Published Sun November 18, 2007 by Publisher in Cuba Culture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACN - ELAN celebrates 8th anniversary
Havana’s Latin American Medical School (ELAM) celebrated Thursday its 8th anniversary with a ceremony in the same square where the Cuban President officially inaugurated the institution with the attendance of heads of state and government that participated at the 1999 Ibero-American Summit.
Students, workers and graduates from the school wished Fidel Castro a long life and good health stressing the fact that he was the promoter of “this giant work of love,” said Elam’s Student Board president Nesio Fernandez de Medeiros during the ceremony.
A Brazilian student, Fernandes de Medeiros noted that Fidel came up with the idea of creating the educational center when Cuba was just starting to recover from the toughest years of the economic crisis generated by the fall of the European communist block and the former Soviet Union, and which was reinforced by the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island.
“We have lived with the Cuban people, so we have understood the values of Internationalism,” said the student leader, who emphasized that their mission is to cure not only human beings but also societies.
The extraordinary contribution of Dr. Jose M. Miyar Barrueco, secretary of the Cuban Council of State and Dr. Juan Carrizo Estevez, ELAM’s rector, to the success of the project from the very beginning was recognized at the ceremony.
Dr. Estevez is currently in Guatemala to attend the graduation of the first 129 ELAM graduates from that country, who completed their studies as general practitioners.
A letter sent from Bolivia by another ELAM graduate was read at the ceremony. Dr. Alidson Gomez, who is currently on her second year of studies on Ophthalmology, said in her message that ELAM students will never betray the love offered by Cuba and Fidel, and that they will always defend the rights of every human being to access health care.
Doctor Alidson Gomez is one of more than 4, 500 graduates from the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine. She is working as an intern as part of the Miracle Operation free eye-surgery program, which has benefited more than 100 000 Bolivians.
During the celebration, the winners of the contest named ELAM’s 8th Anniversary received their prizes. This gave way to a cultural fair in which medical students from different countries opened their stands and showed the best of their music and popular culture.
Birthing Project video of 2007 graduates from Latin American Medical School 2007
Here’s the Wikipedia page on ELAM and the Scholarship Program information from Pastors For Peace website.
Program overview
The people of Cuba have extended, to students from the US, the opportunity to study medicine on a full scholarhship at the prestigious Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba. IFCO/Pastors for Peace coordinates this program in the United States.
The Medical School curriculum includes a 12-week intensive Spanish language program for those who need it.
----------------------------
Wikipedia says that this URL http://www.elacm.sld.cu/ is the official site for ELAM but it was not working at the time of this post. So, we put together this post to be an information resource on ELAM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Fri February 08, 2008, J Mosley wrote:
I agree, Wonderful opportunities for 500 young people in the United States.....My daughter is in the program,3rd year student, please show your support....She has volunteered to help her community all of her young life
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tue March 11, 2008, AGBEDE EBIOWEI JOSEPH wrote:
I want to study medicine in your prestigous Latin American Medical School in Cuba,am a Nigerian please what are my chances of achieving this great dream of mine.................please reply to my e.mail to hear from you soon.
yours faithfully
AGBEDE EBIOWEI JOSEPH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Thu March 13, 2008, Yeyo wrote:
Another item of the Cuban Government propaganda machine.
Free scholarships for US Citizens and other foreigners while the Cubans had no medicines, their homes are rotting and they do not know what they would eat tomorrow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wed March 19, 2008, peter musyoka wrote:
I would like to join your medical school. my dream is to persue my medical degree and work in my country kenya. please provide me with information about how i can apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wed April 02, 2008, SC wrote:
I’m a 4th yr medical student from Portugal, and I’m interested in doing one semester exchange at ELAM next yr. Please contact me if you have any information that might be helpful, or if you have any contact I can use to find out about the subjects and curriculum. Thanks a lot
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wed April 02, 2008, Publisher wrote:
We don’t have any more info than what is posted in this article but please keep us posted if you get in.