Accelerated MD Pathway

This innovative Accelerated Pathway to MD (APMD) is the only six-year accelerated pathway to medical school offered in New Hampshire and is only a handful offered in the US. The APMD provides eligible University of New Hampshire Biomedical Sciences students with provisional admission to Western Atlantic University School of Medicine’s MD Program, streamlining their journey from undergraduate studies directly to medical school. Students will begin their bachelor’s degree at UNH and, once all academic requirements are met, transition directly into WAUSM’s MD Program where they will begin taking dual credit courses that apply to both their bachelor’s and MD degrees, accelerating their timeline to practice while gaining access to personalized instruction, advanced clinical training, and a globally respected medical education. Students who successfully complete the pathway receive their bachelor’s degree from UNH ath the end of year three and their MD in year six from WAUSM. 

UNH is committed to increasing opportunities for students in health professions in the region due to significant shortages. UNH holds a nearly 80% acceptance rate for medical school students, compared to the national average of 40-41%. The pathway offers a great opportunity for international students as it is traditionally difficult for international students to gain acceptance into US allopathic medical schools. Based on a search on AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirement database, only 43 US allopathic medical schools (MD granting institutions) accept applications from international students, and only a small fraction of those international applicants are accepted and matriculate into those institutions. The Accelerated Pathway to MD also offers significant advantages for domestic students by streamlining and strengthening the journey to medical school. In addition to securing a conditional acceptance into WAUSM’s MD Program during their undergraduate studies, domestic students benefit from the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree and begin medical training in a reduced overall timeframe. By eliminating the traditional application cycle - often a year or more of preparation, waiting, and expense - students save time and benefit from overall cost savings. This direct, efficient pathway not only accelerates students’ progress toward becoming physicians but also makes the pursuit of an MD more financially accessible and predictable for motivated U.S. students. The pathway also allows domestic students to experience a unique study abroad opportunity, spending two years at WAUSM’s campus in The Bahamas before completing two years of clinical medical rotations in the United States. 

There are many compelling benefits for students who choose the UNH/WAUSM accelerated pathway for their medical education: 

• Proven academic outcomes: Over the past five years, UNH holds a nearly 80% acceptance rate for medical school students, compared to the national average of 40-41%
• WAUSM’s outcomes include a 100% first-time pass rate on the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 as of July 1, 2025, a key milestone in medical education and a strong predictor of residency success. This reflects the strength of WAUSM’s curriculum and student support
• US-focused clinical training:  Students in WAUSM’s MD Program spend 50% of their training in U.S. teaching hospitals, gaining hands-on experience in the same clinical environments where they’ll later apply for residency. This U.S.-based exposure is a major advantage for matching into U.S. residency programs 

WAUSM students can complete clerkships and electives in almost all states in the US and in The Bahamas. Some exceptions to this include New York, where they can complete up to 12 weeks, and New Jersey and Florida which have additional registration. WAUSM started its first class of students in 2022 and initiated an application for recognition by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in 2023. WAUSM currently has provisional accreditation through the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) and will graduate its first class and apply for full accreditation in 2026. 

Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) holds Provisional Accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). This accreditation status means WAUSM has met key standards and is actively progressing through the formal accreditation process. Full accreditation will be awarded after WAUSM has graduated its inaugural class in Spring of 2026 and has demonstrated sustained compliance with CAAM-HP’s rigorous standards. WAUSM's provisional accreditation status is the same process that U.S. MD and DO schools go through, in which the medical colleges are provisionally accredited and receive full accreditation when they graduate their first class. There are new U.S. medical schools going through this process right now. CAAM-HP is a recognized accrediting body under The Caribbean Community (CARICOM - an organization of 21 Caribbean countries) and is widely acknowledged by international organizations such as the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which is important for U.S. licensure pathways. 

Yes, because: 

• CAAM-HP is recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which is a key requirement for U.S. residency eligibility under the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) guidelines.
• WAUSM is included in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) with an ECFMG sponsor note, which means its students are eligible to pursue ECFMG certification, take the USMLE, and apply for U.S. residency programs.

WAUSM graduates are eligible to do residencies in almost all states in the U.S.

WAUSM graduates will be eligible for licensure in all US states, though each state has its own requirements and some states require more than others. In some states, WAUSM graduates may need to have board certification or be licensed in another state first.