The Medicine degree was one of the 4 foundational degrees of the Royal and Pontifical University of San Jeronimo de La Habana. Since its inception 234 years ago and further extension of Medicines Sciences in 1962, Cuba boasts of the finest medical medication, with the University Of Medical Sciences Of Havana as the leading center in the country. Even so, Cuba is widely known for the highest levels of health care comparable to 1st world countries and punctuated by a superior and comprehensive medical service across all levels of care, from community health centers to the network of hospitals and specialized secondary and tertiary services, accessible free of charge by all Cubans.
Curriculum organization: Semester–based except for one-year internship
Program Length: Six years, with the first five made of ten semesters as academic period and one year of rotating internships.
Admission requirements: Approved pre-university level
Number of curricular units: 66
Academic degree: Medical Doctor
Accreditation: Title of Medical Doctor
The Medicine curriculum at UMCH consists of 66 curricular units including subjects, both elective and optional courses corresponding to a total of 10840 hours inclusive of 2784 hours of internship. The curriculum is based on active learning without prioritizing theoretical activities (laboratory classes, workshop classes, theoretical-practical activities, and seminars). It gives greater relevance to professional and clinical development in healthcare activities.
Non- Spanish speaking students begin with a mandatory 1-year pre-med training in addition to a standard 6-year program unless they show a mastery of the Spanish language demonstrated through a proficiency test. The purpose of this course is to equip the student with intense knowledge of the Spanish language relevant to focus on gaining a decent medical education quickly.
First year
1st Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. | 2nd Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to MGI | 220 | 18 | Health Promotion | 222 | 18 |
Morphophysiology I * | 124 | 11 | Morphophysiology III *** | 124 | 12 |
Morphophysiology II ** | 92 | 9 | Morphophysiology IV **** | 84 | 10 |
English I | 64 | 16 | Medical Informatics | 63 | 15 |
Physical Education I | 80 | 16 | English II | 64 | 16 |
Physical Education II | 80 | 16 | |||
Teaching period | 21 | Teaching period | 23 |
3rd Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. | 4th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teaching Period | 20 | Teaching Period | 22 | ||
Research Methodology and Statistics | 63 | 15 | Medical Psychology I | 52 | 16 |
Prevention in Health | 192 | 16 | Community Medicine | 144 | 18 |
Physical Education III | 80 | 16 | English IV | 64 | 16 |
Morphophysiology VI ** | 90 | 8 | Medical Genetics | 60 | 18 |
Morphophysiology V * | 100 | 9 | Pathological Anatomy | 130 | 16 |
English III | 64 | 16 | Medical Microbiology and Parasitology | 129 | 18 |
Elective Time | 80 | 2 | Physical Education IV | 80 | 16 |
5th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. | 6th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical Propedeutics and semiology | 680 | 20 | Internal Medicine | 763 | 20 |
Elective period | 23 | Teaching period | 23 | ||
English V | 64 | 16 | Elective Time | 80 | 2 |
Medical Psychology II | 44 | 13 | English VI | 64 | 16 |
Pharmacology I | 26 | 15 | Pharmacology II | 56 | 18 |
7th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. | 8th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elective Time | 80 | 2 | |||
Emergency Medicine I | 80 | 2 | Gynecology and Obstetrics | 514 | 12 |
English VII | 64 | 16 | English VIII | 64 | 16 |
Pediatrics | 764 | 18 | Surgery | 424 | 18 |
Teaching period | 23 | Teaching period | 23 |
9th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. | 10th Semester Subjects | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychiatry | 212 | 6 | Orthopedics | 204 | 6 |
Public Health | 242 | 9 | ENT | 90 | 3 |
Comprehensive General Medicine | 160 | 4 | Ophthalmology | 90 | 3 |
Legal Medicine and Medical Ethics | 36 | 17 | Dermatology | 90 | 3 |
English IX | 64 | 16 | Urology | 90 | 3 |
Elective Time | 80 | 2 | English X | 64 | 16 |
Disaster Medicine II | 80 | 2 | |||
Teaching period | 22 | Teaching period | 21 |
Rotations | Total hours | No. Sem. |
---|---|---|
Medical intern | 608 | 10 |
Pediatrics | 608 | 10 |
Gynecobstetrics | 416 | 4 |
Surgery | 416 | 7 |
Comprehensive General Medicine | 416 | 7 |
Optional Course | 40 | 1 |
Academic period | 2504 | 42 |