Forum: Ross Medical School Forum Location: Dominica, West Indies, Caribbean Basic Science Tuition: $13,650/semester Clinical Science Tuition: $15,000/semester USA Clinical Rotations: Yes Other countries: UK Time required for MD: 10 semesters Year Founded: 1978 Loans: Stafford Loan and other private loans Book List: Ross Med School Books Album: Ross Med School Album E-mail: Email Ross Medical School Survey: Ross Medical School review

A Brief History of Dominica by The World Factbook 2007

Welcome to Ross

Welcome to Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine. Ross University is one of the largest and most successful medical educators in the world – and remains one of the great secrets in medical education.

Since opening in 1978, Ross has been committed to our students with a rigorous curricula that mirrors the education of its U.S. peers. This student-centered approach means that you will have complete access to our extraordinary faculty who are dedicated to your success.

With the serious threat posed by a looming physician and veterinary shortage, Ross’s mission of preparing highly trained doctors has never been so critical. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there will be a shortage of approximately 55,000 physicians in the U.S. by 2020. U.S. Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado, who is also a veterinarian, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be more than 28,000 openings for veterinarians by 2012.

Ross University has been a leader in international medical education for 30 years because of talented, motivated students like you. Whether your passion is people or animals, we invite you to apply and hopefully join the 7,500+ Ross alumni that are practicing across all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Quick Facts - School of Medicine

Founded in 1978, the School of Medicine is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2008.

Ross graduates can practice in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. This includes the formal approval the School has received in the critical states of NY, NJ, FL and CA.

In 2007, Ross students USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate was over 92%. For Ross students with a GPA greater than 2.5, the USMLE first-time pass rate was 96.9%.

Students spend 16 months on the Ross campus in Dominica and then return to the U.S. for clinical clerkships.

The campus in Dominica has the latest in educational technology. Classrooms are equipped with numerous flat panel plasma screens and students enjoy wireless internet capability anywhere on campus.

For the clinical portion of the program conducted in the U.S., the School of Medicine is affiliated with nearly 70 teaching hospitals.

The School of Medicine starts three classes a year in September, January and May. And with no summer break, students finish the programs in less time than they would in the U.S.

There are currently 5,737 School of Medicine alumni.

Things To Consider

Are Ross University graduates easily able to practice medicine in the United States?
Ross University graduates are eligible to practice medicine in the United States once they pass the requisite licensing examinations. Thousands of our graduates are licensed and practicing or in residency in the United States. Foreign citizens who do not have permanent residency in the United States can practice in the United States; however they must meet the various Immigration Law requirements.

What makes Ross University better than other Caribbean medical schools?
Ross University is well-established – having been in existence for over 30 years – and has strong resources to continue sustained growth and expansion. The campus in Dominica features a modern technologically advanced gross anatomy laboratory; classrooms and laboratories equipped with audio-visual technology; an expanded library and medical education computer room; and a learning resource centers, with over 100 computers accessible for students.

Ross University is recognized and accredited by more organizations than many other international schools. We also have a bigger affiliate program than most international schools, thus opening the doors to more opportunity when returning to the states. And, our curriculum allows for a shorter time outside the U.S. – bringing you closer to your residency training more quickly.

Thousands of Ross University graduates are practicing physicians or are in residency in the United States, practicing in virtually every area of medicine.

How is Ross University accredited?
The United States Department of Education (U.S. E.D.) has found the accreditation standards used by the Dominica Medical Board to evaluate Ross University School of Medicine to be comparable to those used by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) to evaluate accredited U.S. medical schools.

The U.S. E.D. has certified Ross University as an eligible institution for Title IV U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) loans. Students who qualify are eligible to receive U.S. student loans in order to attend Ross University School of Medicine.

There are only four states in the U.S. (California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York), that have a process to evaluate, accredit and approve an international medical school's academic program for the purpose of either licensing its graduates and/or clinical and residency training in those states. Ross University is one of only a few international medical schools that received state approvals from all four.

A Reputation for Excellence

Ross University School of Medicine is committed to pushing the frontiers of medical education and providing our students with the foundation they need to pursue a successful career in medicine.

Here are just a few of the ways Ross maintains a reputation for excellence:
Curriculum
Ross University School of Medicine thoroughly grounds you with a rigorous Foundations of Medicine curriculum. In just four semesters (16 months) at our campus on Dominica you’ll take the courses that will provide you with an essential foundation in developmental and microscopic anatomy, biochemistry, medical genetics, neuroscience, gross anatomy, physiology, microbiology, immunology, pathology, pharmacology, behavioral sciences, and an introduction to clinical medicine.

Facilities
Learning is more effective and efficient when it’s supported by the right technology. This is particularly true when it comes to educating doctors who must learn to make judgments based on skilled observation of visual clues. At Ross University School of Medicine, you’ll have the benefit of exceptional teaching and laboratory facilities designed with extensive multi-media and simulation capabilities.

Faculty
Ultimately, what makes a medical school is the quality of its faculty. At Ross University School of Medicine, you’ll benefit from a 70-person Foundations of Medicine faculty with impeccable credentials as physicians, teachers and researchers. Every member of the Ross University faculty holds an M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree. Many are also Board Certified in their specialties.

Clinical Rotations
Ross University School of Medicine is proud to be affiliated with more than 70 teaching hospitals in the United States. This extensive network of affiliations makes it possible for our students to receive superior education while completing their clinical rotations in the U.S. Our roster of affiliated institutions includes some of the best known teaching hospitals in the country.

Residencies
Virtually all graduates now obtain residencies at the earliest available start dates and are well received by residency directors in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved hospitals throughout the United States.

Licensing
Some states (New Jersey, New York, California and Florida) require approval for international medical schools. Ross University School of Medicine is proud to be approved in each of these states. In addition, the Texas Medical Board has concluded that Ross University School of Medicine is substantially equivalent to Texas Medical Schools. Ross graduates can obtain their licenses in Texas.

A Commitment to Teaching Medicine

The heart of any university is its faculty. That is especially the case at Ross University School of Medicine.

Our full-time faculty is selected not only for their exceptional professional credentials, but also for their strong commitment to teaching.

This faculty supports our students in ways that are simply not possible for traditional medical school faculties. Without the demands of medical research and publication, Ross University faculty members concentrate more on your needs as a student. It creates a close-knit sense of academic community that is unique and inspiring to students.

Each member of the Ross University faculty holds an M.D., a Ph.D. degree, or both. Many are Board Certified in their specialties in the U.S., or are members of the Royal Colleges of the U.K. Their background and credentials as physicians, teachers, and researchers are impeccable.

While most faculty are residents of the community, a large number of visiting faculty lecture in specific areas of expertise.

Your Course of Study

The degree Doctor of Medicine is awarded upon the successful completion of the Basic Sciences curriculum, the Clinical Sciences curriculum, and the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Steps 1 and 2. The entire M.D. program consists of ten 15-week semesters (150 weeks).

Overview

Ross University School of Medicine offers a Basic Sciences curriculum designed to prepare students for licensure and practice in the U.S. or Canada. All Basic Sciences coursework is offered on the School of Medicine campus (located at Portsmouth, in the Commonwealth of Dominica) and must be satisfactorily completed there.

The Basic Sciences segment, conducted in Dominica, consists of 60 credits of specifically prescribed coursework. There are four semesters of Basic Sciences classes, for a total of two academic years. All Basic Sciences coursework must be satisfactorily completed on the Portsmouth campus. Students are eligible for licensure in the United States as long as they do not deviate from these standards.

The Clinical Sciences curriculum, conducted in the U.S., consists of 90 weeks of clinical training. It begins with an introductory clinical segment of 12 weeks, the "Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine." This clinical experience is designed to build on the students' training in medical history and physical diagnostic skills, as well as the students' approach to the patient. It is conducted in hospitals and related clinical facilities in the Miami area.

The remaining 78 weeks consist of 48 weeks of required ("core") clerkships and 30 weeks of elective. During this time, the student participates in patient care while rotating through various medical specialties in affiliated teaching hospitals and other approved health care facilities in the United States.

Academic Calendar

Ross University is dedicated to providing students with the educational opportunity to accelerate your professional career. Our timetable and curriculum are designed so students can enroll into any of three semesters. Students do not have to wait for a new academic year the way they might at traditional schools.

Our school year is divided into three academic terms or semesters each calendar year. The terms correspond to the following months: Spring term is January - April, Summer term is May - August, and Fall term is September - December. As you will notice, we have structured our curriculum so that students can enroll at the start of any semester. (dates subject to change)

Basic Sciences Curriculum

During semesters 1-4, you will live on the island of Dominica and complete the Basic Sciences curriculum at the Portsmouth campus.

Students will experience an integrated curriculum. During these semesters, course content is integrated so that multiple courses are addressing the micro-function and structure involved in the processes of health and disease. Coursework introduces the complexities of interaction between physicians, their patients, and society in the maintenance of health and development of illness. The inclusion of a case-based educational approach allows the student to become familiar with the clinical thinking involved in the practice of medicine.

Clinical Sciences Curriculum

Your clinical studies will begin with the fifth semester studies in Miami, Florida.

Semester 5
12 week-course, "Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine." This course incorporates previously acquired knowledge and skills, and augments them to create a bridge to further learning. It is intended to prepare students for a successful transition to the clinical clerkships through additional patient contact in U.S. clinical facilities. Emphasis is placed on improving techniques of the physical examination and diagnostic skills. Critical thinking will be refined to strengthen the ability to formulate rational clinical hypotheses and differential diagnoses. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate their improved critical thinking skills, their fund of knowledge on mechanism of disease processes, and their clinical acumen, by making cogent written and oral presentations, in a patient-care setting.

USMLE STEP 1:
After completing Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine, and prior to beginning your clinical clerkships, you will take Step 1 of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

Semesters 6 -10:
After passing the USMLE Step 1, students are eligible to enter clinical clerkships, in rotation, in specific fields. There are 48 weeks of required clinical core clerkships and 30 weeks of electives.

The required core clerkships are:
Medicine – 12 weeks
Obstetrics/Gynecology – 6 weeks
Pediatrics – 6 weeks
Psychiatry – 6 weeks
Surgery – 12 weeks
Family Medicine – 6 weeks
Electives
Research Electives

The core clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and psychiatry are the basic areas of medical practice about which all physicians need to be knowledgeable. They are included in the curriculum of every medical school. Participation in these clerkships also provides students with an understanding of the various specializations in medicine.

Electives:
The 30 additional weeks are spent in elective clerkships; these must include eight additional weeks of Medicine, which may be spent in general medicine or in medical subspecialties, and four additional weeks of surgery, which may be spent in general surgery or in surgical subspecialties.

USMLE STEP 2:
After completing the 48 weeks of required clerkships, you will take the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge. Unlike some U.S. schools of medicine, Ross requires passage of the USMLE Step 2 for graduation.

USMLE STEP 3:
After you graduate from Ross University School of Medicine, and either during or after your residency, you will also take the USMLE Step 3.

Hospital Affiliations

Ross University School of Medicine currently has affiliation agreements for core clerkships with more than 70 teaching hospitals. Participation in this U.S. clinical training program, alongside students from U.S. medical schools, provides Ross University School of Medicine students with an equal opportunity in the residency match.

Placement of clinical clerkship students into various hospital clerkships is done by the Office of the Dean of Clinical Sciences.

Tuition and Fees

Financial Information

Making the decision to go to medical school is both a major life decision and a major financial commitment. Ross University is committed to doing everything possible to prevent financial concerns from keeping any student from pursuing their dream of becoming a doctor.

Ross University maintains a competitive tuition and provides the support that enables students to obtain loans and cost-effective living arrangements during their four semesters at the Ross campus on Dominica.

Student Loans
Students accepted for admission to Ross University School of Medicine, and those who are in attendance and maintaining standards of satisfactory academic progress, may apply for student loans through both government and private programs to meet direct and indirect educational expenses. The maximum loan amount for which a student is eligible may not exceed the Cost of Attendance for the academic period in which the student is enrolled.

The Office of Financial Aid assists students in applying to non-governmental lenders and grantors of loans and scholarships for which they may be eligible. Our staff will provide information to enrolled students, help with the application process, and communicate with the New Jersey Office of Financial Aid. It is advisable for all students -- including those who have applied for financial aid -- to bring sufficient funds with them to cover their initial month's living and housing expenses.

Typically, students finance the cost of their medical school education by combining family resources, student loans from governmental and other agencies, and private sources. Families should make every possible effort to attain the needed resources for education. Financial Aid is intended to fill the gap that may exist between a family’s ability to afford educational expenses and the cost of attendance at the school.

Approximately 85% of Ross University School of Medicine students receive some assistance.

If you have any questions or require further information you can contact us.

Ross University Scholarships

Making the decision to become a physician is both a major life decision and a major financial commitment. Ross University is committed to doing everything possible to prevent financial concerns from keeping any student from pursuing their dream. Ross University maintains a competitive tuition and provides the support that enables students to obtain loans and cost-effective living arrangements while studying at the School of Medicine. There are also scholarships available that students may apply for prior to beginning their first semester at Ross University.

The Eliza Anna Grier Scholarship
The Eliza Anna Grier Scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Eliza Grier, the first African-American medical doctor in the state of Georgia.

Award Criteria and Eligibility

• Must possess strong personal qualities of motivation and integrity as well as academic excellence.
• Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be classified as an under-represented minority.
• Hold an undergraduate degree.
• Must begin their studies at Ross University as a new, first-semester student.
• Must have maintained a minimum 3.25 undergraduate grade point average (GPA).
• Must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA at Ross University to maintain award eligibility for each semester. The award can be reinstated if a student fails to achieve the minimum GPA in one semester but reaches that level in a future semester.
• Be an accepted student to Ross University School of Medicine by the Scholarship deadline

Note: Eligibility requirements subject to change without notice. Transfer students and students accepted to the MERP program are not eligible.

Application Deadlines
July 1 deadline for students planning to begin their studies in the September semester.

November 1 deadline for students planning to begin their studies in the January semester.

March 1 deadline for students planning to begin their studies in the May semester.

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