Blue Marble University
School of Medicine
40 Hillsborough Street
Roseau, 00152
Commonwealth of Dominica
http://bluemarbleuniversitymedicalschool.com
https://bluemarbleuniversitymedicalschool.wordpress.com
Our Curriculum is dynamic and changes regularly as upgrades and new courses may be added or deleted at any time without notice. Also, the order of courses presented during the program may change due to grouping of students and due to Faculty availability.
Two MD Programs are shown:
(1) Our regular 3 year online Doctor of Medicine degree for college graduates;
(2) Our 5 year combined online Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine Degree for High School Graduates
3 Year Online Doctor of Medicine Curriculum
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Title of Program: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) |
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Year 1: Term 1 |
| Anatomy and Physiology: The study of the human body and its parts. Structure and functions of organs and tissues, nerve and muscle feedback mechanisms, biological defense mechanisms. Also covered in depth is Blood-Typing, fractionation, and physiology. 3 Credits |
| Molecular Biology and Introduction to Cancer Biology-First half of course covers the synthesis, structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, and fatty acids, including the structure and function of mitochondrial DNA. Second half of course considers the biology of cancer, growth signals, blood vessel growth, and metastases. 3 Credits |
| Epidemiology/Biostatistics – The study of clusters of disease and methods of establishing causation. Statistical methods of interpreting clinical data to determine for example if a particular drug therapy is effective to a statistical probability. 3 Credits |
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Term 2 |
| Medical Immunology-The physical, chemical, and physiological characteristics of the human immune system, in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Humoral and cellular immune response, autoimmune disease, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency, and transplant rejection. Also covered is the immunology of fetal stem cells and fetal cell transplantation, the immunology aspects of autologous stem cell transplantation, and embryonic stem cell transplantation. 3 Credits |
| Pathology (1)- General: General Pathology topics include Cellular response to injury, inflammation, Hemodynamic disorders, Diseases of the Immune System, Neoplasia, Infectious disease. 3 Credits |
| Pathology (2) – Systemic: Topics include Blood Vessels, Heart, Diseases of White Blood Cells, Lung, Pancreas, Urinary Tract, Bones, Skin, Eye. 3 Credits |
| Term 3 |
| Clinical Medicine – This course presents the elements of taking a patient “history”, and performing “physical examination”. We review the basic steps based upon what symptoms or complaints the patient presents with. This course establishes taking the patient history as the heart of clinical medicine, and though the student may not be involved directly with patient treatment, these elementary concepts are central to good medical management. 3 Credits |
| Clinical Skills-Here we continue with the foundation in “patient encounter” covered in the previous Clinical Medicine course, and concentrate on the use of basic medical examination equipment and patient interaction, through the presentation of instructive “how to” videos as well as additional study materials. Also included in this course is a study of Skin-Dermatology and Cosmetic Techniques. We emphasize Aesthetic Dermatology, which generally relies on the use of various medical equipment such as lasers to achieve a result without the use of surgery. In many countries, aesthetic dermatology clinics are operated by non-physicians, or alternatively, rely largely on technical staff trained in the use of equipment by the manufacturer. Also included are the new procedures with stem cell injections to the face and other facial rejuvenation techniques. 3 Credits |
| System Disorders -In this course we will look at disease presentations at the patient level. We will use one of the most popular and most widely used training texts in the world, Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine. Selected chapters are covered that involve the systems irregularities most often presented in the family practice or out patient clinic. 3 Credits |
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Year 2: Term 1 |
| Stem Cell Biology – The course begins with an overview of stem cells and the early history of embryonic stem cell research. We then proceed to a review of the techniques of using stem cells derived from human fetal tissue, and what diseases can be particularly controlled or cured. The course also includes a review of the current status of human embryonic stem cell treatments, why the international medical community has abandoned its interest in using embryonic stem cells, and also covering the two major drawbacks to embryonic stem cell therapy: Tendency toward proliferation (differentiation), making stem cells almost impossible to control once injected into another body, resulting in a differentiated cell ball of many types referred to as a teratoma; and the problem of cell rejection due to having “foreign” cell membrane antigenic determinants requiring a patient to take immune suppressing drugs. 3 Credits |
| Autologous Stem Cell Therapy- The course covers international treatments available using autologous stem cells (collected from the patient). The primary international treatment centers are reviewed. The mechanism of action is studied. The purpose of the course is to bring to light the many curative techniques being used internationally, such as the repair of severed spinal cord using neural stem cells isolated from the patients nose. It is hoped that the student can gain insight to the fact that these current international treatments are no longer “hypothetical”, and hopefully will inspire the students to generate their own ideas for future work in their careers 3 Credits. |
| Mixed Cell Regenerative Medicine and the 21st Century Cures Act-The Law Authorizing Stem Cell Treatments in the United States. The course further develops the student’s understanding of developing practices in the US, focusing on the fact that most stem cell procedures involved mixed cell types, as well as the new companion therapies involving Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stromal Vascular Fractions (SVF). 3 Credits. |
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Term 2 |
| Stem Cell Therapy Without the Stem Cells: This course, added for 2024, presents the new methods of stem cell therapy which seek to stimulate dormant stem cells in situ, using light sources and the new High Dose Light Activated PRP preps for systemic (IV) therapy. 3 Credits. |
| Medical Laboratory Techniques- Rather than presenting a cook-book style rendition of numerous laboratory tests, the course covers basic set up of a medical lab, types of tests done, how some representative medical lab tests are performed, and manual vs automated blood analysis, Laboratory values and Concentrations. 3 Credits |
| Pharmacology and Pharmacy – Distinction between Pharmacy and Pharmacology, drug names and classes, generic drugs, bio-identical hormones, steroids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, pharmacy dispensing, compounding pharmacies, therapeutics. Included is a study of Hormone Replacement therapy including Bio-Identical Hormones. 3 Credits |
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Term 3 |
| Medical Embryology, Obstetrics and Gynecology– The course is challenging in its undertaking. For the Medical Embryology section: Consideration of the development of a complete organism from a single fertilized zygote, with emphasis on the development and identification of human stem cells. The course covers differentiation, types of early developmental cells, in vitro fertilization, the development of blast cells and germ layers, as well as the development of antigenic determinants as related to fetal stem cells. The Obstetrics and Gynecology portion is more clinically oriented toward issues of the sort encountered in a general practice, with emphasis on complications of child birth, as well as vaginal infections and vaginal cancer. Typical equipment for an OB/GYN practice is reviewed. 3 Credits |
| Infectious Disease- The 4 main types of infectious agents are studied: Bacteria, Virus, Fungus, Parasites, including some aspects of infection at the molecular level, as well as clinical presentations and treatments. 3 Credits |
| Pediatrics and Family Medicine- Case studies and patient health encounters typical of a pediatric and family practice clinic. May include overview of a family practice clinic and/or introduction to critical care medicine. 3 Credits |
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Year 3 Term 1 |
| Forensic Medicine – The student studies: Blunt force and Physical Trauma, Environmental Accidents, Drug Abuse and Poisoning, Trauma with Sharp Instruments, Firearms Injuries, Biological Evidence for Time of Death. 3 Credits |
| Research- Basic and Clinical– Cell culturing, the Scientific Method, analysis of research papers, Form and citation, Clinical Trials, Single Patient Clinical Trial, Institutional Review Board Trial, off label and compassionate use trial. 3 Credits |
| Alternative Medicine – Introduction to the growing field of alternative medicine, by which we mean the alternative to allopathic medicine as practiced today in most countries. Allopathic medicine is what is taught in medical schools and revolves around medicines and procedures to effectuate “cures” or control disease. This course introduces alternative approaches toward healing including botanical medicine and herbology, including transdermal and patch technology for delivering botanicals. Example botanicals such as Cannabidiol and Kratom (Thai Red Baca) for pain, are studied in depth. 3 Credits |
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Term 2 |
| Medical Negligence Claims and Procedures- All about medical malpractice, standard of care, malpractice insurance, going without insurance, techniques for risk management at various levels (individual, clinic, small hospital). 3 Credits |
| Medical Insurance and Coding- Medical insurance from the health care provider vantage point. Software for medical coding and billing of insurer by health care provider, non-payment by insurer, pre-approvals. 3 Credits |
| Medical History and Records Management- Medical history and records are revisited from the angle of storage, indexing, retrieval, regulatory compliance and privacy. 3 Credits |
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Term 3 |
| Medical Devices- A special part of the practice of medicine and the development of new procedures is the highly regulated field of medical devices, which are mechanical and other devices used in medical practice. The field is studied with representative examples, and an overview of regulatory control is presented. 3 credits |
| Radiology and Imaging- x-ray, CAT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and other equipment is reviewed as to type of data obtained with representative examples and with emphasis on clinical practice. 3 Credits |
| Hospital Management- The practice of medicine is summarized in terms of practice management, as well as essentials of Hospital Management. The program is closed out with a presentation of setting up a small clinic, equipment leasing and financing, appropriate computer systems, and employment procedures. 3 Credits |
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Total Number of Trimester Credits: 81 |
Notes to 3 year Online MD Degree Program:
(1) Credits: Credits are assigned following the U.S. Standard Credit Conversion System. The program comprises 81 trimester credits, and consequently is equivalent to the minimum 60 semester credits for a doctoral degree (such as a PhD or DSc) from a USA regionally accredited college or university. Fifteen (15) clock hours of lectures and academic study equal one (1) Semester Credit. One Trimester Credit equals 5/6 semester credit.
(2) Grading: In this program, a grade of B- or better (at least 80 out of 100 points) is required to pass each and every course in the program. Students who do not pass each and every course cannot graduate, nor do they receive credit for any courses that are not passed. Students who receive credit for any individual course due to past education or publications, are awarded the full credit for that course and a Grade of A (95/100).
(3) Our MD Doctoral Degree is generally considered equivalent to a Regionally Accredited Doctoral Degree (such as a PhD or DSc) from a USA College or University in terms of credits earned: Blue Marble University is foreign (international) educational institution operating from the Commonwealth of Dominica. Foreign education can qualify students for employment and other positions in the U.S.A., when the student’s educational credentials are approved by a professional foreign education credentials service.. Because this program is equivalent to that of a regionally accredited doctoral degree (PhD or DSc) from a USA college or university, based upon the minimum trimester credits of 72, upon completion of the full program, and for a nominal fee, it is expected that graduates should be able to obtain a Certificate of Equivalency from a professional foreign education credentials evaluator. This is not guaranteed and depends on the student’s presentation and the Reviewer. Of course, our program, lacking hands on clinical training, will never be deemed equivalent to an accredited MD degree; however in some instances our program has been deemed “equivalent academically” to a US Medical Degree. Graduates may not practice clinical medicine and ordinarily will not qualify for any licensing as any health care provider, depending on your country.
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Fast Track Combination Bachelor of Science (B.S.)/ Doctor of Medicine(M.D.)
5 Year program which you can enter right after High School
This program introduces the student to basic biology concepts and then proceeds into the regular 3 year online MD doctoral program show above.
We operate on a trimester schedule, which means that our academic year is divided into 3 segments of 4 months each. In each 4 month period, students take three courses. For some terms, or as determined by the University, students may be assigned courses in sequence, lasting about 1 month each. In that event, for any approximate one month period, a student will be studying one course.
Years 1 and 2 are Used for the Bachelor Degree Part of the Program
(See our note at the end relating to seat time)
Note: Our Bachelor of Science Degree is only issued upon completion of the entire 5 year program. We do not offer a B.S. Degree except in combination with the 3 year MD degree
After satisfactory completion of the first two years curriculum, the student then joins our regular medical students at the Blue Marble University School of Medicine, and follows the 3 year online curriculum for the MD degree that is shown above for our 3 year online MD degree.
A Note Concerning Undergraduate Degree and “Seat Time”:
As we have stated before, we drop “seat time” from each and every one of our programs. All of our students must demonstrate “Proficiency” with regard to the subject matter of their studies. Consequently, our programs are shorter.
“Seat time”, which is the foundation of “accreditation” in the USA, is the old fashioned, outdated requirement that a student spend a required amount of time (usually 4 years) and/or take required general studies courses in order to receive a Bachelors Degree. Even the USA Department of Education in its “National Education Technology Plan 2010” has recognized that “seat time” has got to go. At Page 12 of the report: “One of the most basic assumptions in our education system [accreditation] is time-based or “seat-time” measures of educational attainment…. [colleges and universities should be organized] around competence rather than seat time and others that enable more flexible scheduling that fits studentsʼ individual needs rather than traditional academic periods and lockstep curriculum pacing.”
We reject “seat time”. Our program is organized to achieve competence, and the undergraduate portion of this combination BS/MD degree program is designed to be the runway for entry into the 3 year online MD program.
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Blue Marble University Medical School 