Changing trends of medical school curriculum, effect of technology and role of libraries: a case study at the Caribbean medical schools

摘要

It is an era of ‘Gen Next’ and those seeking admission into a professional school are millennium students. The medical school curriculum in US and Caribbean is going through toughest reviews and scrutiny. It keeps on refocusing regularly. The technological advances that have influenced medical education have created demands for suitable shift in the curriculum of medical schools from traditional to incorporate several aspects like evidence-based medicine. The libraries are trying to keep up with changing trends in medical education to acquire all that is needed to support teaching, research, and healthcare. Off-shore medical schools, irrespective of what the LCME, the AMA and the AAMC consider of these, are crucial part of US medical system which largely depends on the graduates of these schools to fill the physician void by allowing them to enter the mainstream of American medical system. Since the establishment of the first medical school in one of the Caribbean states - Cuba in early part of the 18th century; and later at Montserrat in 1978, at Dominica in 1979, medical schools in other Caribbean islands are being established on a regular basis. Each medical school in the Caribbean region has adopted a typical curriculum that it feels will prepare students to be better qualified, knowledgeable, and skilled professionals. Most of schools in the Caribbean region do have a excellent library system offering traditional as well as state-of-the-art services - digital and web-based. However, there are a few among these that lack a sound library system to augment medical education and teaching. The author gives brief account of his experiences in the establishment of health sciences libraries at the two different medical school, which are now considered as the major schools in Caribbean region. This article narrates the efforts, challenges, and problems encountered while establishing and upgrading libraries to the acceptable International standards.