The Indypendent e-news
By Virginia Lora
When aspiring doctor and Bronx native Tachira Tavarez graduated from Amherst College in May 2007, she was faced with a reality check: She could not afford the tuition required for medical school. Determined to become a doctor, Tavarez planned on postponing her graduate education in order to work and save for medical school. “I was going to teach for a couple of years,” said Tavarez. “I thought that if at the time I couldn’t afford to help my community through medicine, then I would be able to do it through education.” For many college students surveying the possibility of med school, the problem is a common one. According to the American Medical Association, the average tuition and fees in 2002 at public and private U.S. medical schools were $14,577 and $30,960 respectively. And that is, of course, not counting other expenses, such as room, board and textbooks.Luckily, Tavarez has found — and eagerly seized — an opportunity to study medicine on a full scholarship this fall. Along with 18 other U.S. students, Tavarez is attending the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana, Cuba.
ELAM offers a six-year medical school program open to qualified students from the neediest communities in Latin America and Africa. In September 2000, this opportunity was extended to U.S. students from low-income communities or communities of color who would not otherwise be able to afford medical school. Students who enter the program receive a full scholarship from the Cuban government, which covers tuition, room and board, textbooks and a small stipend for personal expenses.
Like all other students in the program, U.S participants must have a deep-seated commitment to practicing medicine in medically underserved communities after graduating from the program. The idea of a medical school directed at people who want to help under-served populations immediately sparked Tavarez’s interest. “Coming from a lower-working-class background, my goal was to always serve the community that I came from,” said Tavarez, who while at Amherst went back to the Bronx every summer to work as an intern or a volunteer in the community.
Prior to applying, Tavarez discussed the ELAM and the Cuban health-care system with several doctors, all of whom recommended it. “They said it was one of the best schools to attend because of the quality of education I would be receiving there,” she said. Though ELAM’s curriculum closely corresponds to how medicine is taught in the United States in terms of subject matter, the style “emphasizes cooperative rather than competitive learning, smaller class sizes, frequent oral exams and intensive tutoring.” The program is also based on intensive advising designed to help every student succeed, and it offers at no additional cost Spanish classes and pre-med courses in Spanish for students who need it. “Here everything is very competitive and more of a ‘sink-or-swim’ environment, whereas in the Cuban school, students are encouraged to help each other so that everyone passes,” said Tavarez, echoing the comments of the U.S. ELAM students she has been corresponding with. “It made perfect sense to me. If the world needs more doctors, encourage people to heal each other so that we can have more doctors.”
Tavarez left for Havana on Aug. 26, and plans to come back to the United States every summer while studying in Cuba. After graduation, she is planning to apply for residencies in the Bronx.
THE CUBAN MODEL
Cuba has invested heavily in public health care. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Cuba has “twice as many physicians per capita as the United States and health indicators are at par with those in the most developed nations.” Despite this, Cuba’s publicly run system cost only $250 per person in 2003, according to the United Nations Human Development Report for 2006. The United States, which currently ranks 39th in the world in health care and counts 47 million people uninsured, will spend $2.2 trillion, or $7,500 per person, on its privatized health care system in 2007. —V.L.
Comments
Good for Tavarez. Congratulations girl.
But what the article doesn't tell you is that she has a pretty decent jump shot as well
Here is a Cubanm article on the first US ELAM graduate, Cedric Edwards. (Aftre his graduation in Havana he came to Sacramento and per article in newpapers there was "living of a suitcase", working as janitor, restaurant cleaning etc. hoping to save money to apply for ERAS and Match (residency programs).
GRANMA (Cuban Communist Party Daily) INTL Havana. August 23, 2005
FIRST U.S. GRADUATE OF ELAM
‘As an African-American, I feel free here’
BY ROSE ANA DUEÑAS—Special for Granma International—
HOW does it feel to be the first person from the United States to get a medical degree in Cuba?
The answer comes easily to Cedric Edwards, a thoughtful 34-year-old African-American from New Orleans, Louisiana, who received his diploma along with 1,600 other graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Cuba on August 20.
"It’s a little scary, but I’m very happy. I want to do my best to be a good example."
Like his classmates from Latin America and the Caribbean, Edwards’ studies were completely free; his modest room-and-board, textbooks and tuition were all paid for by Cuba as part of the Revolution’s efforts to bring medical care to those who need it all over the world.
But unlike his classmates, Edwards comes from a country that has unleashed an economic, political and clandestine war against Cuba in its attempts to overthrow the Revolution since its triumph in 1959.
When President George W. Bush’s administration intensified its aggression against Cuba in 2004, it made an exception – under grassroots pressure – to the economic blockade and travel ban so that more than 80 young people from the United States studying medicine at ELAM could continue to do so, as could future students.
It would have been politically costly for them to deny young Black, Latino and other minority youth, from working-class families, the opportunity to become doctors and serve their communities.
It was in 2000 that Cuba opened ELAM’s doors to qualified U.S. students from such backgrounds whom otherwise would not be able to attend medical school because of the high cost. The students, in turn, pledge to work in needy and underserved communities after graduating.
The program is administered by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization(IFCO)/Pastors for Peace, led by the Reverend Lucius Walker of New York. The students come from 19 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico; 85% of them are from minority groups and 73% are women. Fifteen more students arrived in August to begin their studies.
Edwards, who wants to specialize in internal medicine, talks about how getting his degree was no easy task, even for a "hard-core science person," as he describes himself.
"I didn’t speak any Spanish when I first came," he recalls. "I got a lot of help from my classmates and professors. I realized I was fluent when I didn’t have to carry the dictionary around anymore."
To be a doctor has been a dream for years. "In my first year at college, one of my younger brothers, a high school senior, was injured playing football and was left paralyzed from the neck down. I began to do research on spinal-cord injuries, and became interested in neuroscience. I wanted to help."
After graduating as a scholarship student from Middlebury College with a degree in molecular biology and biochemistry, Edwards took out loans to attend medical school. He finished two years, but then "made a rash decision" after becoming frustrated with how his grades were not reflecting his efforts, and decided to go to law school. "I regretted it. By sheer luck, I found out about the ELAM program from a friend of a friend – I knew it was my chance to get a medical degree."
Edwards’ parents – his mother is a high school teacher and his father a telephone repairman – and friends were against him coming to Cuba.
"There’s a lot of propaganda against Cuba. My parents were scared. They thought it was dangerous. I was scared to death, but I wanted to get my medical degree no matter what, and I also thought it would be a good opportunity to learn about another country, since I had never traveled outside of the States."
Cuba turned out not to be so scary. "I was shocked in a good way. Everybody was friendly. You see people hitchhiking, which you never see in the U.S. It’s a different environment.
"As an African-American, I don’t feel the racial tension that I feel in the States. That feeling is completely new to me. I feel like I’m free, like I can do whatever I want without fear. This place is very safe. You have a lot more young African-American men dying violently in the States than other races; also, there is a huge drug problem. Here in Cuba, though, that is not the case. For example, I would feel safer raising a family here."
His parents are "very grateful. Now they’re a lot more interested in getting to know Cuba." Because they are not legally permitted to travel to Cuba, even for their son’s graduation, his parents could not be part of that special moment. But they have plans to celebrate when Edwards returns.
The young doctor says he’s not involved in politics; however, he affirms, "I don’t agree with the blockade. I think it should be dropped."
Together with his degree, he is taking with him a deep appreciation of Cuba’s medical system.
"I love the fact that regardless of a person’s economic situation, he or she can see a doctor and get preventive care, free of charge." This is quite different from the situation of millions of U.S. people who don’t have medical insurance and therefore only see a doctor when the illness has become severe or when it’s too late.
After celebrating and taking a well-deserved break, Edwards plans to study for his U.S. medical licensing exam and apply for a required residency. He’s not picky about where, as long as he is needed. He believes that the ELAM experience – living, studying and working together with students from dozens of countries, many from indigenous and rural communities – has prepared him to deal with people from any background.
Meanwhile, he needs to look for a job, preferably in the medical field, to be able to start paying back the more than $100,000 in loans plus interest used to pay for his initial years of medical school in the United States.
Critics of the ELAM program say that it will be difficult for someone with a Cuban medical degree to practice medicine in the United States, but Edwards is optimistic.
His brother, now an attorney despite his paralysis, "is part of my motivation. I keep things in perspective," he says. "I try to treat my patients as if they were part of my family. I want to use what I’ve learned to help people."
i hope im as resourceful and as smart as you.. im a graduating nursing student and im planning to get degree in medicine...i badly wanted to be a doctor..but i dont think my parents can afford to send me to med school....huhuhuhu
VERY few people can "afford" medical school. Having recently started medical school I can say that not a single dime was paid for out of pocket. Do not let money keep you from applying and becoming a doctor. The government will loan you all you need and more. Sure you'll have to pay it back, but at least you can afford it after you are a doctor.
im 4rm pakistan n im happy 4 u ,moreover im also coming to cuba next month 4 medical studies
from pakistan,,admiring u all 4 ur kind motive about health care,,, i will join u there n ELAM from pak,,,we cure because we care,,,
I AM ALSO GOING TO CUBA FOR GENERAL COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF MEDICINE. IF SOME ONE WANTS TO CONTACT ME IN PAKISTAN, PLZ DIAL MY CELL NUMBER, 00923454807043. THANKS.
hello my name is lilly im from mongolia... i finished my medical school in my country so i realy wanna study more.. i heard in cuba school tution is low i wanna know? but my parents doesn't have money to pay... i realy wanna study... help me... please contact my cell phone number : 976-91997088.., bulgan_cute@yahoo.com...
hey guys i am presently studying pre medical at the university in my country. i wanna go for more study n i hear the fees in cuba is low but i don't know how to get the connections to enable me study in cuba. i am from Liberia in Africa. if anyone can help me i'd appreciate that.
my email is lukegarlo19902@yahoo.com
i want study in cuba but im a poor person so i can not pay fees of cuba i want study free so would you help me to read
i will thank full to you for ever life
my E-mail aneesali23@yahoo.com please contactme on this no im pakistani
9203023215613
Am really impress by what the cuba government has done may the Good God bless them.
i am also interested to study there. i am a biological science graduate. Please, anyone has knowledge of how to get there not hesitate to contact me on the following E-mail: onasis3000@yahoo.co.uk / mobile:+2330208340083 Thanks in anticipation.
i really want to do a degree in nursing but, my dad does not have the money to pay,i hear its very cheap in Cuba i do not know how,please help my E-mail address is mikeesther@yahoo.com.i finished ordinary level and passed.or you can call +255787154955.may GOD bless the govrnment of Cuba for giving opportunities to people like us,gracias
i really need the fees structure,and the accomodation
A hope with you that you might help me
14 feb2009
8:10pm
hi.............i m pushpa from pakistan,i just finished intermediate in science group and i gotta go to cuiba for the purpose of medicine study on the base of scholarship
I am Owen from Zambia in southern Africa, am currently working for the ministry of Health in one of the remotest Rural districts of Zambia called Kazungula as a public health officer and i would like to attend a public Health or a medical school in Cuba,as this will go a long way in helping the communities am serving, am asking if the cuban government can offer me a scholarship which am ready to work for considering the skills i have in public and environmental health at diploma academic level,please provide me with information on how i can start the process of everything.my e-mail is owen2008@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks so much
IAM PHILLIMIN SIMWANZA FROM ZAMBIA IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AM CURRENTLY WORKING AT GENERAL HOSPITAL AS A THEATRE NURSE IN ORTHOPAEDIC DEPARTMENT.I WOULD LIKE TO PROGRESS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE SO I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN CUBA TO PERSUE DOCTORATE DEGREE.
PLEASE AVAIL ME WITH INFORMATION HOW I CAN BE HELPED WITH SCOLARSHIP TO GET A PLACE IN CUBA.
I have a Bsc. In Biochemistry from a Nigerian university.My dream is to become a medical doctor.So i can take care of sick peaple. But the fees are much.So i want to study in cuba but i don't knnw how to start.I need your help please. My email is onnasty01@yahoo.com
am emmanuel from zambia,i would relly love to study in cuba,but i dont hav the money to pay.pliz help me.i also want to thank the cuban government for the surport it is giving to many of the poor people around the world pliz,pliz continue and God wil reward you for that.the is my email adress,phiriemmanuel17@yahoo.com
i am saba from pakistan and i have done FSc pre-medical .i want to be a doctor but dont have enough money to meet the expense of my education.i am looking for a chance to study free MBBS in cuba but dont know how to apply .please help me out and give me the full information how to apply so that i can avail this opportunity as other lucking students.i cant stand the thought of not being a doctor.plz do reply me. my E-mail address is saba_joy@yahoo.com
Hi,it's always been my dream to study in Cuba,I posses an MBBS degree from Nigeria,and want to do a residency programme in Cuba to become a plastic/reconstructive surgoen.Please help me with information on how to get into a programme in Cuba.My e-mail is joeizzyng@yahoo.com
im a poor grl lvng in a village ma parents do not let me stdy further bt im passinate to be a doctor i cant aford at all do help 4 free mbbs in cuba i hav don fsc pre mdcl nd also gnrl nursng nd midwifry ma contct no 03224291162 and abassspain@yahoo.com
this is good for human being to get good health and care
i wish to talk &famalier with cuban boy & girl as because
i want to built a sarity in bangladesh to helf homeless
orpanage
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