BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 14TH 2005: Another medical school will officially open in St. Kitts later this month.
Saint Theresa's Medical University, which opens on August 27th, will bring to five the number of medical institutions operating on St. Kitts and to six the total number providing services in the twin island Federation.
Chancellor and Executive Dean of Saint Theresa's Medical University, Dr. T.M. Uhrin said the Board of Trustees has set August 27th at 3:30 P.M. as the official date for the opening of the university which is located at Taylor's Range and Victoria Road in Basseterre, the St. Kitts capital.
Dr. Uhrin has invited St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas to speak at the official opening ceremony and to cut the ribbon with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Hon. Sam Condor, to open the medical institution.
He said classroom activities will begin on Monday 5th September with the first group of 45 students for the initiation of course activities. It has already hired some 21 nationals in several capacities ranging from clerical to instructional.
The Saint Theresa's Medical University was established on St. Kitts to promote healthcare and health science education on a global scale.
"In addition, Saint Theresa's Medical seeks to support the healthcare and educational efforts of the medical community on St. Christopher and Nevis and to assist in the continuing improvement in healthcare," said the Executive Dean, who pointed out that it was founded through a network of US health care professionals, attorneys and citizens of St. Kitts, to develop programmes which will also train nationals of the Federation, the United States of America, the European Union and Australia in areas of health related education.
Dr. Uhrin said the medical university will train physicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists, research scientists and educators; providing for their community and awareness of the legal, social and cultural problems related to varying health environments, as well as professionals who will be sympathetic and sensitive to medical issues concerning others.
Students who make application for the pre health science courses should have a minimum of 90 semester hours. The University provides course work in pre health sciences only and therefore advises that students have sufficient credit or semester hours so that upon matriculation to the College of Undegraduate Study, successful completion of the available courses will lead to matriculation into either the College of Graduate Study, College of Pharmaceutical Science or the College of Medicine.
With both undergraduate and graduate programmes requiring full time residence on St. Kitts, the Saint Theresa's Medical University will focus on areas of specialty in statistically related shortage areas of health care.
Through relationships with US pharmaceutical research laboratories, Saint Theresa's Medical University will assist in the on going research developing new medications to seek out treatments for world wide disease.
It will also assist when necessary with physician shortage and the need for specialists on St. Kitts.
Through an agreement with the Denzil Douglas Labour Administration, Saint Theresa's Medical University will offer one scholarship per semester to citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis. This scholarship includes all tuition, books and other supportive educational materials. These students must however, agree to practice medicine on St. Kitts for five years following graduation.
Other medical institutions accredited and operating on St. Kitts are Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, International University of the Health Sciences, Windsor University School of Medicine and the International University of Nursing, which opened in May this year. The Medical University of the Americas operates on Nevis.
