Geraldine Nabeta, MD

Geraldine Nabeta, MD ’23, always had a desire to transform health systems in her home country of Uganda to fit the needs of a diverse and ever-growing population. Dr. Nabeta believed medicine was the way in which she could best contribute to the world and bridge her love for the sciences with service to humanity. Dr. Nabeta is now pursuing her career as an internal medicine resident at the University of Connecticut in the US.

Dr. Nabeta shared her experiences as a medical student at St. George’s University (SGU) and her advice to those considering the profession.

SGU: Describe what it felt like when you heard the news that you matched?

Dr. Nabeta: Immense joy–it was incredible. It felt as if I had been waiting to exhale for years and now I finally could.

SGU: What was your experience during the match process? How did SGU’s Office of Career Guidance (OCG) help you during that time?

Dr. Nabeta: The match comes with its own set of worries and concerns and having the OCG as a resource lifted a lot of anxiety off my shoulders. OCG provided webinars throughout the year, and these were very helpful to tune into and get an idea for what the timeline ahead will look like. The team is also incredibly knowledgeable and prompt with their responses.  I felt guided throughout the process.

SGU: Which specialty did you pursue and why? 

Dr. Nabeta: I pursued internal medicine because of the diverse pathology I would be exposed to and the variety of specialties I can enter after the training. Starting my career as an internist is an invaluable way for me to build confidence in my medical knowledge and abilities. Also, I enjoy the flexibility and opportunity to use medicine to engage in medical education.

SGU: What are your ultimate career aspirations? 

Dr. Nabeta: I aim to build a career focused on the health and human rights of underserved populations. Naturally, I want to practice medicine and participate in academic medicine, but I would also love to empower the health of communities globally via medical journalism. undefined

SGU: How did SGU help you with your academic achievements and USMLE preparation?

Dr. Nabeta: SGU’s exam materials were formatted according to topics covered on USMLE exams. I was able to study strategically during my basic science years which provided me with a good foundation to prepare for the USMLE exams.

SGU: Why did you choose the UK for your basic sciences?

Dr. Nabeta: I did the first year of basic sciences in the UK because I wanted an opportunity to study abroad and enrich my medical school experience. It was great learning about a healthcare system different to what I’ve known and been exposed to.

SGU: What was your experience like living in the UK as a study destination?

Dr. Nabeta: The UK was a perfect destination for me. Even though I consider Uganda my home, I was raised in Europe, so I was returning to an environment that I was familiar with as I embarked on the start of my career—and this was exciting. I describe Newcastle as a small city with the feel of a big city, which gave us plenty to do during our downtime. I also found that people in Newcastle are very friendly and helpful. For students that are looking to travel to other countries/cities, traveling from Newcastle via plane or train was incredibly easy.

SGU: What was it like living in Newcastle on the NU campus? 

Dr. Nabeta: All SGU students live in the same residential hall on Northumbria’s campus, which relieves any kind of stress on finding student housing.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially because my roommates became some of my closest friends. It was also convenient having your study groups close by to catch up on lecture content either in our respective apartments or in the designated study spaces. There was an easily accessible train/subway from our accommodation to the main campus and often times you can meet with your classmates on your way to or from class.

SGU: What would you say about teaching quality at Northumbria University?

Dr. Nabeta: One of my favorites parts was the small class sizes. The smaller class sizes gave the teaching experience a much more intimate feel and provided less distraction. The teaching quality was thorough, as faculty often focused on providing students with a solid foundation of content material—a foundation which I continued to lean on during the rest of medical school. The faculty absolutely went above and beyond to make sure students appreciated the subject at hand, sometimes even extending their office hours to accommodate more students. I truly loved my time at Northumbria!

SGU: What advice can you share with students in Africa considering medical school at SGU? 

Dr. Nabeta: SGU was a great choice because of all the support available to international students. There are several resources to help with the transition to medical school, clinical years, and even residency. As an African student, I can also say that there is opportunity to build community with other African students—which has been a very joyful part of my time at SGU.

The best decision I made at SGU was to take advantage of the free resources the school provides—do not be shy to do the same! Everyone is there to help. From the Department of Education Services (DES) to OCG to faculty for office hours—you do not have to figure medical school out alone.

Find out if St. George’s University is right for you.