American University of Antigua: A Comprehensive Overview
The American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine stands as an innovative institution in international medical education. Founded in 2004, AUA is dedicated to providing a high-quality, learner-centric education, and has quickly become a significant contributor to addressing the global physician shortage. Part of the Manipal Education and Medical Group, AUA is committed to supporting underserved communities, fostering diversity, and equipping its graduates with the skills and attitudes necessary for lifelong learning, compassion, and professionalism.
Mission and Founding Principles
AUA was established with a clear mission: to provide opportunities to underrepresented minorities and cultivate a diverse academic community. The university aims to ensure that its graduates not only possess the medical knowledge and skills required for practice but also embody the values of lifelong learning, compassion, and professionalism. AUA was founded with the commitment to support underserved communities and to address the impending physician shortage with an emphasis on primary care.
Academic Structure and Curriculum
The institution is composed of two schools: AUA College of Medicine (AUACOM) and AUA College of Arts and Sciences (AUACAS). AUA's medical curriculum is designed to meet learners where they are academically and help them develop the required level of mastery.
AUA emphasizes small class sizes, active learning, and horizontal and vertical curriculum integration of preclinical and clinical sciences. It employs advanced teaching methods, including high-fidelity simulation technologies and virtual reality. The AUA curriculum is designed to meet learners where they are academically and help them develop the required level of mastery-able to pass their board exams on the way to becoming knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate physicians.
The university provides a robust student support system addressing academic and non-academic areas through its Education Enhancement Department, counseling services, health clinic and professional development services. EED academic support services are essential in fostering student success, offering personalized guidance that complements classroom learning and enhances overall academic performance. AUA aims to empower students to overcome challenges and/or learn new active learning strategies, leading to improved retention and progression toward their educational goals.
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Global Health Initiatives and Partnerships
AUA is actively involved in global health initiatives, providing health services and education both locally and globally. AUA’s students presented at the first World Health Summit (WHS), held in Berlin on October 16-18, 2022 at the Young Researchers Symposium. As a member of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH), AUA participates regularly in the annual global health-themed conference. AUA provides the necessary resources for newborn sickle cell screening in Antigua and Barbuda. The program launches with the first screening of a newborn baby at Mount St. AUA engages students in community outreach by providing health services and education locally and globally. Initiatives include health fairs, breast cancer screenings, and global volunteer work through the Student Doctors Without Borders Club. The biggest benefit [of the community outreach program] is confidence. Knowing that the information students studied, they’re now able to apply it on someone who is not a simulated patient and to see that they were part of the machinery that helped the patient.
The Global Health Track (GHT), which is conducted in collaboration with (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, is designed to broaden students’ understanding of healthcare from a global perspective. The impact on our student body and faculty includes enhanced global awareness, improved cultural competence, and a stronger, more supportive community that reflects the global nature of medicine today.
AUA collaborates with Charles R. Drew University and other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to increase opportunities for underrepresented minorities in medicine.
AUA has also partnered with University of Warwick Medical School in the UK to enhance medical training of its students.
Accreditation and Recognition
AUA is fully accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established to accredit medical, dental, veterinary, and other health professions programs leading to professional degrees required for practice in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. AUA is licensed to offer clinical clerkships in Florida by the Commission for Independent Education of the Florida Department of Education (DOE). This is in addition to our recognition from the Medical Board of California (MBC) and approval by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). AUA becomes one of the few international medical schools in the Caribbean to earn recognition by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the governing body that ensures medical education programs and the qualifications they award graduates meet the highest standards in India and abroad.
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Clinical Clerkships and Licensing
AUA is recognized by the Medical Board of California (MBC), allowing students to attend clinical clerkships at California teaching hospitals and graduates to apply for residency training and medical licensure in the state. AUA is approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to allow students to complete more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships in New York State.
Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
AUA promotes a diverse and inclusive academic environment, welcoming students and faculty from various backgrounds and partnering with institutions to support underrepresented minorities in medicine. Our initiatives aim to increase diversity in medical education and address the predicted physician shortages by supporting students of color.
Facilities and Resources
In 2024, AUA celebrated its 20th anniversary with the opening of a 1,200-seat conference center, which hosted a United Nation’s Conference attended by global leaders and over 5,000 delegates.
Notable Figures
Nobel Laureate Dr. Harald zur Hausen visited AUA on Research Day and delivered the keynote address, entitled Identification of Infectious Agents in Human Cancers. AUA was co-founded by Neal S. Simon, a lawyer and former president of Ross University.
Tuition and Financial Aid
AUA requires a minimum of 90 credits of college courses. Preclinical Sciences 1 students may be required to pay an additional $85 Basic Life Support (BLS) fee.
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AUA-FIU Global Health Track (GHT)
The AUA-FIU Global Health Track (GHT)* Certificate Program allows students to gain expertise in all aspects of global and public health and provides medical Spanish language training, AHA instructor certification, and research opportunities. AUA students and graduates can apply to the Master of Public Health program at FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work and receive priority admission review. *There is no fee or tuition for participating in the GHT; as the program is not part of AUA’s medical doctorate program, federal financial aid is not available for the living expenses of students during GHT sessions.
Future Vision
Focusing on the next decade, the university aims to expand partnerships with teaching hospitals, enhance research, and integrate global health principles and cutting-edge technologies, like virtual reality, into its curriculum.
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