Avalon University School of Medicine (AUSOM) (previously Xavier University School of Medicine in Bonaire) is a Private medical school located in Willemstad, Curaçao, in the Caribbean. AUSOM confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Administrative offices for the university are located in Youngstown, Ohio.
History
AUSOM was founded in 2003 in Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles (now known as the Caribbean Netherlands) as the Xavier University School of Medicine. In 2010, the university relocated to Curacao and changed its name to Avalon University School of Medicine to differentiate itself from other universities with the same name.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Doctor of Medicine degree spans four years. First- and second-year students study basic science courses on the Curacao campus. Third-year students attend an 8-week course at the admissions office in Youngstown, Ohio for orientation in clinical studies, preparation for the USMLE Step 1 examination and an overview of US residency application. Students who pass the USMLE exam spend the final 18 months in clinical clerkships in the United States, including 24 weeks of elective clerkships for fourth-year students.
Accreditation
Avalon University School of Medicine states that it is chartered by the Ministry of Education of Curacao to offer an MD degree. AUSOM is listed in the FAIMER International Medical Education Directory (IMED) and in the AVICENNA Directory for medicine.
AUSOM has also submitted a request for accreditation by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions. As of August 7, 2015, Avalon University School of Medicine is NOT approved by the CAAM-HP., Accreditation was denied as of July 2016, " The Authority observed that there was no marked improvement in curricular integration which relates in turn to the overarching concerns that there is no overall educational strategy and governance arrangements are weak.'
See also
- International medical graduate
- List of medical schools in the Caribbean
References
External links
- Official website
