ACSOM: THE EXCEPTIONAL ALTERNATIVE
Become a Doctor Despite Limited Medical School Seats
Affordable, Non-Profit, Accredited Elite Medical Education That Prepares You for Residency in the US and Canada.
“There is a path forward and ACSOM has that path for you”
– Arvin Bagherpour, MD Founder – Chairman Board of Trustees — ACSOM
70%
of the physician hopefuls that take the MCAT have the scores to become brilliant doctors.
Only
50%
Of them secure one of the limited medical school seats in North America.
Every year, thousands are denied the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming a doctor. Not because of merit, but because there aren’t enough seats at US and Canadian medical schools to meet demand.
Although there are alternatives to US and Canadian schools, many of these institutions have weak reputations due to low admission standards and low residency-matching rates. Investing in this type of education in pursuit of your dream can be a risky proposition.
ACSOM: An Exceptional Alternative
ACSOM is a fully accredited, nonprofit university created for future physicians who deserve the quality of a top medical school and plan to practice in the United States. Modeled after elite US medical schools, our program provides aspiring doctors with access to a truly exceptional medical education experience.
Why ACSOM?
Non-Profit
Priorities
For-profit institutions often prioritize enrollment quotas to satisfy corporate shareholders. As a nonprofit medical school, ACSOM is focused on student success and residency placement. Only students who we believe will graduate and thrive in their career in medicine are accepted for enrollment. A low admission rate of 15% enables us to provide each student with the training and support required to excel.
Accomplished,
Engaged Faculty
We offer a world-class curriculum developed and taught by respected physicians and educators, many from the top schools and health systems in the US, such as Yale and Penn State. Our faculty are vested in your success and highly engaged through group discussion and one-on-one interaction. We’re excited to provide guidance, mentorship, and support during your training and throughout your career.
Physician-Led
And Student Focused
With our modern, flipped classroom model, most class time is spent in open conversations with professors and small groups of eight to 10 students. Lectures and learning materials are consumed independently. After two years of study at our beautiful campus on the island of Dominica, you’ll complete two years of clinical rotations at affiliated clinical teaching hospitals in Los Angeles. Clinical sessions average just two to four students per physician.
The Validation
Of Accreditation
Accreditation validates the quality of our curriculum, faculty, resources and more, while enabling graduates to pursue residency training and licensing in the US with confidence. ACSOM was granted a five-year full accreditation by the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) in 2023. We also hold preliminary accreditation from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). Both organizations are recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). ACSOM holds an ECFMG sponsored note allowing US Students to take the USMLE step one. Canadian students are eligible for MCCQ Part 1 NAC OSCE and CARMS match.
The start of your medical career is only three steps away
01
Two Years of Medical School in the Commonwealth of Dominica
Spend the beginning of your journey in the nature island of the caribbean studying a clinically integrated curriculum and solving cases with renowned faculty and your peers
02
Two Years of Hands-On training in Accredited US Teaching Hospitals
Become fully prepared for residency training and your life of practice and service.
03
Complete Your USMLE
Just as you would coming from an institution based in the US or Canada you will complete your USMLE like all other medical students.
Study at the Forefront of Medical Education
Our curriculum, designed by leading medical professionals, integrates the latest advancements in medical science and technology, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the future of healthcare. ACSOM is proud to hold accreditation from IAAR and preliminary accreditation from ACCM, both recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). Our global accreditation underscores our commitment to excellence, allowing our graduates to practice medicine across the United States, Canada, and beyond.
At ACSOM, we don’t just educate future doctors; we empower the next generation of medical leaders.
LIoy Wylie, Ph.D.
Sr. Advisor To The Dean At ACSOM
Abiola Omodan, MBBS, MSc, PhD
Associate Dean of Admissions, member of admissions committee, Director of Anatomy Course Content
Jeff Wong, M.D.
Senior Advisor to the Dean on Education, Curriculum and Faculty Development
Stanley White, PhD, FPhysiol
Senior Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Dean of Campus
Tuition on Par with Public U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools
ACSOM isn’t just about offering an unparalleled learning experience; it’s about making this journey accessible.
With tuition approximately 20% lower than other medical schools in the region, and on par with public U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools. We’re here to ensure that your financial considerations don’t stand in the way of your ambitions.
Our merit based scholarships are designed to celebrate your achievements and potential.
Global Accreditation And Recognition
We have full IAAR Accreditation and preliminary ACCM accreditation. Graduates emerge with a degree recognized in the U.S., Canada, and globally, paving the way for diverse career opportunities in the medical field.
Hands-On Clinical Experience
Gain invaluable real-world experience through two years of Los Angeles-based clinical rotations in accredited teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada.
Advancing Personalized Education Path
With small class sizes and a supportive learning environment, you will receive individualized attention and faculty mentorship.
Comprehensive Support Service
From academic advising to wellness programs, you will have access to a range of resources designed to support your mental, emotional and academic well-being throughout your educational journey.
Merit Based Scholarship
Recognizing talent and dedication, ACSOM offers merit-based scholarship that make medical education more accessible and reward students for their hard works and achievements.
Global Immersion And Global Perspective
Studying in Caribbean offers a unique cultural experience, broadening your perspectives and preparing you for a global medical practice.
LIoy Wylie, Ph.D.
Sr. Advisor To The Dean At ACSOM
Dr Wylie is senior advisor to the Dean at ACSOM, providing guidance on equity, engagement and ethics. She provides faculty and curriculum development workshops and oversees the community medicine and community-based research partnership developments. She is a member of the admission committee and as adjunct faculty delivers the introduction to clinical medicine for the first-year medical students. She is an Associate Professor in the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, appointed to Psychiatry, Pathology with a cross appointment to Anthropology at Western University in Canada. She has an Interdisciplinary PhD from the University of British Columbia (Political Science, School of Population and Public Health, and Nursing).
Dr. Wylie is a specialist in implementing equity, diversity and inclusion in health professional education, policy and practice. She is an advisor at the national level on accreditation standards in undergraduate medical education for Indigenous health in Canada. She is an award-winning educator, and has developed innovative programs in community engaged learning in public health. She also provides expert advice on research ethics for health and medical research with marginalized populations.
Dr. Wylie’s main areas of research are in health systems and health services, with a focus on equity and improvement of health services and access through community based participatory research. She has a research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), for research on improving health services for Indigenous people in Ontario, Canada. Her current research focuses on Indigenous, immigrant and refugee health, drawing on cultural safety as a framework for health systems improvements to meet the needs of underserved populations.
Abiola Omodan, MBBS, MSc, PhD
Associate Dean of Admissions, member of admissions committee, Director of Anatomy Course Content
Abiola Omodan, MBBS, MSc, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Anatomy with a diverse educational background, holding a PhD in Clinical Anatomy from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Masters in Anatomy and Cell Biology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and an MBBS from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Abiola is a dedicated medical doctor and clinical anatomist, specializing in craniofacial research, anatomical variants, and a strong commitment to sharing knowledge with future medical professionals and researchers. Dr. Abiola also served as a visiting faculty member at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda. His research interests encompass craniofacial anatomy and genetics, with a focus on Tessier clefts and anatomical variations, alongside a growing interest in unmet dental and craniofacial needs in the Caribbean. Abiola has contributed to several publications in the field, notably on Tessier clefts, and is affiliated with professional organizations such as the American Association for Anatomy. Beyond academics, Abiola’s personal interests include a love for football, particularly as a devoted fan of Manchester United Football Club. For contact, you can reach Abiola Omodan via email at abiola@acsom.edu.dm.
Jeff Wong, M.D.
Senior Advisor to the Dean on Education, Curriculum and Faculty Development
Dr. Wong is the Senior Advisor to the Dean for Faculty and Curriculum Development at ACSOM. He has overseen a multi-year faculty and curricula development plan to implement problem-based small classroom learning as the best model for medical student education.
He is currently the Associate Dean for Medical Education at University Park Curriculum, College of Medicine (Hershey) and Associate Dean for Medical Education, University Park Curriculum, College of Medicine (University Park). Previously, he was Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education – Emeritus and a Professor of Medicine at Medical University of South Carolina.
He received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He has served on the faculty at Duke in the Division of General Internal Medicine, attaining the rank of assistant professor and as director of the Yale Primary Care Residency Training Program. The current ACSOM curriculum has been developed under the direct supervision of Dr. Wong.
Stanley White, PhD, FPhysiol
Senior Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Dean of Campus
Dr. White is the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Dean of Campus at ACSOM. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester in the UK and has over thirty years of experience in biomedical research and teaching leadership in the USA, UK, and Caribbean.
Supported by various Senior Fellowships and grants from the Medical Research Council, American Heart Association, Wellcome Trust and Beit Memorial Foundation, his career has been spent variously, at Yale University, USA, the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds in the UK and Ross and All Saints Universities in Dominica.
Dr. White was Vice-Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and co-founder of the Institute of Molecular Physiology at the University of Sheffield, where he led institutional innovations in teaching and learning. At Leeds University, he became Director for programs in Human Physiology as well as leading curriculum development and enhancement groups, in Leeds and more widely in the UK and EU. After joining Ross University, he became successively: Associate Dean, Center for Teaching and Learning; Medical Sciences and finally for Accreditation. From 2021 until 2023, he served as Dean of Academic Affairs at All Saints University in Dominica.
Dr. White has served on the Council of the Physiological Society; and on scientific panels of various international grant-awarding bodies. He has published numerous papers in internationally peer-reviewed journals as well as reviews, articles, and book chapters.
During his career, Dr. White has trained and mentored twenty international postgraduate and postdoctoral collaborators. All of whom have gone on to independent, successful scientific careers in biomedicine. This experience he sees as the “privilege” of his career and helping young colleagues succeed as his most significant reward.