Medical Students Focus on the Eye

June 16, 2008

Medical students from the Clinical Medicine course at the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine had a unique opportunity this week to bridge educational material between human and non-human healthcare.  Dr. Robert Shearer, a world-renowned eye surgeon and Dr. Garry Swanston, a Sint Maarten Veterinarian who provides veterinary services to Statia, donated their time and expertise to evaluate and treat pets with special eye illnesses.  With the cooperation of Dr. Lori Trout, the co-director of the Clinical Medicine course, medical students were given the opportunity to actively participate in the eye examinations and to learn the striking parallels between human and non-human eye diseases.  This unique clinic experience will continue twice monthly and include opportunities for students to learn techniques for removing foreign bodies from the eye and treatments for common eye injuries.