The University of St. Eustatius School of Medicine began an accreditation process with the Dutch accrediting agency, NVAO, as a result of the change in country status of St. Eustatius in 2010. After a visit by NVAO and determining the needed changes to meet NVAO approval, USESOM formally withdrew its application for NVAO accreditation in the Fall of 2012.This strategic decision was made based on the fact that USESOM is based on the U.S. medical school model and not on the Dutch medical school model, which resulted in the need for further changes to meet the Dutch NVAO standards. In February 2013, USESOM received a reply from the Ministry of Education in the Netherlands allowing the opportunity for additional time pending the recognition procedure. Subsequently USESOM submitted a request to ECFMG/FAIMER for an extension of the accreditation period. This extension, supported by both the Ministry of Education in Holland, and the St. Eustatius Government, is awaiting review by ECFMG/FAIMER. Considering the support offered by both the Ministry of Education in the Netherlands, and the Governor of St. Eustatius, the University has begun a re-application to NVAO which will highlight a number of ongoing developments and changes.
↧