The Final Call

Cuban medical school scholarship program

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ROSEMONT. Ill. - In the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad there is a promise of “friendships in all walks of life.”

In a Feb. 28 workshop during Saviours’ Day, one answer to the promise discussed was the “Cuban Medical Scholars Program” in a session convened by Muhammad University of Islam. The scholars program was initiated by former Cuban President Fidel Castro to produce medical doctors from around the world by providing full scholarships to the prestigious Latin American School of Medicine (LASMS) in Havana. The scholarships were offered to the Nation of Islam from the Cuban government several years ago.

Dr. Larry Muhammad, director of Muhammad University of Islam (M.U.I.) travelled to Cuba on a follow-up trip to gain updates on how the Nation of Islam can take full advantage of the training gift and explained preparatory work being done at M.U.I. to help students qualify for the program.

“When I came on board and Min. Farrakhan talked to me about the program, we immediately began to look at what we can do to institutionalize the program, so M.U.I. has developed what it calls the ‘M.U.I. Medical Scholars Program.’ This would be the pipeline that would start from 8th grade through high school, designed for students to be prepared for medical school,” whether they go to Cuba or anywhere in America, said Dr. Muhammad.

“It’s a pilot (program) and once it’s developed here in Chicago then they can start implementing it throughout the U.S.,” added Shirley Muhammad of Pittsburg, who was credited with keeping the idea alive and organizing student groups for visits to Cuban school facilities.

In the spirit of interfaith cooperation, the Nation of Islam will be working with the program through its North American administrator, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), and its “Pastors for Peace” project led by Rev. Lucius Walker Jr. The Nation will also partner with Christ Universal Temple in Chicago, which shares a mutual goal of increasing the level of academic preparedness of students entering medical school.

“We’re very excited about having collaboration with Muhammad University to bring into life and to being the medical scholars program,” said Kelly Fair, the workshop presenter from Christ Universal Temple.

The medical school curriculum in Cuba includes a 12-week intensive Spanish language program for those who need it. The program is based on intensive advising and tutoring designed to help every student succeed. Students must pass competency exams at appropriate points in their course of study.

The six-year medical school program, which follows the pre-med program, begins every September and is divided into 12 semesters. Students study at the LASMS campus for the first two years, and then go to another of Cuba’s 21 medical schools, which are located throughout the island, to complete their studies. The Cuban medical training model combines theory and practice and is oriented toward primary care, community medicine and hands-on internships, according to IFCO’s website.

The session was opened by Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, minister of health and human services for the Nation of Islam, who placed his stamp of approval on Cuba’s health care system and discussed the importance of the Nation of Islam being offered this opportunity.

“I can say without reservation for anybody wondering about the quality of education, the quality of life, the quality of medical practice in Cuba, it is par excellance, it is of the highest order,” said Dr. Alim Muhammad.

The monetary worth of 500 full scholarships, a cost of $250,000 each was significant, he added. The free study is a stark contrast to statistics that show most doctors graduate with student loan debt from $250,000 to $650,000.

Panelists presented the advantages to the program and addressed fears some people may have concerning the unstable historical and negative political relationship between the U.S. and Cuba.

Ihsan Muhammad, a panelist from Washington, D.C. who visited Cuba and will enter the program next year to pursue a degree to be a gynecological obstetrician, expects any challenges based on cultural differences will become less of a focus as she concentrates on educational goals.

“I was very open. I knew that I was going over to visit the medical school of a high quality of education known all over the world. My goal and what I am most concerned with is becoming a doctor to come back and serve my people. When you have your goal in mind, the other stuff is small time,” said Sis. Ihsan.

Sandra Muhammad, of Atlanta, whose daughter is a junior with honors at the medical school in Cuba is very satisfied with how her daughter has been treated and is more secure that her daughter is in Cuba than at a university in America. “She is totally focused and is always studying, and as a parent, I love her being there and not stressed. In fact I have three other children who want to go themselves, as a mother it is a wonderful program,” she said.

“The Honorable Elijah Muhammad had a vision of a hospital for the Nation of Islam and our children who aspire to be doctors and nurses, having been afforded the opportunity by Brother Fidel Castro, that dream can be realized and come back in a few years to help Min. Farrakhan to open a hospital,” Amin Muhammad, the father of Ihsan Muhammad, told The Final Call.

Related link:

The Compassion of Cuba's Health Care (FCN, 06-15-2004)