5 Year Direct Entry Doctor of Medicine | M.D.

This intense academic program aims to meet the needs of high caliber high school graduates or college students aiming to pursue a medical education, but who have taken few or none of the core science courses required for admission to medical school.

Year 1: Pre-Medical Sciences

Students complete general education and medical school prerequisite coursework during a little over a year of Pre-medical sciences. The Pre-medical sciences component of the 5-year program offers an accelerated pathway from High School to Medical School through completion of all prerequisite coursework and the 90-credit hour US medical school application requirements within the first four semesters of study.

Courses taught include English composition, psychology, sociology, math, computer science, physics, medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, statistics, public health, evidence-based research, biology, physical and organic chemistry. Students are eligible to direct admission into the MD program at the end of Semester 4 post successful completion of all coursework.

Years 2-3: Basic Sciences

Students complete basic medical sciences courses in an organ-systems curriculum and learn clinical skills while participating in volunteer community health experience(s) during 4 semesters on the island.

Core Basic Sciences content includes Gross and microscopic anatomy, molecular & cell biology, pathological basis of human disease, epidemiology, research, ethics and issues, and principles of clinical care.
Semester 5 of Basic Sciences is a professor-led USMLE Step 1 review which meets at the AUIS campus in Atlanta.

Years 4-5: Clinical Sciences

Clinical Sciences coursework includes a 4-week Advanced Clinical Medicine pre-clerkship in clinical procedures and skills certifications using a high definition medical simulation laboratory in Atlanta. Students complete 80 weeks of Clinical Clerkships in the US, Canada, and some international hospital locations.

Students are trained to conduct themselves in the role of the physician and are judged on their ability to take initiative, relate to and work harmoniously with professional colleagues, exhibit maturity in conduct on the wards, and demonstrate the demeanor of a mature and qualified physician.

The 80 weeks of clinical clerkships in the Clinical Sciences curriculum includes:

48 weeks of core clerkships in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics during Year 4
32 weeks of elective clerkships during Year 5

Students train in clinical skills through preceptor supervised patient contact in both inpatient and outpatient care setting. These years in direct patient care enhance our students’ proficiency in medical history taking, conducting physical diagnostic examinations, understanding practice guidelines and developing interprofessional relationships and leadership skills. The successful Clinical training model enables students to become competent, compassionate physicians.

Clerkships are a stimulating and enriching feature of medical training at AUIS with the robust experience allowing students to successfully attain rewarding medical residency positions on completion of the MD program.