Grenada Tops Caribbean In Medical Qualifications

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 8:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

A study by Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, has placed Grenada in first place for the highest first time pass rate for steps one and two of the US Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) for all countries with medical schools in the Caribbean.

There are 56 medical schools currently recognised in 16 countries in the Caribbean. St George's University School of Medicine (SGUSOM) is the only medical school in Grenada.

The study ranked Grenada (SGUSOM) number one in the step one (testing basic science knowledge) category of USMLE with an 84.4 per cent pass rate for first time takers, well above the closest country with private medical schools. If Grenada is deducted from the study, the average pass rate for all other countries was 49.9 per cent. The study was conducted over a fifteen year period from 1993 to 2007.

The USMLE process is essential for medical licensure in the United States.

"This official study, the first of its kind in over 15 years, is an unbiased and accurate representation of the abilities of St George's University medical students", commented Chancellor Dr Charles R Modica. "Our students outperformed students from other countries in the region, exceeding the pass rate of some countries by more than 60 per cent.

"It is gratifying, too, in that we draw our students from over 100 countries worldwide", said Margaret Lambert, Dean of Enrolment Planning at St George's, "this impartial study is most welcome - and extremely necessary - for students trying to assess options as they choose a medical school. Finally, after many years, there is an objective, impartial study which will help prospective students and licensing agencies to recognise St George's continuous academic excellence".

Please see the following links:
http://www.sgu.edu/website/sguwebsite.nsf/images/news-USMLE-graph1l.jpg
http://www.sgu.edu/website/sguwebsite.nsf/images/news-USMLE-graph2l.jpg

St George's University, Grenada, was founded as an independent school of medicine over 30 years ago. The university offers advanced degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, arts and sciences. St George's University includes students and educators from more than 100 countries.

St George's University, Grenada