American University of Antigua Breaks Ground On Its New Campus

Groundbreaking for New Campus

This represents a major step forward for the founding group of American physicians and medical education professionals who subsequently joined with Dr. Ramdas Pai and Manipal University to create an educational institution on Antigua that would provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art learning facility for students who aspire to become highly skilled compassionate physicians and plan to practice medicine throughout Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean region.

The realization of this vision would have been hard to imagine in January 2004 when American University of Antigua College of Medicine first opened its doors. The University is a special endeavor with a medical education program based on U.S. school curriculum that incorporates hospital experience commencing with the first semester of medical education. AUA educators believe that nothing replaces actual experience and people interaction. Instead of just classroom instruction and the use of human simulator mannequins, students experience hands-on learning from their first semester, accompanying attending physicians on rounds and having patient contact at the local hospital. While primarily dedicated to teaching medicine, the University also feels a responsibility to direct resources to continuing research in areas that will directly impact human health. During the past three years, the Center for Tropical Diseases has conducted numerous research projects that contribute to the overall health as well as the Caribbean region in general and help the local population improve their standard of health and living conditions.

The University is very proud of its achievements and the construction of the new campus represents the next phase of its growth. Completion of the whole project is expected by 2009. However, buildings will be available for use as they are completed.

Students in the 6-year medical degree program have already moved into the newly refurbished building which is located next to the new campus.

The facilities on the new campus will consist of:

• Theater Classroom Building – 9,600 SF of classroom space that will accommodate 480 students

• Laboratory Building – 9,000 SF of laboratory and classroom space that accommodates 168 Histology/Pathology students in a classroom setting and 245 Anatomy students working at 35 lab tables

• Administrative/Staff Building – 10,000 SF

• Microbiology Classroom Building – 9000 SF of classroom space to seat up to 480 students

• Student Union/Library Building – 12,000 SF that will house over 5,000 pieces of biomedical information, reading materials both printed and non-printed, audio-visual aids, computerized instructional materials and advanced technological resources and Internet access, on line journals, full texts as well as self-testing materials. There will be private study cubicles and group study areas

• Student Services  – including recreational facilities, utility space, and meeting and study rooms

• Auditorium – 4,000 SF to seat 300 students with covered kiosk for local vendors

• Athletic fields – over 42,000 SF of space that will be accessible to both students and the local community. The area will include a soccer field, tennis courts, a beach front, a park, and parking spaces.