American University of Antigua acknowledges students

As part of its mission to offer world-class educations and opportunities to students of all backgrounds, American University of Antigua (AUA) would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of three College of Medicine students of Indian descent: alumnus Dr. Jesse Gill and currently enrolled students Rahul Beghat (second from left) and Rheena Patel. All three have excelled as medical students and physicians, serving as inspirations and role models to their colleagues.

Dr. Jesse Gill

Dr. Jesse Gill, a Canadian citizen and graduate of the University of Alberta, currently serves as Chief Resident in Family Medicine at Toronto’s prestigious Mt. Sinai Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Toronto. AUA College of Medicine interested him because of its modern campus and relationship with Manipal University and Kasturba Medical College International Center (KMCIC) in India.

During his clinical rotations, Dr. Gill furthered his understanding not just of the practice of medicine, but also of the challenges facing physicians in addressing the differing healthcare needs across ethnically diverse patient populations.

According to Dr. Gill, “Studying at U.S.-affiliated hospitals thoroughly prepared me for residency training and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2…-“It was a good learning experience to help patients and was very gratifying.”

Rahul Bhagat

Rahul Bhagat is expected to earn his MD from AUA College of Medicine in June 2011. From an early age, Bhagat was captivated by the natural sciences, deciding ultimately to study chemistry at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he found his calling – a career in medicine.

“Medicine is a malleable field, which offers myriad of opportunities to every type of personality,” Bhagat said of his desire to become a physician.

Bhagat embraced his studies at AUA. Completing most of his clinical rotations early, he became familiar with the various hospitals staff and protocols. He established a network of medical professionals for future residency placement. “I have been quite satisfied with my experience and have formed close bonds with professors and AUA College of Medicine administration.” Bhagat says. “I was expecting a more competitive atmosphere in medical school, but the collegial spirit of AUA has made my education indelible.”

Rheena Patel

Rheena Patel comes from Memphis, Tennessee, and lived there her entire life before moving to Antigua for medical school. She is currently in her fourth year, and plans to apply for a residency in Internal Medicine in the Southern United States, close to home.

“AUA allowed me the opportunity to gain knowledge, to be surrounded by diversity and culture, and to form lifelong friendships,” said Patel “Although the courses were tough, hard work and dedication allowed me to advance to the clinical component of medical school. It is with this knowledge that I want to go forward and in the very near future practice Internal Medicine. With AUA as my backbone, I know that this is possible.”

About American University of Antigua (AUA): The mission of American University of Antigua College of Medicine is to provide a superior medical education to students committed to the highest standard of learning and achievement.

• At the core of AUA College of Medicine’s mission is to graduate skilled, ethical, and caring physicians who will become life-long learners with the ability to conduct and evaluate medical research. AUA College of Medicine-graduated physicians will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge needed to address the increasing challenges healthcare is faced with globally and specifically in the United States. American University of Antigua is dedicated to breaking down the barriers that prevent underrepresented, minority students from obtaining a medical education in the United States and subsequent licensure
• The American International College of Arts and Sciences – Antigua (AICASA) offers a concentrated Pre-Medical program. The program leads to an Associate in Health Sciences (AS) degree focused on achieving the pre-requisites required for the MD degree (conferred by AUA College of Medicine). The program incorporates college level science and humanities courses with pre-medical school courses in a two-year AS program. This track is ideal for highly motivated graduating high school students who are committed to medicine and are ready to begin their medical studies immediately after completing high school. It is also the path for non-traditional students seeking the outstanding prerequisite courses necessary for entrance into the AUA MD program. For more information on AUA College of Medicine and AICASA visit www.auamed.org
• Kasturba Medical College – International Center (KMCIC) is a hospital-integrated program in Manipal, India with a curriculum that is comparable to the medical education paradigm in U.S. medical schools. Students are introduced to the clinical setting in the first semester. KMCIC students begin their clinical experience during their Basic Sciences semesters by accompanying doctors on rounds at a local hospital in India.

Once KMCIC students successfully complete their Basic Sciences curriculum, they are sent to the United States, for more training, beginning their Clinical semesters in one of our affiliated hospitals. The University is dedicated to providing a high quality medical education. KMCIC is one of the few schools that offers four- and six-year medical programs that fulfill U.S. licensure requirements. KMCIC offers two distinct programs for students interested in attaining a medical degree: the four-year MD degree program and the six-year AS/MD degree program. As part of our mission, KMCIC does its utmost to prepare students to become licensed U.S. physicians. Shelf Exams are used as final exams for the Basic Sciences courses, ensuring that the students meet U.S. medical education requirements. AUA/KMCIC prepares its students to achieve passing scores on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations™ (USMLE) and provides clinical clerkship opportunities in some of the best teaching hospitals in the United States. For more information on KMCIC, visit www.auamed.org.