×

Request Information

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Florida International University – AUA Collaboration

American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUACOM) offers unique educational programs conducted in collaboration with Florida International University’s (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) and Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work:

  • Global Health Track (GHT) Certificate Program
  • Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program
  • Elective Clinical Rotation Program
  • Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

Global Health Track

Global Health has been defined as “the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide” by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. Global Health addresses the health of populations in a global context and transcends the political boundaries of nations focusing on social determinants of health, healthcare disparities including infectious and non-communicable disease issues, human rights as well as economic development, and policy and system issues.

The American University of Antigua, College of Medicine (AUACOM) Global Health Track is a certificate program conducted in collaboration with Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU).

Students attending the Global Health Track are introduced to the study of community and public health, primary care, epidemiology and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases on a global basis.

The AUA-FIU Global Health Track is open to all eligible entering medical students at AUA. The longitudinal Global Health Track is structured along the following themes:

  • Governance (Health Systems, Economics, Ethics, etc.)
  • Burden of Disease (Child Health, Women Health and the health of other vulnerable populations, Communicable Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, etc.)
  • Physical, Mental & Social Wellbeing
  • Technology
  • Security (Environment, Complex Humanitarian Emergencies, Intelligence, etc.)
  • Climate Change
  • Medical Spanish
  • AHA BLS & ACLS instructor training

Upon completion of the Global Health Track, completion of requirements of the Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program and all requirements for graduation from AUA (including but not limited to passing all in-house and external Examinations and passing all required courses and clerkships) the student will receive the MD degree and the Global Health Certificate from AUA as well as the certificate of completion of the Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program from FIU.

There is no fee or tuition for participating in the GHT; as the program is not part of AUA’s medical doctorate program, federal financial aid is not available for the living expenses of students during GHT sessions. Participation in GHT is strictly voluntary.

  • Preclinical Sciences Component
    • The Global Health Track is conducted on the campus of AUA in Antigua.  It consists of four 2-week blocks (before MED 1, MED 2, MED 3 and MED 4), a 1-week block before the Basic Clinical Science Integration course (BSIC). It comprises horizontal and longitudinal coursework during MED 1 through to BSIC.
    • The lectures are conducted by international faculty (FIU, University of the West Indies, State University of New York, Cornell University, New York University, University of Illinois, University of Nevada, United Nations, Doctors Without Borders among others) and AUA faculty.

    In addition, students conduct field trips and exercises and are introduced to research methodology. Students receive American Heart Association instructor training in Basic Cardiac Life Support and have the option to receive Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor training and certification.

  • Clinical Sciences Component

    The Clinical Sciences component is conducted at HWCOM-affiliated clinical sites in Florida and AUA-affiliated clinical sites within the US and abroad.

    Provided that they otherwise satisfy FIU’s requirements, students who successfully complete the GHT will be eligible to participate in AUA’s Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine (FM1/IM1) rotation at FIU and the AUA-FIU Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program Students in the GHT will have the opportunity to join AUA faculty initiated international relief projects and to deepen their expertise in global health research. They will also be afforded the opportunity to be exposed to medical Spanish.

    Students who complete the Global Health Track have historically been viewed as attractive candidates to residency directors at United States hospitals.

 

At the completion of the program, a student should be able to: 

  • Determine the role of epidemiology in global health, to include factors affecting demographic profiles, and applications of research methods and biostatistics.
  • Identify social determinants of health, health equity, social justice, and governmental policy in terms of their impact on the distribution of health services in low-resource settings within the United States and internationally.
  • Evaluate how social determinants of health impact the prevalence of non-communicable and communicable diseases and adequate access to appropriate healthcare.
  • Identify health and human rights issues and determinants of health specific to immigrant, migrant, internally-displaced, and refugee populations.
  • Discuss specific needs of the medically underserved and uninsured.
  • Discuss resources and issues pertinent to health risk prevention, health maintenance, technology and innovation, and variations in healthcare services that are specific to global medicine.
  • Discuss effective advocacy strategies for health systems improvement within the global context
  • Discuss the organization, financing, and health indicators of international healthcare systems.
  • Compare the challenges posed by communicable and non-communicable diseases to the healthcare systems and economies of countries.
  • Practice effective communication and collaboration with the patient, family, and caregivers with sensitivity to sociocultural and health literacy issues so that the diagnosis and plan of care are clearly understood and pertinent to their specific situation.
  • Adapt evidence-based resources and tools for use in limited-resource healthcare settings
  • Interact with cross-cultural sensitivity that is sufficient to deliver basic medical care, including working with translators
  • Perform an efficient comprehensive physical examination under supervision in an internationally located office, hospital, or skilled nursing setting, being mindful of cultural factors such as gender, modesty, and religious practices
  • Demonstrate the ability to appropriately diagnose and treat patients under supervision in the context of local resource availability
  • Practice appropriate diagnostic procedures and their interpretation under supervision in resource-limited healthcare settings
  • Formulate a plan of care that is relevant and practical in a specific cultural setting
  • Develop the ability to advocate for systems change to improve the health of their communities of practice
  • Develop vocabulary and linguistic structure to converse with patients and fellow professionals in Spanish
  • Discuss management plans based on knowledge of global influences, utilizing resources that include local, state, federal, and international agencies, as applicable.
  • Recognize practice limitations and when to seek consultation with other healthcare professionals and systems resources to provide optimal care within a global context.
  • Recognize personal biases and stereotypes related to healthcare delivery in international settings.
  • Discuss the need to balance compassion, humanism, realism, and practicality in the context of heath care delivered in specific global settings.
  • Develop behaviors associated with respect for patient dignity, autonomy, self-care, and self-determination within a cultural and global context
  • Examine how bioethics and environmental ethics affect human health at an individual, community, and international level.

Upon completion of the Global Health Track, completion of requirements of the Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program and all requirements for graduation from AUA (including but not limited to passing all in-house and external exams and passing all required courses and clerkships) the student will receive the MD degree and the Global Health Certificate from AUA as well as the Certificate of Completion of the Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program from FIU.


Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program

Participating AUA students complete all core clinical rotations back-to-back at clinical teaching sites affiliated with FIU HWCOM. This is an excellent and unique opportunity for qualified AUA students to augment their academic and clinical experience in a US medical school environment.

Students are able to:

  • Participate in rotations at clinical training sites affiliated with FIU HWCOM
  • Be taught and assessed by FIU HWCOM’s medical faculty dedicated to teaching the Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program
  • Access FIU academic and recreational facilities
  • Be exposed to top national and international faculty and guest speakers

Students who complete the Graduate Core Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program and all other components of AUA’s curriculum will receive a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from AUA, an FIU Graduate Clinical Core Rotation Certificate Program transcript, and an FIU Certificate of Completion.


Elective Clinical Rotation Program

In addition to core rotations, AUA students have the opportunity to attend elective rotations at FIU’s HWCOM-affiliated clinical sites, which may include medical research projects.

Students are able to:

  • Participate in rotations at clinical training sites affiliated with FIU HWCOM
  • Be taught and assessed by FIU HWCOM’s medical faculty
  • Access FIU academic and recreational facilities
  • Be exposed to top national and international faculty and guest speakers

FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work MPH Program

As an additional benefit to AUA’s collaboration with Florida International University, AUA students and graduates can apply to the Masters of Public Health (MPH) program at FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work and receive priority admission review. Predetermined courses taken by AUACOM students give students advanced standing in the MPH program. Earning an MPH at Stempel College will provide students with advanced training in the field of public health and an understanding of how to work with local, national, and global communities to improve health and well-being.

Take the next step
Admissions webinar
Cookie Preferences
Scroll to Top