Forging a New Track

Ravishankar Bhooplapur, President, Xavier University School of Medicine, talks to Sukanya Das about what makes the institution unique. Excerpts from the interview.

Your roots are in India and your professional life has been spent in the US. Why a medical school in the Caribbean?

We are facing a global shortage of physicians and a massive demand for well-trained physicians, particularly in the Western world. WHO estimates this shortage at 4.3 million. The Caribbean curriculum is similar to that of US medical schools. All the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) are part of the curriculum and the graduation requirements is with KLE at Belagavi, Karnataka, a reputed educational institution in India. XUSOM Aruba has full accreditation from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), under the U.S. Department of Education, recognises ACCM to have similar standards as its medical school accreditation body. the 50 states in the US as well as in the provinces and territories of Canada. What principles underpin XUSOM's education delivery model?

Tell us about the unique intake mechanismXUSOM has for Indian students. That they can complete the first two years (premedical programme) at KLE in India. That sounds very interesting Can you please explain this integration model?

The 3rd and 4th year of training of the MD programme is conducted at accredited teaching hospitals (ACGME approved) in the USA and Canada.

Our education model is guided by the mission, vision, and educational objectives approved by the faculty senate and the board. The mission is to prepare physicians to practice compassionate primary care medicine of the highest standard of the MD programme. Coming to XUSOM specifically, we follow an innovative curriculum that trains students for USA and Canadian licensing exams. Continuous guidance, mentoring, and assistance prepare students for residency interviews. Students from countries other than the USA are eligible for Hl/ Jl visas. They can continue to work in North America or return to their country of origin. How did the affiliation with Xavier's happen?

What are the indices of the school's success?

External standardised indices like the student's first-time passing rate in the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 the number of residency matches as well as internal indices like students passing rate in the internal examinations, scores on the NBME subject examinations, and Comprehensive Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences examination.

XUSOM has more than 90 per cent first-time USMLE pass rate and successful residency matches.

I must clarify that this Xavier is not the Xavier we are familiar with in India. XUSOM is affiliated to Xavier University in the Caribbeans named after Francis Xavier, one of the first explorers to the islands. Our primary partnership

XUSOM Aruba has entered into affiliation agreements with teaching hospitals.

XUSOM students can apply for Postgraduate (residency training) to any hospital in

XUSOM Snapshot

Year of inception: 2004

Courses offered: MO

Program, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (O.V.M.), Doctor of Phy siotherapy

Student intake in the first year: 150

Total alumni strength: 1100 approximately.

Placement record:

Approximately 81% for Residency Match 18 % for other gainful employment in the healthcare sector

Why should students chooseXUSOM?

XUSOM Aruba has been listed among the top 10 medical schools in the Caribbean and is also among the 18 medical schools approved worldwide by the New York State Education Department. Xavier is also fully accredited by the Jordan Ministry of Health and Education. Highquality medical education at an affordable tuition fee is the XUSOM Aruba differentiator. Your personal orientation has always been towards service beyond selfand profit. How doyou hope XUSOM students serving their communities?

Keep the patient's interests above your own and offer the most affordable, compassionate and evidence-based medical care. Nothing less. 