DL MD Degree Program! (kind of)

I have a friend, who is an experienced Registered Nurse, who has always wanted to go to medical school. Unfortunately, she's never had the time or money to attend. Now that her children are finally on their own, she only lacks the money for medical school. Last week she told me that she found the answer to her problem -- the University of Health Sciences, Antigua - School of Medicine (www.uhsa.ag)

In short, she will take classes via DL at this medical school in Antigua for three years. For the first year and a half, she will fly down there for four weeks of classes every three months. During her final year and a half she will complete her clinical rotations in the States. Her current work schedule is very flexible. She will work extra shifts while she is in the States and then take the month off from work while she is in Antigua.

This DL Medical School seems a bit sketchy to me. But, I give them credit for being the first DL medical school (at least that I've ever heard of). Does anyone know anything about this school?

Steve

 

University of Health Sciences, Antigua was discussed in this previous degreeinfo thread: IUHS - information please.

(You'll need to scroll down about a dozen posts in that thread to see the relevant part of the discussion.)

 

To the person interested in attending this school, I would like to second the remark on reading the earlier posts, paying particular attention to the comments made on such schools qualifying one for licensure by the ECFMG and to sit for the USMLE.

As a medical malpractice consultant, I would point out a few additional difficulties in going to medical school via this route: qualifying for state licensure, qualifying for board certification, qualifying for malpractice insurance and qualifying for hospital privileges. All of these will be made more difficult, but not necessarily impossible, by attending an offshore and/or non-traditional medical school.

In the Pacific Northwest, where I live and practice, there are many, many physicians trained in other countries who are unable to get licensed to practice in the United States. Most of these physicians trained in 'Second' or 'Third' world medical schools, at least as defined by the medical establishment. Of interest, due to the immigration trends of recent years, many physicians in this situation are from the Phillipines and the former Soviet Union. Some medical schools in these countries seem to pass muster by USA authorities while others do not.

So if this person goes to the Caribbean medical school, they may well face substantial difficulties in setting up shop in the USA.

Regards,

Michael Lloyd
Mill Creek, Washington USA

 

Be sure to advise your friend to carefully check the licensure requirements in the state she wishes to practice. I know for a fact that some states require you to be "in residence" at the medical school you attended -- in other words, no DL permitted.

JB

 

Thanks all. I share all of your concerns about going to a non-traditional medical school. Over the past few days I have expressed these same concerns to her, but she remains undeterred. After looking at several different off-shore medical schools, this one seems to be one of the lowest-ranking schools out there. But my friend can't get past the thought of going to medical school for six 4-week blocks of instruction. She tells me this is the only way she can do it! Oh well, thanks for your thoughts, everyone.

 

I have known some decent doctors who have attended what people think are crummy schools in the islands.

Often there is an unwillingness to accept "gray hairs"(or younger than that even) into medical school here. If one is past 30 then it's tough to get in here. So, the alternative is the islands, Australia, or Eastern Europe. Many many Pakistanis go to Romania and the like to study medicine in hopes they can get here. Many do. I don't think Romanian medical schools are any better than the island schools.

Many Americans want to attend school where English is the language of instruction. The islands fit that. It's definitely not the place where most would want to go but some just don't have a choice. However, the main goal there is to learn enough to pass the USMLE. Everyone knows a person really learns to be a doctor in internship/residency.

Many of the island schools have some deals here where the docs in training can do their clerkships at American hospitals. The one thing is that often an island learning will have to move from hospital to hospital to get the clerkships(I'm talking NY to CA after only a month or two).

Bottom line is that it is an alternative. The one thing you don't want to have happen is NOT pass the USMLE. That will kill you and you would have wasted your time and tons of dough in the process.

Bing