Comments from the Class of 2011

STRENGTHS:

Clinical Experience

LIKED BEST:

Diverse Student Body

STRENGTHS:

Good amount of autonomy

Variety of patient pathology

Attendings with strong conviction about patient care

LIKED BEST:

Caring people

STRENGTHS:

Tons of hands-on experience

Brooklyn

LIKED BEST:

3rd year rotations were great

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical training that prepares you for anything

LIKED BEST:

I liked that I became a part of Brooklyn during my time there, living in its neighborhoods, traveling to its hospitals, learning about and treating its people.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical, Diversity, Cost

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Autonomy with patient treatment and care

LIKED BEST:

The students

STRENGTHS:

LIKED BEST:

Support system

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Graduation

STRENGTHS:

Clerkships

LIKED BEST:

Clerkships

STRENGTHS:

The academic staff

LIKED BEST:

The people and the diverse patient population

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Autonomy

Patient population & pathology

LIKED BEST:

People/students

Clinical experience

Brooklyn!

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience & exposure

LIKED BEST:

ER clerkship

Clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

There was a strong emphasis on practical medicine and clinical skills. I also feel well trained in small procedures that will be important during residency, such as phlebotomy, simple suturing, and IV placement.

LIKED BEST:

I felt the majority of the class were warm, supportive people. It was really a pleasure to study with them in the first two years and work with them during clerkships during the second two years.

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical education

LIKED BEST:

Meeting my husband

STRENGTHS:

Array of teaching methods (small groups, CBL, labs, etc.) during the first 2 years

Strength of clinical training in 3rd and 4th year

Large amount of clinical elective options

Ability to work within an underserved community

Availability of academic support systems (tutoring, counseling, etc.)

LIKED BEST:

Diversity of student body

Learning from experienced and dedicated faculty

Student and institutional support for improving campus life and facilitating club activities

Working in the Brooklyn community (e.g. Brooklyn Free Clinic and other volunteer opportunities)

Meeting my spouse

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical education at an affordable cost.

Diversity of patient population signified diverse cases which I believe will ultimately prepare me well for residency.

LIKED BEST:

My classmates, including the underclassmen, made medical school one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. Downstate really knows how to select interesting, fun, and down-to-earth students.

STRENGTHS:

Early clinical exposure and preparation for residency.

LIKED BEST:

Student life & activities.

STRENGTHS:

I think the most faculty members care to do a good job and are receptive to constructive criticism. I like that slides and transcripts and podcasts are available for current and previous years

Availability of staff for help.

Hands-on clinical experience

Tutoring

LIKED BEST:

A huge benefit and what I liked most is the hands-on experience you get at our facilities. Kings County Hospital and Downstate really allow students to be a useful member of the team. I rotated with students from other schools and they do not have the same skill set. Bursar’s office is so friendly

STRENGTHS:

Good clinical exposure

Hands-on clinical training

Great pathology

LIKED BEST:

Great pathology

STRENGTHS:

Diverse class

Independent hands-on experience

Good teachers

LIKED BEST:

Above.

Plus student- led activities, i.e. Brooklyn Free Clinic & Stories Forum.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years, Student life

LIKED BEST:

Diversity, Quality of teachers

STRENGTHS:

Very hands-on

A lot of patient contact

LIKED BEST:

Working with patients

STRENGTHS:

Great teachers

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

LIKED BEST:

Colleagues

STRENGTHS:

Faculty and the clinical experience were unmatched relative to other facilities. The Downstate community harbored a sense of family bond which would last past graduation.

LIKED BEST:

I loved the wealth of information and the faculty’s ability to simplify abstract concepts.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations

LIKED BEST:

Opportunities to tutor/teach

STRENGTHS:

The faculty really cared about imparting the necessary information clearly and concisely.

LIKED BEST:

The clinical years were excellent for learning the realities of in-patient medicine.

STRENGTHS:

Very hands-on clinical experience

Well rounded education

LIKED BEST:

Pleasant faculty and staff

Organized curriculum and clerkships

STRENGTHS:

Diversity of the students and faculty. The great emphasis on serving this community.

LIKED BEST:

 I like the wonderful people in the neighborhood. They appreciate doctors and students alike.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

Diversity of patient population

Clinical autonomy

LIKED BEST:

 Friendships with fellow classmates and underclassmen, living in NYC.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience at Kings County Hospital & SUNY Downstate

Student life opportunities

Research opportunities

LIKED BEST:

Student life activities

STRENGTHS:

Amazing clinical experience and preparation to be a resident. We get to see a variety of pathologies in a variety of situations

LIKED BEST:

 The variety of clinical experiences - we have several hospital sites from which to choose to do our clinical rotations, and so I was able to work with a very diverse patient population (ethnically diverse, socioeconomically diverse and geographically diverse).

STRENGTHS:

Very fact and detailed-oriented

LIKED BEST:

Enjoying NYC in my spare time

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experiences on the floor

LIKED BEST:

Students given a lot of responsibility regarding patient care

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Hands-on experience during clinical years

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations

Small groups (CBL’s)

LIKED BEST:

My fellow classmates (diversity of age, experiences, backgrounds, etc.)

Living & working in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical experience with a lot of hands-on training

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

The hands on experience of patients

LIKED BEST:

 My medicine rotation- learning about hospitalists

STRENGTHS:

Great training

Lots of responsibility means great training

LIKED BEST:

The extensive hands-on training

The friendly environment

The nice staff/students

STRENGTHS:

Both private & public hospital exposure

Various affiliated sites throughout city

Early clinical exposure

Rotations at various hospitals, giving a broad spectrum of patients and exposing students to various hospital systems (private and public)

Opportunities to participate in research (clinical or bench work)

LIKED BEST:

Early clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

Downstate helps foster independence and confidence. I felt that the program was rigorous and demanding but in the end I felt confident about my knowledge and the skills I acquired. The Financial Aid department is wonderful and willing to help students budget and find resources.

LIKED BEST:

I met many wonderful professionals, including students and faculty. I liked the office of Academic Development. This is a wonderful resource that allowed you to borrow books for your clerkships and helped you meet your academic goals.

STRENGTHS:

Learning to be independent

Rigorous program

Financial Aid Department

Academic Development

Registrar’s office – two of the staff members are very helpful

LIKED BEST:

Rotations at Kings County/ working with interns & residents

My fellow students

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Warm atmosphere

Great clinical years experience

Diverse population of students and patients

LIKED BEST:

Able to go to a school and meet a lot of great people

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience

Students

STRENGTHS:

For me the most significant strength of my education at Downstate was the clinical training. The bedside teaching during the third and fourth years, the diversity of pathology, hands-on procedure training, and the appropriate level of autonomy given to students all contributed to a uniquely great clinical education.

 LIKED BEST:

Other medical students who were wonderful friends and colleagues, some very talented attendings with a passion for teaching, and the location in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Patient interactions

Diversity of locations (Downstate, Kings County, Maimonides, Lutheran, Long Island College Hospital, Lenox Hill)

Currently in Thailand for developing countries elective

Hands-on training (placing IV’s, blood draws, even got to try a LP)

ER training was awesome

Medicine was awesome both because of the wide range of pathology seen

Downstate is pretty open to starting new projects and moderately receptive to the student voice. But I found good support in starting programs and projects. This allowed me to supplement my own and others’ education with topics of interest.

LIKED BEST:

The other students were very friendly, and not very competitive or arrogant. Diverse backgrounds of students. Got very good at self-directed learning.

STRENGTHS:

… I’m excellent at bedside procedures and getting things done on my own. I feel very self-sufficient, in a hospital setting

LIKED BEST:

Residents always fostered learning environment & were willing to

grant independence

STRENGTHS:

Talented faculty

Diversity of patients

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Community service

Hands-on training

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Fellow students

Patients with severe diseases

Rotating at different hospitals

Traveling abroad in Global Health Elective

LIKED BEST:

Students

Brooklyn

Openness to student ideas/activities

STRENGTHS:

Diversity of classmates

Clinical independence on wards

Location

State tuition

LIKED BEST:

Friends created

STRENGTHS:

Diversity of the patient population

Openness of the faculty

Affiliations with multiple hospitals

LIKED BEST:

The camaraderie

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on experience

LIKED BEST:

Living in NY

Hands-on experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Other students

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

The clinical education

Location in Brooklyn & NYC

The great diversity

Excellent bedside teaching

LIKED BEST:

The clinical years

My elective abroad

STRENGTHS:

Clinical studies

LIKED BEST:

Peds Neuro elective

Good teachers

STRENGTHS:

In NYC area

Close to home & family

Value

LIKED BEST:

The friends I made

STRENGTHS:

Institution is strong in the basic sciences

Faculty are easily approachable

LIKED BEST:

Clinical opportunities during the 3rd & 4th years allowed for procedural involvement in patient care that were not evident from discussions with other med students from other institutions.

STRENGTHS:

Patient exposure

Variety of cases

Very interesting cases

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

The diverse & unique patient population

STRENGTHS:

Patient population

Case based learning

Clinical Rotations & hands-on experience

LIKED BEST:

Clinical rotations

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience & responsibilities during clinical years.

LIKED BEST:

The students & advanced responsibilities placed on students

STRENGTHS:

Clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

Clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

You get good clinical experience because of the volume of patients, and you graduate without the huge amount of debt that you would get from going to a private school.

LIKED BEST:

There wasn't someone looking over your shoulder all the time you did have some independence.

STRENGTHS:

Cost was good

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

The clerkships

STRENGTHS:

The people. The deans and advisors as well as the nice staff at the bursar’s office. There were also a host of faculty members and residents who provided great examples and personal care.

LIKED BEST:

The personal relationships. The people

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experiences

Sense of community among students and faculty

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experiences at University Hospital at Brooklyn & Kings County Hospital

Anatomy & Step 1 tutors

Extracurricular activity opportunities

Elective options

Opportunity to do MPH dual degree

LIKED BEST:

The amazing people in my class, from so many different backgrounds & with so many talents

The advisors & teachers in my specialty

Location in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Good clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

The friends I made

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

Diverse community

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on education

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

The strengths of the medical education at SUNY Downstate are the clinical years especially the medicine rotation at Kings County/Downstate. It was highly structured with just enough didactics and clinical experience. The residents and attending really spent a great deal of time teaching students and didn't just give us unnecessary busy work and ignore us the rest of the time.

LIKED BEST:

My favorite aspect of SUNY Downstate were my fellow medical students. They are an extremely diverse, bright, and warm group of people. Unlike college, fellow students always tried to help each other out and never tried to hurt one another.

STRENGTHS:

The superb level of medical experience obtained. This allowed me to refine my medical skills

LIKED BEST:

The location and being able to help underrepresented community

STRENGTHS:

Good clinical experience

Urban setting

LIKED BEST:

Good education & preparation

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training on the wards

LIKED BEST:

Warm, friendly, study body

STRENGTHS:

Patient population

Hands-on rotations

LIKED BEST:

Location

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experience.

LIKED BEST:

Learning in the clinical setting was top notch.

STRENGTHS:

The clinical exposure and the hands-on experience with exposure to many

multi-disciplinary areas of diseases

LIKED BEST:

Working with classmates who will also be lasting friends in a common field.

STRENGTHS:

Unparalleled clinical exposure

Significant but appropriate responsibility as a medical student

Responsive faculty

Down-to-earth cool classmates with lives outside of medicine

LIKED BEST:

Getting to know my classmates

Exploring Brooklyn

Volunteering at the free clinic

My international elective during 4th year

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

My classmates

STRENGTHS:

The clinical years with the plethora of very ill patients, have prepared me well for residency

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Meeting great friends

STRENGTHS:

Strong education and academics

A lot of hands-on experience

LIKED BEST:

The experiences during the clerkships

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience- great hands –on training and exposure to a variety of conditions/illnesses

There is an emphasis on teaching

LIKED BEST:

The clinical experience and the great/friendly people I have been privileged to come across.

STRENGTHS:

Teaching and clinical experience during rotations

LIKED BEST:

The attendings and pathology seen

STRENGTHS:

Great hands-on clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

See above

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on experience and working with people from different cultural backgrounds.

LIKED BEST:

The friends I made.

STRENGTHS:

The faculty and wide variety of patient population

LIKED BEST:

The exposure to different patient populations

STRENGTHS:

Great teachers/attendings

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Colleagues

STRENGTHS:

Diversity of the affiliate hospitals

LIKED BEST:

Clinical rotations

STRENGTHS:

LIKED BEST:

Rotations

STRENGTHS:

LIKED BEST:

That I will get my MD degree

STRENGTHS:

Study skills

Dedications

Personality

LIKED BEST:

Diverse people

STRENGTHS:

Interesting cases

Good street food

I matched

LIKED BEST:

I met some good friends and got to experience NYC

STRENGTHS:

Diverse student population from a range of geographic, academic & ethnic backgrounds.

Hospitals that belong to, serve & reflect our community & patient population

Openness to & interest in a dynamic, modern curriculum- both during my time (CBL-integrated, systems-based) and for the future.

Large student population provided endless extra-curricular & service opportunities.

LIKED BEST:

Meeting classmates, coworkers & patients.

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical teaching

Diverse patient care

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

Diversity of patients and opportunity to do so much as a medical student

LIKED BEST:

Opportunities to teach-tutoring

Academic support

STRENGTHS:

Our faculty and research opportunities

LIKED BEST:

Every moment

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience, clinical experience, and… clinical experience. Downstate has definitely prepared me to tackle any task, and manage even the most complicated patients. I had interviewers on the residency interview trail tell me how much they liked getting Downstate students into their program because we are efficient, learn quickly and can handle a high patient load without a problem.

LIKED BEST:

The people around me- my class, classes above and below mine, and most faculty (especially clinical faculty) down-to-earth, really great people that I’ve been glad to be surrounded by and work with.

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience at Downstate exceeded my expectations. It was great to have independence while at the same time having a team to help you along the way.

LIKED BEST:

The people that you work with was my favorite part about Downstate. Your classmates are always willing to help and your attendings and residents are willing to teach you.

STRENGTHS:

Teaching

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical rotation experience

Solid basic science foundation

LIKED BEST:

Great mix of people in our class

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

My peers

STRENGTHS:

LIKED BEST:

Quality education

Exceptional faculty

STRENGTHS:

Clinical Diversity

Dedication of teachers/faculty/staff

Location in Brooklyn

LIKED BEST:

Great students, camaraderie between colleagues

STRENGTHS:

Good hands-on clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years MS3 & MS4 were the best. Loads of patient exposure. Got to see & do & learn a lot.

LIKED BEST:

MS3 and MS4 years (see above)

STRENGTHS:

Clinical curriculum second to none. Did away rotations at nearby schools and found I had much more hands-on experience than other students at my level.

LIKED BEST:

I was given nearly full responsibility for my patients. Really got a great feel for what residency will be like.

STRENGTHS:

Extensive patient contact

LIKED BEST:

Location- close to home

STRENGTHS:

Clinical

LIKED BEST:

Clinical

STRENGTHS:

Clinical Exposure

LIKED BEST:

Diversity of patient population

STRENGTHS:

The clinical exposure to diverse population of patients & ability to get hands-on exposure

LIKED BEST:

Diverse pathology of the patient population & variety of clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical exposure

LIKED BEST:

The people and Brooklyn itself

STRENGTHS:

Basic science years were great, but the clinical years were even better!

LIKED BEST:

Classmates, I have met great people at Downstate

STRENGTHS:

Teaching

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Classmates

Clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations

LIKED BEST:

The rotations, Kings County Hospital & my classmates

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical education

Diversity of student body and patient population

LIKED BEST:

I found the clinical years much more engaging than the Pre-clinical years. Faculty support within my chosen specialty was also superb

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experiences beyond my expectations and beyond those experienced by my peers at other schools

LIKED BEST:

See above

STRENGTHS:

Very hands-on

Excellent clinical exposure

Diverse pathology

Solid teaching attending

LIKED BEST:

Close to NYC

Clinical exposure

STRENGTHS:

Great exposure to clinical aspects of medicine

Extent & variety of pathology

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience during 3rd & 4th years

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical education

LIKED BEST:

Strong clinical education

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Friends made

STRENGTHS:

Diverse pathology

Cost

Great classmates

LIKED BEST:

See above

STRENGTHS:

Case Based Learning (CBL)

LIKED BEST:

 Clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experience and education.

You get a lot of freedom and learn hands-on in the hospital.

LIKED BEST:

Downstate picks great people. Each class has so many nice, eager, and fun students.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical education

LIKED BEST:

The people

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical education

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Living in NYC

Meeting future wife

STRENGTHS:

Great faculty: professors were very available

Very student oriented

LIKED BEST:

Fellow classmates

STRENGTHS:

Clinical rotations

LIKED BEST:

Brooklyn

Learning about West Indian population

Clinical rotations

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Hands-on with patients

No competition with classmates

LIKED BEST:

Clinical training

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical experience on the wards

LIKED BEST:

Time spent rotating through different hospitals

My fellow classmates

STRENGTHS:

Unparalleled clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

The abundance of hands-on education

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years

LIKED BEST:

Intense training

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experiences at Downstate/Kings County Hospital

LIKED BEST:

 Living in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Strong hands-on experience

LIKED BEST:

The camaraderie

STRENGTHS:

Kings County Hospital

LIKED BEST:

 Being in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Diverse student/faculty body

LIKED BEST:

Clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience & learning how to interact with nurses

LIKED BEST:

Living in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Patient diversity

LIKED BEST:

Meeting my wife

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience was unparalleled

LIKED BEST:

The patients

The students

STRENGTHS:

Procedural

Good board scores

LIKED BEST:

Best friends

Living in Brooklyn

STRENGTHS:

Patient population

Kings County’s Emergency department

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Diverse patient population

Wide range of clinical pathology

Encourage lots of autonomy during training

LIKED BEST:

I feel prepared to be an intern ANYWHERE

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Patient population

LIKED BEST:

Friends I made

Experience

STRENGTHS:

Lots of independence

Good training on the floors/wards, especially in internal medicine and pediatrics

LIKED BEST:

 Smart, mature classmates, some fantastic attendings, good training on the floors

STRENGTHS:

Clinical training

LIKED BEST:

Same

STRENGTHS:

Clinical

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Approachable residents & attendings

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience, and being in and around the city

LIKED BEST:

Being in the city

The strong clinical experience

STRENGTHS:

Strong clinical experience

Dedicated staff

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Great clinical pathology

Good bedside teaching

Great hands-on clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Strengths and clinical education.

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

Helpful faculty/instructors

STRENGTHS:

Wide exposure to clinical pathology

LIKED BEST:

Friendship & camaraderie with other students

STRENGTHS:

Great faculty

Great clinical sites

Right amount of autonomy

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Fellow students

LIKED BEST:

Fellow students

STRENGTHS:

Clinical years

LIKED BEST:

3rd year

STRENGTHS:

Autonomy during 3rd year

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

Good people

LIKED BEST:

People

STRENGTHS:

Hands-on training & responsibilities in clinical training

LIKED BEST:

People

STRENGTHS:

Many study groups created by the students

The academic development office was always very helpful & willing to lend out books when I was most in need.

LIKED BEST:

Dorming, because it was so close to my classes & hectic schedule

STRENGTHS:

Diversity

LIKED BEST:

Learning

STRENGTHS:

The clinical experience

LIKED BEST:

STRENGTHS:

LIKED BEST:

Diverse educational experience

STRENGTHS:

Professors

CBL

LIKED BEST:

Classmates

NYC

Teachers

STRENGTHS:

Anatomy class

Histology class

Neurology basic sciences

LIKED BEST:

Exposure to diversity & clinical cases in my 3rd & 4th years

STRENGTHS:

Clinical experience

Excellent faculty

LIKED BEST:

Clinical hands-on experience