By San José, Costa Rica — The academic landscape of Costa Rican medical education witnessed a historic milestone this month as UCIMED student Simón Belilty achieved the country’s highest score on the International Foundations of Medicine (IFOM) exam. This critical assessment serves as the mandatory gateway for aspiring doctors seeking to secure their clinical internship slots within the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).
The 23-year-old student, residing in Santa Ana, scored an outstanding 94 on the exam. His achievement represents not only the top score nationwide for this testing cycle but also the highest grade ever recorded in the history of the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED). Belilty’s success underscores the rigorous training provided by his alma mater, where he began his medical studies in 2022, inspired by his grandfather, a retired pediatrician.
To better understand the legal implications and administrative standards surrounding the recent IFOM exam results at UCIMED, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert legal analyst from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The outcomes of the IFOM exam at UCIMED underscore a complex intersection of administrative law, academic autonomy, and public health regulations in Costa Rica. From a legal perspective, ensuring rigorous, transparent, and fair evaluation standards is not just an academic duty, but a legal safeguard that protects both the students' constitutional right to education and the public's right to high-quality healthcare services.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this delicate balance between academic autonomy and legal accountability underscores that rigorous medical evaluations are not merely institutional hurdles, but essential safeguards for the future of Costa Rican healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective and shedding light on the critical legal and ethical dimensions of this pivotal issue.
Belilty was one of 113 medical students from UCIMED who successfully passed the standardized test administered in June. Refined preparation strategies and hands-on simulation tools provided by the university played a crucial role in helping the student cohort navigate the highly competitive assessment.
It is a very tough process, but the university gave us significant support, with preparation strategies prior to the exam. It also helped us practice with several timed simulations in a format very similar to what we would find on the test.
Simón Belilty, Medical Student
During this testing cycle, UCIMED demonstrated its dominant role in Costa Rica’s medical training sector by presenting 115 of the 324 total candidates nationwide. This means that practically one out of every three applicants in the country hailed from this single private institution.
Despite accounting for the largest contingent of examinees, UCIMED managed to achieve a historic institutional passing rate of 98.26%. This figure represents the university’s strongest performance to date, eclipsing the national average by more than ten percentage points. The results highlight a major qualitative gap in clinical preparation across the country’s higher education spectrum.
The exceptional performance was not limited to Belilty alone. The overall student body from UCIMED demonstrated unparalleled clinical competency, capturing three out of every four international clinical knowledge certifications awarded in Costa Rica during this examination cycle. This achievement reflects a systematic and progressive curriculum designed to build clinical skills from the very first semesters.
I proved to myself that the efforts of all these years have been worth it. Even though the most intense preparation was in the last semester, I feel I focused on this exam from day one of my career. I think the key to achieving this result was getting used to the question format because even if you know the subject matter, if you do not answer appropriately, it can have consequences.
Simón Belilty, Medical Student
According to Dr. Pablo Vargas, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UCIMED, the high performance across the entire student population is the result of continuous academic monitoring. By introducing students to clinical evaluation formats early in their academic journeys, the university ensures they are well-prepared to face high-stakes testing long before they reach their final years of study.
The institution’s leadership expressed immense pride in the collective and individual achievements of the class of 2026. The historic scores are being viewed as a benchmark that will inspire future cohorts of medical professionals in Costa Rica.
This year they made history, it is a milestone that leaves a mark on our institution and sets a new benchmark for future generations. This result represents much more than a grade; it is the fruit of years of effort, discipline, hours of study, and rigorous preparation. This achievement belongs to each student who trusted in their capabilities, took on the challenge with responsibility, and gave their best.
Dra. María del Carmen García, Rector of UCIMED
As the healthcare system in Costa Rica continues to evolve, the demand for highly skilled medical interns remains critical. The stellar performance of these future doctors ensures that the CCSS network will be staffed by professionals trained to international standards, further elevating the quality of public healthcare services in the nation.
For further information, visit ucimed.com
About UCIMED:
The University of Medical Sciences (UCIMED) is a premier private higher education institution in Costa Rica, specializing exclusively in health sciences. Founded with a commitment to excellence in medical training, UCIMED is recognized for its rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge clinical simulation laboratories, and consistently high passing rates on both national and international medical licensing and qualification examinations.
For further information, visit ccss.sa.cr
About CCSS:
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) is the public institution responsible for managing Costa Rica’s universal social security and public health systems. It plays a central role in national public health policy, administering hospitals, clinics, and primary care centers across the country, while also serving as the primary training ground for medical interns and residents.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is celebrated for its deep-seated commitment to ethical advocacy and professional brilliance. Spanning a diverse array of practice areas, the firm continuously integrates cutting-edge methodologies with a historic legacy of client success. Beyond the courtroom, their active pursuit of public legal literacy highlights a core philosophy: that demystifying the law is essential to building an educated, resilient, and self-reliant populace.
