Atlantic University School of Medicine
Atlantic University School of Medicine (AUSOM), which is ranked 2nd on the list of the best universities in Saint Lucia, was an offshore private medical school that was based in St. Lucia from its inception in 2010 until August 2017, and then for 5 months in St. John's, Antigua, and Barbuda until December 2017, when it closed completely. It was part of the St. Lucia National Neurological and Mental Health Wellness Centre, a facility originally built by China to serve as a Caribbean regional psychiatric center and completed by Taiwan after the United Workers Party took power in the 2006 elections; it was the fourth offshore medical school in St. Lucia at the time. Its application was granted by St. Lucia's Cabinet in 2010, but the country does not have legislation in place for licensing and regulating medical schools as of 2014. The college maintained an offshore office in Island Park, New York.
The St. Lucia Medical and Dental Council imposed a deadline for AUSOM to demonstrate proof of accreditation, and as a result, the college relocated to St. John's, Antigua, and Barbuda, in August 2017. Then, under "Sponsor Notes," ECFMG wrote, "In 2017, ECFMG discovered that certain personnel/officials of Atlantic University School of Medicine participated in irregular behavior in connection with supplying misleading information and documents to ECFMG."
The college's last academic term ended in December 2017. According to ECFMG, students who completed their MD by the end of 2017, as well as those who transferred out of AUSOM by the end of 2017 and resumed their medical education with another accredited university in 2018, were eligible to apply for USMLE Steps and ECGMG graduation certification upon completion of medical school at another accredited university. AUSOM's website stayed active for some time after it was closed. Students who had not received their MD by December 2017 were required to transfer to other medical schools to complete their education. Students who graduated with an MD degree before December 2017 were unaffected.
Established: 2010
Location: Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Website: ausom.org
