*The 3-year first-time residency attainment rate is the weighted average of the 2023-24, through 2025-26 academic years. For each year, the rate is the percent of students attaining a residency out of all graduates or expected graduates in the year who were active applicants in the NRMP match in that year or who attained a residency outside the NRMP match in that year. For 2025-26, the first-time residency attainment rate is over 98%.
Social Responsibility
Through collaboration with local communities, AUC works to address shared health concerns, promote positive change, and align our education, research, and service with the priority needs of the populations we serve.
Classroom Learning to Real-world Healthcare Challenges
For AUC medical students, service learning offers a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world healthcare challenges. Students gain firsthand insight into the social determinants of health that contribute to health disparities within small developing island communities, while further developing cultural humility through direct community engagement. These experiences also provide opportunities to practice essential communication, teamwork, leadership, and health education skills.
Measurable Community Impact
Through measurable community impact and an institutional commitment that spans from admissions through residency placement, AUC’s Community Engagement Program supports improved health outcomes for medically underserved communities while preparing socially accountable physicians dedicated to improving the populations they serve.
Community Engagement Certificate Course
The Community Engagement Certificate Course is designed for students eager to make a real difference while building their medical careers. Students gain hands-on experience, develop leadership skills, and create lasting impact in Sint Maarten. This dynamic, three-semester elective enables students to work directly with local organizations to design and lead community health programs that matter. The course connects classroom learning to real-world needs, preparing students to become caring, socially accountable physicians.
Why Should Students Take the Community Engagement Certificate Course?
- Three-semester elective that lets students make a sustained impact in the community while building their resumes
- Blend classroom and real-world experiences—students learn in class and apply their skills in the field
- Students work side-by-side with local partners to tackle real community health issues that matter to them and their future patients
- Students take charge: design, launch, and lead their own community health projects from start to finish
- Structured reflection to help students grow as future doctors and build cultural awareness
- Hands-on experience in teamwork, leadership, and communication—qualities every top physician needs
What Will Students Gain?
- Ability to integrate classroom learning with community-based health practice
- Experience applying clinical competencies in real-world settings
- Skills in collaborative problem-solving with community partners and healthcare leaders
- Training in program planning, evaluation, and evidence-based practice
- Enhanced understanding of social determinants of health affecting underserved populations
- Preparation to practice medicine with a community-centered, socially accountable approach
AUC’s Impacts
At AUC School of Medicine, we believe that the complex healthcare landscape of tomorrow will require a different type of doctor — one who is globally minded and capable of working as part of a cohesive team to deliver empathetic, extraordinary care to a diverse patient population.
Our mission is to expand access to medical careers by empowering aspiring physicians to reach their full potential, preparing them to serve globally with excellence, compassion and social accountability.
Community Action Day
Community Action Day, AUC’s beloved tradition of community engagement, occurs three times a year, every semester.
All AUC colleagues and students are invited to join us for this special day of service—a voluntary opportunity to connect with our students and make a meaningful impact in the St. Maarten community. This year’s Community Action Day offers a variety of unique activities to choose from, each focused on health education, prevention, health screenings, and environmental sustainability. Let’s come together to support and celebrate the spirit of giving back.
Our Commitment to Our St. Maarten Home
AUC has over 60 ongoing community service projects with local partners in these categories:
- Project H.E.L.P. Health Screening and Prevention
- Breast Abnormalities Screening and Prevention
- Health Education to Support Health Literacy
- First AID Training
- Treatment Adherence Support for Primary Care
- At-Risk Youth Support
- Supporting Youth Interest in Healthcare Careers
- Health and Wellbeing Infrastructure
- Environmental Sustainability
- Capacity Building for Non-Governmental Organizations