Latin American School of MedicineEscuela Latinoamericana de MedicinaArmy of White Coats United for the Dignity of our Communities

Cuba has continued to make health care a priority for its citizens. Despite the effects of the suffocating US economic blockade, Cuba's public health care system is world-renowned. -ifconews.org

1 physician for every 168 people 2,000 new physicians every yearInfant mortality rate lower than most cities in the USFamily doctor and a family nurse in residence and on 24-hour call, for every 120 Cuban families

Cubas social mission is to create doctors that will confront the needs of local and international communities.Providing multicultural exchange and creating an environment of cultural awareness.Understanding the health equity model Cuba exemplifies and using it as a tool to combat health disparities around the world.

ConsultorioThe family doctor and a nurse 500-800 people per clinic2) PolyclinicApprox. 400 polyclinics throughout the island primary health care and minor procedures 3) HospitalServes approximately 500,000 peopleOperations and Trauma centersCuban Medical SystemEvery citizen has access to quality healthcare at no cost (Article 50 of the constitution) Cuban healthcare model consists of a three tier system:

Founded in 1999 as Cubas response to the devastating hurricanes Mitch and George to improve health care infrastructure in poor communities.

Since 1999 IFCO has been organizing Congressional delegations to visit Cuba along with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

Congressman Bennie Thompson from Mississippi meet the Cuban President Castro commending Cuba on providing health care for the poorest people of the world. The congressman then discussed the shortage of healthcare services in his hometown. President Castro extended the scholarship invitation to young people from Mississippi.

September 2000, during his visit to the Millennium Summit of the UN in New York City, President Castro extended the scholarship offer to qualified students from all regions of the US.

An old naval academy that overlooks the sea. It consists of 28 buildings with 80 classrooms, 37 laboratories, 5 amphitheaters, dormitories,an infirmary, and other facilities. The campus supports approx. 3,500 students

Congressman of Mississippi Bennie Thompson during his delegation visit to the ELAM 2008

Visit From Congressmen in 2010

Standard course of study is six years

All classes taught in Spanish

Pre-med coursework and intensive Spanish language training are offered for students who need them

First two years of study is on the ELAM campus along with other international students

From the beginning of third year until the end of the sixth year, students are located at one of Cubas 21 teaching hospitals (US students are located in Havana, Cuba at Dr. Salvador Allende Hospital

Graduates are expected to return to their hometowns and serve in the underprivileged communities

PremedicalYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Theoretical StudiesClinical Studies

1st and 2nd Semesters Morphophysiology History and Medicine I and IIPhysical Education I and IIMedical Information Sciences/Computing IPracticum placements in a regional policlinic and a family doctor's neighborhood clinic

Anatomy I and IIHistology I and IIThe Human BodyCellular and Molecular BiologyThe Nervous SystemThe Endocrine and Reproductive SystemsPhysiology IEmbryology IAn integrative first-year basic sciences curriculum:

Second YearMetabolism, Nutrition, and ExcretionThe Circulatory and Respiratory SystemsThe Urinary and Digestive Systems, Nutrition and Caloric ConsumptionAnatomy IIIHistology IIIEmbryology IIPhysiology IIPharmacology ILegal Medicine and Medical EthicsBehavioral Sciences IPhysical Education IIITissues/Nutrition/Biochemistry (two-week intensive course)

Pathological AnatomyBiological AgentsMedical Psychology IIntroduction to Clinical PracticeBehavioral Sciences IIPhysical Education IVMedical Information Sciences/Computing II3rd Semester

4th Semester

At the morgue with Dr. Nancy (US Class of 2014)

Students are in residence at one of Cubas 21 accredited medical schools, in Havana City or in other provinces; starting in the fifth semester, they begin to follow patients on the hospital ward where they are assigned.

Third YearInternal MedicineClinical Pharmacology

Clinical MethodsTechniques of Clinical Diagnosis/Signs and Symptoms(Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostic Imagery)Medical Psychology II

5th Semester6th Semester

Fourth YearGynecology and ObstetricsPediatricsGeneral Surgery

7th and 8th Semesters

Fifth YearPublic HealthComprehensiveGeneral MedicinePsychiatryOrthopedics and Traumatology

UrologyOtorhinolaryngology (ENT)OphthalmologyDermatologyLegal Medicine and Medical Ethics

Clinical practicum rotations in:

Pre-professional clinical internship withrotations in: Internal Medicine

Pediatrics

Gynecology and Obstetrics

Surgery

ComprehensiveGeneral Medicine

11th and 12th Semesters

Frequently asked questionsWhat is the application process?Is it legal to travel to Cuba?Is the school accredited in the US?How much is tuition? Are there scholarships?What is campus life like?What does the curriculum consist of?How many US students are enrolled?

Be US citizens (with US passport)Between the ages of 18 and 30Have completed college-level pre-med science courses (one year each of biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, each with laboratory)Be physically and mentally fitBe committed to practice medicine in poor and underserved US communities after graduationApplicants will be carefully selected by the IFCO Medical School Advisory Committee, based on applications, transcripts, interviews, letters of reference, etc.Final admissions decisions will be made by administrators ofthe Latin American School of Medicine and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.

Is it legal for medical students to travel to Cuba?Yes!

As part of the US economic blockade against Cuba, restrictions have been imposed on US citizens to travel to Cuba

Students at ELAM are exempt from these restrictions since they are fully hosted with all the expenses (tuition, room and board) paid by the Cuban Ministry of Health

After a IFCOs huge campaign of calls and letters to the US Treasury and State Department and 27 members of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucus writing letters to Secretary of State Collin Powell, the campaign was successful in obtaining fully legal traveling authorization for students enrolled in the ELAM to and from school

School AccreditationELAM is fully accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is the recognized body which confers accreditation on all international schools of medicine.

In the United States, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) oversees licensing requirements for medical students who study in schools outside of the US.

The ELAM has also been evaluated and fully accredited by the Medical Board of California (having the most stringent standards of any US state).

The ECFMG fully recognize any medical school which is certified by its own governments Ministry of Health.

Therefore students who study at the Latin American School of Medicine are considered by the ECFMG to have received fully accredited medical education.

This means that graduates of ELAM are fully recognized and qualified to apply for medical residency programs in any state of the US.

Tuition, dormitory housing, three meals per day at the campus cafeteria, textbooks in Spanish for all courses, school uniform (white lab coat and navy blue pants or skirts), basic toiletries, bedding, stethoscope and sphygmomanometer and small monthly stipend (100 pesos equivalent to $4).

The scholarship DOES NOT include travel expenses to and from schools, supplemental English textbooks nor fees for taking the USMLE or its review courses.

Campus LifeMulticultural experience

Daily Life is shared with students from more than 80 nations with rich cultural diversity. Each country has the opportunity to show case and share their cultural traditions through organized Cultural Night galas.

Dormitory accommodations are very spartan with modest living conditions organized in bunk beds and lots of people sharing space.

Once students begin third year, they are permitted to live off campus, but must pay for their own housing.

School food is provided free of charge at the cafeteria.

Campus Life

CULTURAL CELEBRATION

CULTURAL CELEBRATION

Scenes in Cuba

Carmen Landau: UNM Family and Community Medicine (PGY3)Tatyana Guerrero: UNM Family and Community Medicine (PGY1)Lillian Holloway: Family Medicine (Global Health track) at the University of Illinois, Chicago (PGY1)Theresa Thomas: Internal Medicine Residency Program at Lincoln Medical Center Internal MedicineToussaint Reynolds: Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program (PGY1, I think)Brea Bondi Boyd: Contra Costa County Family Practice Residency Program (PGY2)Cedric Edwards: Albert Einstein Internal Medicine Internal Medicine GraduateJohn Harris: Internal Medicine Residency Program at New York Methodist Hospital (PGY2)Jessica Barreto: Cook County-Loyola-Provident Family Medicine Residency Program at the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University Chicago (PGY2)

IFCO/Pastors for Peacehttp://www.ifconews.org/MedicalSchool

MEDICChttp://www.medicc.org/ns/ Escuela LatinoAmericana de Medicina http://www.sld.cu/sitios/elam/

The film SALUD http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/synopsis.html

Thank You!

A school of solidarity sisterhood brotherhood and justice

*******************