Focus on Education

Neal Simon, Founder & President of the American University of Antigua (AUA)

When was American University of Antigua (AUA) founded?

It was founded in 2004 with an inaugural class of nine students with the aim of forming future generations of physicians due to the projected shortage, especially in the areas of primary care, family medicine, and internal medicine. In 2010, AUA graduated its first class – more than 100 new physicians.

How did an American end up starting a new medicine school in the Caribbean?

I was a consultant to the Medical Board of Dominica and then President of the Ross University School of Medicine for a number of years. At that time, Antigua & Barbuda was planning to open a new hospital and having a medical school attached to it. I was recommended to the government as someone who could help them establish their medical school.

Why did you accept the challenge?

At that time, a number of countries in the Caribbean were interested in starting a medical school, but I chose Antigua & Barbuda because I was familiar with the country, there was a new hospital opening, and they were interested in improving the medical education on offer. But the most important reason was because the government wanted to become partners both in establishing the medical school and its subsequent success. It was vital that the school was in a country where we were able to work well with the government. And the Antiguan government were willing to help finance a new medical school.

What sets the AUA apart from the other medical schools in the region?

From the beginning, we were able to cherry pick the very best possible faculty thanks to my and the other investors’ knowledge of the business and because Antigua was an attractive location. Our medical school, with a USD 150 million campus, was actually built to be a medical school unlike many others in the region that have just used rented spaces or converted buildings. Furthermore, we are the only Caribbean school with an affiliation to FIU (Florida International University) and recently partnered with a university in India which has five of the top medical schools in Asia. AUA is the only Caribbean school affiliated with LCME (The Liaison Committee on Medical Education) accredited US medicine schools. AUA is also recognised by the Medical Board of California (MBC) and approved by the New York State Education Department and the Medical Council of India (MCI). More recently, the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) LAO approved AUA’s MD program.

How important are these international recognitions and partnerships?

It means we can have a global reach and are not restricted to Antigua or the US. The opportunity to have interchanges and experiences throughout the world is another advantage of our school and helps us train better practitioners. In 2007, the Mayo Clinic teamed up with AUA College of Medicine to establish the first Emergency Medical Training Center in the Caribbean. AUA has had other affiliations with partners such as Mount St. John’s Medical Centre (2009) and GEMx (2016).

How successful have your students been?

Our students have been placed in over 100 leading hospitals and I am happy to say that AUA graduates are very successful in securing prestigious residency positions throughout the United States and Canada. I always like to point out that in the last five years, two of our Valedictorians were Antiguan scholarship students and both got very prestigious residencies in the US. One of them was the very first Caribbean student to get a residency at the Mayo Clinic. Other graduates have been to the Cleveland Clinic, Yale, Harvard-affiliated clinics and Mount Sinai to name but a few.

It has often been said that “brain drain” is the curse of smaller states. What can AUA do to ensure that its students stay in the country and region?

We have an Antigua scholarship program which currently has about 24 students enjoying full scholarship. Part of this scholarship agreement with the government says that they have to come back to Antigua to practice for a period of time after they have done their residency elsewhere to get their license. Although these scholars are selected by the government, they must meet our admission requirements. This is hopefully a way to avoid brain drain. As good corporate citizens of Antigua we want to ensure that our presence provides a social benefit to the population, more than just the economic benefit.

As good corporate citizens of Antigua we want to ensure that our presence provides a social benefit to the population, more than just the economic benefit.

Underrepresented minorities made up only seven percent of all students enrolled at US medical schools in 2016. At AUA, they represent 23 percent. How do you make sure that there is an increasing minority representation in your MD programs?

This is something that has to change and improve. In fact, most of the U.S. medical schools have classes that deal with diversity and diversity training. We not only have these classes, but our students actually live this diversity thanks to our multinational and multiracial student population. AUA’s push for diversity is a major part of its response to the national physician shortage and we matriculated over three times the national average of underrepresented minorities in 2016. And just as important, we have a diversified faculty.

Where are your faculty from?

A large portion come from the US, but we also have some from India, Europe and Antigua. Twenty five percent of our faculty are African American. In addition, we also employ over 100 people from Antigua.

And your students? Since you are based in New York, do most of them come from that area?

The primary recruitment of our students takes place in the United States where our students carry out their last two years of education. Remember that medical education is primarily a four-year academic programme; two years in a classroom setting with some clinical integration, and then two years in a hospital setting. As most of our affiliated hospitals are in the US, such as in the New York metropolitan area, California, and Maryland, the majority of our students come from there. More recently, we have expanded our recruitment to India.

How would you describe the quality of health care in Antigua?

There has been a tremendous improvement in healthcare in Antigua and I believe that part of that has to do with the health clinic belonging to our medical school where students and faculty treat people. Also, there is a healthy interchange of ideas with several local physicians, not to mention the fact that we have a lot of specialists in the country.

What role does AUA play in the economy of the Twin Islands?

We have about 1,100 students who live in Antigua and use services provided by Antiguans, such as rentals, transport, food and so on throughout the year and thus significantly contributing to the local economy.

You have been appointed Ambassador-at-Large for Antigua & Barbuda. What would you like to accomplish with this new role?

Firstly, it is a great honour. Antigua has presented AUA with an opportunity of not only having a successful business, but more importantly of having a successful institution that provides medical education for thousands of students who are now practicing medicine and dealing with the shortage of medical staff. I constantly try to let people know what business and investment opportunities are available in Antigua and also tell them about the fantastic real estate opportunities on offer; I am even looking for real estate here myself!

What are your current priorities as AUA President?

To make AUA a medical school that continues to improve and provide physicians to the US and Caribbean region where there is a shortage of medical doctors. I also hope to ensure that we are contributing to the overall welfare of Antigua, both economically and educationally speaking.

Final message?

We have a strong eye for applicants with talent, determination, and compassion. AUA is committed to graduating skilled, ethical and caring physicians and dedicated to breaking down the barriers that have prevented underrepresented minorities from obtaining a medical education in the United States and their subsequent licensure.

» 88% of AUA graduates obtained a residency on their first attempt in 2017

9» 6% passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination | Step 1 pass rate in 2017

» 700+ residency programs are enjoying the contributions of an AUA graduate

» 17 different categories of scholarships are available

» Almost 40 affiliated teaching sites throughout the US, Canada and India

» 2,358 AUA graduates are making a difference in their communities