Hi,

I am in the process of filling out applications for a suitable Med schools in the Caribs. Given that there are many factors to look at when choosing a school, I would like to get some feed back about the 'AAIMG evaluation' factor. How important is that? According to http://www.aaimg.com/list/provisional.html , MUA is on the Provisional status, which I basically translate as a state of "uncertainty". Is there any news about when MUA might get out of this status?

Here is a quote from AAIMG:
"This school has not yet graduated a large basic science contingent to accurately gage USMLE performance or clerkship issues."
Along those lines, does anyone have the following info:

1. % basic science students going into clinical rotation in US
2. % passed USMLE
3. % MD grads received visa (H1/J1) and working in US

Thanks,

Nasim
Toronto, CAN[/url]

look at the reasons for being on that list, they are nothing MAJOR....also, the fact that is a newer school, is the main reason for being on that list.



Medical University of the Americas, Nevis, 2000, West Indies

Deficiencies
Section I c

Admission criteria for selecting students are clearly defined in the catalog. The MCAT or a comparable exam should be required. School does not deviate from stated requirements.


Section II c

Elective courses, including research opportunities, are available to all students

Section III d,e

There is a separate medical library area with a book and periodical collection that meets the minimum standards of a small medical school. Online resources such as Medline are available to students and faculty free of charge.

There are facilities for quiet study time or research available to students.

Section V e,f-other areas pending

Hospital affiliations are listed in the school catalog. Students are not expected to find their own clerkships.

There is demonstrated continuity between the basic science campus and the clinical medicine program.




If you want to have something to worry about, look at the list of schools with sig. def. and the problems they are having after being an older, established school.

*************** Look at these ****************

Windsor School of Medicine,
St. Christopher, West Indies, 2000
Deficiencies
Section I a,b,c,d,g
Section II b,c,d,f,
Section III b,c,d,e,g,h,k
Section IV c,f,g,j,m
Section V a,d,e,f,h,j,l,m
Section VI a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j
Section VII b,c,e,f,g,i
Section VIII e

The entire campus consists of two small rented buildings in an industrial area. Classrooms are poorly equipped with no real labs or library facilities. No catalog, course descriptions or curriculum breakdown. Small permanent faculty, no listing of clinical hospital affiliations. No federal or regulated private loans. School moved from Turks and Caicos islands where it initially operated with no W.H.O. listing.
University of Sint Eustatius,


St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles, 1999
Deficiencies
Section I b,c,d,h
Section II c,d,k,l
Section III b,c,d,e,,i
Section IV c,f
Section V c,e,f,h,j,l,m
Section VI b,d,e,f,h
Section VII b,e,f,g
Section VIII b

Different admission standards and curriculum adjustments exist for large foreign national student contingent. No permanent campus; classrooms are rented local buildings. Insufficient library space and holdings. Minimal 32 month total curriculum with unrealistic number of basic science courses crammed into four, 16 week terms. Does not publish hospital affiliations or loan programs. Accepts large number of transfer students, some without proper documentation or completion of a full basic science curriculum.

International University of the Health Sciences,
St. Christopher, West Indies, 1997
Deficiencies
Section I b,c,g
Section II a,b,d,e,f,h,I,j
Section III b,c,d,h,i
Section IV c,d,f
Section V b,c,e,h,j
Section VI b.c.d.e.f.h
Section VII a,c
Section VIII a,b,c

Distance learning curriculum. Grants advanced placement; full-time residence on St. Kitts not required. Problem based learning on computer with tutorials. No labs or library at campus site which is a solitary rented building, “ Brannigan House”. Lacks permanent faculty. No list of clinical sites, no federal or regulated private loans.

St. Matthews School of Medicine,
Ambergis Caye, Belize, Central America, 1997
Deficiencies
Section I b,c,h
Section II e,k,l
Section III b,c,d,
Section IV c,f,g,m
Section V d,e,f,h,I,j,l,m,n
Section VI b,e,h
Section VII e,f,i
Section VIII c

School formerly listed as “Provisional” has experienced serious internal management problems and has failed to expand or build a more permanent campus. Relocation of basic science campus announced to unknown site for term beginning in 5/02. Library remains inadequate. No local hospital or health care experience yet established. Portion of instruction done in USA may create licensing problems and is still not realistically addressed by school.

University of the Health Sciences, Antigua,
West Indies, 1982
Deficiencies
Section I a,b,c,d,g,h
Section II a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,j,k,l
Section III b,c,d,h,j,k
Section IV f,g,I,k,m
Section V b,c,e,f,,h,j,k,l,m,n
Section VI a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,
Section VII b,c,d,e,f,g
Section VIII a,b,c,d

Distance learning, part-time attendance, advanced placement to allied health professionals is part of this curriculum. Insufficient laboratories and library at small permanent campus. No list of clerkship affiliations or preceptors. Stafford loans withdrawn on emergency basis in 1995, no financial aid programs. Letters sent by several graduates with complaint of inability to obtain transcripts and vital licensing endorsements.

Spartan Health Sciences University,
St. Lucia, West Indies, 1981
Deficiencies
Section I a,b,c,d,h
Section II a,b,c,d,f,g,j,k,l
Section III c,d,k
Section IV c,f,m
Section V b,ce,f,h,j,l,m
Section VI a,b,e,f,h,I
Section VII c,e,f,I
Section VIII a,b,e

No catalog and web site and admission packet provide brief listing of courses. Permanent campus exists with small faculty who each teach several courses. Minimal 32 month curriculum is an unrealistic, piecemeal approach to basic sciences. Two cadavers are present in tiny anatomy lab. Small library with insufficient holdings. No listing of hospital affiliations and students must pay own clerkship fees. Federal loans withdrawn 1997. History of legal sanctions by California and injunctions by Texas Attorney General.

St. James School of Medicine,
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, 2000
Deficiencies
Global: Categories I-VIII

Minimal classroom building without labs or proper instructional material located nearby local hospital on Bonaire. Despite advertising and solicitation of students, basic science campus has not opened in either September 2001 or January 2002.
Granting advanced placement to allied health professionals, no loan programs.

Central American Health Sciences University,
Belize City, Belize, Central America, 1996
Deficiencies
Section I a,b,c,d,f,h
Section II a,b,c,e,f,g,j,k,l
Section III b,cd,e,g,h,k
Section IV a,b,c,d,f,g,j,l,m
Section V b,c,d,e,f,h,j,k, l,m,n
Section VI b,c,d,e,f,g,h,I,j
Section VII c,d,e,g,I
Section VIII d,e

School is located in a rented building in a suburb of Belize City. Students live in nearby hotel. Physical facility lacks proper labs and instructional equipment and there is no library. Minimal faculty presence with no published list or credentials. School does not publish a hospital affiliation list. History of sanctions by Texas Attorney General.

American International School of Medicine,
Georgetown, Guyana, Central America
Deficiencies
Section I b,c,d,f,g,h
Section II a,c,d,e,f,g,h,j
Section III b,c,d,e,h,i,k
Section IV a,c,f,g,m
Section V b,d,e,f,h,j,k,l,m,n,o
Section VI a,b,c,d,e,f,gh,I,j
Section VII b,d,e,f,g
Section VIII a,c

Minimal facilities and labs although experience available in local hospitals. Minimally qualified faculty with no listing of medical school or postgraduate training. Tuition refunds given only in the case of proven serious illness. No listing of affiliate hospitals or preceptors. Gives advanced placement to allied health professionals and clerkship credit for on the job training. No external loan programs. Admission office sanctioned by State of Georgia Office of Postsecondary education.

Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochimilco,
Ensenada, Mexico
Deficiencies
Section I b,c,d,f,gh
Section II a,b,c,e,f,g,h,I,j,l
Section III b,cd,h,I,k
Section IV a,f,g,k,m
Section V d,f,g,h,l,n
Section VI b,c,d,e,f,g,h,I,j
Section VII c,d,e,f,g,I
Section VIII a,b,d

This school was featured in 1992 on a national investigative news program and subsequently lost U.S. Federal loans. The campus has been housed in a former hotel. There are no labs and few fulltime faculty. Admission standards, course attendance and testing requirements are lax. There is no list of affiliated hospitals and poor clinical supervision. This school has opened and closed in a number of locations in Mexico for the past 15 years.

Thanks for the long "copy/pasted" response. Well, curious_george, what you are doing is comparing schools that are on the Provisional list to schools that have significant deficiencies. Why are you not comparing Provisional schools to the ones that have exceeded the evaluation expectation? The issue is that a school on the Provisional list *may* or *may not* exceed AAIMG evaluation criteria as it matures. Question is which path will MUA take. From your message, it appears that you are betting MUA will do well in future evaluations. You may be right, but it still doesn't change the fact that MUA is on the Provisional list.

Look at what happened to St. Matthews School of Medicine. They went from Provisional to Deficiency list due to internal management problems. Now, I am not saying that this would happen to MUA, but can you be 100% sure that it won't happen.

So I come back to my original questions

1. Does anyone have information on when MUA will get out of the Provisional list
2. What percentage of students have made it to US clinical rotations from basic science, say last year?
3. What percentage have passed USMLE (last year)?
4. What percentage of MD grads have received H1-B/J1 visa and are now doing residency in US?

I think this would give us somewhat of an idea about how well MUA will do in the future.

FYI: http://www.aaimg.com/list/provisional.html

Regards,

Nasim
TO

Well, do you know the date of the report you cited? Do you know when the last update was done?

I have sent AAIMG an email asking the exact question. But, haven't heard from them yet. So, if anyone knows this info, pls share.


Regards,

Nasim
TO

Hi Nasim

I think you should contact MUA's admin for the answers to your questions. I haven't seen info. like that on this MUA forum. And School doesn't announce this info. Regarding graduates practicing in US, check out MUA's official website "www.mua.edu", you will see a list of their alumni, it's a short list. Recently there is debate regarding AAIMG in the main forum, it appears the AAIMG website hasn't been maintained/updated lately. I first visited that website more than a year ago before we came down to Nevis, it hasn't been changed at all since then. Well, my biased opinion is MUA (at least the Nevis campus) is moving to a better position as I see school is improving its resources. And I heard more people applying to MUA now (that means school can have more selection) and also, the tuition has increased since we started.

Gook luck in your research

S

thanks for the prompt response. And good luck to u as well.

Nasim

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. Thomas 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.

Great, so there is yet another association to think about! But, this I find interesting. It is interesting that an ENTIRE association exists just to bash AAIMG. Click through the links of their site (http://www.fowma.com). In a nutshell, all they have is: Introduction, Objective, List of Associations/Schools. Everything else is dedicated to bashing AAIMG, much like the previous post...(actually, its EXACTLY like the previous post). Does anybody else find this odd? Also, I could not find any physical contact info. for this so called federation, except for 3 email addresses with no names associated to them. Weird.

Nasim

its been established that aaimg is not real...they will never answer your email, search you will find many post on this site

__________________
First the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me.- Steve Martin