When considering which medical school to attend, you might focus on curriculum, research opportunities, or clinical training. But one factor also worth taking into account is the global diversity of the student body and faculty.

Diversity in the classroom can enhance your medical education in ways you may not have considered to help shape you into a more well-rounded, culturally competent physician and prepared for future challenges.

“A diverse academic setting helps students to understand the interconnectedness of healthcare systems and prepares them for global healthcare challenges such as pandemics and climate change” says Dr. Arlette Herry, assistant dean of Multicultural Affairs. “Students can build a network of peers, which can lead to future collaborations in research, clinical work, and public health initiatives on a global scale.”

St. George’s University celebrates the multitude of identities, nationalities, and cultures represented in its current students, faculty, and 23,000+ School of Medicine alumni. SGU is an institution steeped in global diversity having students, graduates, and faculty from over 150 countries.*

Here are four reasons why you should value global diversity when applying to medical schools:

1. Foster belonging and a welcoming community

When students from different nationalities and cultures come together, it encourages everyone to appreciate and celebrate differences. When you step onto campus at SGU, you will see yourself represented in the mosaic of identities. You will meet people who look like you and share your lived experiences while also interacting with people with vastly different backgrounds.

This can help promote cross-cultural understanding, reduce biases, and build a supportive network where students can learn from each other’s unique perspectives and experiences.

“The SGU community is a diverse and inclusive one, welcoming students from all over the world,” says Zi Yuan, MD ’22, an SGU grad originally from China who is a surgical resident at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

By embracing global diversity, the campus becomes a place where students feel valued and respected for who they are, enhancing both their educational experience and their sense of belonging. SGU fosters inclusion in ways such as:

• hosting the Multicultural Night Market, a celebration of cultures from around the world, including food, performances, games, activities, and more,
• serving on-campus food options from a variety of countries and regions allowing international students to taste the flavors of their culture or try food from other cultures, and
• having 80+ student-led organizations including the African Cultural Students Association, the Indian Cultural Student Association, the SGU chapter of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, and the LatinX Student Association.

2. Learn about new perspectives and practices

Diversity enriches the med school educational experience by promoting discussions that consider multiple viewpoints, which creates a more dynamic and stimulating learning environment.

One of the greatest benefits of studying alongside international peers is learning about different healthcare systems and medical practices from around the world. Students from other countries often bring unique insights into public health strategies, preventive care models, and treatment protocols.

“SGU allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and work with people from around the world. I learned those life skills—those intangible things—that I may not have at another school,” says SGU grad Vincent Lam, MD ’08, an ophthalmologist practicing in Canada. “I found the ability to talk with someone who doesn’t look like me, to relate to them, and to empathize with them to be very important life lessons.”

One of the many ways SGU gives its students opportunities to get a unique global experience is through international selectives. International selectives are structured extra-curricular learning experiences conducted in countries like Kenya, Prague, and Costa Rica.

Many SOM students who participated in international selectives say that the experiences have helped them refine their approach to medicine in a more culturally competent way.

3. Enhanced empathy and communication for patients

Attending a medical school with a globally diverse student body can give you the chance to connect with people whose life experiences are vastly different from your own. These experiences—whether shaped by culture, socioeconomic background, or geography—help foster empathy, a critical trait for any physician.

“A student who attends SGU gets a lesson in global diversity in that they meet and interact with so many different cultures,” says Dr. Ewarld Marshall, director of the Department of Pathology. “You learn so many nuances that it broadens your horizons in terms of how you are going to approach your patients.”

In a world where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is increasingly important, the ability to be more open-minded and thoughtful in your approach to patient care will make you a more adaptable and compassionate healthcare provider.

“The exposure to a diverse faculty, staff, and student body not only enhances interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, but it also helps to develop a respect for cultural differences in patients’ cultural beliefs, customs, and values,” says Dr. Herry.

Furthermore, an institution with a focus on DEI in medical schools , such as SGU, can instill in its students the value in conveying complex medical ideas thoughtfully and accessibly to patients. Cultural competency can make the difference between a patient understanding their treatment plan or feeling confused and unsure.

4. Preparation for a globalized workforce

By studying in a diverse environment, you’ll be preparing yourself to thrive in a globalized workforce. You’ll learn how to collaborate with professionals from different countries and backgrounds, fostering connections that could lead to international research partnerships or job opportunities abroad.

SGU provides a diverse, multicultural, and international environment that empowers students to learn the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional behaviors to participate in healthcare delivery to people across the world.

“Learning about people’s cultural differences really helped me prepare to go to the US to do rotations, and even as I did residency, because I also met a lot of people from different walks of life,” says Rasheedah Andrews, MD ’15, a practicing pediatrician in Queens, NY. “I think I became more sensitive to other people, their culture, their needs, and how they would perceive what we’re telling them in their culture.”

As the medical field becomes increasingly global, many doctors will find themselves working in multinational teams or addressing global health challenges.

“I love how well connected SGU is all around the US and even the world,” says Yalda Safai, MD ’17, MPH ’17, a psychiatrist and medical journalist based in New York. “Because of my time at SGU, I feel as though I’m able to move to any part of the world or country and still be able to comfortably practice medicine.”

 

Looking for a globally diverse medical school?

Enhance your medical education at a school that values and cultivates global diversity. SGU can help you become a compassionate and empathetic physician, allowing you to better connect with patients.

Be sure to check out other blogs to assist you on your med school application journey like “International Student’s Guide to Becoming a Doctor in the US.”

*Based on the number of students who have completed the Doctor of Medicine program from 1981-2023.