A direct-entry six-year medical programme delivered through Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine.
Programme overview
The Accelerated Pathway to MD links undergraduate study at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) in New York with the Doctor of Medicine programme at Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM). Qualified school-leavers can complete a bachelor's degree and an MD in as few as six years, subject to meeting the pathway's progression requirements.
This differs from the conventional US route, in which students usually complete a bachelor's degree before applying separately to medical school. It is still a demanding academic pathway rather than guaranteed progression: applicants should review the current academic, admissions and progression criteria before committing to the programme.
How the pathway is structured
Students begin their undergraduate studies at ACPHS in Albany. The transition stage then leads into WAUSM's medical curriculum, with pre-clerkship study in Freeport, Grand Bahama, followed by clinical clerkships at affiliated hospitals in the United States. The institutions publish the current sequence on the ACPHS transfer agreements page and the WAUSM pathway page.
Licensing and residency planning
Completing an MD is one stage of becoming a practising doctor in the United States. Graduates must also satisfy the examination, certification, residency and state licensing requirements that apply to them. Rules vary by jurisdiction; for example, ACPHS advises that WAUSM's MD is not currently registered as a licensure-qualifying programme in New York State and that restrictions apply there.
Before enrolling, students should review current information from the institutions, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and the licensing authority for any state in which they may wish to train or practise.
Planning your application
Consider the complete financial and practical commitment, including tuition, living costs in each location, travel, immigration requirements and any examinations. Medical Doorway can help applicants understand the pathway, prepare their documents and communicate with the institutions during the application process.
