BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — The All American Institute of Medical Sciences (AAIMS) recently hosted what was described as an “historic” graduation and white coat ceremony on its campus in this coastal town.

The government’s information arm, Jamaica Information Service said 19 premedical and 34 preclinical students graduated during the ceremony. AAIMS is said to be the first offshore private medical school in Jamaica. It reportedly opened in 2011 with six students.

Dean of the institution, Dr Sheila Forrester told a large audience that there were “two parts” to the graduation ceremony.

“We train students to the Premed level giving them an opportunity to achieve the level of education necessary for entry into to medical school, (the Associate and Bachelors of Science degrees). The second is: we are symbolically transitioning our Medical students from the basic sciences to the Medical programme through this white coat ceremony. The white coat symbolizes the beginning of a journey in a career in medicine with being an apprenticeship to becoming a Medical Doctor. It symbolizes that you, our students will now live up to the ethics and moral principles of Medicine…,” she said.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen hailed the achievements of the institution and credited the leadership for their “vision”.