January 2012


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Community Health Outreach

The Community Health Outreach and Family Studies Programme, takes place in Year Two of the five-year programme for medical students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine. The programme exposes students to an early clinical experience which many medical schools see as very important in the training of their students.

The programme provides students with an opportunity to meet “real” patients as opposed to “simulated patients,” early in their training. This enables them to confront some of the common public health issues which are present in the neighbouring communities. They are also able to practise their interviewing and communications skills.

Students meet in small groups with pregnant women in antenatal clinics in east Trinidad, afterwards they write two reflective pieces and a brief family study. Each year the best performing students are rewarded with certificates and book prizes.

Twenty students were specially recognised for their work in the last academic year. Ten were given certificates of excellence and three were given prizes. Two of the three prize-winning students (left) Shashi Maharaj (second prize) and Cara Mohammed (first prize) with Programme Coordinator Dr. Joan Rawlins.