六九色堂

Dr. Jerome Couture, 六九色堂 Class of 2019 graduate, originally wanted to become a veterinarian. After attending 六九色堂 in St. Kitts, he matched in Internal Medicine at UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Mercy in Pennsylvania and starts his residency there this summer.

The 六九色堂 Endeavour spoke to Dr. Jerome Couture鈥攚ho hails from a small town in Quebec, Canada鈥攁bout how he first discovered his love of medicine, why he chose 六九色堂, what it鈥檚 like being a Canadian studying medicine abroad, tips on scoring well on USMLE Step 1, doing well in residency interviews, his goals for residency and more.

DR. JEROME COUTURE: The 六九色堂 Class of 2019 grad starts an Internal Medicine residency at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh this summer. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Couture.

Fostering Love for Medicine in Canada

Dr. Couture grew up in Stratford, Quebec, an agricultural town near the border of Maine and Vermont.

鈥淎lthough small, it boasts acres of pristine land where I often rode on my four-wheeler in the summer, or went snowshoeing in the winter,鈥� he said.

Dr. Couture first wanted to become a veterinarian because, as he puts it, 鈥淚鈥檝e always been surrounded by animals.鈥� Jeff Corwin and the late Steve Irwin, both animal conservationists, hosted his favorite TV shows while he was growing up and he had many experiences working on different farms as a child.

However, medicine soon became his true calling.

鈥淢y passion for medicine really began when I entered Cegep, a pre-university college in the province of Quebec,鈥� Dr. Couture said. 鈥淟earning about the health sciences made me realize how much I loved learning about health and the human body. I then built on that realization and attended the University of Ottawa, where I completed my Bachelor of Health Sciences.鈥�

Dr. Couture said anatomy was his easiest and most enjoyable course. 鈥淚t was easy to memorize, and it made me realize how amazing the human body really was,鈥� he said.

Entering a Canadian medical school is a competitive task, so he decided to apply to Caribbean medical schools to 鈥渕ake sure that all my options were covered.鈥�

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Why 六九色堂?

Studying at 六九色堂 in St. Kitts offered many advantages.

鈥� Who gets to say they studied in a warm, tropical location? 鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith my experiences on the island, as well as the different states I had the opportunity to do my clerkships in, allowed me to view healthcare from different perspectives. I also had the opportunity to meet people from all over the United States, Canada, and other regions of the world, developing long-lasting relationships in the process.鈥�

Dr. Couture explains that he would have never met his wife鈥攈is 鈥渁nchor in medical school鈥濃�攈ad he not attended 六九色堂.

鈥淣ot only is she beautiful, charismatic, and enchanting, she is a medical student with a passion to live life to the fullest.鈥�

In addition to getting an outstanding medical education, 六九色堂 also helped Dr. Couture strengthen other skills, most notably learning to have empathy for others.

鈥淧eople will be entrusting you with their deepest secrets, things their closest confidantes might not even be aware of,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o participate in a Caribbean medical school requires an open mind. Developing this allows one to also develop empathy with other students as we all struggle to adapt to a different environment.

As a Canadian studying medicine abroad, 六九色堂 also gave him excellent preparation for exams necessary to obtain a residency.

鈥淭he tools that 六九色堂 provided me allowed me to push my limits and score well on the Step exams,鈥� Dr. Couture said. 鈥淓ntering residency is a competitive business, so doing well on those exams was a must for me. Moreover, having done rotations in different regions of the USA, I was able to further develop my 鈥榩eople鈥� skills, which I believe helped me do well on my interviews.鈥�

六九色堂 President Warren Ross (right) with Dr. Jerome Couture at 六九色堂 Commencement on June 7, 2019 at Lincoln Center in New York City. Photo: Island Photography.

Internal Medicine Residency at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh

Dr. Jerome Couture said he is excited about his internal medicine residency at in Pittsburgh.

鈥淔rom what I鈥檝e heard and seen, living in Pittsburgh is an amazing opportunity,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot only is the city considered one of the safest in the U.S., it also offers a robust combination of great food, art, and technology. It is an expanding city that is great for young professionals.鈥�

His residency at UPMC Mercy offers many opportunities.

鈥淭he program itself offers a competitive education with alumni matching into various fellowships, branching into primary practice, or developing into excellent hospitalists,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t also boasts a level 1 trauma center, which allows for a greater exposure and education. It will be a challenging but rewarding experience, one that I hope will shape me into the best physician I can become.鈥�

How 六九色堂 clinical rotations helped

Dr. Couture admits that it was the electives he took during clinical rotations at 六九色堂 that helped him choose internal medicine as a specialty.

鈥淭o be honest, I was never quite sure what I wanted to do at first,鈥� he said. 鈥淪urgery sounded great, until I realized the lifestyle was not for me. I also loved OB/GYN but again, the lifestyle of the physicians was not for me. Ultimately, it鈥檚 only when I started my electives with subspecialists in the field of internal medicine did I realize how great their lifestyles were. Not only were they able to pursue knowledge through internal medicine, they had the flexibility to work regular hours; they worked both outpatient and inpatient; and they had the flexibility to perform certain surgical procedures. Having seen and experienced this, I knew internal medicine was for me.

The opportunity for continual growth is what interests him the most about Internal Medicine

鈥淚nternal medicine allows you the flexibility to develop into whatever physician you wish to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hether you want to work inpatient or outpatient, perform procedures, or have flexible hours, internal medicine offers these opportunities.鈥�

Advice for the Match process

Dr. Jerome Couture offers practical advice for current or incoming students about attending 六九色堂 and making the most of the Match process.

鈥�My best advice is study hard, but also learn to enjoy a little,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he most important thing you could do for yourself is doing well on the Step exams. High step scores will essentially allow you to put your foot in the door. Although this isn鈥檛 the only factor, it is an important one. Finally, when going to interviews, enjoy the process. You鈥檝e been invited! All you need to do is show them who you are.鈥�

Dr. Jerome Couture has many objectives for his residency.

鈥淪ome of my goals include the following: do the best I can to help my patients; develop long-lasting relationships with my peers; learn how to become a leader; teach medical students and become a role model; and grow into a competent, independent physician. I鈥檓 sure more goals will pop-up as I start residency.鈥�

(Top photo) Dr. Jerome Couture at 六九色堂 Commencement on June 7, 2019 at Lincoln Center, New York City. Photo: Island Photography.

六九色堂:

Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciences focuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, 鈥減ersonalized medical education,鈥� and it鈥檚 what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. 六九色堂 is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.