Studying at a Caribbean Medical School is a trend that’s here to stay

Attending medical school is a significant investment of time, energy, passion and money. The decision which medical school to attend is not one that should be taken lightly. What if you are an ambitious US graduate, dreaming of becoming a doctor. What is the reality facing you when you apply to medical school? In 2010 only 8.9% of applicants to American medical schools were accepted*. The reality is many aspiring doctors will study for their USMLE in a foreign medical school. This shortage of medical school places in the United States does not reflect a shortage of jobs for qualified doctors. This fierce competition for a medical education poses a significant social problem for the US, as the country faces a serious shortfall in the number of family physicians needed for national healthcare. The U.S. healthcare reform plan intends to provide health insurance to 32 million Americans currently without cover. This will lead to a massive increase in demand for healthcare in a system already struggling to meet the demands placed on it. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates; based on the current rate of medical graduates, that there may be a shortage of as many as 150,000 doctors in the US in the next 15 years. While new medical schools are opening in the US to meet this shortfall, these new schools face a significant obstacle in a cap on government funding for medical hospital residencies and may struggle to obtain their students placements for clinical rotations. The ECFMG states that International medical graduates (IMGs) already comprise one-quarter of the U.S. physician workforce. This number is likely to grow to meet the country’s demands for more qualified doctors. 95% of Caribbean medical graduates go into primary care, so schools like Saint James provide a valuable service to the United States in filling this crucial skill gap. A leading accredited Caribbean medical school like Saint James School of Medicine is not only a credible option for your medical education, but also a smart alternative to an over-subscribed, expensive American medical school. After four semesters studying Basic Sciences at one of our Caribbean schools; our MD Program medical students do their USMLE prep and clinical rotations in US hospitals. Saint James School of Medicine has strong ongoing relationships with a number of hospitals in the US and we are actively extending our network of affiliated hospitals. Our graduates are eligible to become doctors in the United States or Canada and our affordable fees allow our graduates to start medical practice with manageable debts. *Source US News