Medical school proposal will end up being another ‘fiasco’

LAST OF THREE PARTS

Any medical students who attend the proposed medical school in Saipan (if it ever became a reality) and discussed by former Consul General to the CNMI Julia Heidemann, will not be able to sit and take the required and mandatory U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and/or practice in the United States. If they can’t practice in the United States, why would anyone approve of them to practice in areas like the CNMI and Guam who have U.S. affiliations?

Some of the physicians from the island community, e.g., Drs. Lizama and Hofschnieder as well others, who received their degrees in medicine from medical schools based in the United States and fully accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education, should have been queried about “full potential” or “empty prospect” of this proposed medical school.

Moreover, what teaching hospitals would accept these medical students to do their “intern and residency” requirements? Would it be in the Philippines? There are no teaching hospitals in the CNMI. The closest bona fide medical school to Saipan that is accredited by LCME and has teaching hospitals in close proximity is the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine located in Honolulu, Hawaii. And since the students at this medical school proposed by Heidemann will not be able to secure accreditation due to the fact it is outside the domain of the United States and Canada, then their intern and residency training might be in question at hospitals in the State of Hawaii and their legitimacy as physicians might be in doubt by other genuine medical doctors and professionals that comprise the medical community.

The only accredited medical school in the Pacific approved by LCME is the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since Hawaii is one of the 50 states in the Union, it meets the criteria of being able to be considered for accreditation by LCME. Moreover, the UH School of Medicine has in place all of the necessary components necessary to maintain accreditation with LCME. As a matter of fact, the UH School of Medicine had just had their accreditation approved by LCME for another eight years.

The University of Guam is an established university that does not have a “medical school.” Although Guam is affiliated with the U.S. as a “territory,” it is not an official part of the 50 states. However, since the university is “accredited” by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for their undergraduate and graduate programs that do not lead to the degree of M.D., then the question that should be posed is, “Would LCME ever consider granting accreditation for the M.D. degree if UOG ever made the decision to pursue developing a medical school and could demonstrate that they could meet all of the accreditation criteria required by LCME?”

The Northern Marianas College is an accredited two-year college by WASC. It is not qualified to sponsor a four-year medical school simply because it is not a bona fide and established university like the University of California.

Prior to making any announcements about any plans for a legitimate medical school on Saipan, there should have been a “feasibility study” conducted by Drs. Johnny Y. and Grace Lim Fong, Gerardo A. Borromeo, and Julia Heidemann, to ascertain if the development and eventual creation of a medical school in Saipan would be realistic, pragmatic, and commensurate with any bona fide medical school accredited by LCME.

Since it is apparent that a feasibility study was not initiated by the abovementioned, then the most the island community can expect from this grandiose proposal is another “fiasco” similar to “Saipan University” and the “La Fiesta Gateway Project” that failed miserably subsequent to a total of $4.6 million that was spent for a physical structure that did virtually nothing for NMC, higher education in the CNMI, as well as the entire island community.

Another serious and important issue that must be raised is relative to the particulars involving “conflict of interest.” Since the CNMI government (Gov. Juan Babauta’s office) is now responsible for paying for the operational expenses and annual lease payment for La Fiesta, and the funds from the investors for the proposed medical school that will be utilized to pay the lease of the physical structure are to be given to the proprietors of the land who are direct relatives to the governor, then one might question whether the arrangement is in line with what an organization like Liaison Committee on Medical Education stipulates in their accreditation guidelines, i.e., no personal or pecuniary interest, or other conflict of interest, in the operation of the school. Attorneys for LCME should have been consulted on this very serious issue.

Gov. Babauta’s legal counsel told the media that the Fong’s business proposal is “very promising.” Since the CNMI government is now paying the tab for the operation and 20-year lease payment of nearly $1 million a year, then it would only be “promising” for those family members of the governor who happen to be the owners of the land where the La Fiesta Mall sits.

The cliché of “putting the cart before the horse” is once again being presented, via the governor and his political cronies, to the good people who comprise the island community. Presenting another idea regarding higher education involving a program leading to an M.D. without conducting any credible research and subsequently providing “all” the relevant facts to the community where the proposed medical school is to be erected reflects leadership that is lacking in pragmatic vision.

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, California