Universidad de Ciencias Medicas

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Universidad de Ciencias Medicas (UCIMED) is a famous medical school located at San José, Costa Rica. UCIMED was founded in 1976 by surgeon and investigator Dr. Andres Vesalio Guzman Calleja. The university has had a legacy of excellence in the teachings of medicine and has great prestige in the field nationally and internationally. The institution is a non lucrative and all the funds are invested in infrastructure and other elements that are indispensable for the teaching of medicine.

In 1998 UCIMED introduced pharmacology as a major taught by a highly trained staff. Many students get training at famous pharmaceutical companies located in San José.

Currently the university is going through an reacreditation program to improve and increase their educational standards.

1 Medicine at UCIMED
- 1.1 Medical Rotation at Hennepin County Hospital
- 1.2 Postgraduate Studies
2 Admissions
- 2.1 International Students Admission
3 Agreement with Kaplan Inc.
4 External links

[edit] Medicine at UCIMED

Medicine at UCIMED is an intensive program of five year and a half. The program is semester based and classes are taught in Spanish. During the first five semesters students get a bachelor's degree in Health Science (Bachiller en Ciencias de la Salud). During the fifth semester students start intesive training at local Hospitals such as the San Juan de Dios and Hospital Mexico. After finishing the the eleventh semester students obtain a Licenciado en Medicina y Cirugía y el Doctorado Profesional en Medicina y Cirugía or the equivalent of the M.D.

In March 2003 the National System of Acreditation for Superior Educacion (SINAES) granted UCIMED the maximum grade of acreditation for its excelency in the teaching of medicine. This turned UCIMED into the first private university with an accredited career in medicine.

[edit] Medical Rotation at Hennepin County Hospital

In February 2006 UCIMED signed an agreement of mutual cooperation with Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) This agreement allow students from UCIMED to do their internship rotation on internal medicine and surgery at HCMC. Students are fully covered by a mal-praxis insurance given by HCMC. HCMC has been listed among America's Best Hospitals by US News & World Report magazine every year since 1999.

HCMC facade

[edit] Postgraduate Studies

UCIMED also offers postgraduate studies for medical students. The university offers:

Administration of Health Centers and Services
Dermatology
Medicina del Trabajo

[edit] Admissions

The university require students from Costa Rica to do an aptitude test in order to enter the university. Students whoes grades in the test are not at the standard of the university are granted an interview with the Dean of Medicine to assess their motivation. Costa Rican students must also present their High School diploma and grades.

[edit] International Students Admission

International students are always welcome to the university if they the provide documentation that the university requires. The university does not require international students to do the aptitude test. The documents required by the university are as follow:

Fill in solicitation form.
Two photographs passport size.
Two photocopies of the passport.
Medical report
Vaccine Receipt of Hepatitis B, D.P.T, small pox, chicken pox, tuberculosis, parotidis and rubéola.
Two photocopies of High School diploma (authetified)*
Apply for psicometric test of the university
Apply for an interview the the Director of studies to check for the comprehension of Spanish. If necessar the director will apply a test to verify the manipulation of the language.
Sign contract with the university
Certification of High School grades (authetified)*
Certification of University grades if available (authetified)*
Two photocopies of the university diploma if available (authetified)*

(*)Authetification must be done at the local embassy of the country were the documents are given. After this authentification the Ministry of Exterior and Education of Costa Rica must authentify it too.

Facade of UCIMED

[edit] Agreement with Kaplan Inc.

Recently UCIMED successfully signed an agreement with Kaplan, Inc. to prepare medical students for the USMLE. Medical Students from all around Costa Rica and Central America will be able to get first hand preparation for the board examination.