AAIMG: Useful or not

[Miklos]

Just a quick poll, to judge the opinion of ValueMD users. The question is whether or not the AAIMG (website www.aaimg.com) provides useful information or not. For background see the other thread on AAIMG unmasked.

Please vote and state why or why not.

Thanks.

[Miklos]

I am kind of disappointed in the lack of comments. At present, the vote is clearly against the info on the aaimg website, but no one wishes to comment one way or the other, so I will try to take a stab.

I know very little about the Carib. schools or the situation in England as 'documented' on the website, but the general information as well as the information (for the most part, with some minor exceptions) on Eastern Europe is very accurate. For this reason, I have and will continue to recommend it to those considering med school in Eastern Europe.

I would be interested in seeing comments from those who believe that the information is not useful and in particular, why?

[Beaker]

miklos, the reason why ppl arent commenting is coz this horse has already been beat to death. save urself the trouble and do a search on this site and u will soon learn what most of us already know, the aaimg is bogus!

just coz they get some things right (mostly after reading these types of forums and chaging the reports) doesnt make them accurate. u said it urself "the information (for the most part, with some minor exceptions) on Eastern Europe is very accurate. " for the most part?? c'mon! its like someone telling u that they can accurately predict what sex ur baby will be on their own. they'll be 'right' 50% of the time, but does that mean they're accurate??

the fact that a good portion of their info is 'inaccurate' makes them unreliable at best and bogus at worst. either way makes its not useful.

the shadiness of the ppl who run the site just adds to them being useless. u can do a search like i said but here is some info to help get u started from the federation of world medical associations (fowma - which i think is probably just as bogus)

Bogus (Fraud) Associations

AAIMG (American Association of International Medical Graduates)

About AAIMG.....! (American Associations of International Medical Graduates)
FOWMA has performed investigations through its councils, Committees, Commissions and task forces into the authenticity of several associations throughout the world. FOWMA will update the information from time to time on bogus, scam, fraud associations for all health care professionals who are looking into opportunities all over the world.

FOWMA is releasing the following information on AAIMG ( American Association of International Medical Graduates ) based on its detailed research and investigations through its task force.

1. AAIMG is a fraud and bogus organization.

2. AAIMG has registered in State of Nevada without any address. The listed address on the web site is 1802 N. Carson Street, Carson city, NV 89701 USA. There is no such existing address with AAIMG office.

3. AAIMG has no telephone numbers or Fax numbers listed to its association

4. The so called President Dr. ****** Moore does not exist and is no one by that name in United States listed under AAIMG in any telephone directory or public information booklets like Staate Board licence, registration or any other source. The email listed as presaaimg@hotmail.com is a public hot mail with no direct email to AAIMG.

5. The so called Secretary Sarah B. Weinstein does not exist and is no one by that name in United States listed under AAIMG in any telephone directory or public information booklets like Staate Board licence, registration or any other source. The email listed as execsecaaimg@hotmail.com is a public hot mail with no direct email to AAIMG

6. FOWMA has investigated into the hosting of web site of AAIMG, which is a bogus scam and fraud association. The web site is hosted by a Russian web host company. AAIMG is a bogus web site and association hosted in Russia. Following is the address of the web site host in Russia.

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact: Demkin, Andrew (HDIJIKMWTI) demkin@HOTMAIL.COM 60, Moika emb. apt.33 Saint-Petersburg, 190000 RUSSIA +7 812 3147397 +7 812 3147397

7. FOWMA has found a disclaimer at the bottom of the home page web site of AAIMG as follows:

Design and web hosting by OOO Nautilus, Russia Disclaimer: OOO Nautilus disclaims any responsibility for the content of this website provided by AAIMG

8.Reports of the task force of FOWMA who conducted investigation research into this bogus fraud association (AAIMG )has revealed that Administrations of the Medical Schools throught out Caribbean, Europe and other parts of the world were approached by this fraud AAIMG association and demanded money in US dollars anywhere from $3000 to $7500 for listing the medical school as exceeding AAIMG evaluation criteria . It was also found that Medical Schools who did not pay the money were listed as schools with multiple, serious deficiencies.

9. FOWMA has found that AAIMG web site is hosted by unknown individuals in Russia with self designed criteria to black mail, demand and extract money from medical schools.

10. FOWMA has also found that there are more than one bogus fraud associations like AAIMG operating their activities from outside of USA milking money from new medical schools. FOWMA has also found that AAIMG is making use of the laws of corporation in states like Nevada and Delaware, which are liberal to register and operate from countries like Russia.

11. FOWMA and its task force has found that this fraud association AAIMG has never visited any of the sites of any medical schools as published on their web site by unknown individuals.

12. FOWMA has also learned that there is a multimillion dollar law suit pending againiast this fraud association by several organizations.

13. FOWMA warns all individuals and organization including students, physicians to be careful in reviewing any publications from this bogus fraud association in the form of web information, paper information or by any other email system.








© 2002 Federal of World Medical Association All rights reserved.

most ppl here (ppl who have been around long enough to know) voted that the info is not useful, yet some ppl like u choose to ignore the obvious. if u insist on ignoring this advice than thats ur choice, but please try to verify any claims on ur own. and the last thing u should be doing is recommending this bogus site to others who dont know any better until u have done all the research urself. but my guess is that anyone who has done the research on that bogus site will not be recommending it to others.

peace

[Nebakanezer]

AMEN!

[jguru2]

I think the point we have to consider (now that we know that AAIMG as an organization has some shady background) is how legitimate the information that the site raises question to....it should make those interested with foreign med schools QUESTION the particular school they are interested in.... the information should be used as baseline...ASK QUESTIONS...it will make your quest more fruitful that way. If their information about one school has been proven wrong, then it helped you. If their information was proven to be correct...then it HELPED you.

just my ramblings...

[bookite]

The AAIGM is a good starting point. Most some people on this site don't like it because it points out deficiencies a school might have. But if you look at their page on schools with significant deficiencies, each school listed has problems licensing it's grads in more than a few states. That news is not easy to hear and so people discount the information. Also because of lack of information on how the data is collected some say the AAIGM is a fraud. But as stated, it is a good starting point to spark interest and give you a heads up on schools that offer you nothing more than a expensive paper with you name on it.
As for the schools that meet their criteria, I have only looked into the top five programs and found that the Big three (SGU, ROSS and AUC) to have the greatest practice opportunity (number of states grads are licensed in). SABA is a fine school but Not approved in all states (grads limited in licensure location) and MUA like St Chris has not had time to have any licensed grads.

[Miklos]

miklos, the reason why ppl arent commenting is coz this horse has already been beat to death. save urself the trouble and do a search on this site and u will soon learn what most of us already know, the aaimg is bogus!

just coz they get some things right (mostly after reading these types of forums and chaging the reports) doesnt make them accurate. u said it urself "the information (for the most part, with some minor exceptions) on Eastern Europe is very accurate. " for the most part?? c'mon! its like someone telling u that they can accurately predict what sex ur baby will be on their own. they'll be 'right' 50% of the time, but does that mean they're accurate??

the fact that a good portion of their info is 'inaccurate' makes them unreliable at best and bogus at worst. either way makes its not useful.

the shadiness of the ppl who run the site just adds to them being useless. u can do a search like i said but here is some info to help get u started from the federation of world medical associations (fowma - which i think is probably just as bogus)

most ppl here (ppl who have been around long enough to know) voted that the info is not useful, yet some ppl like u choose to ignore the obvious. if u insist on ignoring this advice than thats ur choice, but please try to verify any claims on ur own. and the last thing u should be doing is recommending this bogus site to others who dont know any better until u have done all the research urself. but my guess is that anyone who has done the research on that bogus site will not be recommending it to others.

peace

Why precisely is it bogus?

I accept that we do not know who is behind the AAIMG and I (again) will state that I know next to nothing about the Carib. or "English" schools. However, qouting FOWMA, which seems to exist only to attack AAIMG is misleading.

Here are the AAIMG's words of wisdom:
1. The first word of wisdom is that you can receive an excellent education abroad and a competitive residency in the United States. You must first do your homework and study only at a reputable school with rigorous academic standards.
2. More medical schools in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America have failed than have succeeded. Study only at established schools and be highly skeptical of newly established schools. If this information is not included in the catalog, ask each school for the following:
a. The USMLE Step I and Step II passing rates
b. A complete list of all training hospitals and their locations
c. A list of graduates and their residency placements
d. The names and credentials of all full-time faculty members.
e. Proof of listing with the World Health Organization
3. Follow the same procedure for established European Medical Schools with English language programs. Make sure you have the same access to faculty, library and lab facilities as local students in the regular program. Be prepared to attain language fluency before you begin third and fourth year clerkships.
4. Do not believe what you read in a flashy catalog or on an internet site. Avoid any school where recruiters engage in pressure tactics or make personal concessions for you. Visit the admission office and basic science campus of each school in your final selection pool. Attend lectures and interview several current students.
5. During a personal visit, look for signs of adequate staffing and permanency. Evaluate the faculty credentials and make sure the teaching staff is full-time and in residence. Avoid schools that hire local MD practitioners on a part-time basis to teach basic science courses normally taught by Ph.D. level faculty (physiology, biochemistry, microbiology etc.)
6. Carefully evaluate the integrity of the library, laboratories and classroom facilities. Many of the newer medical schools rent space in local hotels, converted garages, or private homes. Look for a permanent, fully functioning campus and remember that a school that rents a few classrooms has little incentive to remain open during hard times.
7. Be very wary of any school that will allow you to complete part of your basic science studies in the United States or England. To avoid future licensing problems, your entire basic science curriculum should be completed in the country listed by the World Health Organization.
8. Be equally wary of schools that have substandard basic science campuses and guarantee clerkship rotations in the United States. Many of the newly established schools with poor to non-existent basic science campuses use this tactic to attract new students. This is a tried and true con game that could be very costly in terms of money and wasted time.
9. Go only to schools where the duration of the Doctor of Medicine program is at least 38 months and demand that you have full-time attendance at the campus. Beware of programs that require that you be present only 6-8 weeks or place you on directed study back in the United States.
10. If you are unable to make a personal visit, interview several current students and graduates before you make a choice. Do not go to schools that refuse to give you a list of clinical training hospital sites or do not list the clinical sites in the catalog.
11. Look for medical schools with external loan programs. A school with Stafford, FFEL, TERI, or I HELP loans has a source of oversight and regulation if it is receiving funding from one of these groups.

This seems like perfectly legitimate advice to me. What is bogus about it?

[stacy_de_lin]

[quote="Miklos"]

If this information is not included in the catalog, ask each school for the following:
a. The USMLE Step I and Step II passing rates

This was good advice for me and I used AAIMG to help me decide which schools to apply to-- in the end, I found only Ross and St. George's suitable (not meant as an attack on other schools, I just wanted to be able to practice freely in all states and feel completely comfortable in my education).

When following this advice and calling schools I contacted a few schools who said that their USMLE pass rates were "confidential student information" which they could not give out. I drew a big line through that school!!

[Japhethi]

I am kind of disappointed in the lack of comments. At present, the vote is clearly against the info on the aaimg website, but no one wishes to comment one way or the other, so I will try to take a stab.

I know very little about the Carib. schools or the situation in England as 'documented' on the website, but the general information as well as the information (for the most part, with some minor exceptions) on Eastern Europe is very accurate. For this reason, I have and will continue to recommend it to those considering med school in Eastern Europe.

I would be interested in seeing comments from those who believe that the information is not useful and in particular, why?

I am sorry, but as others have said here, AAIMG is a meaningless nonsense at best. Many theories have been raised about the origin about this website, but the bottom line is: So far nobody here have been able to contact anyone at that site to get any information. Several people have emailed them with full name and requested information at the email-adresses provided on their site, but I have yet to hear anyone getting any sort of reply back. Another thing is that some of the accusations on their site would likably be prone to lawsuits were the site in the US and not in Russia!!

Whoever is behind this organization is playing real dirty politics and should seriously consider signing up for the 2004 presidential race insted of wasting his/her time on us small fish down in the Caribbean.


Simply a bunch of scumbags, my opinion.


Sons Of Jafeth

[FLK]

I have it on pretty good authority that AAIMG is run by a fellow named DB Cooper

Now if you want the real scoop , then I say go to FOWMA

scoop, as in litter box, that is