University of Health Sciences Antigua

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University of Health Sciences Antigua

Motto DEO ET PATRIAE
Established 1982
President Akin Omitowoju, M.D.
Type of Institution Private
Location St. John, Antigua
Campus Urban, 50 acres
Website uhsa.ag

The University of Health Sciences Antigua, also known as UHSA, is a private university in Antigua, West Indies. Instruction at the medical school began in 1983, [1] and the school is listed with the World Health Organization, which explains "Graduates of foreign medical schools must have their degree validated.".[2]

The Dowhill Campus is located about 12 miles from the capital city St. John. The university is located on a 50-acre area within the Historical National Park area of the English Harbor.

The UHSA School of Medicine is accredited hence registered with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. [3] However, in some cases, degrees from UHSA may not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. It is blacklisted by some US states.

Contents

University Divisions

  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • School of Postgraduate Medical Education
  • School of Veterinary Medicine

Accreditation

Licensing Issues for Graduates

United States

Certain states have restricted USHA graduates from obtaining licenses. Currently, these states include:

  • California: Disapproved USHA in 1995, and states "neither education completed at, nor diplomas issued by, these schools will be accepted toward meeting the requirements for training and/or licensure in this state."[4]
  • Texas: States that USHA is a "Fraudulent or Substandard Institution," and notes that attempting to use a degree from UHSA to obtain a medical license is a Class B Misdemeanor.[5]
  • Alabama: Requires graduates of USHA to prove that they attended classes in Antigua, rather than attending internet classes.[6]
  • Indiana: States Antigua is disapproved.[7]
  • Kansas: has filed suit over a dentist trying to fraudulently use the title "M.D.", which he obtained through internet classes offered by USHA.[8]

Controversy and criticism

University of Health Sciences Antigua has been referred to as a diploma mill by consumer advocates, and has been blacklisted by various American states.[8]

The University of Health Sciences Antigua-School of Medicine is a foreign medical school listed by the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) in a 2004 list of links. [9] The University of Health Sciences Antigua School of Medicine is a member of International Virtual Medical School (IVIMEDS), an organization that is in the process of developing online medical education since 2002.[10] IVIMEDS is formed from a collaboration between 37 medical schools located in 14 countries, [11]; there is no stated bar to entry and no qualification criteria are listed for membership.[12] No approved or accredited online medical schools are currently known to exist.

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ FAIMER/IMED. International Medical Education Directory. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.
  2. ^ World Health Organization. World Directory of Medical Schools. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.
  3. ^ Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda Government Directory. Retrieved on September 5, 2006.
  4. ^ Medical Board of California. International Medical Schools Disapproved by the State of California. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.
  5. ^ Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Fraudulent or Substandard Institutions with No Known Texas Connection. Retrieved on August 1, 2006.
  6. ^ Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. Physician Licensee Application. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.
  7. ^ Medical Licensing Board of Indiana. Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools. Retrieved on August 27, 2006.
  8. ^ a b The Pitch of Kansas City, MO (2004-08-17). Oral Argument. Retrieved on September 3, 2006.
  9. ^ International Medical Schools for U.S. Citizens. NAAHP Member foreign medical schools. Retrieved on September 3, 2006.
  10. ^ Medical Schools Team up to Form Online Medical School. International Virtual Medical School. Retrieved on September 3, 2006.
  11. ^ International Virtual Medical School (IVIMEDS). Member medical schools. Retrieved on September 3, 2006.
  12. ^ IVIMEDS. Enquiry Form. Retrieved on September 4, 2006.