The Medical School Scholarship Program
At the Latin American School of Medicine, in Havana, Cuba
Here you can find the latest news from Medical School Program.
Quicklinks: program overview | request an application
PBS News Hour Story featuring US Medical Students in Cuba
Dear friends and supporters
Yesterday we received a special unanticipated holiday gift: the Latin American School of Medicine was featured last night on the PBS News Hour! Ray Suarez did a piece about the international focus of Cuba's health care system; he interviewed 2nd-year US student Pasha Jackson and Academic Vice-Rector Dra. Maritza Gonzalez. You can see the video for yourself at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptFqmKlSHPQ
As 2010 draws to a close, we want you all to know that we at IFCO/Pastors for Peace are SO VERY PROUD of the extraordinary young people who have chosen (and been chosen) to study at the Latin American School of Medicine! We are SO honored to have the responsibility for administering this groundbreaking program in the US! We are SO excited about our next Friendshipment caravan to Cuba! We are SO impressed by the excellent work being done by dozens of community-based projects under IFCO's sponsorship -- and we are so full of gratitude for all the extraordinary support we have received in this challenging year, especially since the passing of our beloved founding director Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr.
Our year-end newsletter will be arriving in your mailbox very soon -- and we hope you will remember us as you plan your year-end tax-deductible donations. (If you don't receive our mailings, you may not be on our snail-mail list -- in which case, please do send us your address!)
You can also make a donation to IFCO/Pastors by clicking on the "Donate Now" button on our website.
We wish you many blessings at the holidays and in the new year.
In gratitude and solidarity,
Ellen Bernstein and Rev. Tom Smith,
Acting Co-directors --
and all of us at IFCO/Pastors for Peace:
Alison Bodine
Sheila Brown
Lucia Bruno
Manolo de los Santos
Mappy Torres
John Waller
Trained in Cuba, U.S. Doctors Describe Month in Haiti
by Renee Feltz, the Indypendent, March 12, 2010
After the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated Haiti, Dr. Melissa Barber received a call asking her to help treat people left injured and living in squalid conditions.
“There was no question,” said Barber, 30, who was born and raised in the Bronx and worked in quality assessment at St. Barnabas Hospital in the heart of the borough. “I actually resigned and I made plans to go to Haiti for a month. That is how much it’s ingrained in me to help the underserved communities when they are in need.”
Curriculum and plan of studies
An overview of the curriculum and general plan of studies at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba Read more >
Frequently Asked Questions
Applicant criteria
- Be US citizens (with US passport)
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30
- Have completed college-level pre-med science courses (one year each of biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, each with laboratory)
- Be physically and mentally fit
- Come from the humblest and neediest communities in the US
- Be committed to practice medicine in poor and underserved US communities after graduation
Applicants will be carefully selected by the IFCO Medical School Advisory Committee, based on applications, transcripts, interviews, letters of reference, etc. Final admissions decisions will be made by administrators of the Latin American School of Medicine and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health. Read more >
The Spirit of Hugo Chavez Lives On in the Struggle
IFCO/Pastors for Peace wishes to express our sincere condolences to the Venezuelan Mission in NY, the Venezuelan government, the valiant people of Venezuela and of course the family of the beloved President Hugo Chavez. Read more >
Save the Date! MARCH 30th -- Show Your Love For Cuba!
NYC/NJ Peeps! Save the Date! MARCH 30th -- Show Your Love For Cuba! Read more >
Show your love for Cuba! NYC Valentine Fundraiser for Sandy Recovery Feb. 9th
Show your love for Cuba! Save the date for the Valentine Fundraiser for Sandy Recovery February 9th in NYC! Read more >
Help IFCO Change Healthcare in the US
Here are excerpts from a recently published article by Glenn Ellis, a Philadelphia-based health writer. He outlines the tremendous accomplishments Cuba has achieved in the medical field,. He spoke with IFCO and Dr. Melissa Barber, a US graduate of Cuba's Latin America School of Medicine and effectively points to many of the historical benefits of Cuba's health care system and the ways it far exceeds US-based health care. Read more >
Help Cuba, Haiti and the US Recover from Hurricane Sandy
Dear Friends, As you know, Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of the northeastern United States, Cuba and Haiti.
As a result we are issuing this emergency appeal and asking for your help. Read more >
