith clinical correlations,Thomas Devlin, Wiley Brock

• Molecular Cell Biology,Lodish et al., ScientificAmerican Books.

• Biochemistry by Diagrams,E.Y. St. A. Morrison

• Clinical Chemistry inDiagnosis and Treatment,Zilva and Pannal, Lloyd-Luke

Introduction to Medical Practice 1

(Year long course)

MDSC 1202

• Lectures and tutorials • Brady Pre hospital Emergency Care, Minstorich, Hafen andKarren.

• Brady Emergency Care,O’Keefe, Limmer et al

The Respiratory

System

MDSC1205 • Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, John E. Hall PhD (A very versatile book that you WILL use for system based learning in years 1-3)

• Notes on Human Anatomy,T.L. The, Section of Anatomy,Mona, Jamaica

• Review of Medical Physiology, W. Ganong

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• Last’s Anatomy – Regionaland Applied. C.S.Sinnatamby

• Gray’s Anatomy forStudents, Richard L. Drake etal (this is a great tool and a lotmore organised and lessverbose than Last). Thisshould be used inCONJUNCTION with Last.

Haematology-Basic

MDSC 1204

• Essential Haematology, Victor Hoffbrand, Paul Petit

Neuroscience 1 MDSC 1206

• Guyton and Hall Textbookof Medical Physiology, JohnE. Hall PhD (A very versatilebook that you WILL use forsystem based learning in years1-3)

• Robbins & Cotran PathologicBasis of Disease: (RobbinsPathology) Vinay Kumar, et al

• Rang & Dale’sPharmacology, Humphrey P.Rang et al

• OR Basic and ClinicalPharmacology, BertramKatzung et al

•

• Review of Medical Physiology, W. Ganong

• Robbins Basic Pathology,Vinay Kumar MBBS MDFRCPath et al (excellentstudent resource with simplerexplanations compared to therequired Robbins Pathologytext)

Health Care Concepts

MDSC 1203

• Lectures and tutorials • Planning, Implementing andEvaluation Health Promotion Programs.” McKenzie, James F. andSmeltzer, Jan L; Allyn andBacon

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Extra Pertinent Information

Linking your personal email address with your UWI email address

Do recall that after receiving your acceptance letter to attend UWI, you will no longer be contacted via your personal email address. All further communication will be done through your UWI email address. Also, any communication with UWI staff should be carried out via your UWI email address. If you do not, you will not receive a response. In order to reduce the hassle of logging into the student portal each time to access your email address, there are two simple steps you have to take to link your personal and school email address.

1. Forwarding your UWI emails to your personal address.

a. Access your email account via the student portal as described in earlier portions of this documentb. Select the options tab in the top right-hand corner. A drop menu will appearc. Select more options

d. Select Forward your email from the link on the right-hand side of the screen

e. Enter your personal email address for your UWI emails to be forwarded to.

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f. Select save

2. Sending emails from your personal email address as your UWI address

Generally you are able to enter information to both send and receive emails as another email address from your personal email account; however you cannot do this for your UWI address. You must first have your UWI emails forwarded to your personal address and then set up (from your personal account) being able to send emails as your UWI address. I have attached 3 links that will show you how to do this for the three main email accounts people usually have; Gmail, Hotmail and Ymail.

Gmail: http://www.ehow.com/how_2065553_use-gmail-address-send-messages.html

Hotmail: https://uhhelpdesk.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/8456/0/filename/Send+From+Hotmail+as+UH+Alias.pdf

Ymail: http://help.yahoo.com/qe/uk/tutorials/mmail/mm_accessother4.html

Arriving in Jamaica

For those international students arriving in Jamaica that need transportation to the University, an email is usually sent by the lodgings office advising you of a shuttle service they have for first year students. In order to secure a spot on the shuttle, you must call the lodgings at 876-702-3493 and provide them with:

1. Your Name2. Student ID #3. Date and time of arrival to Jamaica4. Residence Hall you have been assigned

It tends to take a while for your Hall of residence to be assigned. You must also submit a Hall of residence application form; however this form is released very late. I advise you to download the form from the previous year and write-in the current year (2017-2018) and submit this form.

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