Doctor of Medicine (MD) program

Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program curriculum integrates basic and clinical science to give students a deep understanding of the human body in health and disease.

This approach enables students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to effectively treat patients, prevent disease and promote good health throughout their future careers as practicing medical doctors.

Program Structure

The MD program consists of two years (10 semesters) of both academic and clinical learning, divided evenly between the Basic Science and Clinical Medicine programs.

USMLE Preparation and Success

• 100% USMLE Step 1 and 93% Step 2 CK first-time pass rates in 2023.
• 96% Residency Placement Rate.

International Network of 2,000+ MD Graduates

Our alumni earn residencies and licensure in the United States, Canada and internationally.

ACCM-Accredited MD Program

Accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM).

Grand Cayman Healthcare Facility Training

Throughout the first two years, students participate in a series of Basic Science courses that focus on the art of patient care and preventive medicine.

Clinical Rotations

• Five semesters of clinical rotations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Includes the USMLE Step 2 CK exam.

Academic Calendar

2025

• Spring 2025:
  • Classes Begin: January 6, 2025
  • Last Day of Classes: April 18, 2025
  • Diploma Date: January 10/March 14, 2025
• Summer 2025:
  • Classes Begin: May 5, 2025
  • Last Day of Classes: August 15, 2025
  • Diploma Date: May 23, 2025
• Fall 2025:
  • Classes Begin: September 1, 2025
  • Last Day of Classes: December 12, 2025
  • Diploma Date: September 5, 2025

2026

• Spring 2026:
  • Classes Begin: January 5, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes: April 17, 2026
  • Diploma Date: January 9/March 13, 2026
• Summer 2026:
  • Classes Begin: May 4, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes: August 14, 2026
  • Diploma Date: May 22, 2026
• Fall 2026:
  • Classes Begin: August 31, 2026
  • Last Day of Classes: December 11, 2026
  • Diploma Date: September 4, 2026

2027

• Spring 2027:
  • Classes Begin: January 11, 2027
  • Last Day of Classes: April 21, 2027
  • Diploma Date: January 8/March 19, 2027
• Summer 2027:
  • Classes Begin: May 10, 2027
  • Last Day of Classes: August 18, 2027
  • Diploma Date: May 21, 2027
• Fall 2027:
  • Classes Begin: September 6, 2027
  • Last Day of Classes: December 15, 2027
  • Diploma Date: September 3, 2027

MD Program Admissions Requirements

• Visit our Admission Requirements page to learn more about pursuing your MD degree at St. Matthew’s University.
• Information includes prerequisite courses, support documents and technical standards.

MD Program Tuition and Fees

• Learn more about the accessible program costs for MD program participants.
• We also offer financial support via grants and scholarships.

Seminar Series

• St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine is proud to sponsor frequent Continuing Medical Education Conferences in collaboration with leading medical organizations.

Presentation Topics and Presenters

Cleveland Clinic

• Saving Lives with Innovative Radiotherapy Technologies by John Greskovich, MD
• Emerging Strategies in Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Treatment by Thomas Samuel, MD
• Prognostic and Diagnostic Markers of the Breast Carcinoma by Peela Jagannadha Rao, MD
• Interventional Radiology Procedures Update by Rodolfo J. Blandon, MD
• Surgical Advances in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders by Badih Adada MD
• Integrative Medicine, the Way Forward by Zahida Anwar, MD
• Innovations in Solid Organ Transplant by Cedric Sheffield, MD
• Mechanical Circulatory Support: Present-tense and Future Promise by Cedric Sheffield, MD
• Student Athlete Cardiac Assessment for the PCP by Melissa Mascaro, MD
• Concussion Update: Where are We Headed? by Melissa Mascaro, MD
• Interventional Cardiology: An Update on Some of the Newer Innovations by Dr. Howard S. Bush,MD
• Breast Cancer Review and Current Surgical Recommendations by Dr. Margaret Gilot, MD
• Colon Cancer: Preventable. Beatable by Dr. Darley Solomon, MD
• Patient Experience: It is Not About Satisfaction by James Merlino, MD
• Creating a Culture of Patient Centered Care by Robert Stall
• Cultural Transformation – The Power of Everyone by Rebecca Caputo, RN and Dawn Semple
• Empathy Video – Patients: Afraid and Vulnerable by Antonio Briceno, MD

Johns Hopkins

• Current Status of the Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease by John V. Conte, MD
• Management of the Axilla in Breast Cancer by Lisa Kay Jacobs, MD
• Cholesterol Management by Erin D. Michos, MD
• Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Therapy for Prostate Cancer by Christian P. Pavlovich, MD
• Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Therapy for Breast Cancer by Saraswati Sukumar, PhD
• Early Breast Cancer: A Practical Approach by Roisin Connolly, MD

Baptist Health International

• Current Concepts on Stroke Diagnosis, Management and Treatment by Allan Herskowitz, MD
• Population Health: Confronting the Challenges of the Health Care Paradigm in Developing Countries by Galed Hakim, MD
• Latest Advancements in Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery by Mark Dylewski, MD
• Skin Cancer by Adriane Vega Pompa, MD
• Preventing Chronic Diseases By Ana M. Viamonte Ros, MD

International Cardiac Symposium

• The Role of Coronary Calcium Score and CT Angiography in the Assessment of Risk of CVD by C. Pena, M.D. (Baptist Health International)
• Advances in Heart Failure Therapy by V. Navas, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
• Guilty by Association: The Case for Peripheral Artery Disease (P A D.) by M. Chauhan, MD (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
• Vitamin D Deficiency & Cardiovascular Risks by E. Donnelly Michos, MD (Johns Hopkins)
• Innovation in Action: How Advances in Medical Technology are Helping Real-World Patients by M. Kosiborod, MD and K. Huber, MD (Heart Health Centre Cayman and St. Luke’s)
• Integrating Cardiology Imaging and Advanced Blood Testing To Prevent Cardiac Disease by A. Agatston, MD (Baptist Health International)
• Interventional Cardiology: A look at Some Exciting New Innovations by H. Bush, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
• Unique Aspects of Women’s Cardiac Health by T. Stevens, MD (St. Luke’s)
• Advances in Cardiovascular Medicine by M. Chacko, MD (Johns Hopkins)
• Head Surgery: A Journey Back to the Future by M. Kosiborod, MD and M. BORKON, MD (Cayman and St. Luke’s)
• Interpretation of the New ACC/AHA Guidelines on the Prediction of ASCVD Risk and Management by E. Donnelly Michos, MD (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
• Cancer Related Heart Disease/Heart Disease Secondary to Cancer Treatments by M. J. Villar, DO (Baptist Health International)
• Advanced Heart Failure Management by Dr. A. Boyle, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
• Keeping the Rhythm by B. M. Ramza, MD, PhD (St. Luke’s Mid America Health Institute)
• Safe to Play by Dr. M. Kosiborod, MD (Heart Health Centre)
• Important Interventions in Cardiology – Acute in the Cath Lab, Chronic in the Office by L. A. Simkins, MD (Tenet Healthcare)
• Coronary Stenting: Have We Reached the Max? by J. M. Purow, FACC (Holy Cross Hospital)
• New Technologies to Advance Cardiac and Vascular Care by B. T. Katzen, FACR, FACC, FISR (Baptist Health International)
• Aortic Stenosis and Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement by M. Chacko (Johns Hopkins)
• From Total Mess to Total Success: The Challenge of Treating Chronically Occluded Coronary Arteries by Dr. D. Safley (St. Luke’s M.A.H.I. & Heart Health Centre)
• Evolution of Congestive Heart Failure by Cedric Sheffield, MD
• New Specialty: Cardiac Oncology by Jorge Arturo Flores, MD, FACC
• Current Status of the Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease by John V. Conte, MD
• Treating Stroke: On the Cutting Edge by Yvonne Turner Johnson, MD
• Women’s Heart Health: The Many Shades of Gray by Tracy L. Stevens, MD
• Mending Broken Hearts: Success Stories from the Cayman Islands by Robert Piotrowski, MD, F.A.C.C

Cayman Cancer Society

• Cancer Immune Therapy: Update on Checkpoint Inhibitors by Dr. Vineetha Binoy (Health City, Cayman Islands)
• The Latest Information in Diagnosing and Treating Skin Cancer & Oral and Throat Cancers by Alison Duncan MBBS, MSc, CCT (Derm), FRCP and Alastair Gliksman, MbBCh, FCS
• The HPV Head and Neck Cancer Epidemic – What You Need To Know by Christine Gourin, MD (Johns Hopkins)
• Screening for Lung Cancer: Are We There Yet? by Dr. Rabhi Bechara, MD, FCCP (Cancer Treatment Centers of America)
• The Genetics of Cancer by Dr. Vineetha Binoy , MBBS, MD, DM (Health City, Cayman Islands)
• Ovarian Cancer Update by Dr. Troy Gatcliffe, MD, FACOG, FACS (Baptist Health International)
• Targeted Therapy & Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer by Dr. Luis Raez, MD (Memorial Global Health)
• Contemporary Management of Genitourinary Malignancies by Dr. Chad Ritch, MD, MBA (University of Miami)
• Breast Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment in Cayman by Dr. Tanya Ebanks, MD, FMH (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
• The Sentinel Lymph Node and Endometrial Cancer by Dr. Moises Lichtenger, MD (Holy Cross Hospital)
• Trends in Surgical Oncology and Management of Gl Malignancies with Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery by Dr. Adrian Legaspi, MD, FACS (Tenet)
• Contemporary Concepts of Salivary Gland Tumors by Dr. Shawn, MD (Baptist Health)
• Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancers: Current State of the Art by Dr Nagy Elsayyad, MD (Miami Health System)
• The HPV Connection by Dr. Darley Solomon, MD (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
• Pediatric Brain Cancer: The ABC’s of Diagnosing CNS Tumors by Dr. James Akiiiwunmi . MBBS, FRCS (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
• Screening Diagnosis & Treatment of Colon Cancers: The Importance of Early Detection by Dr. Vikesh Singh, MD (Johns Hopkins)
• Prostate and Kidney Cancer: Modern Day Management in the 21st Century by Dr. David Taub, MD (Holy Cross Hospital)
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer by Dr. Hayder Al-Azaawi , MD (Tenet)

Obesity Summit

• Clinical Reproach with Patient With Obesity by Lisa DeRosimo MD
• Nutritional and Behavioral Approach to the Obese Patient by Natalie Romero- Castro, MS, RD, LDN
• The Role and Myth of Exercise in the Assessment and Treatment of Weight Loss by Peter Katzmarzyk PhD
• Medical Consequences of Obesity-Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes by Laurence Spading, MD
• Obesity, Dyslipidemia, and CVD Risk by Laurence Sperling, MD
• Adiposity Versus Adiposepathy by Michael Ozner, MD
• BMI Versus Waist Circumference: What Is Our Target? — A Panel Discussion Moderated by Michael Ozner, M.D.
• Dietary Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity by Teresa Ochoa R.D.
• Low Fat Versus Low Carb Diets by Arthur Agatston, MD
• Medical Treatment of Obesity by Donna Ryan, MD
• Current Status of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery by Anthony Gonzalez, MD
• New Developments and Devices in the Surgical Treatment of Obesity by Natan Zundel, MD
• What BMI Should Be the Target of Aggressive Nutritional, Medical, and Surgical Treatment of Obesity? – A Panel Discussion Moderated by Anthony Gonzalez, MD
• The Economic Consequences of Obesity by Khurram Nasir, MD
• Mobile Health Applications in the Treatment of Obesity by Theodore Feldman, MD
• Incorporating Obesity Management into Clinical Practice and Population Management by Thinh Tran, MD and Lisa DeRosana, MD

Cayman Palliative Care

• Opening Remarks and History of Palliative Care in Cayman by Dr. Virginia Hobday, MD — Medical Director of Cayman HospiceCare
• Different World Views at the End of Life by Rev. Guillermo Escalona
• How to Merge Usual Care with Hospice/Palliative Care, Really by Thomas J Smith, MD
• Dying In Good Hands by Christine Sutherland

Learning Center

At St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMUSOM), we are as committed to your medical career dream as you are.

Faculty Reviews and Tutoring

The St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine faculty team is dedicated to delivering the support and guidance that students need to succeed in our rigorous MD program.

Teaching Assistants

At SMUSOM we recognize the value of peer-assisted learning.

Individual Peer Tutors

Students who have excelled in given courses are invited by St. Matthew’s University to serve as peer tutors.

Academic Advisors in the Office of Student Affairs

Academic advisors are also available to offer general assistance to students with the following:

• Organization of course materials
• Time management
• How to study for and take multiple choice exams
• Reading for retention
• Stress management strategies
• Listening for Learning: How to maintain good attention in lectures
• Assessment of academic strengths and weaknesses with specific recommendations for improvement as needed.

FAQs About the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

Who is this program appropriate for?

St. Matthews University School of Medicine invites ambitious and hard-working students to join our MD program.

Where do our students come from?

The St. Matthew’s University’s MD program includes five semesters of Basic Science courses, followed by five semesters of Clinical Medicine rotations at teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S., and select elective rotation sites in Canada.

Why study Basic Sciences at St. Matthew's University?

Our Basic Science program will help ensure you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed during clinical rotations and residency training, as well as prepare you extensively for the USMLE exams.

What is the importance of the USMLE Step 1 exam?

Passing the USMLE Step 1 on your first attempt and scoring highly will best-position you for your preferred residency placement after graduation.

Do you choose your specialty after medical school?

During your clinical rotations, you’ll have the opportunity to explore different areas of medicine.

What is the importance of the USMLE Step 2 CK exam?

The USMLE Step 2 CK is comprised of two parts: Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills.

Who is required to take the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents.

Student Experience

“Faculty were just warm and they really invested their time and their energy into making sure they we understood material, that we knew the resources that were available and the things that were really important for tests. They offered us many opportunities for tutoring and extra time with the material.”

Kayla Lee, MD
Class of 2024
Resident Physician (Family Medicine), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Pennsylvania)

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

St. Matthew's University School of Medicine's MD program integrates basic and clinical sciences to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the human body in both health and disease. The program's objective is to equip students not only to treat patients but also to prevent disease and promote overall well-being. The first two years incorporate clinical medicine courses focusing on patient care and preventive medicine, uniquely integrated with Cayman Island's healthcare system. This integration provides students with hands-on experience in hospitals and community clinics, as well as opportunities for hospital-based research. The program is divided into two segments: Basic Sciences and Clinical Rotations. The program starts in September, January, or May.

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Outline:

The MD program consists of five semesters of Basic Sciences followed by five semesters of Clinical Rotations.

• Basic Sciences: This segment prepares students extensively for the USMLE Step 1 exam.
It utilizes small class sizes and expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, including gross anatomy labs.
• Clinical Rotations: This segment includes core rotations in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Elective rotations are also available in various areas of medicine. The elective portion is designed to help students prepare for the residency process. However, this calendar does not map directly to specific course modules or their scheduling within the Basic Science and Clinical Rotation segments.

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Assessment:

The provided text mentions that students take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams. Passing the USMLE Step 1 exam, and achieving a high score, is crucial for securing preferred residencies. The USMLE Step 1 exam tests knowledge of basic sciences through multiple-choice questions. USMLE Step 2, consisting of Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills sections, assesses the ability to apply basic science knowledge in a clinical setting through multiple-choice questions and patient diagnostic challenges.

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Teaching:

St. Matthew's employs a variety of teaching methods. Small class sizes are emphasized, allowing for individualized learning. The faculty is described as dedicated and committed to student success, fostering a family-like atmosphere. For Basic Science courses, faculty offer review sessions, small group tutoring, and one-on-one time for exam review. The university also provides Teaching Assistants (upper-semester students) and individual Peer Tutors (students who excelled in specific courses) at no cost to students (except for individual peer tutoring, where fees are arranged between the tutor and student). Academic advisors provide assistance with organization, time management, study skills, stress management, and assessment of academic strengths and weaknesses.

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Careers:

The program prepares students for careers as physicians. Clinical rotations allow exploration of different medical specialties to help students identify areas of interest and prepare for the residency application process.

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Other:

St. Matthew's University School of Medicine sponsors Continuing Medical Education Conferences in collaboration with organizations like Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic. These conferences feature presentations from leading medical professionals and are attended by students, faculty, and Cayman Islands medical professionals. The text lists numerous seminar topics covered in these conferences, spanning various medical specialties. The university's student body is described as diverse, with a roughly even gender split (52% male, 48% female) and an average age between 25 and 27. Students come from the United States, Canada, the UK, and other countries. The university's location in Grand Cayman is presented as a distraction-free environment conducive to studying. The MCAT is required for US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, and strongly encouraged for other applicants, particularly those with outdated science coursework, coursework completed at a community college, or grades of "C" or lower in required science courses.