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''Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina'' ('''ELAM'''), formerly '''''Escuela Latinoamericana de Ciencias Médicas''''' (in in Cuba and a prominent part of the Cuban Healthcare System . Established in 1999 and operated by the '', Dec. 3 2006 A ELAM sister school operated by the '', Jun. 10 2006; accessed Feb. 4 2007 Official website of Latin American School of Medicine A. P. Réverénd ; accessed Feb. 5 2007 CAMPUSES The main (Cuban Government); accessed Feb. 8 2007'' LASM Medical School Scholarship Program Brochure '', IFCO website, accessed Feb. 2 2007 In 2005, it was announced that the '', Aug. 23 2005; accessed Feb. 5 2007 MISSION ELAM's mission is dedicated to the training of '' magazine, Jul. 23 2006 It is preferred that ELAM students come from the poorest communities with the intent of returning to practice in those areas in their countries. Initially only enrolling students from Latin America and the Caribbean, the school has also become open to applicants from impoverished and/or medically underserved areas in the United States and Africa. Preference is given to applicants who are financially needy and/or "'', Feb. 28 2001'' Final admissions decisions are made by a committee representing ELAM's Faculty and the Cuban Ministry Of Public Health . SCHOLARSHIP The scholarship includes full tuition, dormitory housing, three meals per day at the campus cafeteria, textbooks in Spanish for all courses, school uniform, basic toiletries, bedding, and a small monthly stipend in Cuban pesos. The scholarship does not include travel expenses to and from school. ADMISSION To be considered for the US scholarship program at the Latin American School of Medicine must be US citizens (with a US passport), under the age of 30, with proficiency in college-level sciences, and a commitment to practice medicine in low-income and medically under-served communities in the US after graduation. CURRICULUM
ELAM's Pedagogical philosophy centers on intensive tutoring and advising. All courses are taught in Spanish. The Pre-medical program includes courses in Health Science s, Chemistry , Biology , Math , Physics as well as a 12-week intensive course in the Spanish language. The medical program begins every September and is divided into 12 Semester s. Students study at the ELAM campus for the first 2 years before completing their studies at one of Cuba's 21 other medical schools, including a 1 year rotating Internship . The Cuban medical training model emphasizes primary healthcare, Community Medicine and hands-on internship experiences. Students are required to pass examinations at appropriate points during their course of study. For US students, this includes the United States Medical Licensing Examination . The education at ELAM also reportedly involves classes in the History and Politics Of Cuba . Cuban officials have stated though that there is no intent to "politicize" foreign students. HISTORY Establishment ELAM was first conceived - reportedly from an idea by ; accessed Feb. 5 2007) to the devastation caused by Hurricane Georges and Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which affected several countries in Central America and the Caribbean , including Cuba. 500 full medical scholarships per year for the next decade were offered by the Cuban government to students from 4 countries - the Dominican Republic , Haiti , Honduras and Nicaragua - seriously affected by the Hurricane s. In support of this plan, ELAM was opened in March 1999 and started its full medical program in September 1999 with approx. 1,900 student in its initial classes. On November 15 , 1999 , Castro officially Inaugurated ELAM at as Havana hosted the 9th Ibero-American Summit (at this time, ELAM had 1,929 students from 18 countries). Medical School Scholarship Program FAQ , IFCO website, accessed Feb. 2 2007" Castro's Guests Give Dissidents a Hearing ", Serge F. Kovaleski, ''The Washington Post'', Nov. 17 1999 The first class of 1,498 ELAM doctors Graduated on August 20 , 2005 , together with 112 from other Cuban medical schools. 28 foreign countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and including the United States were represented by the graduates. The ceremony was led by Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez . Also reportedly attending were Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua & Barbuda , Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica , Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada , President Martín Torrijos of Panama , Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts & Nevis and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent & The Grenadines as well as high-ranking government representatives of The Bahamas , Barbados , Belize , the Dominican Republic, Ecuador , Grenada , Guatemala , Guyana , Jamaica , St. Lucia , Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago . Cooperation with the United States In June 2000, a US '', May 1 2001 In 2004, the legality of the presence of US students at ELAM was threatened by tightened restrictions against travel to Cuba by US nationals under the administration of President George W. Bush . A CBC campaign led by Representatives Barbara Lee (D- Calif. ) and Charles Rangel (D- NY ) with 27 other members of Congress persuaded Secretary Of State Colin Powell to exempt ELAM from the tightened restrictions. Applications from US citizens are administered through the New York City-based Interreligious Foundation For Community Organization (IFCO), headed by the noted Human Rights activist and critic of the U.S. embargo of Cuba, the Rev. Lucius Walker Jr . Collaboration with Venezuela In August 2005, Venezuelan President ; retrieved via Factiva , Feb. 4 2007 SEE ALSO
REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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