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Friday, 30 December 2016
Caribbean Medical School: Fastest Way to Be a Doctor?
Caribbean medical schools have long been the butt of jokes but their graduates are the ones having the last laugh. There are thousands of licensed physicians from Caribbean schools practicing all across the country. Over 25% of all doctors in the US are from international schools. Do you know where your primary care physician went to medical school? This is the field where Caribbean graduates are expected to dominate with a large percentage of graduates training in Internal and Family Medicine. They are expected to fill a nationwide shortage that is currently occupied by Physicians Assistants and Nurse Practitioners.
Picture this. A 17 year old high school graduate enrolls in a pre-medical program at a Caribbean university. Schools will automatically accept students to their medical programs as long as they maintain a certain GPA in the pre-program. This means there is no need to take the MCAT so you can save yourself the headaches from preparing for that. The program is completed in 2 years and the student enrolls in the first year of the medical degree program at 19 years old.
Numerous Caribbean schools offer an accelerated curriculum that divide the year into trimesters. Students attend school year round and are able to complete their M.D. in less than 36 months. Not to mention you only spend 18 months studying on the island. The clinical years are spent training alongside American medical student at hospitals in the US. St. George’s medical school has hospital affiliations that match any US school. Our fictional student graduates with his Doctorate in Medicine at the ripe age of 22 (going on 23).
Our new graduate is eligible to practice in any state in the country as long as he attended one of the “Big 4” Caribbean medical schools (St. George’s University, Saba University, Ross University and American University of the Caribbean). Internal Medicine residencies last 3 years so we have a residency trained physician ready for board exams, licenses and employment at a mere 25 years old. Not quite Doogie Howser but it’s impressive to say the least.
This accelerated path also benefits those seeking a new career or chasing their dream of being a doctor. Time is of the essence and wasting summers off in the traditional semester system is not time well spent. Caribbean medical schools are littered with nurses, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors and many other health care practitioners. Many schools offer several different entrance times during the year giving flexibility for students who want to begin their medical education immediately.
There is risk involved in attending a medical school overseas but there have been thousands who have blazed the trail before you and set the precedent. Caribbean medical schools produce capable physicians and fill an integral need in the health care system of the US.
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New Year’s Resolution: Home a Cat
Any of us can help a cat find a home.
This is Oscar, on his first night in his new home with a friend of mine. I think they are both wonderful.
awareness
Oscar’s new person had become a Cat Appreciator. In the years to come, he would marry a fellow Cat Appreciator, and last year they had a baby daughter who is growing up with cats. Our chats, and reading the blog, brought him to this happy point.
My friend had grown up with dogs. But my stories about my cats intrigued him. Several times he would respond with, “Cats really do that?”
As humans, we can only do what our mind considers possible.
When he opened his mind to see cats in a new way, this transformed the way he thought about cats. This let him laugh at my cat stories, and ask me to accompany him to the shelter. It took a couple of trips to find the right cat, but I didn’t mind. This was all part of the learning process.
I was thrilled that he was taking my cat advice so seriously. He wanted to “feel the connection.”
flexibility
My friend also appreciated the cat’s self-maintenance abilities. Knowing his cat could take care of themselves during a long day gives a pet person wonderful peace of mind. Keeping up with a dog’s high demand for exercise was not always possible, and combining the usual housebreaking training with his job would have been a challenge.
He was astonished that cats arrive already trained. Yet another advantage.
Part of opening our mind to cat possibilities is recognizing that cats come in wide varieties. Our prejudices about cats are depriving us of what cats are truly like. There’s a cat to fit most any personality or home situation.
It doesn’t have to be a kitten. It can be a cat who is a year or two old. They’re still that cute inside. They might have entered the shelter at the age Oscar was when adopted.
It could be a lovely adult cat, in their prime, who lost the only home they knew. Just waiting to pour all that wisdom and personality onto someone who would appreciate them.
Perhaps we, or they, might consider an older cat who would suit our needs for quiet companionship.
Another revelation that startles many people is the Cat Types. We can have a cat who is like a dog, or have the lively curiosity of a monkey, or the soft and easy affection of a rabbit… all while being a cat.
Of course, to bring out the best qualities of our cat, I recommend Way of Cats methods.
Another advantage I have is that I explain it is my methods which create happy cats, and happy people. This lets them file their previous experience under Doing It Rong, and helps them change their minds.
transformation
Mr WayofCats has started featuring local cats, especially from our favorite shelter, on his Facebook page. Just part of what we can do to help a cat find a home. We never know when a furry little face will touch a chord in someone else.
Another key element in the Way of Cats is recognizing their social qualities, and the incredible fun of Cat Civilization. Remove the stigma of multiple cats, and give more cats homes; and more people the joy of watching cats work together.
This is one of my favorite parts of Catdom which cannot be experienced with one cat. So I advise people to start with the power of Cat Social Units. Two cats weigh less, and are less trouble, than a typical dog acquisition; and still less work, too. It is an excellent foundation for a future Cat Civilization.
This is how we can change the world. One mind at a time. There are plenty of people out there who are not considering a cat as a pet; and maybe they should. We can help.
Because, as Ernest Hemingway liked to say:
One cat leads to another.
Listen to me discuss cats I found on Petfinder during one of my podcasts.
Send people to my page on How to Choose the Right Cat. There’s a fun quiz there!
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What the Experts Don’t What You to Know About Flea Elimination
My 3 proven steps for flea infestation elimination: what the experts don’t tell you.
About me: I have been a pet owner for over 50 years, and for 40 of those years I have known and understood the ill effects of Fleas. Oh yeah, I also spent a few years working for one of the Nation’s leading “Pest Control” Companies.
We have all had, or will have flea problems, whether we want to admit it or not. Even if you don’t have pets, fleas can still haunt your home from time to time. Why call a “Pest Control” company when you can do it yourself, and cheaper. It really isn’t that difficult to do yourself.
First thing that must be understood is that killing the adult fleas that you can see, is like only treating the symptom only, not the cause. The real problem is waiting to be born.
Here is information about the adult Flea, its eggs, and the larva/pupa, they are all stages that need to be treated. This is why so many people can’t really get rid of fleas, they miss the real problems. However, most “Pest Control” Companies know this, but don’t tell you that they will have to come back and re-treat your home…again, and again. This is considered a “One Time Treatment”, so their free return treatment policy (if they have one) will not apply after 30 days, if at all.
Information according to a leading Pesticide company:
- Many times, “flea bombs” or flea collars just don’t do the trick , a better understanding of the flea life cycle and knowing how to break their life cycle is very important to understand.
- Female fleas need blood to complete their reproductive cycle. Baby fleas need blood to grow. Although fleas prefer dog and cat blood, they will eat human blood.
- The female lays eggs on the host animal, but the eggs fall to the ground, carpet, sofa, dog bed, your bed, or easy chair where they hatch in two-to-five days.
- The flea larva feeds on organic debris in the environment. Within a week or two, depending on temperature and humidity, the larva spins a pupa (or cocoon) to protect it during metamorphosis to the adulthood.
- In the hard-shelled pupa, the larva transforms from a tiny maggot-larvae like creature into an adult able to leap 100 times its own height, and the cycle begins again ! It may take a couple of treatments to kill off the emerging adults as they evolve from the larvae stage within the first 4-6 weeks. For that reason, the best time to start a flea control program is in the late spring, prior to an infestation.
- To contain an infestation, fleas must be controlled: Whenever you see adult fleas crawling on your pet, it is only a symptom of a much larger problem.
- Current studies indicate that adult fleas account for only 5% of the total flea population in any given situation. Eggs account for 50%, larvae account for about 35%, and the remaining 10% are the pupal cocoons. That means that for every single adult flea living on your dog or cat, there are 10 eggs, 7 larvae, and 2 cocoons. These various life cycle stages will be found anywhere in the pet’s environment, but will be most concentrated in the areas that the pet spends most of its time. Remember, when the adult flea on the pet lays an egg, it will fall off the hairs in just a few minutes…it is very similar to them sowing “seeds”. So, areas where the pet sleeps or lies around will have the most eggs. If the pet usually walks through certain paths (either indoors or outdoors), t here will also be a substantial amount of eggs scattered in those areas. What this means is that environmental flea control must be spread over the pet’s entire environment, focusing on the areas the pet spends the majority of his or her time.
Ok, now that you know why Fleas are hard to treat, I will give you a few important tips that I learned over the years.
Carefully research the products you want to use. You will need a good “Fleas and Tick” killer/repellent for your pet (check with your Vet), a good Flea Powder (for vacuum bags), extra vacuum bags, laundry detergent, and the actual “Room Treatment Product”. Without a good IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) treatment is a waste of time and money, in my opinion.
The room treatment product that I like contains the following organic ingredients. Active Ingredient: 0.05% pyrethrin, 0.4% permethrin, 0.1% pyriproxyen (IGR) and 0.4% synergized formula. Note: Pyrethrin is derived from plants (organic), but is highly toxic to insects, fish, and birds. Pet fish and birds should be removed from the treatment areas, or protected in some other way.
* It works best if can you do the first 2 steps the same day.
Step # 1 Before the treatment:
The “Pest Control” Companies will want you to do this step anyway. They will only do step 2 and explain how you need to do step 1, and charge you for step 3, to insure return business. Treat your pet, bathing, powder, or other products that kill and repel fleas. I prefer a good Flea shampoo and a bath, scrub the pet vigorously. Vacuum well around all areas your pet spends time. Remember you are trying to get up all the organic material that flea larva can live in (pet hair and dander, human hair and dander, and tiny food crumbs). Some say to throw out the bag immediately, some say fleas can’t get out of the vacuum bags. I always vacuum up some fresh flea power before I start. I usually vacuum once real well before I treat, and at least twice after I treat. Thoroughly wash all the pet’s bedding and anything else that the pet uses, and anything else that will fit in the washer. Any good detergent will do. Treat the outside areas of your home as suggested above. (This can be done a day or 2 before.)
Step # 2 The Treatment:
Read the products label warnings carefully. Make sure you have and wear any personal protective equipment required, especially if you are allergic to plant products. Pyrethrin is derived from plants (organic). Spray all the open areas of a room and carpet, and make sure you get the corners and along the edges. Spray on all the furniture in the room, under it, around it, and under cushions. Even spray around the edges of hard wood or vinyl floors, stair steps, and edges and corners of rooms your not sure if the pet have been in. (They most likely have when you weren’t home.) Now leave the house for the time recommended by the Product, usually 4 hours. Leave the house closed up for this time, ventilate it when you return.
Step # 3 The follow up treatments:
Because no treatment will kill the eggs, and most organic products will dissipate within 30 to 45 days, plus you and your pet will encounter more fleas out side. The eggs are very unique, they can hatch any time from one month to six months later. Thanks to nature eggs can sense when their in a warm blooded mammal present and it is safe to hatch. Keep treating your pet with the Flea and Tick repellents of your choice. (Check with your Vet) Re-Treat everything as you did in the first 2 steps after 30 to 45 days. You may or may not need to repeat this again in another 30 to 45 days, depending on your environment and whether or not you still find fleas. (This is where the “Pest Control” Companies really make there money.
I have shown you what the experts say, and the hows and whys, now it is up to you.
Even though it seems like a lot of work and expense, it is better than living will the ill effects of having Fleas, or paying for someone else to do it.
I hope this helps, and good luck.
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Looking Back at 2016 for Flashback Friday
2016 has been a crazy year, hasn’t it? It has not been a good year for lots of humans, but it has been very exciting for me. And I know I will be doing a lot in 2017! But right now, I want to look back at some of the events in the past year that you guys enjoyed the most. Although I had many fun times every month, I’ll just pick one that I know you all especially enjoyed.
January
I did two out of town cat shows in January, and everyone enjoyed reading about them, but what made everyone the happiest was seeing Binga on a leash for the first time! She has been out on walks around the house a bunch of times since then, and she really enjoys it.
February
I got a couple of nice outfits for Valentine’s Day, and I modeled them! My human has since misplaced my favorite — the red dress with the polka dots. I hope she finds it before the weather starts warming up!
March
I went down to Olvera Street to the Blessing of the Animals! That was even more special than flying up to San Jose for a cat show. I hope I can do it again in 2017.
April
In April, I did a very different type of photo shoot, with a tintype photographer! If you want to see the results of the session, you can see them here.
May
This was a big month for me — I got approved to be a therapy cat! It was another month before I got to start going out on visits, though. That was mainly my human’s fault — I was up to date on my shots, but she wasn’t!
June
The big news for June, of course, was BlogPaws, and I think my favorite part of it was visiting the Cat Style Lounge! My human and I were very busy the whole time, and I had more outfit changes than she did!
July
I really started to hit my stride as a therapy cat this month. It was the first time I visited the hospital where I see lots of children, and I learned lots.
August
I started really working hard on my 2017 calendar and doing lots of photo shoots. I think posing with my fighter plane was my favorite out of all of them.
September
Although I continued to do shows, it was as a Pet Me cat. I left the competing to my younger half-siblings, Sizzle, Riser and Vana. Riser lives (and is being spoiled greatly) in Brazil now; I still see Sizzle at the local shows, and Vana is my breeder’s top competitive kitty for the next few months.
October
I had a lot of fun trying on costumes, going on therapy cat visits, and doing training sessions… but what got the biggest response from my readers? Boodie’s spa day! Boodie was looking a bit messy, and my human decided to bathe her. The results were pretty great! She’s due for a really good comb-out right now, but I think it will be a while before she goes under the faucet again.
November
Christmas came early to my house when I got an awesome, and very needed, gift from my human!
December
And of course the big news for this month was my trip to Vancouver! It was very exciting, and I got to see a lot. My human says we will be going back again in late February, and I can’t wait!
I bet I will have even more fun in 2017 than I did in 2016!
* * *
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