Oceania University of Medicine

Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) was founded on the South Pacific island nation of Samoa in 2002. The University has evolved from a local mission to better meet the health needs of underserved island communities to a now internationally accredited medical school with students and graduates in many countries. OUM-trained physicians are currently practicing physicians in Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, Samoa, and in many major metropolitan areas in the United States. OUM became the only internationally accredited medical school in the South Pacific when it received formal accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) in 2010. In 2018, the US Department of Education's National Committee for Foreign Medical Education Accreditation (NCFMEA) introduced new criteria requiring PAASCU to undergo re-accreditation in 2024 to maintain OUM’s recognition. In 2024, PAASCU was granted the World Federation For Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status through April 2033, with annual compliance monitoring. This status confirms that PAASCU’s accreditation processes meet rigorous international standards, reinforcing OUM’s global reputation and ensuring its graduates hold degrees aligned with international expectations. OUM was first accredited in 2010 by PAASCU, which at the time was one of the 21 medical school accrediting bodies worldwide deemed by the NCFMEA to have standards comparable to those of the United States. OUM's accreditation was renewed in 2015, 2020, and 2025, and is valid until May 2030. OUM is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and is recognized by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). OUM students are eligible to sit for the Australian Medical Council Exam, Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE), New Zealand Registration Exam (NZREX), as well as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).