Ross University School of Medicine Welcomes New Dean
MWN-AI** Summary
Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) in Barbados has appointed Dr. Cheryl Holmes as its new dean, effective March 16. Dr. Holmes comes with over 30 years of extensive clinical experience in family medicine and critical care, along with a solid background in medical education, research, and academic leadership. Previously serving as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of British Columbia, she actively worked to enhance access to medical education and secure accreditation for the M.D. program.
Scott Liles, president of medical and veterinary for Covista, the parent company of RUSM, expressed enthusiasm about Holmes' appointment, noting her impressive credentials and potential to address the ongoing healthcare workforce crisis in the U.S. Liles highlighted the importance of effective leadership at RUSM to maintain the institution's momentum.
In her new role, Dr. Holmes will build upon RUSM's commitment to high-quality medical education and collaboration within the community, aiming to prepare future physicians with a focus on empathy and global awareness. RUSM has achieved a remarkable 96 percent first-time residency attainment rate for its 2024-2025 graduates, making it a leading institution among Caribbean medical schools regarding residency placements in diverse specialties.
Dr. Holmes' residency in Barbados will enhance her integration within both RUSM and the local community, succeeding interim dean Alejandro Carrasco, who will transition to a vice president role at Covista. The move underscores Covista’s ongoing dedication to addressing the critical healthcare workforce shortage and further solidifying RUSM's position in medical education.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent appointment of Dr. Cheryl Holmes as the new dean of Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) marks an important development for Covista (NYSE: ATGE) amid the ongoing healthcare workforce crisis. With her robust background in clinical practice and educational leadership, Dr. Holmes is well-positioned to enhance RUSM’s established reputation for producing skilled physicians.
Investors should view this leadership transition positively. Dr. Holmes’ commitment to expanding access to medical education and her proven track record at the University of British Columbia signal her potential to further increase RUSM's already impressive residency attainment rate of 96% for 2024-2025 graduates. Such metrics are vital for the institution’s competitive standing, especially against other Caribbean medical schools, and they can drive enrollment and resource allocation.
Moreover, with RUSM graduating more M.D.s than any other U.S. medical school and filling critical roles in the healthcare system, Covista’s strategic focus on addressing healthcare workforce shortages is likely to enhance its market position. Dr. Holmes aims to strengthen partnerships and integrate RUSM more deeply within the Barbadian community, which may improve local engagement and student satisfaction, ultimately benefiting Covista’s operational success.
From a market perspective, analysts should monitor how Dr. Holmes’ initiatives unfold and their impact on enrollment trends and residency placements. Potential expansions in program offerings or partnerships could yield long-term growth.
Overall, Covista presents as a compelling investment opportunity, particularly with leadership that prioritizes quality education and community impact. Investors may consider increasing their positions as RUSM continues to establish itself as a leader in graduate medical education under Dr. Holmes’ guidance.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Dr. Cheryl Holmes will lead the institution from its Barbados campus
Covista (NYSE: ATGE), America’s largest healthcare educator, today announced Cheryl Holmes, M.D., a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada with a master's degree in health professions education, as the next dean of Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) effective March 16.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Holmes, and confident that her impressive experience spanning clinical practice, research and academic leadership will be invaluable to our students, faculty and staff,” said Scott Liles, president of medical and veterinary for Covista. “Covista has a key role to play in addressing the healthcare workforce crisis, and strong, effective leadership at Ross University School of Medicine is critical to continuing our momentum.”
Holmes brings more than 30 years of clinical experience in family medicine and critical care, together with an established record of achievement in education, research and academic leadership. In her most recent role as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of British Columbia, she partnered locally and nationally to broaden access to medical education, strengthen learning environments and secure accreditation for the M.D. program.
“Ross’s long-standing commitment to high-quality education, preparing physicians and healthcare leaders, offers an inspiring foundation for decades to come,” said Holmes. “I’m excited to join such a passionate community. By working together, we can build on this success — deepening our partnerships and preparing future physicians to lead with empathy, excellence and global awareness.”
RUSM achieved a 96 percent first-time residency attainment rate for 2024-2025 graduates. 1 With its three annual start dates, RUSM graduates more M.D.s than any other U.S. medical school. In 2025, RUSM graduates filled critical roles across the healthcare system, matching into a broader range of residency specialties than graduates of any of the top Caribbean medical schools. 2 Holmes’ appointment will strengthen institutional consistency, advancing Covista’s commitment to addressing the critical healthcare workforce shortage at scale.
Holmes will reside in Barbados, further cementing the dean position as an integrated part of the RUSM and Barbadian communities. She will succeed interim dean Alejandro Carrasco, who will remain at Covista in a new role as vice president of operations and performance after the transition.
1 First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2025-26 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2024-25 who were active applicants in the 2025 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.
2 Comparative Caribbean medical schools include Ross University School of Medicine, American University of the Caribbean, St. George's University, and Saba School of Medicine. Based on information available on the schools' websites as of June 17 2025.
About Ross University School of Medicine
Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), a Covista institution, expands access and opportunity to students on the path to becoming skilled physicians determined to make an impact in global communities. RUSM has graduated more than 16,000 alumni who practice in the U.S. and Canada. Located in Barbados, RUSM is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions ( CAAM-HP ). Visit medical.rossu.edu for more information, and follow on Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn .
About Covista
Covista is America's largest healthcare educator, serving more than 97,000 students and supported by a community of 385,000 alumni across five accredited institutions. Through personalized, tech-enabled education powered by 10,000 faculty and colleagues, Covista expands access to healthcare careers and addresses the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage at scale. Covista is the parent company of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University. For more information, visit covista.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and YouTube .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217657368/en/
Brittany Lockard
Brittany.Lockard@covista.com
FAQ**
How will Dr. Cheryl Holmes leverage her experience to enhance the educational outcomes at Ross University School of Medicine, given that Covista (NYSE: ATGE) aims to tackle the healthcare workforce shortage?
What specific strategies does Covista (NYSE: ATGE) plan to implement under Dr. Holmes' leadership to maintain the impressive first-time residency attainment rate of 96% for RUSM graduates?
In what ways does Dr. Holmes intend to deepen partnerships with local and national healthcare entities while serving as dean of RUSM under Covista (NYSE: ATGE)?
How does Covista (NYSE: ATGE) measure the success of RUSM graduates in filling critical roles across the healthcare system, especially in comparison to other Caribbean medical schools?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE).
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