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VWU and WAUSM Launch New Partnership
This pathway provides a six-year fast-track option for aspiring MDs
University News | December 9, 2025
Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) are proud to announce a new partnership that offers high-achieving students a fast-track option to becoming physicians through a collaborative Accelerated Pathway to MD (APMD).
Launched on December 8, 2025, this innovative pathway gives eligible students the ability to complete both their bachelor’s and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees in as few as six years – two years faster than traditional routes – while benefiting from a streamlined, immersive curriculum.
Known for its commitment to experiential learning, civic engagement, and academic excellence, VWU offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a variety of graduate and online programs. The University fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to explore their passions and prepare for successful careers and lives of purpose.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in the health sciences,” said Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, VWU’s Provost and Vice President. “By combining VWU’s strong liberal arts and sciences foundation with WAUSM’s forward-thinking medical education, we’re creating a powerful opportunity for students to achieve their dreams of becoming physicians sooner and with less financial burden.”
Expanded opportunities for current VWU students and alumni to pursue medical education at WAUSM are also included in the agreement, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting VWU students at every stage of their academic journey.
Dr. Paula Wales, WAUSM’s Provost and Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the natural alignment between the two institutions, noting that the shared values and complementary strengths of WAUSM and VWU made the partnership a clear and compelling opportunity.
“From the moment we began conversations with Virginia Wesleyan, it was clear that our missions were deeply aligned,” said Dr. Wales. “Both institutions are committed to student-centered learning, academic excellence, and preparing future leaders in healthcare. This partnership was a natural fit for creating a meaningful, accelerated pathway to the MD.”
Expanded opportunities for current VWU students and alumni to pursue medical education at WAUSM are also included in the agreement, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting VWU students at every stage of their academic journey.
WAUSM is committed to shaping the future of medicine through personalized education, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and exceptional support. Students from VWU who choose this pathway will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities on a purpose-built campus near South Florida, along with hands-on clerkships at teaching hospitals across the United States, ensuring they receive top-tier clinical training that fully prepares them for residency.
WAUSM students consistently excel, with a 100% first-time pass rate on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exam – clear evidence of the strength and effectiveness of WAUSM’s innovative medical education.
VWU joins a growing list of US undergraduate institutions with articulation agreements with WAUSM. These agreements allow students from partner universities to automatically qualify for admission to WAUSM, provided they meet the established standards.
Learn more about the program and apply here. For more information about Western Atlantic University School of Medicine, visit https://wausm.education/.