New Pathway marks milestone in Cayman Island’s Healthcare Education

The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) and St Mathews University School of Medicine (SMU) have collaborated to offer two distinct options to students interested in the programme. New Pathway in the Cayman Islands from a unique collaboration amongst educating bodies lessens the barriers to entry for becoming a physician or veterinarian.

The first option prepares students for human medicine with the qualification being Doctor of Medicine (MD programme) and the second focuses on veterinary medicine with the qualification being Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM programme).

Interested students will start at UCCI where they will undergo the foundational and prerequisite courses. After those students meet the specific requirements, they will seamlessly transition to SMU where they will complete two years of pre-clinical studies, followed by clinical training in The United States or Canada.

This is more than just promising as the SMU medical school boasts a 100% residency placement in hospitals across North America for both 2022 and 2023.

This programme is lauded for providing a local foundation with global opportunities, this makes it more cost-efficient and practical while also providing students the exposure and opportunity to spread to other parts of the globe.

This initiative aims to increase the number of qualified medical professionals in the Cayman Islands, seeing that the island there are limited training opportunities, competitive salaries for those willing to emigrate, and just a lack of medical specialists.

This new pathway initiative will increase training opportunities, increase the pool of qualified specialists and practitioners and aim to improve overall healthcare in the region.

President and CEO of UCCI, Dr. Robert Robertson, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with St. Matthews University School of Medicine to cultivate a pathway for our students into the medical profession. This collaboration is a testament to UCCI's commitment to innovation in education and our dedication to the future of Cayman's healthcare industry.”

Robertson goes on to say “In 2024 we celebrated 10 years of our highly successful nursing programme which has significantly impacted the healthcare sector in the Cayman Islands. We hope to now have the option to expand our pool of home-grown talent. Together, we are laying the foundation for a healthier tomorrow."

This partnership is considered to be a milestone in the region’s advancement of healthcare education.