General Information

• Forum: Unibe Medical School Forum
• Location: Dominican Republic
• Tuition: $4000 per semester
• Email: Email UNIBE
• Survey: UNIBE Review

A Brief History of Dominican Republic by The World Factbook

Explored and claimed by Christopher COLUMBUS on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term. Read More.

About UNIBE

The Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) of the Dominican Republic is a private non-profit institution founded in 1982. Our University is fully accredited by the government of the Dominican Republic (Ministry of Higher Education) to confer all of our degrees.

*Our School of Medicine is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Tribunal Examinador de Medicos de Puerto Rico, and Spain’s Ministry of Education. As a pluralist university, UNIBE encourages scientific and philosophical diversity, respects religious and political ideologies, and makes no distinction on the basis of gender, age, race, national origin, physical handicap, veteran status or creed.

The Campus is located in the heart of Santo Domingo, situated near prominent government offices such as the Central Bank, and it is within walking distance of the Plaza de la Cultura, the city's cultural center, which is the site of major museums, art galleries, and the National Theater.

UNIBE's prime objective is to provide students with a diverse and high-quality education. Today, UNIBE offers 15 careers: Advertising, Architecture, Interior Design, Business Administration, Dentistry, Early Childhood Education, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, IT Engineering, Law, Marketing, Medicine, Psychology, Religion, and Tourism and Hotel Management.

UNIBE is known for being dynamic and highly spirited; it also pays special interest to the growth and well being of the students.

The high professionalism of the academic and administrative staff and the unique atmosphere of UNIBE community provide students with the incentives they may need to establish strong relationships with classmates and professors.

* The Department of International Relations will provide upon request a copy of agreements that certify these accreditations.

Mission Statement

To develop medical professionals with the most current knowledge and skills required to respond to today’s health care necessities in society.

The mission of UNIBE's School of Medicine may be summed up as follows:

• To present a complete and up-to-date curriculum whose scope, presentation, and implementation will focus on the achievement of academic excellence
• To offer students an enriched environment that will encourage them to pursue their career studies.
• To provide students with the necessary theory and basic practical/clinical skills training that will assist them in preventing and treating medical diseases that affect the community.
• To promote a concern for interpersonal respect and professionalism.
• To train students to be responsible for their own learning process and continuing medical education.

Program Objetives

UNIBE offers a complete Medical Program that seeks to develop highly skilled professionals in the field of medicine. The program aims to educate and train physicians who will:

• Be able to apply updated medical knowledge, diagnostics treatments and prevent disease processes affecting the community;
• Have the basic analytical tools, concepts, principles, and skills required by modern medical practitioners;
• Apply scientific methods and principles to the care and treatment of human diseases affecting the community;
• Respond in an ethical and competent manner to the needs of the community;
• Be not only clinically competent, but also sensitive, compassionate, and socially responsible with their scientific abilities;
• Perceive the medical career as a life-long learning experience;
• Be able to design and conduct relevant research.

Committed to High Academic Standard

As a response to its dedication to academic excellence, the School of Medicine attracts students of high scholastic performance, serious approach to learning and considerable potential to benefit from and contribute to the stimulating academic environment.

The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates applicants’ personal qualities such as maturity, responsibility, and leadership abilities as well as their capacity for empathy and judgment. Serious consideration is also given to effective communication and interpersonal skills, community service, and a sincere motivation for pursuing a career in medicine.

The faculty consists of over 285 professionals with sound reputations and most of them and credentials from top U.S. and European universities. UNIBE students, who qualify, are eligible for Clinical Rotations in some cities in the United States, Latin America, Asia and Europe.

Graduates from UNIBE are eligible to sit for the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE).

Passing Step 1 and Step 2 is a pre-requisite to obtain certification by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Those who graduate from UNIBE and pass the Step 1 and Step 2 (the Clinical Knowledge (CK) component and the Clinical Skills (CS) component) of the USMLE, receive the ECFMG certification, thus obtaining eligibility to begin the Residency (speciality) Training Program.

Curriculum

UNIBE’s School of Medicine strives for academic excellence. It offers students a complete and integrated program of theory and practice, designed to provide students with the required knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become a complete physician. Conceived as a series of integrated health care experiences, the curriculum aims at facilitating the student’s capacity for self-directed and self-motivated learning, necessary in a lifelong expansion of knowledge.

Our Medicine program involves 5 years, with 3 semesters per year (each one with 16 weeks of duration). Students have the option to start at pre-medical level (semester 1 to 4) or start at the School of Medicine at 5th semester if he/she has a bachelor’s degree obtained before his application to the UNIBE Medicine program.

From 5th to 9th semester students are focused in developing knowledge of the basic sciences. During the basic sciences level, qualified professors directly supervise them.

Modern teaching facilities and laboratories provide the fundamental tools in order to acquire in-depth knowledge of the basic areas of Medicine that include Standardized Patients program and anatomical models in our Clinical Skill Centers.

At UNIBE we foster an innovative pedagogical model, which incorporates relevant instructional methods, including case studies, and Problem-based learning (PBL), which is an instructional method that challenges students to "learn to learn," working cooperatively in groups to seek solutions to real world problems. These problems are used to engage students' curiosity and initiate learning the subject matter. PBL prepares students to think critically and analytically, and to find and use appropriate learning resources.

The classrooms are equipped with ergonomic chairs, air conditioning and audiovisual equipment with wireless connection to access the virtual platform at anytime if required.

Semesters 10th, 11th and 12th set the beginning of subintership (pre-intern) rotations. These rotations have duration of a total of 48 weeks, alternating in the areas of: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Students are required at this level to use Spanish as a primary or secondary language and must pass a Spanish proficiency evaluation, “Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera” (DELE), for non Spanish speaking students.

During the last year (semesters 13, 14, 15) students rotate in the following areas: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Community Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine and Trauma. We have 17 affiliated national Hospitals for our students’ rotations. We offer abroad rotations for clinical clerkships in Puerto Rico, United States, Europe and Asia.

Rotations at local Hospitals:
Students can only do two rotations in the same Hospital.

Abroad Rotations Requirements
Students need to have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Should have not disciplinary record. Should speak fluently and write the language of the country where the rotation will take place. Must submit two academic recommendation letters. An Evaluation Committee will consider paper presentations, research, publications, and community service.

**Students must have written authorization from the School of Medicine to do abroad rotations at affiliated hospitals.

Totals:
Subjects = 90
Credits = 374
Hours theory = 197
Hours practice = 357

Pre-Medical Course Level (1st to 4th semester)
Subjects = 32
Credits = 100

Medical School (5th to 15th semester)
• Basic Science Level (5th to 9th semester)
Subjects = 34
Credits = 116
• Clinical Science and Clerkships Level (10th to 15th semester)
• Subjects: 24
Credits: 158

Academic Calendar

The school year is comprised of two semesters for Financial Aid purposes.

Academics terms defined as semester comprises 16-weeks and include a teaching term and an evaluation period. Consequently, the calendar year will include 3 semesters, plus 4 weeks’ vacation, distributed according to the Academic Calendar.

State Approvals/Licensure

UNIBE School of Medicine is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) within the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).This process allows our students/graduate physicians to receive Federal Funds and Financial Aid and enables our students to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The School is approved by the Florida Department of Education's Commission for Independent Education.

UNIBE School of Medicine is also recognized by the Board of Puerto Rico (Tribunal Examinador de Puerto Rico).

The Campus

Library

Among the many educational resources available to students is the University Library, which is supported by a professional staff of librarians willing to assist students.

The Library houses updated and special bibliographical material in a variety of fields. In addition to research and study facilities, the library computer center offers users online resources such as Med-Line and Internet services, plus many medicine related databases.

The students also have access to a large study lounge.

Access for students with physical disabilities

The University has reserved handicap parking spaces, elevators and wheelchair ramps to facilitate access on campus.

Cafeterias

UNIBE has two cafeterias managed by professionals and offers a wide variety of balanced meals and beverages to meet the needs of the campus community.

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center offers students, faculty and staff, the opportunity to keep fit and exercise under professional supervision.

The Fitness Center offers locker rooms with showers as well as state-of-the-art equipment. An aerobics room is available under the direction of professional instruction.

Basic Sciences Laboratories

UNIBE has special labs for Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, Microbiology, Human Pathology, Physiology, and Pharmacology. They all have the necessary equipment required to teach the most advanced laboratory techniques in each area. The School of Medicine has a special Medical Simulation laboratory for Emergency Medicine, which uses diverse mannequins to teach procedures and CPR maneuvers such as airway intubation, central and peripheral vein canalization, and surgical suture.

The UNIBE world-class learning experience helps students to develop self discipline and to project inner confidence.

Admissions Procedures

All the items listed in the Admission Requirements section should be mailed to our Mailing Address (see back page for Instructions).

Once the application package is received, all documents will be verified for authenticity. Should the university determine that a document has been altered, the student shall be expelled immediately from the university and any course taken will not be accredited.

Should the Admissions Committee recommend the applicant for admission, the applicant may be asked to complete a personal interview.

After the application file is completed and reviewed by the Admissions Committee, the applicant will receive a written notification informing of the final decision.

It must be understood that all original documents submitted become University property and will not be returned. These documents will be handled as confidential and used exclusively by the Admissions Department.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for Foreign Students

All fees are in US dollars and the payments should be made in Cashier's Checks, Credit Card, Postal Money Orders, Traveler's Checks, payable to Universidad Iberoamericana.

Would like to inquiry? Email UNIBE now