International University of Health Sciences (IUHS) going "global"

IUHS going global with their distant learning Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program. Apparently, the curriculum is now available in Chinese, Japanese and English. This is one of the few online medical schools that has endured (been in business 14 years).

They claim to have Physicians licensed in 22 U.S. states. They are IMED listed: https://imed.faimer.org/details.asp?country=661&school=&currpage=1&cname=SAINT+KITTS+AND+NEVIS&city=&region=&rname=&mcode=661020&psize=25

They are listed with the World Health Organization: AVICENNA Directory Medicine – University of Copenhagen

They are accredited by the government of St. Kitts and not listed on the Oregon State diploma mill website.

Link:
Programs | International University of the Health SciencesInternational University of the Health Sciences


Very interesting model for medical education! BTW, I am not attending this school nor do I represent this school, I just find the model fascinating in that it attempts to address the severe shortage of Physicians the world is facing! Tuition looks reasonable as well at about "$70,000" for the entire program. I know there will always be heavy scrutiny about learning the basic sciences through distant learning but there is obviously an educational paradigm shift across all disciplines. So definitely, do your research!

 

I remember Dr. Bear mentioned another DL med school called Oceania n Samoa? I wonder how that one has been doing? One of the important things to remember is that the US government has cut back funding for residencies. Last year there were roughly 35,000 Physicians applying for 25,000 residency positions. See graph:
NRMP: Data and Reports

Unlike Physician assistant or Nurse Practitioner programs leading to direct licensure, Physicians and especially foreign trained Physicians have a hard time getting matched into a residency. Without the residency, the Physician can't get a license to practice!

 

"IUHS combines online lectures (Blackboard), integrated practicals (Integrated Clinical Medicine), moderated study groups (Virtual Library portal) and customized gap assessment of content knowledge and retention (Academic Enhancement) to prepare students to deliver the best healthcare that is appropriate within the social and cultural contexts they will practice.

Overall student activity for the 4 years: 15% online lecture, in person supervision 80%, and 5% direct interaction." reference:
School of Medicine | International University of the Health SciencesInternational University of the Health Sciences


The basic sciences which compose the first two years of medical school are predominately through a distant learning modality. However, from my understanding, they require you have a licensed Physician to mentor you and give you shadowing experiences during the first two years of basic science.

This is a general statement. After passing USMLE Step 1, Years 3 and 4 are the "clinical years" and rotations are required in numerous specialties regardless of the medical school one attends. These clinical rotations are conducted at hospitals and Physician offices. Apparently, if IUHS has students all across the globe, then it is logical to assume the students will secure these rotations in their home countries and not the island of St. Kitts.

Bottom line, students are not required to go to the island of St. Kitts for much of the medical school curriculum if any. Hence, "distant learning".

 

Call and speak with an admission rep as I did.

"At IUHS, the pre-clinical medical science program is delivered using a unique integrated approach which combines core organ based pre-clinical basic sciences delivered online with interaction with local associate clinical faculty who provide essential hands on training, and one to one interaction with the academic enhancement team." source:
http://iuhs.edu/about/the-iuhs-difference/