Currently, the United States health care system suffers from a significant shortage of physicians available to provide much needed care for the American public, with no relief to the problem in sight. It is anticipated that, within the next fifteen years, there will be a shortage in the U.S. of more than 200,000 physicians. As a result of recently-enacted healthcare legislation, unnecessarily rigorous acceptance standards, rising tuition costs, and a lack of seats in medical schools, that number may prove to be grossly under-estimated. In an effort to address this crisis, a private organization and a Caribbean medical school have joined forces to make medicine a viable and
financially-realistic career choice for qualified applicants looking elsewhere to become licensed medical doctors.

American University of Antigua (AUA)* and the *American Association of
Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)* Charitable Foundation of New York/NewJersey, a foundation working under the national AAPI organization, are partnering to offer joint scholarships to qualified students of Indian descent. Twenty-five percent of AUA’s student community is of Indian origin.

Lokvani posed some questions to Prem Kumar of AUA on this partnership.


Who can apply for this? Do you need a US education? Or can students from India also apply?

Prospective students with 90 college credits may apply to the basic science program. Also the scholarship is open to high school and non-traditional students who apply for the 6-year med program. AUA welcomes qualified international students to attend its campus in Antigua. They must provide us with their TOEFL or IELTS scores to test their English proficiency, along with the rest of the application materials, before attending. Also, students with Indian citizenship cannot apply to Kasturba Medical College International Center (KMCIC) as the program is designed for international students only.

What is the criteria for scholarships – is it totally need based?

AUA scholarships are available for a diverse selection of students. There are scholarships for undergraduate academic achievement, veterans,   EMTs/paramedics, Antiguan citizens, underrepresented minorities in medicine, and, most recently, Indian-Americans. Financial need is taken into consideration while electing candidates who will receive these scholarships as long as they fulfill the basic requirements. For the AAPI scholarship, decisions are ultimately made by the Scholarship Committee, which will decide on the criteria at a later date.

How did this partnership come about? When did the process begin?

AUA has had a long relationship with AAPI. Originally, AUA had an AAPI sponsored scholarship that was less inclusive as the one that we have now. This scholarship is the result of the work of Neal Simon, President of AUA; Hemant Patel, the Chairman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation of New York; and Par Prem Kumar, Associate Director of Admissions – International.

The financial incentives will cover tuition and fees until the fifth semester. What does this mean and how will students defray costs after this period?

Students that earn the AAPI scholarship will be covered until they begin their Clinical Sciences. AUA offers a loan program that allows the cost of the program to be deferred until after students graduate. The loan covers most of their tuition. For Clinical Sciences, the maximum loan amount is $17,494 and the total cost of attendance, including tuition and estimated housing, is $18,550.

Would they have opportunities to work?

There are many opportunities to work on and off the island but, considering their studies; it is best advised that it will not take up too much of their time.

Does AUA already give scholarships to students who need aid? Is this different because it is geared to Indian students?

This is the only scholarship available exclusively for Indian-American students at AUA.  However all of the other scholarships are also open to qualified students of Indian-American descent.Three students shall be awarded the scholarship each year – 1 per entering class.

Would students be given a chance to serve in India for some time?

We are currently working on certain projects with AAPI in which students would be given a chance to serve the community. 

How well are AUA medical students recognized in US hospitals? Can you share some statistics on their placement?

Students have matched at prestigious hospitals across the U.S. and Canada including Harbor Hospital, the University of Toronto, Mercer University Medical Center, etc. Some AUA graduates have become chief residents at hospitals they are currently serving their residencies. AUA students have a long history of accomplishment. Rahul Bhagat, who is currently on his clinical rotations, won the regional Doctor’s Dilemma competition at Harbor Hospital with a team consisting of students from well-respected Caribbean medical schools. A couple of years before, AUA student, now graduate, Seema Kumar accomplished the same.  

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