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Make Your MD Dream a Reality

PHSU School of Medicine in Tortola, BVI offers an innovative and tech-driven 4-year Medical Doctor degree program that prepares graduates for careers in medicine in any specialty, anywhere in the world.

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The Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

PHSU is proud to offer a Doctor of Medicine degree program at our new School of Medicine in Tortola, BVI. The program is preliminarily accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) and is seeking applications for its inaugural cohort for Fall 2025.

The 4-year MD program is dynamic and culturally focused, offering students a diverse, tech-driven education in preparation for a variety of careers in medicine. Students develop the competencies expected of physicians worldwide, and graduate with a globally recognized medical degree.

The program follows the same curriculum as PHSU School of Medicine, which has campuses in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and St. Louis, Missouri, USA. PHSU-SOM-BVI medical students apply for clinical rotations at these and other locations in Puerto Rico and the United States during their third and fourth years.

Graduates of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program Will:

Be ready for clinical practice
Have applicable knowledge of evolving and established biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral sciences
Provide compassionate, professional patient care with a high level of interpersonal and communication skills
Have an awareness of health care systems and how to best utilize resources to provide care at an optimal value
Be committed and sensitive to ethical principles and diverse patient populations

Medical Education Program Objectives

Medical Knowledge

Medical student must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and socio-behavioral sciences as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

Patient Care

Students must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the promotion of health and for the treatment of health problems.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and health professionals.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

Students must be able to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence and continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and lifelong learning.

Systems-based Practice

Students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.

Professionalism

Students must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.

Curriculum

Completing the Doctor of Medicine program at PHSU SOM BVI requires a breadth of coursework designed to offer students a diverse, tech-driven education in various medical fields. The first two academic years establish a strong pre-clinical base encompassing core disciplines and an introduction to clinical skills, behavioral science, and medical ethics. These pre-clinical years are completed at facilities in Tortola, BVI.

Our interactive and innovative curriculum helps prepare students for clinicals in core specialties during their third and fourth year, plus an additional five months of advanced specialty elective rotations. In the final two years of the program students have the option to apply for clinical rotation sites near our other PHSU locations in St. Louis, MO, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ponce, Puerto Rico.

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Message from the Dean

As Dean of the School of Medicine, it is an honor and a privilege to extend a warm welcome to our newest educational destination on the beautiful island of Tortola. At Ponce Health Sciences University, we are committed to providing a quality education that prepares our students to meet the challenges of the modern medical world through our prestigious Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs. With over 45 years of experience in medical education, our university has established itself as a leader in training highly skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals.

Our new campus represents a melding of our US quality education with the international flavor and cultural opportunities of living and studying in the British Virgin Islands. Tortola, the largest island with Road Town as central city, is a vibrant and welcoming island, known for its rich culinary offerings, vibrant culture, and safe environment. Here, you will find a setting conducive to study, with the tranquility, natural beauty and fun of living on a Caribbean Island. It is a home where you can grow personally and professionally, surrounded by a warm and supportive community.
We invite local students and candidates from the United States and around the world to join our academic community in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. We are excited to embark on this new adventure together and to see how each of you will contribute to the legacy of excellence and service that defines Ponce Health Sciences University.

Welcome to Tortola and Ponce Health Sciences University!
Sincerely,
E Anne Peterson, MD, MPH

MD Admission Requirements

PHSU SOM BVI looks for students with a passion for serving others and keen interest in the medical sciences, demonstrated through academic achievement and persistent pursuit of volunteering, employment, extracurriculars, or other activities relevant to healthcare.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to apply:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
Minimum science GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
Official MCAT score (only for U.S. Citizen applicants, no minimum required.) 
Completed prerequisite courses

Within the studies of the degree all applicants are requested to have completed the following courses:

    Course
    Credits
  
    Biology I & II with Lab
    8
  
    Chemistry I & II with Lab
    8
  
    Organic Chemistry I & II with Lab
    8
  
    PhysicsI & II with Lab
    8
  
    Advanced Mathematics
    6
  
    Behavioral and Social Sciences*
    6
  
    English
    3

Course	Credits
Biology I & II with Lab	8
Chemistry I & II with Lab	8
Organic Chemistry I & II with Lab	8
PhysicsI & II with Lab	8
Advanced Mathematics	6
Behavioral and Social Sciences*	6
English	3

In addition to the above requirements, we strongly recommend coursework in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Liberal Arts and/or Humanities.

*Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science or Economics

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MD Application Process

1

Gather all necessary materials.

Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended (minimum 2.7 GPA required)
Three letters of recommendation. Two from previous professors and one written by an individual familiar with the applicant’s skills and abilities
Official MCAT score required for U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. All other applicants are encouraged to submit an official score from a comparable external validation exam (e.g., Graduate Management Admission Test [GMAT] or international equivalent to the MCAT) to enhance their applications.
Personal Statement.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - for applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned at institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction
Non-refundable $90 application fee

2

Fill Out Application

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3

If selected for evaluation, complete admissions interview.

Interviews are conducted virtually in the Multiple Mini Interview format to support a holistic admissions process and evaluate premedical competencies that align with PHSU SOM BVI’s mission to train ethical professionals who provide compassionate, culturally competent health care and generate high impact research to reduce health disparities in the populations we serve.

4

After acceptance, students must submit the following:

Confirmation of acceptance
Deposit of $300 to secure their seat in the upcoming class
Evidence of up-to-date immunization record**
Fill out the Policy on Technical Standards

**Tdap booster, MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), Polio (if under 21 years old), COVID-19, Influenza (annual doses)
These requirements may vary according to Centers of Disease Control CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.

Message from the Dean

As Dean of the School of Medicine, it is an honor and a privilege to extend a warm welcome to our new and exciting international location on the beautiful island of Tortola. With over 45 years of experience in medical education, our university has established itself as a leader in training highly skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals. At Ponce Health Sciences University, we are committed to providing a quality education that prepares our students to meet the challenges of the modern medical world through our prestigious Doctor of Medicine (MD) and various other academic programs.

Our new campus in Tortola represents a physical expansion and an extension of our educational and cultural opportunities. Tortola is a vibrant and welcoming island, known for its rich culinary offerings, vibrant culture, and safe environment. Here, you will find a place to study and a home where you can grow personally and professionally, surrounded by a warm and supportive community.

We invite local students and candidates from the United States and around the world to join our academic community in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Here, you will discover an environment conducive to learning and personal development, with the tranquility and natural beauty that this Caribbean Island offers. We are excited to embark on this new adventure together and to see how each of you will contribute to the legacy of excellence and service that defines Ponce Health Sciences University.

Welcome to Tortola and Ponce Health Sciences University!

Sincerely,

Olga Rodriquez de Arzola, MD, FAAP

Dean of the School of Medicine
Ponce Health Sciences University
British Virgin Island

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Make Your MD Dream a Reality

Request Information

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

Graduates of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program Will:

Medical Education Program Objectives

Medical Knowledge

Patient Care

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

Systems-based Practice

Professionalism

Curriculum

Message from the Dean

MD Admission Requirements

MD Application Process

1

Gather all necessary materials.

2

Fill Out Application

3

If selected for evaluation, complete admissions interview.

4

After acceptance, students must submit the following:

Message from the Dean

The PHSU MD Difference

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