MD Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. The Role of Coronary Calcium Score and CT Angiography in the Assessment of Risk of CVD by C. Pena, M.D. (Baptist Health International)
2. Advances in Heart Failure Therapy by V. Navas, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
3. Guilty by Association: The Case for Peripheral Artery Disease (P A D.) by M. Chauhan, MD
4. (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
5. Vitamin D Deficiency & Cardiovascular Risks by E. Donnelly Michos, MD (Johns Hopkins)
6. 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)
7. Integrating Cardiology Imaging and Advanced Blood Testing To Prevent Cardiac Disease by A. Agatston, MD (Baptist Health International)
8. Interventional Cardiology: A look at Some Exciting New Innovations by H. Bush, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
9. Unique Aspects of Women’s Cardiac Health by T. Stevens, MD (St. Luke’s)
10. Advances in Cardiovascular Medicine by M. Chacko, MD (Johns Hopkins)
11. Head Surgery: A Journey Back to the Future by M. Kosiborod, MD and M. BORKON, MD (Cayman and St. Luke’s)
12. Interpretation of the New ACC/AHA Guidelines on the Prediction of ASCVD Risk and Management by E. Donnelly Michos, MD (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
13. Cancer Related Heart Disease/Heart Disease Secondary to Cancer Treatments by M. J. Villar, DO (Baptist Health International)
14. Advanced Heart Failure Management by Dr. A. Boyle, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
15. Keeping the Rhythm by B. M. Ramza, MD, PhD (St. Luke’s Mid America Health Institute)
16. Safe to Play by Dr. M. Kosiborod, MD (Heart Health Centre)
17. Important Interventions in Cardiology – Acute in the Cath Lab, Chronic in the Office by L. A. Simkins, MD (Tenet Healthcare)
18. Coronary Stenting: Have We Reached the Max? by J. M. Purow, FACC (Holy Cross Hospital)
19. New Technologies to Advance Cardiac and Vascular Care by B. T. Katzen, FACR, FACC, FISR (Baptist Health International)
20. Aortic Stenosis and Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement by M. Chacko (Johns Hopkins)
21. From Total Mess to Total Success: The Challenge of Treating Chronically Occluded Coronary
22. Arteries by Dr. D. Safley (St. Luke’s M.A.H.I. & Heart Health Centre)
23. Evolution of Congestive Heart Failure by Cedric Sheffield, MD
24. New Specialty: Cardiac Oncology by Jorge Arturo Flores, MD, FACC
25. Current Status of the Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease by John V. Conte, MD
26. Treating Stroke: On the Cutting Edge by Yvonne Turner Johnson, MD
27. Women’s Heart Health: The Many Shades of Gray by Tracy L. Stevens, MD
28. Mending Broken Hearts: Success Stories from the Cayman Islands by Robert Piotrowski, MD, F.A.C.C
29. The ASD and Hearts Requiring Extra-corporeal Support, Friend or Foe? by Kak-Chen Chan, MD

1. Cancer Immune Therapy: Update on Checkpoint Inhibitors by Dr. Vineetha Binoy (Health City, Cayman Islands)
2. 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
3. The HPV Head and Neck Cancer Epidemic – What You Need To Know by Christine Gourin, MD (Johns Hopkins)
4. Screening for Lung Cancer: Are We There Yet? by Dr. Rabhi Bechara, MD, FCCP (Cancer Treatment Centers of America)
5. The Genetics of Cancer by Dr. Vineetha Binoy , MBBS, MD, DM (Health City, Cayman Islands)
6. Ovarian Cancer Update by Dr. Troy Gatcliffe, MD, FACOG, FACS (Baptist Health International)
7. Targeted Therapy & Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer by Dr. Luis Raez, MD (Memorial Global Health)
8. Contemporary Management of Genitourinary Malignancies by Dr. Chad Ritch, MD, MBA (University of Miami)
9. Breast Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment in Cayman by Dr. Tanya Ebanks, MD, FMH (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
10. The Sentinel Lymph Node and Endometrial Cancer by Dr. Moises Lichtenger, MD (Holy Cross Hospital)
11. Trends in Surgical Oncology and Management of Gl Malignancies with Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery by Dr. Adrian Legaspi, MD, FACS (Tenet)
12. Contemporary Concepts of Salivary Gland Tumors by Dr. Shawn, MD (Baptist Health)
13. Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancers: Current State of the Art by Dr Nagy Elsayyad, MD (Miami Health System)
14. The HPV Connection by Dr. Darley Solomon, MD (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
15. Pediatric Brain Cancer: The ABC’s of Diagnosing CNS Tumors by Dr. James Akiiiwunmi . MBBS, FRCS (Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital)
16. Screening Diagnosis & Treatment of Colon Cancers: The Importance of Early Detection by Dr. Vikesh Singh, MD (Johns Hopkins)
17. Prostate and Kidney Cancer: Modern Day Management in the 21st Century by Dr. David Taub, MD (Holy Cross Hospital)
18. Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer by Dr. Hayder Al-Azaawi , MD (Tenet)

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

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

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.

Faculty regularly offer office hours when students can schedule time to ask questions, clarify concepts and discuss progress. Professors are also quite flexible, and are willing to accommodate busy student schedules by scheduling meetings outside of regular office hours, if needed.

Basic Science faculty also offer small group tutoring sessions, where they go over practice exam questions and provide participants with practical tips for improving test-taking skills. Then, after each exam, faculty members also schedule one-on-one time to review test questions with students. Those who need additional support are expected to schedule extra time with faculty to review the areas where they may be facing challenges with the material.

The faculty member who teaches the course is the first person to whom a student should turn for help with a specific subject, but other academic resources are also available through the Office of Student Affairs Center for Learning Enhancement.

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

Teaching Assistants are upper-semester Basic Science students who have demonstrated an excellent understanding of course material and who provide academic guidance at no cost to the students in need of support.

They schedule group sessions in which they review practice questions that are provided by professors, as well as other course materials to support each student’s understanding of key concepts and systems. They also suggest learning and study strategies that have worked well for them in a given course.

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

These students are available to provide individual help and support. The Office of Student Affairs arranges for tutors on request from students, but fees and meeting schedules are arranged between the tutor and the student.

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.

Students can make an appointment for help in any of these areas, as well as for personal counseling.

St. Matthews University School of Medicine invites ambitious and hard-working students to join our MD program. If you’re passionate about helping others, excellent at problem-solving and looking for a rewarding career, becoming a practicing physician could be the right path for you.

Doctors work in high-pressure environments and regularly make life-changing decisions for their patients. You must be prepared to put in hard work in a busy role that often involves dealing with people in distress.

In order to pursue your MD degree with St. Matthew’s University, students must meet the Admissions Requirements, including having completed necessary prerequisite courses (or appropriate pre-med program) and submitted the required support documents.

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. The program attracts students from the United States and Canada, as well as the U.K. and many other international locations. As such, when you study on Grand Cayman, you’ll be surrounded by a diverse mix of students, all with ambitions to become the best practicing medical doctors possible.

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. Thanks to our intentionally small class sizes, taught by dedicated faculty who are committed to your success, you’ll experience the individualized support and attention that you need to achieve your goals in medical school and beyond.

Our academic outcomes speak for themselves – we are proud to share our students’ 100% USMLE Step 1* and 93% USMLE Step 2 CK** first-time pass rates in 2023, and our 96% residency placement rate (2020-2024)***.

*First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time in calendar year 2023.

**First-time pass rate defined as total number of students passing the USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time in calendar year 2023.

***Four Year Residency Placement Rate is the percentage of students attaining a residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 who were active applicants in the NRMP match or attained a residency outside the NRMP match.

Passing the USMLE Step 1 on your first attempt and scoring highly will best-position you for your preferred residency placement after graduation. The exam takes place over one day and will ask you to answer a series of multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of the basic sciences. It is vital you are well-prepared for the exam.

At St. Matthew’s University, our Basic Science curriculum is designed with USMLE Step 1 in mind and there are many Student Support Services in place to help ensure you can prepare effectively and perform well on this all-important examination.

During your clinical rotations, you’ll have the opportunity to explore different areas of medicine. Your core clinical rotations include Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics and Gynecology while your electives can be in a number of different areas.

Throughout Basic Science and the core rotations portion of medical school, you should constantly be evaluating your personal preferences and skills in order to decide where you would like to undertake your elective rotations. Your experience and performance during elective rotations will help guide your choice of specialty and where you will apply for residency.

The USMLE Step 2 CK is comprised of two parts: Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills. Whereas in USMLE Step 1, the examiner was looking to see if you had a good understanding of the basic sciences, they are now looking to see if you can apply this knowledge within a clinical setting. As such, you’ll be required to answer a series of multiple choice questions in the Clinical Knowledge part of the exam. During the Clinical Skills section, you’ll face a series of diagnostic challenges to further test your understanding.

As with USMLE Step 1, it is vital you start preparing for your USMLE Step 2 CK in good time. Make the most of your clinical rotations, as this is where you’ll apply your knowledge of basic sciences in a medical setting, which is the focus of the USMLE Step 2 CK. Scoring well on this exam on your first try will greatly enhance your ability to secure your desired residency placement.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for all applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents. In addition, it is strongly encouraged for all other applicants and specifically required from those students who meet any of the following three conditions:

• Students with outdated required science coursework (>5 years old) 
• Students who completed required science coursework at a community college 
• Students with “C” grades or lower in the required science courses 

SMUSOM’s MCAT code is 919. More information about the MCAT is available on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. 

Applicants can send SMUSOM their MCAT exam scores through the online THx system as soon as they are available at the AAMC.

Please review the upcoming MCAT test dates here.