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#Can Medical School Be Taught Online? - Oceania University of Medicine

Yes and no. The technology exists to teach the basic sciences and didactic material online, but clinical rotations must be done face-to-face in a teaching hospital.

Many US medical schools have branch campuses and have computer-aided instruction in certain subjects. So computer-aided distance learning is a component of education at US medical schools.

Oceania University of Medicine is one of a handful of medical schools worldwide that teaches much of its basic science and preclinical curriculum online. The first two years are taught in an online classroom by US-based faculty with live lectures and small-group discussions, recorded lectures as well as asynchronous lessons via the Internet on select medical topics with the goal of preparing students for USMLE Step 1.

Now, time and place are not a factor in medical education, says Scott Cunningham, MD, PhD, Director of Medical Education for North America for Oceania University of Medicine (OUM). This flexibility allows people who previously could not consider a medical career to overcome personal, family, professional, geographic, and other barriers to attend medical school.

Indeed, most of OUM s student body are working healthcare professionals nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and others. A growing number of traditional-aged recent college graduates also comprise OUM s student body.

OUM s clinical curriculum is taught in teaching hospitals around the United States and on OUM s campus in Samoa. Graduates compete for residency programs across the country and are licensed to practice in many US states.

Dr. Cunningham has shared his advice on overcoming adversity to get into medical school with several AMSA and NMSA chapters and would be pleased to come to campus to speak with yours. You may e-mail Dr. Cunningham at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Based in the South Pacific and with online preclinical courses, OUM is accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, listed in the World Health Organization's World Directory of Medical Schools, and recognized by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Located on the grounds of the National Hospital Complex in Apia, Samoa, OUM offers MD and MBBS degrees to its graduates and has a current student body of approximately 140 from eleven countries. Graduates are receiving their post-graduate residency and internship specialty training at teaching hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States. For more information about OUM, visit www.oum.edu.ws.