The latest group of graduates from American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine officially became doctors on Friday, June 7 at AUA’s 2020 Commencement Ceremony. Held as a virtual event for the first time ever due the COVID-19 pandemic, this online celebration of AUA graduates’ achievements—broadcast on both YouTube and Facebook—drew hundreds of family members, friends, and other well-wishers online to watch the members of the Class of 2020 officially become doctors of medicine.
The keynote speaker for the event was Seymour Schwartz, MD, a world-renowned surgeon, Provost of AUA’s College of Medicine, and the author of Principles of Surgery, a medical textbook used in countless medical school curricula that is considered by many to be a seminal textbook on the practice of surgery.
Several university leaders from AUA spoke at the event, including Neal Simon, University President; Robert Mallin, MD, University Provost; and Peter Bell, MD, Vice President of Global Medical Education and Executive Dean of Clinical Sciences.
“There is nothing more exciting, and satisfying, than seeing the smiling faces of hardworking AUA medical students who have reached the end of a long, challenging road,” Dr. Mallin said. “Though I would have loved to have seen our graduates in person, it was still great to participate in this virtual event. Congratulations to all of our new MDs.”
Alumni guest speaker Swaimam Singh, MD—a cardiology fellow at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center/RWJ Barnabas Health in Newark, NJ—and this year’s valedictorian, Jonathan Mikhail, MD, also delivered remarks at the ceremony. As he reflected on his time spent at AUA, Dr. Mikhail spoke about the resilience, grit, and drive that drove him and his fellow classmates to succeed.
“That determination to succeed is the brand each of us will carry on our foreheads as we go down our respective paths,” Dr. Mikhail said. “It’s just one of the reasons I can stand here today and say, from the bottom of my heart, that I’m a proud graduate of AUA.”
Because these newly minted physicians couldn’t be together physically due to COVID-19, attendees instead revisited their memories of AUA through a slideshow depicting the friendships and bonds students formed during their time in Antigua and beyond.
AUA is currently accepting students for its upcoming August 2020 class. Aspiring students can apply by Saturday, August 1, 2020 for consideration.
Watch a recorded version of the 2020 AUA Commencement Ceremony.
About American University of Antigua College of Medicine
American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine is a fully accredited international medical school dedicated to providing an academic experience of the highest quality. Via a holistic admissions approach, AUA selects students with the potential for medical school success and provides them with the resources they need to obtain highly competitive residencies and move on to successful careers in medicine.
Founded in 2004, AUA awards the Doctor of Medicine degree after students complete a two-year basic sciences curriculum on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean, followed by clinical rotations in the United States, Canada, India, or the United Kingdom at affiliated teaching hospitals. AUA is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).
AUA is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in federal student loan programs, approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), licensed by Florida Department of Education (DOE), recognized by the Medical Board of California (MBC), and recognized by the UK’s General Medical Council.
Visit https://www.auamed.org to learn more.