Bridgetown, Barbados, WI. With over 1000 graduates practicing in the US, Canada, and the UK, the American University of Integrative Sciences is one of the oldest overseas medical schools. In May 2017, the University opened its Barbados location.
Immediately after moving to Barbados, the administration of medical school started looking for ways to engage in nationwide campaigns on emergent health issues. According to the report of the Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health Barbados, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a leading cause of ill-health and death in Barbados’ adult population, and cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and stroke) heads the list.
Dr. Alexey Podcheko, Dean of Basic Sciences at American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS), “ We knew we wanted to be involved in the community from the outset. We believe it is a key component of the medical education for our students, but also a major part of developing the character required to be a quality physician.”
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados is a key non-profit organization that is taking the frontier position in the fight against cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases on the island and organizing professional training courses (CPR, BLS, and ACLS for local and regional medical professionals and public). One of the latest initiatives of HSF is the Emergency Cardiac Program. Under this program, Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) training and certification are provided to students, and healthcare providers. HSF is a non-governmental organization and receives no funding from the government, the organization is very heavily dependent upon donations to carry out work and relies considerably upon the financial support from individuals and organizations
“Being an active AHA BLS instructor, I attended the ECC instructor meeting and found out that our training center (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados) needed a projector for outside classes”, according to Dr. Tetiana Hliebova, professor at AUIS. Dr. Hliebova continued, “ I realized we had an additional projector being underutilized and proposed to our administration we donate it, thinking it’d be a wonderful opportunity to grew new relationships with local foundations and at the same time continue to get our school involved in the community.”
As a first step in initiating long-term collaboration with HSF, AUIS has with donated an LCD projector which will be utilized by HSF to deliver an Emergency Cardiac Care program outside of the HSF headquarters. In the future, AUIS and HSF aim to engage students of American University of Integrative Sciences in daily volunteer activities with HSF and collaboration in health screening and educational programs and activities in Barbados.
About American University of Integrative Sciences, School of Medicine
Opened in 1999 as the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine, AUIS represented a dynamic collaboration of veteran medical educators experienced in mentoring U.S. and International medical students throughout all phases of education. The school relocated to the island of Sint Maarten in September 2013. In September 2014 American University of Integrative Sciences assumed the charter and legacy of USESOM to assure the continuity of the education for current and future medical students. The new Board of Directors and Administration began a significant improvement initiative to merge state of the art instruction and technology, to develop a more inclusive, global, curriculum to prepare graduates for the future of healthcare delivery. In May 2017, the university opened its Barbados location.
Our Mission and Education Philosophy:
To educate and inspire leadership in health outcome-centric clinical practice by embracing cultural and social accountability and a commitment to the integrative practice of medicine.
