American University of Antigua

{{Short description|Medical school located in Antigua and Barbuda}}

{{Infobox university

|name =American University of Antigua College of Medicine

|president = Peter Bell, MD

|dean = Dr. David Graham

|students =1,400 (graduates {{as of|2015|||lc=y}})

|type =Medical school, Private, For-profit

|established =2004

|city =St. John's

|country =Antigua and Barbuda

|website ={{URL|http://www.auamed.org/}}

|image = AUA COM Seal 200x200.png

}}

American University of Antigua (AUA) is a private for-profit international medical school located in Antigua and Barbuda.

History

AUA was co-founded by Neal S. Simon,{{cite news | last =Payne | first =Donald M. | title =Commending American University of Antigua For Its Leadership And Innovative Ideas | newspaper =Congressional Record, V. 152, PT.7 | date =25 May 2006 | isbn =9780160861543 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yX43KGyuIlsC&q=Neal%20S.%20Simon%20antigua&pg=PA9975| access-date =24 April 2014 }} a lawyer and former president of Ross University{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}. AUA began instruction in 2002.{{cite book|title=Health in Antigua and Barbud: Schools of Medicine in Antigua and Barbuda, American University of Antigua College of Medicine|date=2010|publisher=General Books LLC|isbn=9781158693146}} In 2008, Bengaluru-based Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) purchased the college from New York-based Greater Caribbean Learning Resources, Inc. and formed Manipal Education Americas, LLC.{{cite news|last=Jacobs|first=Sarah|title=Manipal Education buys out Antigua University|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-12-05/news/27703898_1_manipal-education-medical-seats-medical-education|access-date=24 April 2014|newspaper=Economic Times India|date=5 December 2008|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305084439/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-12-05/news/27703898_1_manipal-education-medical-seats-medical-education|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Puni|first=Deepshikha|title=The worldly wise; International campuses have made Manipal University a global education brand|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29277517.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924192121/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29277517.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=24 April 2014|newspaper=India Today|date=8 August 2011}} In 2006, AUA College of Medicine was approved by the New York State Education Department{{Cite web|title=NYS Medicine:License Requirements|url=http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/med/medlic.htm|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.op.nysed.gov|archive-date=11 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511055954/http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/med/medlic.htm|url-status=dead}} and, in 2011, recognized by the Medical Board of California.{{Cite web|title=Schools Recognized {{!}} MBC|url=https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/Physicians-and-Surgeons/Apply/Schools-Recognized.aspx|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.mbc.ca.gov|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922105528/https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/Physicians-and-Surgeons/Apply/Schools-Recognized.aspx|url-status=live}}

AUA is also recognized by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, and is one of the few international medical schools whose graduates are not required to demonstrate substantial equivalence to receive medical licensure in the state of Massachusetts.{{Cite web|title=Physician Licensing Fees and Eligibility Requirements {{!}} Mass.gov|url=https://www.mass.gov/service-details/physician-licensing-fees-and-eligibility-requirements|access-date=2021-09-10|website=www.mass.gov|language=en|archive-date=10 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910192512/https://www.mass.gov/service-details/physician-licensing-fees-and-eligibility-requirements|url-status=live}}

Accreditations and approvals

AUA is fully accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP){{cite web|title=Provisional Accreditation, American University of Antigua College of Medicine|url=http://www.caam-hp.org/programmesAssessed/American%20University%20of%20Antigua.html|publisher=CAAM-HP|access-date=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303030121/http://www.caam-hp.org/programmesAssessed/American%20University%20of%20Antigua.html|archive-date=3 March 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.{{cite web|title=American University of Antigua College of Medicine : School Detail|url=https://search.wdoms.org/home/SchoolDetail/F0000993|website=search.wdoms.org|publisher=World Directory of Medical Schools|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134026/https://search.wdoms.org/home/SchoolDetail/F0000993|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Accreditations and Approvals - American University of Antigua (AUA)|url=https://www.auamed.org/about/accreditations-and-approvals/|website=American University of Antigua Caribbean medical school|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928223851/https://www.auamed.org/about/accreditations-and-approvals/|url-status=live}}

In 2011, Medical Board Of California recognized American University of Antigua College of Medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.auamed.org/news/medical-board-of-california-recognizes-aua/|title=Medical Board of California Recognizes American University of Antigua|date=2011-08-02|website=American University of Antigua Caribbean medical school|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04|archive-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204230551/https://www.auamed.org/news/medical-board-of-california-recognizes-aua/|url-status=live}} AUA is approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED){{cite web|url=http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/med/medlic.htm#cclist|title=NYS Medicine:Application Forms|website=www.op.nysed.gov|access-date=9 May 2021|archive-date=11 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511055954/http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/med/medlic.htm#cclist|url-status=dead}} to allow students to complete more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships in New York State. AUA is one of eight Caribbean medical schools so approved by NYSED.

In 2015, access to the Federal Direct Student Loan Program was granted to American students at AUA.{{cite web|title=Tuition and Financial Aid - American University of Antigua (AUA)|url=https://www.auamed.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/#financial-aid|website=American University of Antigua Caribbean medical school|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=25 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925164514/https://www.auamed.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/#financial-aid|url-status=live}}

Academic profile

= Admissions =

AUA requires a minimum of 90 credits of college courses. Although MCAT scores are required for US citizens and permanent residents, they are not considered in AUA's admissions decisions; opting for a holistic approach to evaluating students instead.{{Cite web|title=Admission Requirements|url=https://www.auamed.org/admissions/admissions-requirements/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=American University of Antigua|language=en-US|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924083457/https://www.auamed.org/admissions/admissions-requirements/|url-status=live}}

= Rankings and Reputation =

The American University of Antigua was ranked in the top tier of medical schools in the Caribbean by the World Scholarship Forum in 2020,{{Cite web|date=2021-06-11|title=15 Best Caribbean Medical Schools {{!}}Ranking, Acceptance Rate, Tuition|url=https://worldscholarshipforum.com/best-caribbean-medical-schools/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=World Scholarship Forum|language=en-US|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417134726/https://worldscholarshipforum.com/best-caribbean-medical-schools/|url-status=live}} and by Money Inc. in 2019.{{Cite web|last=Flynn|first=Liz|date=2019-04-21|title=The Top 10 Caribbean Medical Schools in 2019|url=https://moneyinc.com/the-top-caribbean-medical-schools-in-2019/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=Money Inc|language=en-US|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410122351/https://moneyinc.com/the-top-caribbean-medical-schools-in-2019/|url-status=live}}

= Curriculum =

AUA follows an organ system-based block curriculum in small group settings, modeled after recent medical learning developments in US medical schools.{{Cite web|title=MD Program|url=https://www.auamed.org/academics/md-program/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=American University of Antigua|language=en-US}} The organ-based curriculum allows students to better understand the anatomy and histology of each organ and system, and how they function together as opposed to isolated subjects.{{Cite web|title=Benefits of an Organ-Based Block Curriculum - David Geffen School of Medicine - Los Angeles, CA|url=https://medschool.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=1158&action=detail&ref=27|access-date=2021-09-28|website=medschool.ucla.edu|date=24 August 2018|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928162646/https://medschool.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=1158&action=detail&ref=27|url-status=live}}

= Degrees =

AUA awards a Doctor of Medicine recognized with eligibility to practice in all 50 States in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|title=Accreditation & Approvals|url=https://www.auamed.org/why-aua/accreditation-and-approvals/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=American University of Antigua|language=en-US|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928162646/https://www.auamed.org/why-aua/accreditation-and-approvals/|url-status=live}}

=Academic outcomes=

According to the US Department of Education, 68.68% of students (125 out of 182) completed the program on time in 2022.{{cite web|title=American University of Antigua|url=https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/international/american-university-antigua|website=studentaid.gov|publisher=US Department of Education|access-date=30 July 2023|archive-date=30 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730115026/https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/international/american-university-antigua|url-status=live}}

Pass rates of its students and graduates on the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) in calendar year 2022 were as follows:

Step 1 – Basic Science 75.46%

Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge 96.12%

For reference, the pass rates among the top 110 ranked American medical schools as reported by U.S. News Best Medical Schools rankings in 2019 were as follows:{{cite web

|last1 = Kowarski

|first1 = Ilana

|title = How to Interpret Med School Licensing Exam Results

|url = https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2019-06-04/how-to-evaluate-medical-school-licensing-exam-scores-and-pass-rates

|website = www.usnews.com

|publisher = U.S. News & World Report

|date = 4 June 2019

|accessdate = 8 April 2021

|archive-date = 13 February 2021

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210213030824/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2019-06-04/how-to-evaluate-medical-school-licensing-exam-scores-and-pass-rates

|url-status = live

}}

Step 1 – Basic Science 96.3%

Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge 96.6%

Student loan debt

The US Department of Education reports median student loan debt of Americans who attended was $311,448 in 2022. Default rate as of 2019 was 0.3%.

Collaboration and Agreements

In 2013, AUA signed an affiliation agreement with the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine that allows AUA clinical students to complete all of their core clinical rotations in the Greater Miami Area.{{cite web | last=Americas | first=Manipal Education | title=American University of Antigua Signs Landmark Clinical Clerkship Agreement with Florida International University | website=PRWeb | date=2013-10-15 | url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/american_university_of_antigua_signs_landmark_clinical_clerkship_agreement_with_florida_international_university/prweb11219442.htm | access-date=2024-07-21}}

In 2019, AUA College of Medicine signed an inaugural transfer agreement with Warwick Medical School, allowing high achieving students the opportunity to transfer to the University of Warwick's medical school to finish their MD after completing their basic sciences at AUA.{{Cite web|title=AUA College of Medicine signs inaugural transfer agreement with Warwick Medical School|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/aua_college_of/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=warwick.ac.uk}}

In 2020, AUA signed an affiliation agreement with the Florida International University Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work that provides AUA students and graduates with priority admission to FIU for a Master's in Public Health (MPH) degree.{{Cite web|last=Drouet|first=Jessica|title=New program to allow students to pursue both medical and public health degrees|url=https://news.fiu.edu/2020/aua-announces-master-of-public-health-collaboration-with-fiu-stempel-college-to-allow-students-to-pursue-both-medical-and-public-health-degrees|access-date=2021-09-28|website=FIU News|language=en|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928162643/https://news.fiu.edu/2020/aua-announces-master-of-public-health-collaboration-with-fiu-stempel-college-to-allow-students-to-pursue-both-medical-and-public-health-degrees|url-status=live}}

Notable faculty

Dr. Seymour L. Schwartz was a renowned surgeon, Alumni Professor for the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester, and co-author and editor-in-chief of Schwartz's Principles of Surgery.{{Cite web|title=Seymour Schwartz, Author of 'the Surgeon's Bible,' Dies at 92|url=https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/seymour-schwartz-author-of-the-surgeons-bible-dies-at-92|access-date=2021-12-10|website=URMC Newsroom|language=en-us|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210145945/https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/seymour-schwartz-author-of-the-surgeons-bible-dies-at-92|url-status=live}} He is considered as one of the most honored and influential surgeons in American history as a pioneer in surgery, surgical education and leadership. Dr. Schwartz was appointed as University Provost and Chief Academic Officer of the American University of Antigua.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Dr. Darrick E. Antell is a plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon whose research has been featured in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History.{{Cite web|last=Marchant|first=Robert|date=2014-10-05|title=Greenwich surgeon's work lands him in the Smithsonian|url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Greenwich-surgeon-s-work-lands-him-in-the-5801687.php|access-date=2021-12-10|website=Connecticut Post|language=en-US|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210145944/https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Greenwich-surgeon-s-work-lands-him-in-the-5801687.php|url-status=dead}} Dr. Antell was appointed as a clinical faculty member and guest lecturer at the American University of Antigua.{{Cite web|title=Professional Memberships {{!}} Dr. Darrick Antell|url=https://www.antell-md.com/about/professional-memberships|access-date=2021-12-10|website=antell-md.com|language=en|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210173311/https://www.antell-md.com/about/professional-memberships/|url-status=live}}