Medical University of the Americas – Nevis


Medical University of the Americas is a for-profit medical school in Saint James Windward Parish, Saint Kitts and Nevis. MUA confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine degree. Students at MUA are primarily from the US and Canada and return to those countries to practice medicine. A typical incoming class at MUA is about 80–90 students. MUA also offers a one-semester, Gateway Medical,pre-medical program for students who need to meet additional course requirements to be considered for the M.D. program.

Curriculum

Basic Science Curriculum

In the first five semesters--the Basic Science curriculum--MUA has implemented the integrated, organ-systems-based approach to learning that parallels the training that is provided at many U.S. medical schools. These first five semesters take place on the campus in Nevis. The instruction emphasizes the correlation of foundational concepts in the basic sciences with their direct clinical applications. An important part of the MUA curriculum is the focus on preparation for the critical licensing exams required to become a practicing MD, beginning with the USMLE Step 1 exam.

Research Literature Review & Analysis Module

During the fifth semester, MUA students complete a "Research: Literature Review and Analysis" module which is designed to further develop the ability to evaluate and assimilate scientific evidence and reinforce the skills for critically appraising and communicating medical knowledge. Students analyze a current and complex medical care question using evidence from published medical literature. In preparing the paper, students work independently under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Each paper is evaluated by a faculty committee. A number of students have had their papers published in medical journals and report that their research played a role in obtaining a residency appointment.

Clinical Curriculum

For the clinical curriculum, semesters 6-10, MUA students return to the U.S. or Canada to complete five semesters of clinical rotations at ACGME-approved teaching hospitals that are affiliated with MUA.
The Clinical Medicine program at MUA is 72 weeks:
For students that lack the pre-medical education requirements--possibly because they decided to focus on medicine late in their undergraduate experience or are drawn to medicine after entering the work world--MUA offers a comprehensive Pre-Medical Program on its campus in Nevis.

Accreditation

On July 27, 2017, Medical Board of California voted to approve and recognize the Medical University of the Americas, Nevis. The approval recognizes credentials of students who matriculated as from May 2015 onward when the new curriculum was implemented.
MUA is accredited by the government of St. Kitts & Nevis Accreditation Board.
MUA is listed in the FAIMER International Medical Education Directory and in the AVICENNA Directory for medicine.
MUA is approved by the New York State Education Department for clinical training, residency, and licensure in New York.
MUA is accredited by the Accreditation Commission of Colleges of Medicine.
MUA has received a comparability determination from the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation
MUA has received approval by The Commission for Independent Education, and Florida Department of Education for licensure.
Medical University of the Americas has been approved to participate in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford and Grad PLUS Loan programs, which are both administered by the U.S. Department of Education.