American University of Antigua

Region: St. John,s Country: Antigua and Barbuda

AUA is one of the few international schools approved for clinical clerkships and residency training by New York state. Although less than 5 years old, the AUA medical program is proud to be one of a few that has been approved by the State of New York, allowing our students the option to complete their clinical training and residencies at NY State-approved hospitals. This puts us in very distinct company as there are only a handful (less than 10) medical schools in the Caribbean which have this approval. NY approval is also important because approximately 20% of residencies and teaching hospitals in the United States are located in NY state, and you can not secure a residency spot in the state of New York without NYS approval.

AUA is the only hospital-integrated program in the Caribbean with a curriculum that is comparable to the medical education paradigm in U.S. medical schools. Beginning with their first semester, students are introduced to the clinical setting. AUA students begin their clinical experience during their Basic Sciences semesters by accompanying doctors on rounds at the local hospital either in Antigua or in Manipal, which has just been ranked the NUMBER ONE private medical school (number two out of all universities) in India, whom we are affiliated with.

AUA students can now pursue their dreams of becoming medical doctors, nurses and veterinarians in the most modern campus in the Caribbean. In January 2010, AUA opened its doors to this stunning new campus. This impressive new 17-acre, multi-million dollar facility houses over 75,000 square feet of wi-fi classrooms, a multi-story library, a fully equipped learning center, study rooms, student government, and administrative and faculty offices -- all footsteps from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

AUA offers five locations where a student can take their first Clinical Medicine semester when they return to the U.S. No other medical school offers such an opportunity. Graduates of the Basic Science program move on to attend the 16-week Family Practice I / Internal Medicine I semester conducted in one of five different U.S. locations; New York, NY, Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, Brooklyn, NY or Pontiac, MI. Upon completion, students are ready to sit for the USMLE Step 1.The Clinical Clerkship segment consists of 6- and 12-week core and 4-week elective rotations at various AUA-affiliated approved teaching hospitals in the U.S., which is required for licensure in all states.

AUA is committed to ensuring that our faculty to student ratio remains high. It is our president's pledge that all classes are kept to a level of no more than 120 students per classroom. This will optimize the students' learning experience. AUA also has the most modern of educational equipment found in its classrooms, labs and library facilities. The university's dedication to provide a high quality medical education is also evident by the recent opening of our brand new multi-million, 17-acre campus.

AUA is one of the few schools that offer both a four-year and a six-year medical program that leads to becoming a licensed physician in the United States and Canada. AUA offers two distinct programs for students interested in attaining a medical degree: the four-year MD degree program and the six-year AS/BHHS-to-MD degree program.

As part of our mission, AUA does its utmost to prepare students to become licensed U.S. physicians. Shelf Exams are used as final exams for the Basic Sciences courses, ensuring that the students meet U.S. medical education requirements. AUA prepares its students to achieve passing scores on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) and provides clinical clerkship opportunities in some of the best teaching hospitals in the U.S.

As part of our mission in preparing students to become successful U.S. physicians, AUA graduates have been highly successful in securing U.S. residencies through the National Residency Match Program. In 2007 and 2008 virtually all AUA U.S. eligible graduates have obtained residencies, generally their first or second choice, with the exception of 3 students in 2008 who are obtaining their residency through the scramble. We will continue to report as we are notified of additional placements. The NRMP Main Match is set up to provide impartial matching for applicants' preferences for residency positions with program directors' preferences for applicants. According to the NRMP website, "Each year approximately 16,000 U.S. allopathic medical school seniors and 15,000 graduates of osteopathic, Canadian or foreign medical schools compete for approximately 24,000 residency positions." In 2009, 15,242 U.S. graduates, 14,359 won residency positions; 94%. More than one-fifth of the positions available through the match this year were in internal medicine.

AUA is a recipient of U.S. Congressional approval. The Honorable Donald M. Payne of the 10th District of New Jersey visited Antigua in 2006 in support of expanding educational opportunities for students who dream of becoming physicians He commended AUA on its immense impact on the surrounding communities, and praised the school's commitment to a high standard of learning and achievement. Congressman Payne applauded AUA President and Founder Neal Simon, Esq., for establishing a quality medical education program with a focus on accommodating the need for diversity in medical education.

Under the offices of the Mayo Clinic Medical Transport's Gold Cross Training Center, AUA has been named as an international training site by the American Heart Association (AHA). AUA is the first medical school in the Caribbean to have a formal program accredited by the American Heart Association. Under the supervision of certified instructors from the Mayo Clinic, students, faculty, health care providers and even lay persons take part in the week-long exercise and earn their certificates. The completion of the BLS certification is required for AUA students who are being certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), as it is a requirement for first semester students. Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) must be completed by fourth year students according to the AHA guidelines.

Academic Programs
AUA offers two distinct programs for students interested in attaining a medical degree. The four-year MD degree program is designed for students who have either have an undergraduate degree or have completed at least 90 college credits and all prerequisite courses. The six- year AS/MD degree program is designed for students who are starting their medical career directly from high school and non-traditional students who do not have or are missing prerequisite courses for the four-year MD program.

AUA College of Medicine (AUACOM)
4-year MD Degree Program starts with four 16-week semesters in Antigua where the curriculum is comprised of courses in Basic Sciences and their application to clinical medicine. Semesters begin in January and August, and students can begin their studies in any semester.
First and fourth semester students attend teaching rounds at the general hospital, conducted by our clinical faculty. Students are exposed to patients of all age groups. In addition, students practice history taking and physical examinations with patients at our ICM lab on campus. Third and fourth semester students also attend autopsies at the hospital as part of their pathology course.

Students begin their clinical education by attending the Family Practice I / Internal Medicine I program (formerly known as The Fifth semester) which is taught at U.S. clinical sites. This program serves as a bridge between the basic science curriculum and the clinical science curriculum. Presently, students attend one of AUA's five locations in the U.S. - The Atlanta Medical Center-Primary Care in Atlanta, GA, The Greater Miami Health Education and Training Center in Miami, FL, The St. Joseph's Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, MI and The Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, NY.

The Clinical Clerkship segment consists of 6- and 12-week core and 4-week elective rotations at various AUA-affiliated teaching hospitals in the U.S. Once all 75 weeks of required clinical rotations are completed and the student passed both USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge exams, they are eligible for graduation.

If all coursework is taken consecutively, the medical program can be completed in 40 months or just over 3.5 years. The Doctor of Medicine degree is awarded after students have successfully completed all the requirements including the Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences coursework. Graduating students are eligible to participate in the Residency Match program, same as students graduating from U.S. medical schools. Graduates are also eligible to apply for their ECFMG certification.

American International College of Arts and Science - (AICASA) Antigua
6-year AS/BHHS-to-MD Degree Program in Antigua leads to both an Associate in Science in Pre-Health Sciences degree and a MD degree. The program incorporates college level science and humanities courses with medical school courses in a six-year program. This track is ideal for graduating high school students who are committed to medicine and are ready to begin their medical studies immediately after completing high school. It is also the path for non-traditional students who need to complete prerequisite courses before being accepted to the medical program.

BSc HHS Degree Program Bachelor of Human Health Sciences Program (BSc. HHS). This program will enable students in both the 6-year AS/BHHS-to-MD program and the 4-year Medical program to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Human Health Sciences degree The degree will provide a useful foundation for careers in the health sciences and related areas, and to aid in further graduate studies in the sciences including: medical programs dentistry programs veterinary sciences This degree allows students to pursue a wide variety of careers in the healthcare field such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, medical laboratories, medical research and education.

Kasturba Medical College International Center (KMCIC)
6-Year BSc/MD Degree Program at Kasturba Medical College International Center incorporates college level science and humanities courses with medical school courses in a six-year program. Students start with two semesters of pre-basic sciences courses. Then the students move on to take the regular basic sciences courses and receive a BSc in Basic Health Sciences degree from Manipal University after the completion of the six semesters. The students then return to the U.S. to join the Introduction to Clinical Clerkship semester with AUA students who completed their Basic Science program in Antigua. This track is ideal for graduating high school students who are committed to medicine and are ready to begin their medical studies immediately after completing high school. It is also the path for non-traditional students who need to complete prerequisite courses before being accepted to the medical program.

Pre-Medical Program is offered in Antigua and Manipal to students who are starting their medical career directly from high school and non-traditional students who do not have or are missing prerequisite courses for the four-year MD program. The program consists of college level science and humanities courses to prepare students for medical school, and help them to think critically and develop good communications skills. Graduates receive an Associate in Science degree in Antigua or a Basic Health Science degree in India.

The admissions committee may also recommend that students who did poorly in prerequisite courses repeat those specific classes before starting the four-year M.D. program. Upon successfully passing these required courses, students are promoted to the next level.

Faculty & Learning
A professor and students around a table, listening to one person speak The faculty at AUA is comprised of outstanding, experienced teachers, all of whom have MD or PhD degrees in their respective fields. Many faculty members are board certified and also have been honored for their teaching abilities.

The primary mission of our faculty is to educate our students and help them succeed in the demanding environment of a medical school. Our high teacher to student ratio allows our faculty to be available for one-on-one mentoring and to provide guidance for the students.

Many of our faculty members are accomplished researchers and notable scientists in their field. They publish articles, textbooks, and present their findings at international medical conferences.

Residence Halls
Anchorage HousingAUA requires that all incoming (excluding transfers), Pre-Med, 1st semester Basic Science and Nursing students reside in University-sponsored housing for the first two semesters. Housing is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Transfer students are not required to enter university sponsored housing. The enclosed Housing and Transportation Request form and your housing deposit must be received in our New York office within 45 days of your acceptance notification. If you are accepted less than 30 days before class registration, your deposit and forms are due within 10 days from acceptance.

AUA offers a variety of housing options. These range from single rooms in a hotel setting, to two and three-bedroom furnished villas with fully equipped kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms. The housing options are divided into three groups, depending on amenities provided. AUA defines single rooms as bedrooms occupied by one person. Double rooms are bedrooms occupied by two persons. Below, you can view an informative slide show with images of each facility.

All AUA-sponsored housing includes complimentary weekly housekeeping services. Students need to bring their own linens with the exception of pillows - most bedding is queen size. Please double check when you receive your housing assignment.

AUA students may move to non-sponsored housing after their second semester. We encourage our students to use their time during their first year on the island to become familiar with the non-sponsored housing options so they can make an educated decision about future living arrangements.

Admissions Requirements
The AUA Admissions Committee evaluates applicants holistically. All the pieces of the application package matter. The Admissions Committee will determine if you have the academic ability and motivation to pursue a rigorous medical school education. In making the final decision on an application, the Committee looks beyond GPAs and test scores in order to see if the candidate will ultimately succeed at our University and as a physician.