Basic Sciences
The First 5 Semesters
The first five semesters of Saint James School of Medicine’s MD Program will help you build a strong foundation for your medical career. Our Basic Sciences curriculum consists of lectures, research and lab-based teaching at our Caribbean medical school campus.
All courses are designed in the USMLE format, and study is supplemented with hands-on clinical training at the local hospital whenever possible. Small class sizes offer you one-on-one attention from our experienced, enthusiastic professors. Tutoring, mentoring and one-on-one guidance are all available. Our supportive student community offers plenty of opportunities for peer-led learning groups.
Transition to Systems Based Curriculum
Saint James School of Medicine has implemented a significant academic transition with the launch of a Systems-Based Curriculum, beginning Fall 2025. This transition represents an important step forward in aligning our medical curriculum with current best practices in clinical integration, licensing exam preparation, and long-term academic success.
Starting Fall 2025, all new matriculants will be enrolled in the Systems-Based curriculum.
Studying In The Caribbean
Saint James has a diverse student body, a multi-national faculty, and a close-knit multicultural environment. Community outreach events like our annual Health Fair offer our students the opportunity to experience what it is like to practice in the local community. Studying medicine in a different culture offers you many benefits. It can challenge your assumptions, expose you to new ideas and expand your learning opportunities. Interacting with a wide range of people from the very beginning of your medical career can give you more confidence and empathy as a doctor, and make you a better communicator.
The Sjsm
Experience
There are rarely better places to study the Basic Sciences than the Caribbean. Our students work hard, then recharge on beautiful beaches. Life is simple, there are few distractions and our students’ excellent results show how successful a top quality Caribbean medical school education can be.
Saint James
Offers You:
- Well-equipped Caribbean Medical campus.
- Same high-quality medical education and opportunities as from US and Canadian medical schools, at 1/3 the cost
- Accredited by Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM)
- Our medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with an ECFMG® Sponsor Note. For the graduation years indicated in the Sponsor Note, our students and graduates are eligible to apply to ECFMG for ECFMG Certification and USMLE® as a step towards ECFMG Certification.
- Lowest tuition amongst all accredited medical schools.
- No MCAT required acceptance.
- Close-knit, supportive community.
- USMLE Step 1 Pass Guarantee.
- Tutoring, mentoring and good one-on-one guidance.
- Clinical rotations are guaranteed in the U.S. and Canada.
Start Your Career
In Medicine
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Basic Science Curriculum
Semester 1
Integrated Medical Foundations 1 (IMF-1) (36 Credits)
Integrated Medical Foundations 1 (IMF-1) introduces medical students to the core biomedical and clinical sciences through an integrated, system-based approach. Spanning three major blocks—Foundations of Medicine, Immune System, and Hematologic System—this course emphasizes the interconnection of molecular biology, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical skills. Early exposure to clinical reasoning and professional behaviors prepares students for their future roles as compassionate and competent physicians.
In tandem with scientific content, afternoon sessions in Clinical and Evidence-Based Medicine (CEM) introduces students to biostatistics, research design, clinical reasoning, and professionalism, laying the groundwork for scholarly and ethical practice.
Semester 2
Integrated Medical Foundations 2 (IMF-2) (36 Credits)
The Integrated Medical Foundations 2 (IMF-2) course continues the system-based integrated approach to biomedical sciences and clinical medicine. It spans three critical physiological systems—Nervous, Musculoskeletal, and Gastrointestinal—and provides a multidisciplinary exploration of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology with direct application to clinical medicine. Clinical reasoning, patient-centered care, and ethical decision-making are reinforced through hands-on skills training and team-based case discussions. The integration of clinical correlations, radiologic imaging, and problem-solving exercises helps prepare students for real-world clinical challenges and board exam readiness.
Clinical and Evidence-Based Medicine (CEM) continues in the afternoons with a focus on professionalism, communication, epidemiology, biostatistics, and clinical research skills.
Semester 3
Integrated Medical Foundations 3 (IMF-3) (36 Credits)
The Integrated Medical Foundations 3 (IMF-3) course introduces students to three vital organ systems—Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Renal/Urinary—integrating foundational science and clinical medicine. Students build on their understanding of normal anatomy and physiology to explore pathologic processes and pharmacologic interventions. This semester places significant emphasis on recognizing life-threatening conditions and developing diagnostic reasoning in high-stakes clinical scenarios. Students will engage in skills workshops, ECG interpretation, imaging reviews, and clinical case discussions to consolidate their knowledge and prepare for clinical rotations.
Afternoon Clinical and Evidence-Based Medicine (CEM) sessions continue to focus on applied epidemiology, professional conduct, and the critical evaluation of medical literature.
Semester 4
Integrated Medical Foundations 4 (IMF-4) (36 Credits)
The Integrated Medical Foundations 4 (IMF-4) course rounds out the pre-clinical systems-based curriculum by exploring the Endocrine, Reproductive, and Integumentary systems, alongside Behavioral Science. This course emphasizes hormonal regulation, reproductive health, dermatologic manifestations of systemic disease, and the interplay between biological and psychological health. Through clinical cases and patient-based scenarios, students develop their capacity to integrate physiology and pathology with mental health considerations and patient communication strategies.
CEM sessions continue to reinforce clinical research principles, biostatistics, and professionalism in preparation for MD5’s Clinical Integration.
Semester 5
Systems-Based Review Course (36 Credits)
This course is designed to integrate the knowledge, attitude, and practices from MD1 through MD4 and apply them in clinical scenarios. Students will be given adequate exposure to various lecture materials and active learning, which is geared towards the constructive reinforcement of the students' critical thinking and skills required for clinical sciences.
Students will be required to take and pass the NBME Comprehensive Basic Sciences Examination at the end of the semester in order to take the USMLE Step 1 exam.
