Universidad de Ciencias Médicas

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED) is a medical school in San José, Costa Rica. The university is best known for its medicine program and is recognized as one of the best medical schools in Central America.

History

UCIMED was founded in 1976 by surgeon and investigator Dr. Andrés Vesalio Guzmán Calleja, who was one of the original founders of the national medical school of Costa Rica. It was originally named Escuela Autónoma de Ciencias Médicas (Autonomous School of Medical Sciences). It started as an initiative that was championed by Dr. Guzmán and collaborators as a response to ideological differences between the authorities of the national university of Costa Rica known as the University of Costa Rica (UCR), which was the only one who offered a medical degree. The conflict was rooted on what part of Costa Rican society were granted access to learning medicine, which in this particular time was reserved to individuals on a purely ideological basis.

Initially the campus was based in the San Juan de Dios Hospital, using the infrastructure of the hospital's psychiatric wing. The emblem of the institution bears the dome of its first grounds. At the beginning it served as the medical school of an established university known as UACA (Universidad Autónoma de Centro América). In 1999 the medical school separated from its partnership with UACA and changed its name to UCIMED (Universidad de Ciencias Médicas) establishing itself as an independent institution. Three years later, in March 2003, the National System of Accreditation in Higher Education, which monitors and verifies that higher education standards are met nationally, granted UCIMED its accreditation in Medicine. UCIMED and UCR school of medicine were the only two institutions at the time to meet this standards.

In 1998 UCIMED introduced pharmacology as a major which now currently meets SINAES (Sistema Nacional de Acreditación de la Educación Superior) standards of quality.[1] Later on, the programs of Microbiology, Physiotherapy and Nutrition were also included as part of the degrees offered.

Academics and accreditation

Medicine, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Physiotherapy and Microbiology are the five programs offered at UCIMED. Those careers are semester-based and classes are taught in Spanish. During the first five semesters students get a bachelor's degree in health sciences. During the fifth semester students start their medical clerkships at hospitals from the Caja Costarricense de Seguridad Social such as the Hospital San Juan de Dios (Main General Hospital), Hospital México, Hospital Calderón Guardia, Hospital de Alajuela, Hospital de Heredia and Hospital Max Peralta de Cartago which are tertiary-care institutions; nevertheless, the university also has a wide network of access into secondary and primary care health infrastructure. After finishing the eleventh semester, students who are in medical school obtain their MD degree.

It is the only medical school in Costa Rica with a fully equipped simulation hospital. Students have access to pertinent obstetrics and gynaecology, primary care, advanced care, emergency care and surgery clinical scenarios in a controlled and supervised environment. This preparation helps the students to be prepared when facing a real scenario, ensuring the patient's security and well being. Collegiated physicians can also participate in various workshops and courses offered to further medical education in the simulation hospital.

The university is part of the World Directory of Medical Schools from the World Health Organization and is nationally recognized for having a key role in the preparation of health professionals in the country.

In 2016 the International Foundation of Medicine Clinical Sciences exam was applied to all last-year medical students in Costa Rica before their acceptance for their internship. UCIMED was the only institution next to Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) to achieve passing scores over the international standard and had the second-best results behind UCR on national standard passing scores.

In 2017 UCIMED continues to be on the top performing institutions in the IFOM exam only challenged by the UCR on best overall results. Historically, both universities are considered to be the two best institutions in medical education in Costa Rica.

Admissions

The university requires students to do an admission test to apply. The admission test will measure the student's basic knowledge in some areas such as chemistry, biology and mathematics. Following this, applicants have to present their high-school transcripts and diploma. National and international students whose grades achieve the university's standards are granted an interview with a clinical psychologist and the dean of medicine or vice dean to provide counseling and assess motivation. If accepted, results are published on the university's web page.[1]

Agreement with Kaplan

UCIMED has signed an agreement with Kaplan, Inc. to help provide a program to prepare medical students for the USMLE and the NBME IFOM exam required for internship in the Costa Rican Healthcare System. This provides students with Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certificate with aid from Kaplan Inc. representatives working within UCIMED grounds. Kaplan Inc. USMLE preparation programs discounted for applicants who opt in.

External links

References

UCIMED, Universidades en Costa Rica [Lista de Universidades Privadas en Costa Rica, Becas, Carreras, Universidad de Costa Rica]

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[autogenerated2-1] UCIMED, Universidades en Costa Rica [Lista de Universidades Privadas en Costa Rica, Becas, Carreras, Universidad de Costa Rica]