The major attraction of AUA is that its medical education is recognised in the United States, UK, Canada, India and most European countries, writes Reshma Ravishanker IN THE NEW GLOBALISED WORLD, the once-distant Caribbean islands have emerged as hubs of accessible medical education. Currently, the 13 island nations host 60 medical colleges and thousands of international students from around the world. Their main attraction is that degree issued by most of these medical colleges are recognised in the United States, UK, Canada, and most European countries. Within this salubrious region renowned for its sunshine, white sand beaches and sparkling waters, the American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA, estb.2004) has become the most favoured institution of aspiring medicine practitioners from India and the transnational Indian diaspora. Sited in the Antigua and Barbuda Islands, AUA is owned and managed by the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), India’s premier education multinational which has also established state-of-the-art medical colleges-cum-teaching hospitals in Nepal, Malaysia, and a university in Dubai. In India, the MEMG includes the not-for-profit Manipal Academy for Higher Education (MAHE), routinely top-ranked among India’s private varsities in the EducationWorld India Higher Education Rankings, and the distance education Sikkim-Manipal University. Currently, the AUA College of Medicine offers a Doctor of Medicine degree programme to 2,200 students including 660 of Indian origin mentored by 338 faculty. AUA graduates are eligible to practice in all 50 states of the US and in the UK, Canada, India, among other countries worldwide. The major attraction of AUA is that it is accredited by medical education boards worldwide — the Caribbean Accreditation Authority of Education in Medicine and Other Health Sciences; Medical Board of California; New York State Education Department, and Florida Department of Education. Moreover the New York Board of Regents permits AUA students to be placed in long-term clinical clerkships in New York state. “We are approved by all major US state medical bodies and our students can apply for residency in any of the 50 states of America, the UK and Canada. We are also approved by GMC (UK) and are a member institution of the American Medical Students Alliance Association,” says an AUA spokesperson. In 2022, the varsity’s medical graduates recorded excellent placements — 240 graduates were awarded residency positions at hospitals in the US. Moreover, the pass rate of AUA students in the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 — a prerequisite for clinical internship in the US — is 92 percent (average pass rate since the last 3 years) and USMLE Step 2 CK — mandatory for practising medicine in the US — 97 percent. AUA was founded in 2004 with an initial batch of nine students. Four years later in 2008, it was acquired by the MEMG. Antigua and Barbuda. A sovereign nation of the West Indies, Antigua and Barbuda is primarily known for these eponymous islands, though it includes several smaller ones. Antigua boasts a 95-miles coastline while Barbuda Island is protected by reefs and hosts…
