Founded in 1978, Ross University School of Medicine celebrated its 30th anniversary in the 2008-09 academic year. Since its beginnings, this school has produced some 7,000 physicians. Located in the Caribbean locale of Dominica, Ross has three clinical education centers in Miami, Saginaw, Michigan, and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. The Foundations of Medicine curriculum at Ross ensure that students who attend this institution are as prepared to complete a residency in the United States as their peers who choose to attend medical school on the U.S. mainland.
Located in Grenada, St. George's University has clinical centers in New York, New Jersey and Michigan, as well as affiliated hospitals throughout the Northeast, California and Florida. As of 2009, St. George's has the highest Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification rate for its students out of all the Caribbean medical schools, an important factor considering graduates must obtain ECFMG certification before working with a residency program in the United States.
Located on the Dutch island of Saba, this Caribbean medical school is licensed to allow graduates to practice in any of the 50 states. Its motto, "Education for Life," reflects its mission to provide students with the skills, knowledge and practice they need to serve them throughout their entire medical careers. Saba has a year-round academic schedule that means students can complete the first five semesters of courses in only 20 months.
The AUC School of Medicine is often called one of the "big three" Caribbean medical schools, with a 95 percent first-time pass rate for students taking the USMLE Step 1 exam in 2010. Located in St. Maarten, the curriculum at AUC is modeled after that of U.S. medical schools and fully prepares students for residencies and licensure in the United States after graduation. For students with families, AUC even has a Spouse's Organization to offer guidance and assistance with the transition to life in the Caribbean.