Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is a private medical school. It was founded in 1978 and is located on the island nation of Dominica, with administrative bases located in both Iselin, New Jersey and Miramar, Florida in the United States.
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| Ross University School of Medicine |
The medical school was founded in 1978 as The University of Dominica School of Medicine by Robert Ross, an entrepreneur. At the time, it was the first American (US) medical school located outside of the United States. It was housed in leased facilities at The Castaways Hotel, with an inaugural class of 11 students. In 1982, the University Of Dominica School of Medicine formally changed its name to Ross University School of Medicine at the request of the government of Dominica.
Ross accepts students for three different entering classes per year: fall (September), winter (January) and summer (May).
The fall entering class is typically the largest each year.
Since September 2010, the university has followed an organ systems-based curriculum for its basic sciences.
Unlike many American medical schools, Ross University does not own or affiliate with a primary teaching hospital. Ross University School of Medicine contracts with hospitals in the U.S. to accept and place students in clinical rotations.
Internal Medicine Foundations (IMF)
Prior to starting clerkships for the third and fourth years of the MD program, students are required to complete a six-week clinical semester known as Internal Medicine Foundations (IMF) in Miramar, Florida. Successful completion of this pre-clinical program is required prior to entry into a clerkship.
The university requires students to enter into "track" programs for clerkships, which would have most students complete core rotations at a single teaching hospital affiliate. The clerkship component of the program is currently composed of 48 weeks of required core rotations and 30 weeks of electives. Students have to option to enter clerkships in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom.