Barbados’ first offshore medical school, the American University of Barbados (AUB) School of Medicine, opens on January 20 in Wildey, St Michael, making the island becoming the latest Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country where foreign medical schools have established off shore facilities.

Approximately 20 students from India and the United States and at least two local students are expected to be on the initial roll at the American University of Barbados School of Medicine in the coming semester.

AUB director Dr Gurmohan Brar said that the university is a branch of the India-based Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, “an acknowledged centre of excellence in medical education, volunteer medical care, training and research.” Brar said the university’s curriculum was designed to meet requirements in the United States and other countries across the globe and that successful students will be able to practise throughout the world.

Apart from Barbados, foreign medical schools have established off shore facilities in several other Caribbean countries including Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts-Nevis.

For original articles, see http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=69133 and http://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/news/breaking-news/12/27/barbados%E2%80%99-first-offshore-medical-school-opens-january/

For more on the American University of Barbados, see http://aubmed.org/

For more on Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, see http://www.elmcindia.org/