The first admission students of the U.S. MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) successfully passed the Step 1 of the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
The fourth year students of the US MD Program - Nodar Maisuradze, Tamar Tamarashvili and Nikoloz Bostashvili – got high scores on USMLE Step 1.
After graduation of the US MD Program the successful results will help the above-mentioned students of the Tbilisi State Medical University to be selected for the residency program of their choice in the USA.

Professor Zurab Vadachkoria (Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University):  

We are proud of our students and the success they achieved. They were able to pass the USMLE Step 1 in a very short period of time.

They also destroyed the stereotype of the impossibility of passing this exam without additional training, only on the basis of university education. I would like to congratulate the Georgian medical education system on this achievement.

We are proud that at TSMU, the medical specialists are trained in accordance with the requirements of Emory University School of Medicine (the US) and the Global Health Care Standards.

The basis for  successful implementation of this program is as follows: active participation and permanent support  of the administrative  and academic staff  of Emory University School of Medicine  (USA),  exchange programs  for TSMU personnel and Emory specialists, highly qualified  academic staff of TSMU, with  more than 20 years experience  of teaching in English TSMU  foreign students.

Professor Kennet Walker (Emory University School of Medicine, Honorary citizen of Tbilisi and Georgia)

"Having passed the USMLE Step 1, our students proved that the U.S. MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University perfectly prepares the students for achieving unprecedented results on the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE)."

The U.S. MD Program of the Tbilisi State Medical University has been developed and implemented at TSMU since 2012 on the basis of the joint project developed and implemented by Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, US) and TSMU. The program provides medical education according to modern Western standards.

The aim of the program is to train the internationally competitive and competent graduates, ready for postgraduate education as in Georgia as beyond its borders. The study curriculum is designed to develop the clinical and scientific work skills of the student at the early stage of the study program.

Preparation for the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is one of the priorities of the program. The U.S. MD Program, based on the USMLE education system, provides high-quality training for the students of the mentioned program.

Professor Rima Beriashvili  (Vice-Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University,  Head of the US MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University):

 “Preparation for the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is one of the opportunities the American program gives to the certified doctors. Until the first outcomes  will be clear, we cannot talk about the efforts spent on the development and implementation of the program: exchange of academic staff, summer practice, implementation of many new methods, teaching humanitarian subjects which from the very beginning has risen such questions as why need future  doctors Anthropology or world civilization History. But it is very good that we did not give up and met all the requirements of Emory University School of Medicine...

The fact that the first students of the U.S. MD Program of TSMU received high scores might be considered as an indicator of the efforts made by us. Successful results achieved by our students mean that we follow the right course and that the program is executable. With such results, I suppose that we will be able to compete with the European universities. "

At present, 18 successful students (of the first admission round) continue their education on the TSMU - US MD Program. Five of them decided to pass USMLE Step 1 in the first semester of the fourth academic year. It should be emphasized that an applicant is allowed to pass USMLE Step 1 only once, which means that in case of failure, he/she will no longer have a second chance to improve rating and/or scores.

The results of USMLE Step 1 is of great importance for enrolment on the residency program. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBE) detects the average examination score every few years. This year the score was 229  and standard deviation – 20, respectively. The current minimum passing scores is: Step 1: 192. The students of the U.S. MD Program achieved very good results.

For example, the examination score of Nodar Maisuradze -261 is considered as the better result in comparison with 94.5% of other applicants, across the world.

Archil Undilashvili  ( Director of Educational Programs of Emory University School of Medicine, Head of the US MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University): 

We are very glad that the U.S. MD Program  is successfully running at Tbilisi State Medical University. The results obtained by our students after passing the USMLE Step 1, can be considered as the success of the TSMU on the international arena. Tbilisi State Medical University and Emory University School of Medicine are proud of the results and are going to integrate the subject - "Clerkship" (American model of innovative clinical training) into the study  curriculum of the U.S. MD Program.

Professor Eka Ekaladze  (Director of the US MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University):

It is already the fourth year the U.S. MD program has been successfully implemented at Tbilisi State Medical University.

The fully integrated U.S. MD program developed by Professors of Emory University School of Medicine and Tbilisi State Medical University gives the opportunity not only to train the internationally competitive and competent medical professionals for international medical market but also  provide the students with all requirements and skills necessary to pass the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

It should be noted that the latest achievement of the fourth year students of the U.S. MD Program, we are proud of, is the result of the fruitful work carried out by Emory University School of Medicine and TSMU. Congratulations to our students for this great success and believe that this is just the beginning!

Nodar Maisuradze  (IV year student of the US MD Program):

“My success to a large extent depends on the TSMU - U.S. MD Program and USMLE class academic personal who helped me for two and a half years and provided with a lot of advices and recommendations. Many believe that the USMLE step 1 is the most important part for the US residency program. Passing this examination timely and with high passing scores is one of the preconditions necessary for successful application for the US residency program. The U.S. MD Program envisages passing the Step 1 of the examination after completion of the seventh semester. It is designed to help the student in passing the mentioned exam in time and successfully. USMLE-classes, conducted by the teachers, who have successfully passed the US licensing exams, are functioning at the U.S. MD program. They individually assist every student who has decided to continue post-graduate education in America. "

Nikoloz Bostashvili  (IV year student of the US MD Program):

 "How did I pass the USMLE first step successfully? - The first thing I understood was - why I did it. I was convinced that for this I was ready to give up some things from my everyday life. Another important factor is to decide how to prepare for the exam.

It is here that the U.S. MD Program is involved together with all its staff and teachers who successfully passed all the Steps of the US exams. From them you are getting as many information as possible, study material and set up your own schedule. The third and the most difficult step is the systematic learning process.

Lectures and seminars is the great help to get appropriate knowledge, but diligence learning at home is of great importance as well.

This is the step when you begin to love what you do, otherwise, it would be hard to compel yourself.

And finally, it should be emphasized that using the knowledge properly is of great importance".

Tamar Tamarashvili  (IV year student of the US MD Program):

"I passed the USMLE Step 1, which will enable me to pass residency course in the United States in the future.

There are lots of books and literature that can help you to prepare for this exam, focusing on the facts that are not so important and not to lose a lot of time on the selection of appropriate material. Therefore, first of all picking up/selection of the literature correctly is of great importance.  Studying on the U.S. MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University played a big role in my success. In particular, all necessary materials were freely available.

The lectures on the U.S. MD Program are focused on important issues that facilitate passing the mentioned examination. The TSMU graduates who have passed all steps of the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) are included in the study process. Sharing their experiences and getting the advices and recommendations from them was great help to me.

Actually, the way towards passing the licensing exam is not always easy. The USMLE second step is ahead. The result of the first step makes me think that fighting for the goals to the very end is really worth”.

Several students of the U.S. MD Program of the Tbilisi State Medical University will try to pass the USMLE Step 1 and get high scores in the nearest future.