Life at Princess Margaret Hospital
I can officially say that I am completely happy with my decision to stay in Dominica and do my fifth semester at Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau. The semester involves a lot of patient interaction, and I really feel like I’m in an immersion program. I have so many stories to tell, but to keep it brief for now (and since I’m terribly tired because of my new schedule), I’ll just say a few things. I met a patient who had obvious signs of a stroke, but couldn’t afford the 500 EC bill to have a CT scan. That’s just one example of the sad stories that unfold every day at this hospital. Many of the patients are very ill because they can’t afford healthcare, and end up in the hospital when they get to the point where they can’t function anymore. The hospital itself is so very different from what I’m used to. There is no neurosurgeon at the hospital, so patients needing neurosurgery must either travel to Martinique (obviously very infrequently feasible), or wait for the neurosurgeon to travel to Dominica. Everything just runs so differently, that I’m in a constant state of amazement. It’s been an incredible learning experience thus far, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of my semester unfolds.
The pic above was taken outside of the hospital today. I still have many more pics to take, and only wish I could take more pics of inside the hospital, but don’t want to violate any HIPAA laws.
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
Why would HIPAA be relevant in Dominica? Or has HIPAA become so common in the health care world that like kleenex and kool aid it’s used for all patient confidentiality laws?
Actually, you are correct. The HIPAA laws don’t really apply here (and in fact, so few people have Internet access, that it would likely never come up anyway). But, I guess I’m just gearing up for the land of Kleenex and Kool Aid.
PS: I love you.
A picture taken of the front facade of the hospital would look different, what do you think ? All countries have their good and bad. We all saw after the hurricane ,what transpired in the south,or your memory is selective as your photography.Many people who complain too much about my paradise should pack up and go back HOME. Many Ross students do not want to know about Dominica or Dominicans,The majority of the information they send out is false , to know something one should study it, get the facts, Ive been to Ross at Portsmouth on many occasions and the students are arrogant as many of your country men & women.America is not the world LEARN THAT .
Hi Darius,
I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone. I have older pics of the front of the hospital as well, but I happened to have my camera on me at that point, so I took a pic (the Ross facilities are in the back). I plan on posting more pics of the hospital in the future.
I actually love Dominica, and that’s why I chose to do my 5th semester at PMH in Roseau, instead of in Miami. I actually am enjoying my 5th semester so much that I’m thinking about staying to do a few rotations here.
Unfortunately, I do agree with you on the comment regarding Ross students. I must say that I have met quite a few of them who hate it here. They complain all day long about one thing or another, and fail to stop and take in the beauty of this country. Sadly, those students give other Ross students a bad name. I’ve met some Dominicans in Portsmouth and Glanvillia who dislike Ross students. I don’t blame them in the least. But I really don’t consider myself to be “one of them.” I truly love it here and feel more at home in this country than the States.
Sorry if my picture made you think that I dislike Dominica, or was trying to put it in a bad light.
Best,
Kendra
Hi Kendra , point well taken, actually i love checking your blog ,also Living Dominica.Im 100% Dominican. I fell madly in love with Paradise after traveling to Europe and North America .You never miss the water till the well runs dry , as the old saying goes , i learnt this about Dominica from my travels.Im very familiar with Ross because ive done many art exhibitions there . Many of my pieces hang in the Deans complex .All the best in your studies .Keep on loving DOMINICA OUR PARADISE.
i do not belive it is your responsibility to post the hospital pictures on the internet; and contrary to your belief many dominicans have access to the internet. we appreciate your presence on our island but do belive that you need to show some respect for our people and our hospital.
Again, I do not mean to disrespect anyone, and I actually really love working at PMH. I’ll try and put up some pictures of the front of the hospital as well. I realize that there are many Dominicans with Internet access, but I think it’s probably a smaller percentage of the total population than I’m used to in the States.
Sorry if you found my post disrespectful. It was not meant to be!
Kendra
Hi,
I am a resident in PA. I would love to set up an elective in Dominica. I would truly appreciate any help or information you can provide me reguarding who to contact or which rotations may be more worthwhile.
Thanks
Hi Kendra and any other interested readers!
I am a senior psychiatric nurse specialist in the UK doing some research on work opportunities in the Caribbean. I am taken by the unspoilt beauty of Dominica and wondered if there are suitable posts available there in mental health care, or if anyone has any info on who I should contact?
Best wishes,
Paul
Hello
I wish to do some electives at Princess Margaret. Do you have a email or number of someone I can contact?
thanks a bunch,
Eve
Thanks Kendra for choosing to serve our Dominica. I wish I could be home to do the same. I’m glad you love it as much as I do…as Darius said, you never miss the water till the well runs dry! I try to get home every year, but this year won’t be possible, so enjoy it for me.
Peace and Guidance
Soleil
If the so-called medical stidents at that so-called med school in Dominica (ROSS) do not want to be there, they should just simply leave OUR island. With all the complaining they do, i would not want them to give me any medical attention not even a shot, because they are most likely a bunch of QUACKS. and would break the needle in one of my bones, and would wind up killing me. Instead of complaining why don’t they pay attention in school like the good school children they are supposed to be, before they get a bogus diploma and wind up killing people later on wuith their miss diagnosed medical so-called medical “CARE”. Next time i go to a hospital, i am going to ask the medical staff if they attended Ross medical school and if they say they did i am going to walk out no matter how sick i feel. I do not want a QUACK from ROSS working on me. I was born on Dominica and served 20 years in the U.S. Military and i am glad i never had Ross graduated QUAKS working on me. All they do is complain and whine according to the reports, about living on Dominica. If they are not happy down there why do they stay, they should simply leave and come on back up back to their little world in the U.S. They can afford it, most of them have rich parents and never had to do any real work in their lives. They sound and act, according to the repors, like spoiled rich children wasting their parents money. Come on Children at ROSS so-called medical school, stop complaining and study your homework before you wind up killing someone in the future due to your sub-par medical treatment or diagnostics
Mr. Bunting,
Thanks for your comment. Actually, I do agree with you that there are definitely some immature students at Ross University. But, I ask you to believe me that they are not all bad. While many students do whine and complain and disrespect the great country of Dominica, not all of us do. I’ve met some pretty amazing Ross students, who are very appreciative of the opportunity to live and go to school in Dominica. And I even know some who plan on going back to Dominica to practice. In addition, I don’t think Ross University is actually a terrible school. I feel like my education has been pretty good. I felt prepared for the Board exams, and now that I’m rotating in the States, alongside students from U.S. med schools, I can say that my education was not sub-par. I feel as equally qualified as my U.S. counterparts. So, while there are some definite disadvantages to attending Ross University, I wouldn’t call all of us quacks! But, thanks for the comment, and for sharing your point of view.
To the island med student, forgive me for being so blunt and rude with my remarks. i just do not like whiners and complainers. The students are lucky that they even have the chance to go to medical school on Dominica and just wish that the ones that the shoe fits would just stop complaining, grow up and make the best of the situation. There are lots of things to do on Dominica. Fishing, mountain climbing, swiming in the ocean breathing the clean air,etc. A lot of people would love to go to a mediacl school on a island paradise like Dominica, with no pollution. I am glad that i am able to have a civil conversation with people of your caliber that feel a little bit like i do. I did not mean to imply that all medical students are Quacks, but the first thing i usually check with my doctor is if they are a complainer. If they complain all the time i get leery as to if they really care about my health or if they know what they are doing. I guess i just need to go back to Dominica and find out the truth myself, i have not been back in a very long long time and my visit is way, way overdue. I am ashamed to mention how long it has been since i visited the place of my birth, therefore, i should not judge without knowing the facts. Anyway, have a nice day and good luck in the future.
Mr. Bunting,
I totally understand your apprehension toward the Ross students, but thanks for understanding that we are not all that way! I very much fell in love with Dominica during my 2 years there, and look forward to visiting again (and possibly living there for a while) in the future!
Best,
Kendra
I love Dominica! Once I get my nursing degree I plan on coming back there and helping out. I love that island and the people I met there when I visited were amazing. That island is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Good for you Kendra for staying.
Hi Kendra.
I’m a Nigerian Medical Student and will be through by May this year. I have interests in doing my internship program in PMH. I seek your opinion and how feasible it is. Any useful information or contacts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi! Do they hire american nurses in Dominica ? Are there any needs? Im currently working in a florida hospital and would like to relocate . I would appreciate any info you can give.
thank you
Vickie
hello! we are considering a job transfer to dominica and i have been thinking of applying to nursing school. is there a nursing program in dominica?
thanks, and thanks for the great updates on this beautiful island!
[...] module designed to bridge the basic and clinical medical sciences–is offered: one site is the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Ross teaching hospital in the capital city of Dominica. One is Synergy Health in Sagniaw, [...]
Hi. I’ve been to Dominica. There is a LOT of corruption. That is a valid complaint. There is no sense of urgency. Also, a valid complaint. There is a poor work ethic. Another valid complaint. One would enjoy the nature, except the Dominicans have polluted it so much. I have witnessed this. It was a ‘Green Planet’ island, but then the Dominican government sold the rights to whaling to the Chinese (who paid for the new airport). Cruise ships frequented the port in Roseau until both the government have angered the cruise ship companies, and the visitors from some cruise ships were attacked for being gay. Women are considered second class citizens.
To all the Dominicans that think the ross students are rich, remember that they have to borrow every penny at steep interest rates just to attend a school that makes life difficult for them, compounded with the resentment by Dominicans, after the students at the school have become 73% of the GDP. Go ahead, look that up.
While there are some Ross students who are exceptionally nasty, the majority are older, had previous careers, and know when someone is doing something wrong, and express their feelings about it. Wake up, Dominica. The students see you with fresh eyes, and should wake you up to the reality that you’ve turned a blind eye to. Complaints are not a byproduct of bad character, but a product of a clear difference between right and wrong.
Hi Kendra,
I am (strongly) considering attending Ross University to become an MD.
I would like to know what the disadvantages are when attending Ross (vs. a North American school). I’ve lived abroad before (in Ghana, Africa) and I adapted well, so I don’t think I would mind living in Dominica. In fact, I’d probably like it very much. I am more concerned with the other disadvantages.
Could you please contact me at my e-mail address?
Thanks so much,
Jenna
I have a similar question as the above…what are the contrasts to attending med school in the states? Also,we have been planning to visit Dominica aside from the med school,which we just found out about,and are looking into buyinjg a bit of land or property.
Question: If we come while my husband is in med school,as well,will that be an obstacle for myself and my child,to enjoying Dominica nd the people who live there? I have lived in africa for extended period,and asia,and do not seem to fit the ‘standard prototype’ of a US student/family coming only to study. We would be coming primarily b/c Ross is in Dominica.
Is there room for people like us,or is there such bias towards what is seen as ‘rich students’,that it will get in the way of our knowing the island?
Also,what do you know about the primary school on campus? do you know anyone who’s children attended? Thanks for this info! Hope your rotations are going well!
Peace.
Just to clarify-our interest in Dominica was already existing,and the medical school was icing on the cake…it seems like our original interest might be distorted by attending med school. Are the relations between Ross students and locals very sour? Darn-I was hoping this was not the case and that resentment was not widespread. It was sounding too goo to be true-owing to my experiences travelling and living in other locales,(and also knowing the majority attitude of Americans traveling abroad)but i’d hoped! Thanks again!
Hi Kendra,
Where Are You Today?
A friend introduced me to another blog of which you were mentioned which brought me here. I am dominican by birth…lived in the UK for about twelve years and have adapted to certain standard of healthcare and having read your blog I must agree with much of what you had to say about the country. Some of the comments I don’t agree with seeing that those commentators don’t really want the world to see that Dominica as beautiful as it seems to the outsider being a part of it is much harder. Being a Dominican when I returned in 2007 I made effort to be a part of the Nursing System here and was rejected as well. It is heart breaking that so many of our nurses can migrate to other countries and get employed and others even those born here are rejected. Keep Doing what you do to draw attention of the negativity that goes on here in My country. Those in authority are not very helpful in breaching that negative gap.
Dominica Rocks!!! Regardless of what a few people might say. Last year I only planned to visit just one last time to allow my American family to see where I came from. But when I got there I did not want to go back and decided to buy property there. We all love this country regardless of all the politics and ups and downs. Dominicans are the most freindly people I’ve gotten in contact with for a long time, and has the lowest crime rate in the world. We appreciate your kindness and love for the people of Dominica. God bless for all your hard work….
My wife and I had the priviledge of visiting Dominica last year. What a beautiful island. it is truly what one would imagine “paradise” is. However, I partially agree with the person who stated that the native Dominicans were destroying their island. The natives impressed me as unmotivated and quite frankly, lazy. Furthermore, they did not seem to take any pride in their property or commonplaces (parks, highways, beaches, etc..) In fact, the nicest places to visit were those where very little human involvement was necessary (ie. waterfalls, streams, etc..) to maintain. It was really sad driving down a coast that literally used old tires as barriers on the highway. The roads are horrible, rough and overly winding. There is litter and trash every where you look. However, I’ve never seen a more beautiful natural landscape in my life! Shame on you Dominicans! You can do better.
Ross medical students? lol! The previous repliers must have no idea what rich , priviledged US kids look and act like. Most Ross Med students are there for one reason. They could not get into a US medical school. However, they will do anything to become a physician. Hence, they are willing to pay inflated tuition and fees, and live on an island that is not being taken care of by its native. I suspect most cannot wait to come back to the US. This medical school is attractive because they offer student loans- while many other other “carribean” med schools do not. A very large number of students drop or fail out during or soon after their 1st term at Ross (Anatomy, Biochem, or Physio usually do them in). But, please don’t be fooled and think they or their parents are loaded. In my country (the US), if your parents are wealthy, you get anything you want. Admittance into a US medical school is at the bottom of the barrel. These kids wouldn’t even think about attending a med school like Ross. It’s beneath them! It’s my opinion that the med students at Ross appear to be “rude” because they are reacting to the ambivalent and somewhat condescending attitudes of many Dominicans toward them. I’m sure if the students at Ross actually had money and spent it on the island- the attitudes of the natives and even the students would be different (goto to Cayman, Jamiaica, Paradise Island Bahamas, and even neighboring St. Lucia and see what I mean). I’ve never seen rich white and poor black people get along so well! However, since the “white” people (med students who are very culturally and ethnically diverse) are not loaded- the black people (Dominicans) have nothing to gain from them (except for their tution dollars which goes to their government along with the ridiculous tariffs they charge)
In summation, Dominica is a beautiful island. Most natives are pleasant, but can be a bit condescending (British thing?). Roads, buildings, homes, yards, etc.. are substandard and quite frankly embarrasing for the natives. Food on the island is very good if you go to the right places (there are many- but even the natives are almost proud in saying there is no place to get lobster, shrimp, steak, etc..) YOU CAN GET LOBSTER, SHRIMP, STEAK, ETC… at several different places on the island. They are full of it. In fact, I had some of the best lobster in my life at a Dominican restaurant. I think they are just miserable and neagtive people who are looking for pity or something. Who knows? My suggestion to a native Dominican resident is to finish high school, take all of your pre-med classes, enroll in med school at Ross, graduate, pass your boards, do a residency in the US, come back to Domininca, practice medicine and/or take a job at Ross teaching, so that the lazy natives can throw stones at you now for trying to be and actually becoming successful.
Hi Guys
I used to live in dominica and now live in the UK but am hoping to go back to dominica to get some clinical experience in the psychology / psychiatric field. – I am a recent psychology graduate.
Does anyone know whether I can get such experience at Ross in Portsmouth, or do I have to go to Princss Margaret on Roseau for this?
Please let me know asap, and if anyone has any contact details, please let me know
Many Thanks!
I’m a current Ross student. I am about to become a 4th semester student. I tutor, spend all of my available time studying and find it extremely rude when a Dominican calls ross students “quacks.” I have a great deal of faith in the resources that Ross provides for its students. It is entirely up to the student what sort of doctor they will become. Anyways, here are some things I have noticed about the island:
The beaches are roadsides are littered with KFC wrappings, graffiti, and other miscellaneous trash. Many Dominicans I have met are extremely unmotivated(lazy). Many of them are friendly. Many can be condescending. I have never seen so many people drinking at 10am in the morning. I am bombarded by drunks demanding money with a false sense of entitlement because i am in their country whenever I enter Roseau or Portsmouth. My schooling is paid for entirely by student loans. I do not receive any sort of aid from anyone. Dominicans who seem to be so proud of their country have very little interest in improving it. Cash flow from Ross to Dominica DOES comprise a majority of the GDP. That is a fact. Look it up.
On the plus side, the weather in Dominica is pleasant. The mountains are beautiful. I can pick guavas from nearby trees on study break. Food is cheap and unadulterated with pesticides. Again, many of the locals are extremely friendly. The island itself is very beautiful but that is probably the end of it. The people are not willing to do anything they aren’t immediately required to do. They are not industrious enough to improve their country quickly. If Ross were to leave, the Dominican government would be crippled. There would not be enough money to maintain roads, the hospitals, and sustain some businesses. For one of the poorest countries in the world, everyone is well fed because of the enormous amount of resources provided by the island and yet hardly anyone has the motivation to capitalize on it.
HI Kendra,
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Dominica (one day via cruise ship) and would love to spend more time on the island. I am a respiratory therapist and was wondering if PMH uses RTs? Do you know?
Thanks,
Bob
I am a proud Dominican and have read through most of the comments on this blog about my country. Like all other nations Dominica has its share of difficulties. You talk of filth take a look around most of the so called developed countries and know what filth is. I have seen mountains of garbage in some of the countries that some of my fellow Dominicans want to run to. Dominicans are not lazy and Dominica has come a long way since independence. Granted there can be some improvement in our roads among other things. But I do not think that ROSS is the sole revenue generator and that their leaving would cripple our country. Have a little respect for our country.
There are a lot of negative comments about Dominicans. They are lazy, no ambition, the country is dirty and so much more. I think you can find all bad example listed above in the US, Canada and also England. If its so bad why stay? There are good and bad in all places in the world. And as for the picture of the Hospital I think its very rude.
This is for the Island Med student: Is that the main pic u could put up? Its the worst part of the hospital showing how dirty and untidy the place is. Your trying to sound soooo positive and innocent but in truth your trying to bring us down. Dont act like Americans are so friendly,rich and educated. For the amount of Universities and colleges in the states you still have a vast amount of people not going to school. You don’t expect everyone to become Doctors and lawyers. Every country has its own share of un-ambitious people.
Please don’t come to one man’s country and criticize. And also for the CURRENT ROSS STUDENT…..define what is poor and rich for me?????….because its looks like ur RICH in many aspects. I guess in your country you can’t find any KFC wrappings, graffiti, and other miscellaneous trash.
I am applying for a teaching position at Ross University. This blog is helpful.
I think it’s about time that all of you with your negative comment shut up leave Dominica and dominicans alone, get out of our country stay away and dont come back.
you are no help saying bad things about us, please clean up your front yard before you look at other peoples’ back yard, we were living before you came and we will keep on living after you are gone
STAY IN YOUR COUNTRY WHERE BUMBS, GUNS AND KNIFE is the talk of the day and we will stay in ours where WATERFALLS, RIVERS,MOUNTAINS,RAINFALL, FRESH AIR, HUNGRYLESS PEOPLE SMILING FACES it the order of the day