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5 Things To Consider Before Selecting A Caribbean Medical School

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The United States is currently facing a shortage of doctors. According to the Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), the U.S. will "face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033.” The coronavirus pandemic has magnified the need for doctors in the U.S., particularly as the population grows and ages. 

However, despite this increasing need, many qualified candidates struggle to get into medical school. Just 40.9% of applicants matriculated into a medical school in 2019, with the competition getting more challenging each year. For students with a lower MCAT or science GPA and less medical-focused experiences than their peers, they might find themselves receiving only rejection letters from U.S. medical schools. 

For these types of students, Caribbean medical schools are often an appealing option since many of them have higher acceptance rates than their U.S. counterparts.

However, before committing to a Caribbean or foreign medical school, it is crucial to choose wisely, because acceptance doesn’t always end in success. While it might seem like an easier path to medicine, there can be unexpected hurdles along the way. 

What To Look For In A Caribbean Medical School

Medical schools located in the Caribbean have varying accreditation levels, curriculum strengths and opportunities available to students. However, four Caribbean medical schools—known as “The Big Four”—have a solid reputation as an alternate pathway for U.S. students to study medicine. These universities are: 

  1. St. George’s University (SGU) 
  2. American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) 
  3. Saba University School of Medicine 
  4. Ross University School of Medicine 

Before taking the plunge and committing to a foreign medical school, here are five things to consider.

1. Accreditation

Accreditation is important because it shows that the medical school has met the national standards for a program that leads to a medical degree. For U.S. and Canadian medical schools, the programs are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). 

LCME accreditation establishes that the medical students are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and enter residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). 

Starting in 2024, only graduates of foreign medical schools accredited by agencies with WFME Recognition Status will be eligible to pursue graduate medical education in the United States. Through the WFME Recognition Programme, the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) evaluates accrediting agencies against internationally-accepted criteria for accreditation and grants Recognition Status to those agencies who follow those criteria. For Caribbean medical schools, there are three accrediting agencies that have WFME Recognition Status: the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), and the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherland and Flanders.  

2. Federal Student Loan Qualification

Medical school is expensive, with roughly 73% of medical students graduating with debt. In 2020, the average cost for public U.S. medical schools is $250,222, and that figure is $330,180 for private U.S. medical schools. Having access to federal loans can be key to managing that debt, as you can defer payments until after graduation and access lower interest rates. In addition, doctors can often qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if they meet the necessary criteria. While students can get private loans to pay for medical school, those tend to have higher rates and less flexible payment plans, which is why many students turn first to federal loans. 

At Caribbean medical schools, the cost of tuition can often be steep. One student who graduated from the American University of the Caribbean graduated with $415,000 in debt. Programs like St. George’s University can be equally as expensive, with a price of $62,000 per year in just educational fees. 

To pay for school, many students rely on federal student loans. However, only six Caribbean medical schools are approved to participate in the federal loan program: 

  1. St George’s University School of Medicine (The Big Four)
  2. American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (The Big Four)
  3. Ross University School of Medicine (The Big Four)
  4. American University of Antigua
  5. Medical University of the Americas
  6. St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine

However, you should reach out to each international medical school on your list to ensure that the medical program is eligible and can participate in the loan program. They must be accredited by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFME). 

3. Affiliated Hospitals 

A student’s clinical training during medical school can play a substantial role during the residency matching process. According to a survey by the American Medical Association (AMA), “personal knowledge and/or recommendation of the application” ranked first amongst residency program directors. 

For international medical schools, it is essential to look at their affiliated hospitals in the U.S. Some Caribbean medical schools, like Ross University, have circumvented this hurdle by paying cash for residency spots. In 2012, Ross paid more than $35 million to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California for residency placements for their third-year medical students. 

During an interview with Moon Prep, Dr. G. Richard Olds, the president of SGU, revealed that his school has a similar arrangement with about 80 hospitals around the U.S. and Canada. He says this is important because “if you want doctors to work in a certain location, you should train them there.”

4. Residency 

Closely tied to the affiliated hospitals is the residency match rate. According to the National Resident Matching Program, 61% of international medical school graduates matched to PGY-1 (postgraduate year one) positions in 2020, which is the highest match rate in nearly 30 years. 

However, these numbers don’t accurately reflect every medical school in the Caribbean. Some schools will have a lower match rate, whereas others have rates comparable to the United States. Consistently, 94% of U.S. medical school graduates match into a residency program. For Ross University, that number is even slightly above the U.S. rate, with 95.2% of its students matching the first-time into a program.  

5. Level of Student Support And Opportunities Available

Medical school is a time to get research experience and clinical exposure as you tackle more advanced classes. You want to ensure you find a medical school that can support you on your journey while providing opportunities for you to grow as a medical professional. 

According to Moon Prep’s interview with Dr. Gaelle Antoine, SGU graduate and current anesthesiology resident at Brown University, St. George’s University provides endless research opportunities for students, as long as they have the proper training and qualifications. She even took advantage of a six-week study abroad program in Europe to see how healthcare worked in a foreign country.  

Finding The Right University For You

The medical school you choose can have implications on your ability to become a practicing doctor in the U.S. Make sure to consider these five things before making your choice to ensure you are receiving the best education and setting yourself up for a successful medical career.

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