The University of Nicosia Medical School (UNMS) and the Ponce Health Sciences University of Puerto Rico (PHSU) have entered into an agreement to promote academic cooperation and research collaboration between the two institutions.

The University of Nicosia Medical School is the first Medical School to be established in Cyprus and offers four programmes: a graduate-entry 4-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in partnership with St George’s, University of London; an undergraduate-entry 6-Year Doctor of Medicine (MD); an MSc in Family Medicine; and a PhD in Medical Sciences. The St George’s, University of London medical degree is accredited by the UK General Medical Council, and the MD, MSc and PhD degrees are accredited by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture’s Evaluation Committee of Private Universities. The UNMS attracts students from around the world and operates clinical training programmes in Nicosia, Chicago and Tel Aviv.  The UNMS is also among the European Union medical schools participating in the Human Brain Project.

The Ponce Health Sciences University is an institution of academic excellence located in Ponce, a city on the southern coast of the island of Puerto Rico.  It offers a variety of health programmes such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD), an MSc in Medical Sciences, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and a Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology.  The PHSU is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) of the United States. The School was chosen by the US Department of Health and Human Services to operate one of 62 Regional Extension Centres (RECs) in the United States, in order to help primary care physicians successfully adopt and implement health information technology.

The agreement was signed by Prof Andreas Charalambous, Executive Dean of the UNMS, and Prof David Lenihan, President and Chief Executive Officer of PHSU, on December 4 in Ponce.  The collaboration will include the exchange of research, management and teaching staff as well as the organisation of joint activities such as seminars, symposia, and conferences. The agreement also covers potential educational opportunities and clinical training for medical students at both institutions.