The World Directory of Medical Schools is a public database of institutions that provide medical education. [1] There are over 3,900 medical schools listed in the directory. The directory is published as a collaboration of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).
For the database, a "medical school" is defined as an "educational institution that provides a complete or full program of instruction leading to basic medical qualification; that is, a qualification that permits the holder to obtain a license to practice as a medical doctor or physician". [2] As of 2024, [update] the database has records for more than 3,900 medical schools that are operational and more than 190 that have ceased to be operational. [3]
It was created by merging WMFE's AVICENNA Directory for Medicine with FAIMER's International Medical Education Directory (IMED) to produce a single comprehensive resource, including the schools in each of the prior directories. [4]
The World Health Organization (WHO) originally published the World Directory of Medical Schools from 1953 to 2007 before transferring responsibility to the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) which renamed it the AVICENNA Directory for Medicine. A separate International Medical Education Directory (IMED) had been published by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) since 2002. In March 2012, the AVICENNA and IMED directories agreed to merge into a single comprehensive directory. [5] The new World Directory of Medical Schools officially launched in April 2014 managed by both WMFE and FAIMER. [6] The Avicenna and IMED directories were subsequently discontinued. [7]
The major sponsors are the Australian Medical Council, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and the Medical Council of Canada. [8]
The International Medical Education Directory (IMED) was a public database of worldwide medical schools. The IMED was published as a joint collaboration of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).
The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "support the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) as it promotes international health professions education through programmatic and research activities." These activities include:
Medical University of the Americas (MUA) is a private for-profit offshore medical school in Charlestown, Nevis. It is owned by R3 Education, Inc. which also owns St. Matthew's University and Saba University School of Medicine MUA confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
International University is a private higher education institution specializing in medicine and medical science. Established in 2002, IU is recognized and nationally accredited by the government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC). International University education standards are recognized by transnational medical institutions such as the Asia–Europe Foundation, Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL), UN World Health Organization - including accreditation with the United States-based Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and International Medical Education Directory (IMED) enabling medical school graduates to take the three complete steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and on successful completion can register for physician residency and practice medicine in the United States. The medium of instruction used at IU are English and Khmer.
RAK Medical and Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU) is a medical university in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The university was established by the Ras Al Khaimah Human Development Foundation under the leadership of Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Chancellor of the University. RAK-HDF is a joint venture of the Ras Al Khaimah Government, Al Ghurair Investments and ETA Ascon Group, Dubai.
The Avicenna Directory project was a public database of worldwide medical schools, schools of pharmacy, schools of public health and educational institutions of other academic health professions. The Avicenna Directory was maintained by the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) in the years 2008-2015.
Medical schools are developed, monitored and credentialed by national organizations in each country. The agency responsible for this recognition in most countries is the Ministry of Health. Medical schools that are recognized by the appropriate agencies in their respective countries are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, which contains the combined data from the previous sources – the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) and the AVICENNA Directory.
The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) is an accrediting body for the education programmes and schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing and other health professions in the 15 member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CAAM-HP was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica.
CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry is located on Abdur Rehman Road in the Cantonment neighborhood of Lahore, Pakistan. It is a co-educational institution and is attached to Combined Military Hospital Lahore. It was established in 2006. The medical college is regarded as one of the most competitive in the country while the dental college is regarded as the best in Pakistan, ranked number one in local rankings since its inauguration.
Destiny University was an offshore private medical school located in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia Now College of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Lucia. The school's offshore office was located in Butte, Montana. It began operations in 2001 as the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Lucia, under which name it operated until 2008. Then it re-opened at 2013 still as the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Lucia. The Destiny Group of Companies intended to build a new facility for the university in Vieux Fort, which would be fully operational by 2010. When the school began session in 2008, it was functioning as a "distance learning university" in the former Sandy Beach Hotel. The school operated until 2013, at which time it temporarily ceased operations and it re-opened that same year.
The American International School of Medicine (AISM) is a private medical school with its main campus in Georgetown, Guyana, and a US information office in Atlanta, Georgia. Clinical placements in the United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Canada, and some sites in Africa. Graduates obtain a Medical Doctorate upon successful completion of the four or five years of didactic education and training candidates earn the doctor of medicine degree to exit the medical program successfully.
American International Medical University (AIMU) is an offshore medical school located on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. It operates a School of Medicine and a School of Nursing. It partners with universities and hospitals in the United States including Washington Adventist University (WAU) in Takoma Park, Maryland for independent support programs and offers joint classes with WAU for the AIM-U Premedical Science Program on the WAU campus. Future AIM-U programs on the WAU campus may include BSN Completion and Introduction to Clinical Science, as well as the opportunity for AIM-U students to complete the WAU MBA program.
Kyiv Medical University is a Ukrainian higher educational institution. Established in 1992, about 3,500 people study at the university.
Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, formerly known as St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University (SPbSPMU) is a medical university located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, providing higher medical education with a specialization in Pediatrics.
Texila American University (TAU) is an offshore private medical school, owned by the Texila American University Ltd – Hong Kong (TAU-HK). TAU-HK is a project of the ALLTERE Education Management Company. Texila's U.S. offices are in New Jersey. The University is located in Guyana, South America and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in medicine, nursing, public health and allied sciences.
Avicenna Medical College, established in 2009, is a private college of medicine located on Bedian Road, Defence Housing Authority, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Faculty of Medicine - Syrian Private University was founded in 2005. It is the second faculty of medicine in a private university in Syria.
All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica (ASUDOM) is a private medical school located in the Caribbean. The schools' campus is in Roseau, Dominica, and is administered from Toronto, Ontario. There is also an office in Chicago, Illinois.
World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) is a non-governmental organisation concerned with education and training of medical doctors worldwide. WFME's main objective is to "enhance the quality of medical education worldwide, with promotion of the highest scientific and ethical standards in medical education". The organisation develops standards for medical education and promotes accreditation of medical schools. It also co-manages the World Directory of Medical Schools.