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Latin American School of Medical Sciences
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Housed on a former military base in Havana, the Latin American School of Medical Sciences trains students from all over Latin America to be doctors, free of charge.
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Since the revolution in 1959, Cuba has had a long tradition of sending doctors and other medical personnel to countries in Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean in need of their services. The devastation in Central America and the Caribbean caused by Hurricanes Mitch and Georges in 1998 increased this need exponentially, and the idea of creating a medical school that would train motivated students from Central America and the Caribbean who could otherwise not afford to go to medical school was put into effect. Students were sought who would practice in underserved, rural areas of their countries. All tuition, equipment, books, supplies, housing and food are provided free to these students for a full six years of medical study in Cuba.
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A school director, with translator Eddy Brown, uses maps of Central American countries to illustrate the underserved, rural areas where her students will practice.
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When applications were solicited from Central America and the Caribbean, students from all over Latin America contacted Cuba to ask to be included in the program. The school quickly expanded its vision to include all of Latin America.
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Text & Photos (c) 2001 C. O'Hara
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