2018 was one for the books as AUC celebrated numerous achievements and milestones, from our 40th anniversary to the 10th year of Community Action Day—all after returning to Sint Maarten from our temporary campus in the UK. Join us in saying goodbye to 2018 with some of our favorite stories from this year.
AUC Resumes Classes in Sint Maarten Following Temporary Relocation After Hurricane Irma
January 16, 2018
Four months after Hurricane Irma caused AUC to evacuate students and faculty from Sint Maarten, AUC resumed classes on its Sint Maarten campus. The category 5 hurricane, which swept over Sint Maarten on September 6, 2017, had a major impact on the island, causing AUC to temporarily relocate and hold classes on the campus of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston, United Kingdom.
“Now we are excited to be back in our campus home, engaging with our community partners in Sint Maarten, and looking forward to playing our part in advancing the country’s continued recovery,” said Heidi Chumley, MD, Executive Dean at AUC.
Meet 8 Grads Who Changed Careers and Became Doctors
January 24, 2018
While plenty of physicians have aspired to become a doctor since childhood, many take a little longer to decide that medicine is their calling.
Here, several AUC graduates reflect on their own unconventional paths to medical school—starting out as football players, bankers, and engineers, to name a few—and their career journeys since graduation.
Students Tackle Global Health Issues at Northeast Regional Symposium
May 17, 2018
Clinical students, faculty, and alumni came together in May to explore emerging issues in clinical medicine at AUC’s Northeast Regional Symposium, held at the Doral Arrowwood Resort in Rye Brook, NY.
Centered on the theme of global health, the event showcased student and clinical faculty work on topics related to international medicine.
MD Magazine: International Medical Schools Play an Important Role and Produce Quality Doctors
June 22, 2018
A feature article published in MD Magazine highlights the important role international medical schools like AUC play in supplying quality physicians to the U.S. healthcare system.
In “The Embrace of Overseas Medical Schools,” AUC Executive Dean Heidi Chumley, MD and 2012 graduate Kate Essad, MD offer their perspectives on the opportunities afforded to students at AUC—and the benefits to hospitals and patients.
Student Connection: Embracing Multicultural Awareness to Enrich Your Medical Pursuits
July 18, 2018
Earlier this year, AUC launched the Student Experience Ambassador (SEA) program, which enables current students to showcase life at AUC through photos, videos, and blogs such as this one by student Carlos Calderon.
In this reflective piece, Carlos explores the role of interfaith organizations in shaping medical students’ cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Familiar Faces: Grads Return to Hometowns to Practice
October 3, 2018
Many students dream of coming home after medical school to serve the communities where they grew up. In this spotlight, we feature just a few of the AUC grads who are putting that dream into practice.
From family medicine in Texas to wound care in New York, these alumni have come back to their roots after completing residency to grow their careers and contribute to their communities.
Celebrating 10 Years of Community Action Day in Sint Maarten
October 24, 2018
Nearly 300 AUC students, faculty, staff and friends dropped everything to volunteer at service projects throughout Sint Maarten for the 10th anniversary of Community Action Day in October.
To commemorate that special milestone, Dr. Golden Jackson, Assistant Dean for Service-Learning and Community Affairs, organized several events in the days beforehand that brought students and community partners together around a shared legacy of service.
Alumni Spotlight: Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship Brings Grads Together
November 16, 2018
This year, just 35 fellowship positions were offered in interventional pulmonology—a specialty that focuses on staging lung cancer and managing other complex airway and pleural diseases. AUC graduates earned three of those positions: Sandip Saha, MD ’10, Dhaval Thakkar, MD ’11; and Amit Borah, MD ’10.
“Most people don't know what interventional pulmonology is, as it’s a relatively new field,” said Dr. Saha, a Toronto native who matched at Yale University. “We were just so surprised and excited that AUC had so much representation here.”