Pursuing a medical degree in the US is highly competitive and typically takes at least eight years after high school, usually four years of undergraduate study followed by four years of medical school, before graduates begin residency training. Full medical licensure and independent practice require additional residency training that can take three to seven more years depending on specialty. However, Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) offers an accelerated BS/MD-style pathway that allows eligible students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in approximately six years. Speaking during a spotlight session at Gulf News Edufair, Isha Bhandari, Regional Manager for the Middle East and North Africa at WAUSM, said students can begin the pathway directly after Grade 12 through partner universities in the US.…