Neal Simon, American University of Antigua President, attends the International Finance Corporation 4th Biennial Health Conference May 27, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Neal Simon was among 200 senior healthcare executives and thought leaders gathered from around the world to discuss and exchange ideas about the future of this dynamic and important industry. This year’s conference—titled “The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Emerging Market Private Healthcare?”— Simon was a speaker on the panel, “Reforms and the Role of the Private Health Sector in Medical Education.” In his remarks, Simon addressed American University of Antigua (AUA), as a case study in how a private-for-profit institution fulfills the International Finance Corporation (IFC) version to provide people with the “opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives.” Highlights from Mr. Simon’s remarks:

  • The basic assumption: in order to escape poverty, improve life situation we must have healthy population.
  • American University of Antigua started with nine students as a stand-alone medical school.
  • AUA now has over 1200 students in medicine and allied health fields.
  • AUA is able to provide a quality medical education that is funded by student tuition.
  • The most important requirement in attaining success in private medical education:
    1. Dedication to mission of producing quality health care providers.
      1. AUA established new $70 million campus.
      2. Quality faculty with terminal degrees in respective fields.
      3. Resources both educational and environmental to establish appropriate learning environment.
  • AUA has yielded positive outcomes: qualified graduates who participate in some of the best residency programs in the United States including the Mayo Clinic and Mt. Sinai among many others.
  • AUA provides 24 full scholarships to Antigua and Barbuda students who will after completing residency training will primarily practice medicine in Antigua and Barbuda.

Simon concluded his presentation by placing emphasis upon AUA’s economic impact and contributions:

  1. By providing a quality, long-term medical education program AUA provides hundreds of U.S. citizens with an opportunity to practice medicine in the United States, which is experiencing severe physician shortages.
  2. By providing educational opportunities and scholarships to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, AUA contributes to the overall healthcare in Antigua and Barbuda both by increasing the number of physicians and by broadening the scope of expertise of the physician population.
  3. Through allied health programs and its American Heart Association International Training Center, AUA provided first responders in Antigua and Barbuda with BLS, AVLS, PTLS, and DATLS, resulting in better-qualified first responders and employment opportunities in the health care field for citizens of the Caribbean region, who complete one of the above programs.
  4. AUA provides over 125 direct employment opportunities for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and its students and faculty result in hundreds of additional employment opportunities for all service industry personnel from taxi drivers to restaurant workers to property owners and their employees.

Neal Simon, J.D. President Neal Simon is the President and one of the principal founders of American University of Antigua College of Medicine. His career encompasses many years in Medical Education administration. He is the former President of Ross University College of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine.  Prior to his career in graduate education, Simon was Assistant Counsel at the New York State Education Department. He also worked in private legal practice, specializing in medical licensure. He has been a professor of Medical Jurisprudence to medical students and residents. He served on numerous state committees where he evaluated medical schools and introduced regulations governing the licensure of medical schools. He also served on the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities. He was a consultant to the Medical Board of Dominica and an honorary counsel to the country of Dominica. Mr. Simon received his BS/MA from American University (Washington, D.C.), and his JD from New York Law, where he made the Law Review. Simon and the founding group of physicians and medical education professionals created this educational institution in Antigua with a mission: to provide a superior medical education to students committed to the highest standard of learning. Simon and AUA are 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 subsequent licensure.