Ross University School of Medicine

Caribbean medical school in Barbados

Not to be confused with Ross Medical Education Center.

Ross University School of Medicine

Motto|

Dedita Scientiae Medendi

Motto in English

| Dedicated to the science of healing
Type| Private, Medical School
Established| 1978; 47 years ago (1978)
Dean| Alex Carrasco, M.S.,J.D.
Students| 3695+[1]
Location|

Bridgetown

Barbados

Website| medical.rossu.edu

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is a private, for-profit medical school. Its main campus is in Barbados, and its administrative offices are in Miramar, Florida. Until 2019, the university's main campus was in Portsmouth, Dominica.[2] RUSM is owned by Adtalem Global Education Inc.

## History

[edit]

### Foundation

[edit]

The medical school was founded in 1978 as The University of Dominica School of Medicine by Robert Ross, as a provider of medical education offering Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree programs, due to the scarcity of medical schools and physicians in the U.S. at the time. The university primarily serves students from the U.S. and Canada. In 1984, the university officially changed its name to Ross University School of Medicine.[citation needed]

Ross University School of Medicine's charter class had 12 students. In 2013, the 10,000th graduate of Ross received their medical degree.[citation needed]

### Early years and controversy

[edit]

In 1984, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners ruled that the Ross University School of Medicine could no longer send students to hospitals in New Jersey for the hands-on part of their training due to significant weaknesses in the educational program.[3] In 1985, California state medical licensing officials (the Board of Medical Quality Assurance) began investigating RUSM, along with other medical schools in the Caribbean.[4] The officials released a report stating that RUSM had nearly no admissions standards, and that the school was in the business of providing medical degrees to "everyone that wants one".[4] Those events prompted RUSM to agree to implement a number of changes the California board recommended. RUSM has since graduated over 11,000 physicians eligible to practice in all 50 states.[5]

On June 30, 1990, RUSM obtained recognition from the Medical Board of California.[6] In October 1999, the New York State Department of Education approved RUSM students to complete more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships in New York State.[7]

In the late 1990s, RUSM expressed interest in opening a medical school in Casper, Wyoming, but accreditation was denied by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the organization that accredits M.D.-granting medical schools in the U.S.[8] Some locals welcomed the economic impact of a new medical school on Casper, but critics questioned the quality of education at a for-profit institution.[8]

### 2000 to present

[edit]

In 2003, Adtalem Global Education acquired Ross University School of Medicine.[9]

In September 2017, the Category 5 Hurricane Maria made landfall on Dominica, causing severe damage to its infrastructure. The hurricane knocked out communications, effectively isolating RUSM from the outside world. Students and faculty were evacuated from the campus to the U.S. mainland.[10][11] In October, the university resumed classes temporarily aboard the GNV Excellent, an Italian ferry docked off the coast of St. Kitts.[12][13] In November, RUSM temporarily relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, to continue classes. Lincoln Memorial University (LMU), based in Harrogate, Tennessee, and with operations in Knoxville, provided the operational capacity and the technical capabilities to support RUSM faculty, students, and staff.[14]

Ross University School of Medicine permanently relocated from Dominica to Barbados at the beginning of the 2019 spring semester due to extensive damage done in Dominica after Hurricane Maria.[15][16]

In 2019, Ross developed partnerships with Dillard University, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Tuskegee University to "expand the black physician pipeline".[17] It also added partnerships with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Oakwood University to increase enrollment.[18]

## Accreditation and recognition

[edit]

RUSM is accredited by the following agencies:

* Barbados Medical Council (BMC)[19]
* Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)[20][21]

It is recognized by:

* National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA)[22] through the U.S. Department of Education, allowing American students to participate in the U.S. Federal Direct Student Loan Program[23]
* World Directory of Medical Schools[24]
* General Medical Council of Great Britain[25]

The university also has state-specific recognition and/or approval from Florida,[21] California,[26][27] New Jersey,[28] Indiana,[29] and New York.[7][30] RUSM is approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED)[31] to allow students to complete more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships in New York State. It is one of eight Caribbean medical schools so approved by NYSED.[32]

## Student life

[edit]

### Campus

[edit]

The Ross University School of Medicine pre-clinical campus is at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre at Two Mile Hill in Barbados. This facility is divided between the university's campus and a conference center for the government. [33] The campus features a medical and anatomical imaging laboratory and a clinical simulation center.[34]

### Housing

[edit]

RUSM does not offer traditional dormitory housing options. Most students live in an off-campus university-affiliated housing complex within The Villages of Coverley, which features 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom houses.[35][36]

## Academic profile

[edit]

### Admissions

[edit]

Ross University School of Medicine's acceptance rate is 42.7%. American applicants are required to take the MCAT.[37] The average MCAT for admitted students is 493[38] (25% percentile).[39]

### Rankings and reputation

[edit]

RUSM was ranked in the top tier of Caribbean Medical Schools by the World Scholarship Forum (2020)[40] and in the top ten in a Money Inc. article in 2019.[5] It is listed in the WHO's World Directory of Medical Schools.[41]

### Degrees

[edit]

RUSM awards a single academic degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD).[33]

### Curriculum

[edit]

The curriculum is composed of the medical sciences curriculum (first two years of the program) and the clinical science curriculum (last two years). The medical sciences portion follows an organ systems-based model.[42] This is the most widely used model in American medical schools.[43] After completing the medical sciences portion of the curriculum, students return to the U.S. to complete the USMLE Step 1 board exam. After successfully completing the exam, students begin their clinical clerkship at a range of hospital sites from Los Angeles to New York City.[citation needed]

The program's clinical science portion is composed of 90 weeks of clinical clerkships: 48 weeks of required core rotations and 42 weeks of electives,[44] with the option to complete clerkships in the U.S.[45][46][47][48] or the United Kingdom.[49] The university has established contracts with hospitals to accept and place their third and fourth-year medical students in clinical rotations.[50]

### Academic outcomes

[edit]

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 56.6% of students completed the program on time in 2019.[33]

Pass rates of students and graduates on United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) in 2019 were as follows: [33]
Step 1 – Basic Science 96.73%
Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge 96.86%

To be eligible to take the Step 1 examination medical students must first pass a practice NBME examination.[51]

In comparison, the Step 1 and Step 2 CK pass rates among 110 medical schools as reported by the U.S. News Best Medical Schools rankings are:[52]

Step 1 – Basic Science 96.3%

Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge 96.6%

RUSM claims that its graduates had an first-time residency attainment rate of 96% in 2021-22. [53]

## Student loan debt

[edit]

Median student loan debt for those who started in 2012-13 was $318,071.[54] The U.S. Department of Education reports median student loan debt of Americans who attended was $349,973 in 2019.[55]

## Alumni

[edit]

Since opening in 1978, the university reports that it has graduated over 15,000 students who are practicing in the U.S. and Canada.[56] A large proportion of them are primary care physicians, which is typical for Caribbean medical school graduates,[57][58] with 2,611 of those being family medicine doctors.[59] To put these numbers in context, a 2016 census found 985,026 active physicians in the United States,[60] and it was estimated in 2010 that the active primary care physician population is 209,000.[61] Per the 2018 FSMB Survey, RUSM is the international school with the second-most licensed physicians in the U.S. (after St. George's University), with 9,930 licensed physicians.[62]

Notable graduates include:

* Maggie Tomecka, MD – Former member of the United States U-21 national soccer team
* Nicole Saphier, MD – Director of Breast Imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, author[63]
* Michael R. Williams, DO, MD – president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center[64]

## See also

[edit]

* International medical graduate
* List of medical schools in the Caribbean

## References

[edit]

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2. ^ "UPDATE: Ross University to shut down operation in Dominica". 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
3. ^ Sandra Friedland (23 September 1984). "State Medical Board curbs students from Caribbean schools". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
4. ^ a b Jacobs, Paul (13 September 1985). "State Dubious, Will Monitor Caribbean Medical Schools". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
5. ^ a b Liz Flynn (2019). "The Top 10 Caribbean Medical Schools in 2019". Money Inc. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
6. ^ "Agenda Item 28C" (PDF). Medical Board of California. 27 October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
7. ^ a b "License Requirements". NYSED.gov Office of the Professions. New York State Department of Education. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021. "The following schools have been approved..."
8. ^ a b Wright, Elizabeth (27 June 1999). "U.S. Resists For-Profit Medical School". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
9. ^ Roach, Ronald (8 May 2003). "DeVry to Purchase Caribbean Medical School". Diverse Education. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
10. ^ "Tears as Medical Students Stranded by Hurricane Maria Reunite With Families: 'It's Been Overwhelming'". InsideEdition.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
11. ^ "American Students Evacuated from Dominica". htsslucia.org.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
12. ^ Miller, Amy Beth (18 January 2018). "Logan Frazier back in Knoxville for Ross University School of Medical after classes on ship off St. Kitts". thedailytimes.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
13. ^ "Relocating Ross University, Dominica medical students". caribbeannationalweekly.com. 11 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
14. ^ Schencker, Lisa. "Displaced medical school will relocate from Caribbean cruise ship to Tennessee". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
15. ^ "Medical school relocates to Barbados after hurricane". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
16. ^ "Adtalem Global Education Announces Barbados as New Location for Ross University School of Medicine". Adtalem Global Education. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
17. ^ Pluviose, David (27 June 2019). "oss University, Dillard Partner to Expand Black Physician Pipeline". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
18. ^ "ROSS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY PARTNER TO INCREASE PHYSICIAN DIVERSITY IN THE US". medical.rossu.edu. Ross University School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
19. ^ "Registered Providers with the Barbados Accreditation Council as of October 31, 2020". www.bac.gov.bb. Barbados Accreditation Council. 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
20. ^ "Ross University School of Medicine" (PDF). caam-hp.org. Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
21. ^ a b "Ross University School of Medicine (#2644)". fldoe.org. Florida Department of Education. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
22. ^ "Comparability Decisions". ed.gov. United States Department of Education. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
23. ^ "Aid for International Study". studentaid.gov. United States Department of Education. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
24. ^ "Search the World Directory". wdoms.org/. World Directory of Medical Schools. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
25. ^ "An In-Depth Review Of The Ross University School Of Medicine". www.steadyhealth.com. Barbados Accreditation Council. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
26. ^ "Medical Schools Recognized by the Medical Board of California". mbc.ca.gov. Medical Board of California. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
27. ^ "List of Medical Schools Recognized by the State of California" (PDF). medicine.umich.edu. University of Michigan Medical School. December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
28. ^ "Visiting Students". njms.rutgers.edu. New Jersey Medical School. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021. "students of...Ross University are approved by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners to participate in clinical training in the state"
29. ^ "Approved/Disapproved Foreign Medical Schools". 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
30. ^ "NYSED Approved Schools (12-week rule)". www.medicine.buffalo.edu. University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
31. ^ "NYS Medicine:Application Forms". www.op.nysed.gov. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
32. ^ "NYSED.gov Office of the Professions". Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
33. ^ a b c d "Foreign Medical School Information" (PDF). studentaid.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
34. ^ Kerri Gooding (12 January 2019). "Minister impressed with Ross University Anatomy Lab, Simulation Centre". www.loopnewsbarbados.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
35. ^ "Housing in Barbados". barbadosmedstudent.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
36. ^ "Ross University Students "Rent Rage" – Barbados". www.dominicavibes.dm. 3 January 2019. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
37. ^ "Medical School Requirements | GPA & MCAT Requirements | RUSM". medical.rossu.edu. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
38. ^ "Ross University School of Medicine: What you need to know". shemmassianconsulting.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021. "MCAT is one of the Ross Medical School requirements"
39. ^ "Summary of MCAT Total and Section Scores. Percentile Ranks in Effect May 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020". aamc.org. AAMC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
40. ^ "15 Best Caribbean Medical Schools". worldscholarshipforum.com. World Scholarship Forum. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021. "Group 1: Accreditation, WFME, NCFMEA, NY, CA, Title IV, 50 States"
41. ^ "World Directory of Medical Schools". www.wdoms.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
42. ^ "Interview with Ross University School of Medicine". stethoscopemagazine.org. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
43. ^ Dubin, B. (2016). "Innovative Curriculum Prepares Medical Students for a Lifetime of Learning and Patient Care". Missouri Medicine. 113 (3): 170–173\. PMC 6140046. PMID 27443039.170-173&rft.date=2016&rft_id=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140046#id-name=PMC&rft_id=info:pmid/27443039&rft.aulast=Dubin&rft.aufirst=B.&rft_id=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140046&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ross+University+School+of+Medicine" class="Z3988">
44. ^ "Ross Medical School Clinical Rotations". rossu.edu. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
45. ^ "St. Anthony Hospital- Careers". sahchicago.org. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
46. ^ "Wellstar - Clerkships". gme.wellstar.org. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
47. ^ "Kern Medical > Academics > Medical Student Education > FAQ". www.kernmedical.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
48. ^ "Home / For Healthcare Professionals / Graduate Medical Education / Internal Medicine Residency". www.umms.org. University of Maryland School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
49. ^ "Affiliated Medical Schools". nhs.uk. National Health Service of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
50. ^ Hundley, Kris (25 December 2009). "Investigators want to know if the quality of offshore medical schools justifies the cost". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
51. ^ "RUSM MEDICAL SCHOOL RESIDENCY". Ross University School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
52. ^ Kowarski, Ilana (4 June 2019). "How to Interpret Med School Licensing Exam Results". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
53. ^ "About Ross University School of Medicine Blog What is Match Day". medical.rossu.edu. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
54. ^ "KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FACT SHEET" (PDF). medical.rossu.edu. Ross University School of Medicine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
55. ^ "Foreign Medical School Information" (PDF). studentaid.gov. US Department of Education. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
56. ^ "Facts and figures". Ross University School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
57. ^ Kristen Moon. "Will Attending Medical School In The Caribbean Hurt My Chances Of Becoming A U.S. Doctor?". forbes.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
58. ^ Marta van Zanten, John R Boulet (2013). "Medical education in the Caribbean: quantifying the contribution of Caribbean-educated physicians to the primary care workforce in the United States". Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges. 88 (2): 276–281\. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e31827c6cd3. PMID 23269307. S2CID 205444968.276-281&rft.date=2013&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:205444968#id-name=S2CID&rft_id=info:pmid/23269307&rft_id=info:doi/10.1097/ACM.0b013e31827c6cd3&rft.au=Marta+van+Zanten,+John+R+Boulet&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1097%2FACM.0b013e31827c6cd3&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ross+University+School+of+Medicine" class="Z3988">
59. ^ Robbert J. Duvivier,Elizabeth Wiley and John R. Boulet (30 March 2019). "Supply, distribution and characteristics of international medical graduates in family medicine in the United States: a cross-sectional study". BMC Family Practice. 20 (1): 47. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-0933-8. PMC 6441164. PMID 30927914.
60. ^ Aaron Young, PhD; Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MACP; Xiaomei Pei, PhD; Katie Arnhart, PhD; Michael Dugan, MBA; Scott A. Steingard, DO. "FSMB Census of Licensed Physicians in the United States, 2018" (PDF). fsmb.org. FSMB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
61. ^ "The Distribution of the U.S. Primary Care Workforce". www.ahrq.gov. AHRQ. September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
62. ^ "FSMB Census of Licensed Physicians in the United States, 2018" (PDF). FSMB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
63. ^ "Nicole B. Saphier, MD". mskcc.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
64. ^ "Michael Williams named president of UNT Health Science Center". Bizjournals. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Ross University School of Medicine official site

* v
* t
* e

Adtalem Global Education

Divisions|

* American University of the Caribbean
* Becker Professional Education
* Carrington College
* Chamberlain University
* Ross University School of Medicine
* Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Related|

* Bell & Howell
* EduPristine

Former|

* DeVry University

* v
* t
* e

List of universities and colleges in Barbados

Public university|

* University of the West Indies at Cave Hill

College|

* Codrington College

Teacher training college|

* Erdiston Teachers' Training College

Community college/institute of technology|

* Barbados Community College
* Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology

Private universities (medical schools)|

* American University of Barbados
* American University of Integrative Sciences
* Ross University School of Medicine

Defunct|

* Washington University of Barbados (closed)

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

|

15°33′25″N 61°27′30″W﻿ / ﻿15.556995°N 61.458431°W﻿ / 15.556995; -61.458431
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