Comments from the Class of 2010

STRENGTHS:

Great teaching. Excellent diversity of patients and pathology

LIKED BEST:

Everything that’s why I’m staying here.

STRENGTHS:

Outstanding and diverse clinical experience

Hands-on rotations

Relevant basic science education

Amazing research opportunities

LIKED BEST:

Great friendships

Clinical facilities

Mentorship by faculty

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

NYC is awesome

Other Students

STRENGTHS:

Upon graduation I am confident that I will enter residency prepared to handle patients on my first day. The reputation of the clinical experience holds true, and I am fortunate to have been its product. Students are given an excellent balance of responsibility and education which cultivates excellent physicians upon graduation.

LIKED BEST:

I have made lasting friendships with several students, all of which will make great doctors. This is a testament to Downstates’ admissions policies. The faculties were accommodating and easy to get along with. Education was valued, as was personal growth and development.

STRENGTHS:

Unparalleled clinical experience. Clinical faculty are terrific. General “air” of support

LIKED BEST:

Clinical clerkships. Student body

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

Patient diversity

Diversity of students

Some attendings

Autonomy as students

LIKED BEST:

Friends/colleagues

Patients

Autonomy

Basic science professors

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experiences

Very diverse class

Faculty are easy to communicate with and clinical preceptors were great educators

LIKED BEST:

Established great friendships and strong clinical background. As we start residency soon, we feel prepared to take on the challenges.

STRENGTHS:

Strengths at SUNY Downstate were the exposure to a variety of different pathology during clinical rotation and the involvement of the students in patient care.

LIKED BEST:

I liked the clinical rotations and the great involvement of the students in patient care.

STRENGTHS:

Rotating at Kings County

LIKED BEST:

Clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

Case based learning

Early clinical experience

MS3 clinical experience

Step 2 CS preparation at UMDNJ

Broad array of electives

Clinical mentors

LIKED BEST:

Diversity of student body

Campus activities

Convenience of residence halls

MS3 clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Superb clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Great education accompanied by a diverse student life and recreation

STRENGTHS:

Didactics during wards by fellows, residents and attendings

LIKED BEST:

Teaching

Hands-on clinical training

STRENGTHS:

The faculty is receptive to students.

The curriculum is innovative and accepting to change.

LIKED BEST:

I enjoyed the clinical exposure. After completing my rotations at Downstate, I felt competent when I compared my experience with colleagues at other schools.

The cafeteria is very nice. It’s important to have a great cafeteria when students are working so hard and good nutrition around this neighborhood is scarce.

STRENGTHS:

Cardiology block (2nd year)

Clinical experience in ERs

LIKED BEST:

Fellow students

Pediatric and ER clerkships

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations excellent hands on training

Patient population is warm and friendly

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience was extraordinary. The exposure and hands on training we got will serve us well in residency. We were also given a lot of autonomy

STRENGTHS:

Excellent clinical experience

Patient diversity

LIKED BEST:

Diversity of the students, hands-on clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

3rd and 4th year… being on the floors at downstate and KCH… very strong clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Creating sculpture based dissections for 1st year medical students & activity as far as instructions to teach anatomy

STRENGTHS:

Hands on Experience

Diverse Patient Population

Engaging Faculty

High Expectations from Faculty

Located in the best city in the world!!!

LIKED BEST:

ER Experiences

STRENGTHS:

The hands on experience was unparalleled. We got superior clinical training

and excellent clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

The student camaraderie

Opportunity for student involvement

Clinical exposure

Patient population/ pathology

STRENGTHS:

Openness of the faculty to improve curriculum and make it innovative

Exposure to vanity of the fields and facets of health care

LIKED BEST:
The friends I made

STRENGTHS:

The medical education was well structured, with frequent small group sessions and examinations. There was plenty of hands-on experience which allowed me to become more comfortable with medicine as a whole.

LIKED BEST:

Some rotations were an amazing learning experience, with excellent faculty who gave great instruction and real-world advice. The hands-on aspect was also excellent, and the faculty that gave students more of their input was excellent.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience, approachable deans

LIKED BEST:

Student body

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on learning

LIKED Best:

The friends

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on experience more so than other school

LIKED BEST:

Not much

STRENGTHS:

Small groups

Study sessions

LIKED BEST:

Academic development ~> Dr. Magzamen

STRENGTHS:

SUNY Downstate provides students with excellent opportunities to participate in patient care.; plus hands-on experience

LIKED BEST:

Experience working with a diverse population.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience and diversity

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience during 3rd and 4th year.

STRENGTHS:

-Community spirit – Supportive Deans

Hands-on exposure

LIKED BEST:

My classmates: A diverse, hard working, & friendly lot

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experiences

LIKED BEST:

Very supportive staff at student affairs.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years, autonomy on wards

LIKED BEST:

Classmates, camaraderie in class

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Opportunity to rotate at different schools in NY area (but downstate was best)

LIKED BEST:

Closeness amongst classmates

The strip

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

Friends and support

STRENGTHS:

Medicine clerkship at Kings County

LIKED BEST:

Friends

STRENGTHS:

Great clerkships, clinical learning interesting cases.

STRENGTHS:

Good clinical experience overall

Confident to function as intern after graduation

LIKED BEST:

Friendly environment, not cut-throat

Plenty of opportunity to pursue your career goals

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

The non-clinical, non-educational affairs like the ski trip, winter ball, student center activities, student faculty show.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years

LIKED BEST:

The great faculty support

STRENGTHS:

My clinical experience at Downstate was incredibly hands-on. I feel like I can confidently approach patients, assess problems and perform procedures like IVs, blood draws, ABG’s. At the same time I always felt I had the support of my residents despite having considerable autonomy for a med student. I developed a sense of responsibility and accountability for my patient’s care. I also heard multiple times on the interview trail that Downstate students are very well trained and capable. It is no doubt a result of this experience.

LIKED BEST:

My friends, the professors and medical faulty the incredibly hands-on clinical experience and the ability to be an active participant in patient care. The fact that we rotate through different hospitals and experience incredible diversity as a result.

STRENGTHS:

Great lectures

Strong clinical experiences

LIKED BEST:

Making friends

Getting to know faculty and staff

STRENGTHS:

Clinical education/experience

PRICE!

Diversity of student body

Diversity of patient population

LIKED BEST:

The cafeteria – sitting with professors and other students

STRENGTHS:

Clinical Experience

Good Instructors

LIKED BEST:

The price

Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience, approachability of faculty, faculty blended, knowledge, willingness to take time from schedules to teach

LIKED BEST:

The experience with faculty (willingness to teach, openness to students)

STRENGTHS:

Clinical exposure, teaching on the wards at LICH and SUNY

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Hands on clinical experience

Rotate through a variety of hospitals with wide variety of patients.

Faculty trust medical students

STRENGTHS:

Working and learning in a service-oriented hospital while enjoying the benefits of a diverse academic environment. A strong emphasis on working for the undeserved both domestically and internationally. The faculty and administration were fantastic in nurturing a global perspective on health, and they take pride in educating students with unique goals and perspectives

LIKED BEST:

The clinical experience of KCH and UHB were diverse, challenging, and interesting. I enjoyed working on the floors more than anything else. The administration is friendly and strong in supporting individual students

STRENGTHS:

The availability of mentors be the students; albeit students, faculty, associate professors, professionals in subspecialties or what have you….. There is always someone available to assist and /or mentor you through any endeavor/issue.

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience was the best. This included the shadowing experience starting with beginning courses of ECM.

STRENGTHS:

Diversity

University

NYC

Mentorship

LIKED BEST:

Prepared well for step 1 and step 2

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training, hands-on training

LIKED BEST:

Brooklyn, close proximity to Manhattan

Working in an urban setting

STRENGTHS:

The other students

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Location other students – supportive not competitive

STRENGTHS:

Patient interactions and clinical experience. Privilege to learn in such a patient/faculty diverse environment.

LIKED BEST:

3rd year rotations. I was able to rotate through about 10 hospitals in third year, gaining unmatched experience in clinical medicine.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training- treated like an intern on day 1 of medicine clerkship (maybe not great) but I guess I’m well prepared.

LIKED BEST:

NYC – lots to do in Manhattan if Park Slope

Approachable faculty

STRENGTHS:

Diversity – of patients, physicians, faculty, staff and fellow students

Accessibility of faculty – their commitment to our education was obvious throughout

Hands-on aspect of training – I always felt encouraged and that my getting involved was even essential

Small group sessions – CBLs, POPs, labs, - in such a big school any and all small group teaching/learning opportunities were essential

III block 2nd year & OB/GYN clerkship ~> best organized to maximize our learning. Also, outstanding faculty in charge.

Radiology elective – should be required of all

Primary care rotations – good experience to have, essential to our training

LIKED BEST:

Diversity – of patients, physicians, faculty, staff and fellow students

Accessibility of faculty – their commitment to our education was obvious throughout

Student Affairs – the deans and staff were supportive and available and helped me out a lot throughout my time here.

Hands-on aspect of training – I always felt encouraged and that my getting involved was even essential

The camaraderie among the students

STRENGTHS:

Patient and disease variety

Clinical experience, I was able to do a lot of procedures as a medical student

Research opportunities

LIKED BEST:

I loved the SUNY Downstate community, every time I had a problem the deans and doctors always helped out as much as they could!!!

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience 3rd & 4th years

Availability of peers in class

Diversity of class

Diversity of pt population/Brooklyn

LIKED BEST:

My peers

Opportunity to do service (Brooklyn Free Clinic) or research opportunities (MSKCC)

STRENGTHS:

Case Diversity

Autonomy for students on wards

Strong clinical experience

Dedicated faculty teaching

LIKED BEST:

Faculty teaching

Dedication of deans and staff to assist students in all processes throughout medical school.

STRENGTHS:

A lot of clinical experience that will prepare me well for residency

LIKED BEST:

The down-to-earth nature of everyone here. It’s easy to approach PhDs and MDs for guidance and advice. Possibly the strongest attribute is the diversity of the student body.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Floor duties

LIKED BEST:

My fellow classmates

Living in City

STRENGTHS:

Amazing clinical experience. Great responsibility as 3rd year student. Active part of a team, integral in patient care.

Great variety of diseases, pathology.

LIKED BEST:

The friends I made

The experiences I had during my clinical rotations

STRENGTHS:

The great student diversity and all the different/unique passions of each student. The clinical experience was great as students were intimately involved with patient care. There were physicians who cared for our educations and challenged us to pursue excellence.

During the first 2 years, there were great resources especially the product service, transcribing service, and academic development. The school has been open to change.

LIKED BEST:

As I said above, I truly enjoyed the student population here. The admissions committee did a great job.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical exposure

Patient population

Individual attendings and residents

LIKED BEST:

Autonomy in patient care

Meeting wonderful fellow students, residents, and attendings

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on experience

Opportunities for procedures

Autonomy

LIKED BEST:

Fantastic friends

Great educational experience

NYC life

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Diversity of pathology

STRENGTHS:

Clinical Experience!!!!

LIKED BEST:

MS 3 & MS 4 clinical experience!

Hands-on teaching

Winter ball, ski trips, camaraderie

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical exposure

Opportunity for many procedures

Extent of pathologic disease

LIKED BEST:

Friendly faculty

Working with Dean Terracina on Med council

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience at Downstate was very strong. Medicine rotations and Sub I at KCH were extremely hands on and educational.

LIKED BEST:

Downstate is a large urban institution. I loved the diversity of the staff, students and patients. Being an older “Non-traditional” student, I loved that I never felt out of place here and always felt a part of the Downstate community.

STRENGTHS:

MS3 & MS4 clinical experience

Patient diversity

Diversity of pathology

Autonomy as students

LIKED BEST:

See above

STRENGTHS:

Practical real world clinical experience and exposure to difficult work environments

LIKED BEST:

The students and faculty

STRENGTHS:

Loved 2nd and 3rd years

LIKED BEST:

Clinical clerkships

STRENGTHS:

Block-based curriculum

Clinical pathology witnessed is great

LIKED BEST:

Student body

STRENGTHS:

Clinical exposure

Breadth of Pathology

Chance to work as part of team

Chance to do procedures

Working @ multiple institutions

LIKED BEST:

The above

STRENGTHS:

I was able to have a lot of independence with my patients. It was good to be able to take care of them

LIKED BEST:

I liked seeing all the different pathology. Very educational.

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical exposure:

Increased responsibility of Pt. Care

Drawing Labs

Bedside Teaching

LIKED BEST:

Diverse student body

Great clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Clinical variety

STRENGTHS:

Proper exposure and clinical experience

Great attendings

Great training

LIKED BEST:

The patient exposure are clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

Autonomy

STRENGTHS:

Go getter atmosphere

Fosters hand-on experience

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience

Pathology

KCH and UHB