Alameda woman becomes doctor with help from Cuba

[Mika]

Source: Mercury News

There is one thing Kenya Bingham lacks that most newly minted doctors have -- more than their share of: debt.

Instead of attending a U.S. program where the average graduate leaves $115,000 in debt, the Alameda native went to medical school in Havana, becoming one of the first U.S. citizens to graduate from the free program sponsored by the Cuban government.

The program is called the Latin American School of Medicine, an internationally certified medical school that started in 1999 to help Latin American countries devastated by hurricanes Mitch and Georges.

Along with eight fellow U.S. citizens (three from California, four from New York and one from Minnesota), Bingham studied medicine with a full scholarship.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/alamedacounty/ci_7157646

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Bravo to Cuba for this program that has trained thousands of doctors - preparing them for service to poor communities. They are able to do so because they are without tuition debt






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[Captain Hilts]

1. I'm not letting her examine me......nt

[hlthe2b]

2. Nice, knee jerk response...

:eyes:

I'll bet she'll do a more thorough physical exam and pay more attention to prevention issues than most of our very haried physicians in this country....Your assumptions otherwise are noted.

[Billy Burnett]

3. These students still have to pass their board exams and internships.

They will be as qualified as any US doctor.

[niyad]

5. you clearly forgot the sarcasm thingy, didn't you?

[bobbolink]

9. your loss

And a fine example of clinging to sterotypes.

Good move for a "liberal"

[Judi Lynn]

4. Who on earth would NOT see the importance of a program like this, for chrissakes?

Many DU'ers have been following the articles available on this idea since it was developed several years ago. This is simply extraordinary. From the article:

Minorities made up only 12 percent of medical school population in the United States in 2003, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The 29-year-old African-American Bingham said she was determined to be a doctor with or without the free program.

But combining her love for Spanish with her goal of becoming a doctor was like a dream come true, Bingham said while surrounded by friends and family at a graduation celebration Saturday in Oakland.

"It seemed like it was almost too good to be true," she said in describing how she found out six years ago during a study-abroad program in Barbados that she had been accepted.

Weeks later, she was on her way. She never had time to apply to other medical schools.

The only catch to the Latin American Medical School was a nonbinding agreement that students commit to working two years in a public health clinic in underserved communities in their countries.

Bingham said she didn't need more than the verbal commitment she made to pursue public health.

"Why wouldn't I want to serve people who need health care?"
(snip)

Thanks, Mika!

[Whisp]

6. k&r!

o those filthy commies!
:sarcasm:

[AspenRose]

8. Cuba is willing to invest in American talent when Americans aren't

willing to invest in their own, often due to race or economic status.

Good for her.

[bobbolink]

11. Weeelllllll, the US??

We can't get our act together to see the importance of such a program. We leave it to 3rd world countries to initiate. :(

It's only a two year commitment??? Wow... that is so minimal! I sure hope most of the doctors continue long after that to serve those who are most in need!

Yes, thanks, Mika!

And, thanks Dr. Bingham!

And, thanks Cuba!

:applause:

[Whisp]

7. to the top.

[bobbolink]

10. I'm really sorry I didn't see this in time for a recommend!

This is such an important program... 8 graduates from the US this year, and 80-something more students there!

:applause: