American University of Antigua College of Medicine Graduating Class Size Doubles in 2009

ANTIGUA and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 20, 2009) - The American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, the only U.S. modeled medical school in the Caribbean with hospital-integration in the early semesters, today announced that its 2009 graduating class size is double that of last year as more qualified applicants turn to the school as an alternative to US medical schools. AUA will hold its graduation ceremony on June 1, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt New York at 1:00 p.m. Congressman Donald M. Payne of New Jersey and Class Valedictorian Jamilla Stone will address students, parents, friends and faculty.

"With an anticipated shortage of up to 200,000 physicians in the United States and Canada by 2020, we are proud that this is AUA's largest graduating class, with graduates ready and able to fill this gap," said Neal Simon, President and AUA Founder. "Almost 40 percent of our graduates will enter the field of family medicine, in which there is a large deficit of primary care physicians in the United States."

AUA graduates secured placement in residency programs across the United States and Canada at leading hospitals including The New York Hospital Medical Center, New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital, Boston's Tufts Medical Center, Detroit's Henry Ford Health Science Center, and The University of Toronto.

Keynote Speaker Congressman Payne recently visited Antigua with the purpose of expanding educational opportunities for students who wish to become licensed physicians in the United States. Following his visit, Congressman Payne commended AUA on its tremendous impact on the health of surrounding communities in the Caribbean and praised the school's commitment to improving diversity in medical education.

About The American University of Antigua

The American University of Antigua (AUA) offers medical and nursing programs designed to ensure students meet the requirements of medical and nursing licensure in the United States and are prepared to achieve passing scores on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examinations. A group of world-class American physicians and medical education professionals chartered the University to address the shortage of healthcare professionals faced by the United States. To learn more, visit www.auamed.org.

About AUA College of Medicine

The AUA College of Medicine is the only U.S. modeled medical school in the Caribbean with hospital-integration in the early semesters. AUA offers a United States-based medical school curriculum comparable to those found in U.S. medical schools. The University recently joined with Manipal University of India to offer the Manipal University Twinning Program at Kasturba Medical College International Center (KMCIC), which is ranked among the top five medical schools in India. Together, both campuses afford students the option to complete their coursework at either the AUA or KMCIC campus, and offer hands-on clinical experience the first semester.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Dawn Sullivan or Perrin McCormick Hart-Boillot, LLC 781-893-0053 aua@hartboillot.com