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Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) is a private medical school with a preclerkship campus in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and administrative offices located in Plantation, FL.

Founding
WAUSM was founded by Peter Goetz, whose experience in higher education spans more than 30 years, having previously worked for Ross University School of Medicine and Ramapo College of New Jersey in both operations and admissions, respectively.

Others deeply involved with the implementation of WAUSM include Joseph A. Flaherty, MD, dean emeritus of the University of Illinois Colleges of Medicine who was also dean and chancellor at Ross University School of Medicine, and Paula Wales, EdD, who was a founding member of the Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine.

Campus
WAUSM’s preclerkship campus is located in Freeport, Grand Bahama, which was chosen for its proximity to South Florida.

WAUSM is set to welcome its first class of medical students in January of 2021. Construction of a 98,000 square foot facility, inclusive of classrooms, offices, lab facilities, maintenance, security, and related spaces are set to be built within the first three years. The development will include university-owned housing for faculty, staff, and students on campus.

The school, which should see the completion of its first phase by the end of 2021, will cover 36,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratory facilities, a Center for Academic Success, library, administrative offices, study and lounge space for students, and other student-support areas.

A second phase of construction is set to begin in January of 2022 and be completed in December of 2022 with an additional 24,000 square-feet of facilities spread over another 10 acres of land and a projected enrollment of 500 students.

The final phase, set to be completed by August 2024, will see completion of another 168,000 square feet of medical education buildings.

Accreditation
WAUSM has received “candidacy status” by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The CAAM-HP accreditation process progresses in sequence – from candidacy status to full accreditation. Review for full accreditation will be conducted in the program’s fourth year.

Curriculum
WAUSM awards a single academic degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Students will complete five, 15-week semesters – totaling 20 month – in Freeport as part of their preclerkship curriculum. Students will then complete their clerkships at WAUSM’s partner teaching hospitals in the United States. WAUSM’s first partner hospital is Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, IL.