AUA Signs Affiliation Agreements With KEM And Apollo Hospitals

Online, February 2, 2012 (Newswire.com) - American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine has signed affiliation agreements with two respected healthcare facilities in India, King Edward Medical (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai and the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. The alliance of AUA with these two facilities of international renown allows AUA to offer its medical students a block of three 4-week elective clinical clerkships at these facilities in all specialties, including unique opportunities in physical rehabilitation and plastic surgery. AUA students may begin these clerkships as early as March of this year.

These agreements represent a major achievement for AUA and a major advantage for its medical students. AUA is the only Caribbean medical school that has established teaching opportunities at major medical facilities in India. It is also an important acknowledgment of AUA's quality medical education as KEM's board is composed of respected faculty and high-ranking government representatives under the aegis of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Par Prem Kumar, Clinical Liaison at AUA who was instrumental in negotiating the contracts, commented, "President Neal Simon and Dr. Peter Bell, Vice President of Academic Development and Executive Dean, Clinical Sciences, are very pleased to be able to have this extraordinary opportunity to partner with two Indian hospitals with reputations for excellence in care and instruction. During his visits at both institutions, Dr. Bell remarked that he was impressed by the highly qualified and talented Indian physicians, as well as the level of care provided at both institutions. This alliance furthers AUA's international involvement, deepening its scope as a global medical college drawing on the scientific innovations and medical expertise of multiple nations and peoples."

KEM Hospital is one of the leading teaching hospitals in India and home to Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College. Together, they provide training to approximately 2,000 students in undergraduate, postgraduate and superspeciality medical courses and in undergraduate and postgraduate physical and occupational therapy. Apollo Hospitals is one of the largest healthcare organizations in Asia with over 8,500 beds in 53 hospitals within and outside India. Its success rates, modern technology, and ancient traditions of Eastern care and respect for human dignity touch 19 million patients in 55 countries.

President Neal Simon noted, "AUA provides a medical education comparable to the education offered at American medical schools at approximately a third of the price. Our recent graduates are completing their residencies at prestigious hospitals such as Mt. Sinai in New York, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Brown University, Case Western Reserve and the University of Toronto in Canada."

AUA is dedicated to providing a learner-centric medical education that meets the highest standards of academic excellence. The university is committed to providing students with the educational resources that will empower them to become compassionate physicians, life-long learners and leaders in addressing the global shortage of healthcare providers.

AUA College of Medicine is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of diverse communities in the United States and around the world. The university believes that in order to create an environment of academic excellence, it must ensure a diverse student population, which incorporates the skills, knowledge and varied cultural experiences of all peoples. The university is committed to breaking down barriers that have prevented underrepresented minorities from obtaining a medical education and subsequent medical licensure.