American Canadian School of Medicine
ABOUT THE CLIENT:
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Located in the Caribbean, the American Canadian School of Medicine is a non-profit university that strives to provide accessible education to the next generation of physicians.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
To entice and educate new first-year applicants, the following ACSOM blog posts highlight key take-aways from the 2023-2024 school year.
Wrapping Up Year One with ACSOM
Tackling Medical School is no easy feat – the path towards a career in medicine can be intense and taxing. The ACSOM community extends a special congratulations to the students who have just completed their first year with us. With diligent focus and insightful feedback, our students have not only integrated seamlessly to the campus and curriculum, but have also gained invaluable career development tools throughout their first year. Throughout this post, we’ll revisit the highlights of the 2023-2024 school year, and explore what year one looks like at ACSOM.
Professional Development at Caribbean Medical Schools
ACSOM was pioneered with one core mission in mind: providing a rich curriculum to shape the future of healthcare. Located in the heart of the Caribbean, our Dominica campus serves as a hub for exceptional healthcare education, offering students an opportunity to collaborate with world-class industry professionals and ambitious classmates alike.
As a non-profit school, not only do we pride ourselves in providing affordable and accredited programs despite the limited number of seats in traditional medical schools. Never compromising on quality, our education is designed to provide a diverse and inclusive experience with deep insight from leading healthcare professionals.
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Discovering Career Paths
Though deciding which area of medicine to study can be a daunting task, ACSOM streamlines this process for students through our full-scope year one curriculum. We offer six master courses for first year students that develop an understanding of medicine and human anatomy:
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Foundation of Medicine: biochemistry, molecules, cells/tissues, pathology, genes and development, oncology, and basic pharmacology.
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Attack and Defense: fundamentals of immunology, virology, and microbiology.
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Skeletal Structure and Function: pathophysiological features, disorders, diagnosis, and basic management options.
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Homeostasis I: erythrocyte life cycle, platelets, bleeding control, homeostasis, and the cardiovascular organ system.
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Homeostasis II: development, physiology and pathophysiology of the pulmonary, renal, and urinary systems and acid-base disturbances.
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Energy & Metabolism: gastroenterology and hepatology.
Students also benefit from attending clinicals every two weeks to observe real-life applications of course materials. From understanding core competencies of medicine, to exploring career avenues, ACSOM’s first year program develops a lasting impression for the years to follow.
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Building Relationships
When joining the ACSOM community, new students often find themselves in a hub of collaboration. At the core of our community remains the students, who inquire and engage greatly with our curriculum.
ACSOM is led by exceptional industry leaders who are all ivy league graduates. We often host networking and career development initiatives to further enhance learning outside of the classroom. As a physician led school, our professors are both esteemed and experienced, offering real-world applications within lessons.
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Connecting with the Community
Aside from providing exceptional education to medical students, ACSOM bears the mission to leave a positive impact on Dominica. Accordingly, we offer student’s ample resources to discover the island and explore local business, including the culinary delights of Zing Zing, and the ultimate relaxation of Gommier Spa.
Students also enjoy the breath-taking scenery of Dominica on campus, where we often host events and activities to further aid in career development. Here are highlights from the 2023-2024 school year:
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Vendors Fair - a campus hosted event to connect students with community resources within close-proximity.
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Medball - ACSOM’s first-ever basketball game. Held at ACSOM’s Hard Court, the match was against Paix-Bouche Eagles.
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Community Day of Service - in collaboration with Hon. Wenham-Sheppard, students contributed to volunteering activities to give-back to Dominica.​
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Join Our Talented Community
From physician-led curriculum, campus events, and networking opportunities, ACSOM continues to strive towards creating an engaging and accessible environment for education. Our first year students have proven to aid in our missions by contributing to the community both in and out of campus.
For prospective students interested in delving into a one-of-the-kind medical school experience, and to fully immerse in the beauty of the Caribbean, ACSOM is the perfect fit. Submit an application to get started!
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What to Expect in Year One at ACSOM
As our Fall 2023 new students soared through the completion of their first year of medical school, we extend a heartfelt round-of-applause for their incredible successes thus far. The 2023-2024 school year was met with outstanding successes and an deeping of the ACSOM core values. Throughout the year, ACSOM student’s engaged in several community events, and below we will recap the top highlights of the year
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Dominica, ACSOM strives to create an accessible path to medical education. As a non-profit, our school understands the trials of applying to traditional medical schools with high tuition and limited seats. To combat this gap, we’ve developed a physician-led and student-focused approach to medical school through creating an environment for quality collaboration without sacrificing the curriculum needed to succeed in the field.
Although our curriculum and resources are common for schools in the United States and Canada, ACSOM offers a fresh approach to medical education in the Caribbean. Typically for-profit and lacking the necessary tools to instruct a modern curriculum, standard Caribbean schools often lack a clinically integrated first and second year trajectory.
At ACSOM, we understand the importance of observing how lessons in the classroom reflect real-world application, and students benefit from learning and observing from our faculty who are all practicing physicians in the local health-care system.
Understanding the intensity of medical school course load, ACSOM strives to develop a balanced approach to education. Our school offers students a wide range of activities, both catering towards professional development and the enjoyment of Dominica. From on-campus events to island getaways, students of ACSOM have a range of opportunities to rest and rewind from their course load.
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Learning Outside of the Classroom
To expand educational opportunities beyond just curriculum, students have the opportunity to network and socialize with renowned practicing physicians. Our Vendors Fair is just one example of the events held at ACSOM to connect the community with professors and outside resources to best assimilate into our Dominica campus.
Professional development also remains a vital component of ACSOM’s successes, and accordingly, we frequently offer students opportunities to share what they’ve learned in the classroom with the community. For 2023’s World Diabetes Day, ACSOM teamed up with the Portsmouth Health District and diabetes specialist Dr. Lisa Jolly to raise awareness and educate the community on living a healthier lifestyle. Not only did this collaboration offer medical insight to the community, but it also allowed students to see first-hand the importance of quality medical education in a real-world application.
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Productive Past-Times
When dealing with a rigorous course load, it’s important to find ways to de-stress and unwind. Our community understands first-hand how taxing medical school curriculum can be, and strives to create opportunities for students to connect without the pressure of school work.
In the 2023-2024 school year, ACSOM collaborated with other schools and organizations in the area to bring the best of music, sports, and food to our students. This year marked the first-ever Medball tournament, a basketball game hosted in ACSOM’s Hard Court against the Paix-Bouche Eagles. Another highlight of the year was our Super Bowl watch party, where students gathered together to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
Our Student Support Services team is committed to connecting students with fun and community-minded opportunities to take the stress off of med school. By having classmates directly contribute to these extracurricular activities, students can rest assured that events are tailored with their interests in mind.
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Exploring Dominica with Caribbean Medical Schools
Outside of providing accessible medical education to our students, ACSOM holds a mission to leave a positive impact on Dominica. Dominica offers our students and faculty countless opportunities to connect with the beauty of the island and has even been ranked #11 on the New York Times top travel destinations.
Needless to say, Dominica truly is an ideal getaway and an optimistic environment for prospective physicians. From fine dining at Zing Zing restaurant to the open-air paradise of Gommier Spa, students are connected to countless local businesses for island explorations.
ACSOM also frequently collaborates with local events to give back to the community, including the Jazz n’ Creole festival. The festival is packed with music, culture, and food, offering students an opportunity to engage with the community first-hand.
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Learn, Grow, and Explore with ACSOM
For students seeking a well-balanced school lifestyle surrounded by scenic Caribbean views, look no further than ACSOM. Our campus welcomes you to get started on your path in medicine and offers tools to help you succeed both in and out of the classroom. From faculty guidance to peer collaboration, our community thrives on an all-encompassing approach to medical school.
Ready for ACSOM to mark your next chapter? Apply today, or visit our website to learn more about our medical school.
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