A decade after founding our University, during the 1970’s, several internal and external proposals were made for the opening of a Medical School at the University. These proposals were prompted by an increasing flow of students coming to the Caribbean to join national and international medical schools in pursuit of a medical education.
The University, however, under the leadership of its founder, Dr. José Rafael Abinader, always felt that if a decision was made to open a Medical School, such one must provide the best medical education possible, with emphasis on global health, excelling in medical research and community engagement and, therefore, constitute a source of pride to its students, to the country and to the region. The decision to create a new Medical School was made during the first year of the first decade of the 21st century. In 2002, the University forged in earnest an alliance with one of the most distinguished Medical Schools in the world, the Harvard Medical School, through its international arm, Harvard Medical International.
After years of unrelenting hard work and preparation, physicians being trained both at Harvard University and in workshops in the Dominican Republic, and a process of designing an advanced curriculum as well as the special facilities needed for its implementation, such process executed by specialized professionals at Harvard Medical International and by our own local team, the new School welcomed its first class of medical students in September 2013.
At the 55th anniversary celebration of the Universidad Dominicana O&M’s foundation, the Academic Council declared, as part of the vision of our institution, to be: “A great project for a great country.” This is to emphasize that we consider our institution, and ourselves, in a continuing process of innovation and improvement toward attaining excellence in performance in all our process and services in the educational field, in research and in the outreach to the community. Our new Medical School, O&Med, is an integral part of this vision.This achievement has been the result of hard teamwork of dedicated people, academic, administrative and support personnel at our University, all with a firm commitment and belief in our School mission.
We extend our gratitude to our international associates, who have toiled tirelessly on this project to make it operational through their advice, engagement and support, utilizing their skills and expertise at Harvard University and Hospitals Faculty, Harvard Medical International and Partners Harvard Medical International: Dr. Melvin Clouse, Dr. Robert Crone, Dr. Andrew Jeon, Dr. Tom Aretz, Architect Judith Mitchell, Dr. Constance Bowe and Dr. Lynn Eckert. To Shaw J. Dallal (✟) for his loyalty and wise advice during all stages of this project. We thank our Faculty Executive team under the guidance of our first dean, Dr. Alan Retik, who, with sapient leadership and jointly with our Director, Dr. Eddy Perez-Then, have guided and facilitated this opening. We extend our gratitude and recognition to all.
We now look forward to a great class of medical students, who will inspire us in each step of their medical education, as we continue to improve this magnificent and unique educational institution.
José Rafael Abinader CoronaUniversity President