SGU President Offers Advice to Medical School Applicants in U.S. News & World Report

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A recent article in U.S. News & World Report demystifies the challenge of getting into medical school, featuring insights from St. George’s University President Dr. G. Richard Olds.

The article, “Why Is It So Hard to Get Into Medical School?” breaks down why applying to medical school has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Overall, there has been an increase in medical school applicants without an equal increase in programs themselves. The situation is often daunting for prospective students.

According to Dr. Olds, few medical schools opened between the late 1970s and early 2000s, with very little expansion of med schools during that period thanks to an inaccurate but widely publicized labor market forecast projecting a doctor surplus. Meanwhile, the need for doctors in the U.S. was rapidly rising due to a growing and aging population.

“The aging is still going on despite losing a lot of older Americans to COVID,” he said, “Aging, by the way, is the biggest driver of our need for more physicians.”

The COVID pandemic has also exacerbated longstanding shortages of primary care physicians, Dr. Olds explained.

Despite current trends, the takeaway message for prospective students: Apply.

“Premeds who cast a wide net and apply to schools at a range of selectivity levels are the most likely to get accepted,” Dr. Olds said.

 

Apply now to SGU

St. George’s University Awards 7 Students Equity in Medicine Scholarship

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St. George’s University announced that it will award seven students full- and partial-tuition Equity in Medicine Scholarships.

“We’re proud to support these seven Equity in Medicine scholars as they prepare to meet the needs of patients in historically underserved communities,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “St. George’s students have a long history of working to address healthcare disparities, and these talented scholars will continue that tradition.”

Founded in 2021, the Equity in Medicine Scholarship program strives to make medical school accessible for students of all backgrounds. All Equity in Medicine scholars are from medically underserved areas or have expressed an interest in practicing medicine in underserved communities. This year’s scholars hail from several states, including Michigan, California, Florida, and more.

The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that the United States will be short as many as 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. St. George’s University is the number-one provider of new primary care physicians to the United States. One-third of currently practicing SGU graduates are practicing medicine or completing their residencies in medically underserved areas.

In total, 75 percent of all entering four-year medical students received SGU scholarships in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the latest available data.

“We look forward to equipping this year’s class of Equity in Medicine scholars with the knowledge and training they’ll need to make a difference in underserved communities,” said Lynn Kuhl, vice president and senior associate dean of scholarships at St. George’s University.

 

View all SGU scholarships and awards

SGU President Featured in Miami Herald Article on Doctor Shortage

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St. George’s University President Dr. G. Richard Olds recently sat down with the Miami Herald for an interview about the state’s physician shortage, the importance of international medical graduates, and the strong presence of SGU alumni working throughout the state.

The article, titled “Can’t find a doctor? Florida facing physician shortage amid growth, aging population,” details how the state’s growing and aging population has put undue pressure on the physician workforce–and without immediate action, more and more patients could begin to encounter difficulties accessing care. Dr. Olds offered his expert perspective on the disproportionate impact of these shortages on vulnerable populations:

“’People want to talk about a doctor shortage, but far more important … is when you look at statewide statistics, there are areas of Florida that have an absolute surplus of doctors, including primary care doctors, and they tend to mask the fact that rural underserved America and urban underserved America have a much greater doctor shortage,”‘ Dr. Olds said.

St. George’s University in Grenada supplies the U.S. with more first-year residents than any other medical school. About 70 percent of its students are U.S. citizens and in 2021, 120 of its graduates started residencies in Florida.

Dr. Olds also explained how the highly competitive nature of admissions at U.S. medical schools is preventing some of the best and brightest students from pursuing careers in medicine.

“Competition for medical school slots also is fierce. There are 50,000 qualified candidates for medical school every year in the United States, meaning they have a high enough grade-point average and standardized test score to do well, but only 26,000 are accepted into U.S. medical schools,” Olds said. “Many of those not accepted seek schools outside the U.S.”

 

Read the full article

Soon-to-be Physicians Share Their Excitement on Match Day 2022 

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For hundreds of St. George’s University students, the wait was most certainly worth it, as they found out on Friday where they will be headed for residency training this summer.  

This year, SGU students matched into first-year residency positions across a variety of specialties and throughout the US. They will begin residency programs in a range of highly competitive specialties, including neurology, emergency medicine, surgery, and more.

After a nerve-wracking week, students are taking in where they will complete their residency training this summer. Match Day is a milestone moment in students’ medical education as they learn where their hard work and training will take them next in their career.   

SGU News spoke with several soon-to-be graduates about what it felt like to receive the positive news that they matched and how they feel about starting residency. 

 


Akosua Ayesu-Offei 
Matched in: Anesthesiology 
Hometown: Columbus, OH

“The best news ever to wrap up Match week! Not only did I match the only specialty I desired, today I found out I matched my first choice program! I am SO SO HAPPY! God is too good! 

“My time at SGU was an amazing experience. I felt fully supported throughout my whole entire journey and I couldn’t be more grateful to SGU for giving me this opportunity. My time on the island was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything and I’m thankful for the lifelong friendships I made and the memories I’ll hold with me for the rest of my life.”

 

View all residency placements

 

Adam Lerman 
Matched in: Internal medicine 
Hometown: Livingston, NJ

“I am beyond floored that I matched. It was 8:58 am, and I nervously waiting, saw the email come through on Monday. I matched. I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness. I never expected to match, honestly, the med school was a long process for me. But at the end of the day, all that hard work paid off. Now I’m going to be continuing my training in internal medicine and I hope to eventually go into pulmonary/critical care or gastroenterology after residency.”

 

Ashea West  
Matched in: Family medicine 
Hometown/country: Mandeville, Jamaica  

“I couldn’t sleep on Sunday night. I had nightmares twice, about decision day and what the email might say. 8:58am on Monday, I opened the email on my phone, and kept re-reading the one line that said “Congratulations, you have matched.” I was just so grateful to God for answering this prayer because I had been praying and praying really hard! All my memories of the first day on the island flooded back: walking past St. George’s dorm and taking in the views by Modica Hall. I remember meeting my roommate for the first time and talking about how we’re going to ace med school—this decision slowly turned into “We just need to keep our head above water,” which we did! Now I get to live out this dream at my top choice for residency!”

 

Molly Kivumbi
Matched In: Internal medicine
Hometown: Seattle, WA  

“First of all, I would like to thank the almighty God for getting me this far. I matched into family medicine in Riverside, CA.  

I was so amazed to find out that I matched. I couldn’t wait to share the great news with my friends and family that have supported me all the way. It was the icing on the cake after four years of hard work. The sleepless nights, disappointments, frustrations, and intense studying.  

Attending SGU has so far been one of the best decisions I have made. Not only have I received an excellent medical education, but also enjoyed learning in a diverse environment with students from different parts of the world. I have been supported all throughout my four years at SGU and I believe that I will be a great physician.  I believe that when you put your mind to achieving your dreams, you are unstoppable.”

 

View SGU virtual Match Day celebration

 

Alex Ciaramella
Matched in: Anesthesiology
Hometown: Revere, MA

“I’ve always had an interest in anesthesia but kept an open mind throughout clinicals. I tried to envision myself in many other physician roles but eventually came full circle back to anesthesia. Match week is certainly a roller coaster of emotions. I felt very confident going into the Match but still couldn’t help panicking while opening the Match email. It was like going through airport security knowing you have nothing to hide but still getting nervous. Luckily, I fully matched into my No. 1 choice!”

 

Giavanna Verdi
Matched in: Pediatric-medical genetics
Hometown: Wading River, NY

“When I learned that I matched, I simply cried with joy and my heart dropped. I could not believe that I had matched into my No. 1 program and my preferred specialty track. It truly felt like a dream that I want to relive forever!  

Although I am moving away from my hometown, I know that my family and friends are cheering for me from afar! I am always ready for a new adventure and a new journey, and I am so excited to meet my fellow co-residents and program leadership team! This is my new home away from home, and I’m counting down the days until June!”

Peds-Medical Genetics is a less popular specialty but it is on the rise! It is very uncommon, there are only 19 programs in the country that have combined pediatrics and medical genetics programs, and I am so grateful to have matched with such a high reputable institution for this kind of specialty! I fell in love with genetics during my time in Grenada and worked alongside one of the genetics professors from SGU on a patient-case report, fundraisers for Grenada Down Syndrome Association, and ran the Student Interest Group in Genomics/Genetics on campus!”

 

Arham Zia
Matched in: Pediatrics
Hometown: Queens, NY

“My reaction to getting matched was an incredible feeling of relief. I still can’t believe I did it! I went through so many ups and downs during medical school at SGU. But I know that the hard work I persevered towards was so worth it in the end. I opened my match results with my family; throughout this whole process, they were my No. 1 supporters. Seeing the happiness in them made it all the more worth it. I am so grateful to SGU for giving me a chance to prove to myself that I could do this and I DID! I can’t wait to start this residency. It’s definitely going to be a learning experience I will never forget. I am so excited and I can’t wait to make a difference in the lives of tiny little humans.”

 

Monique Prince
Matched in: Internal medicine
Hometown/country: Grenada

“I was filled with joy and relief when I received the email that I matched. It’s exciting to now know where I will be training for residency. I am honored and grateful for this opportunity to train in internal medicine.”

 

 

– Laurie Chartorynsky and Paul Burch 

 

 

 

Related Reading

The perfect match: SGU students secure US residencies on Match Day 2022

Residency success 101: How to ace your application, interview, and first day on the job

Want to ace your residency application? Get help from SGU’s Office of Career Guidance

1,000 residency slots approved by Congress: What it means for medical students

St. George’s University Awards CityDoctors Scholarships to 12 Incoming Students

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St. George’s University announced today that it has awarded 12 students full- or partial-tuition CityDoctors Scholarships to students who entered the four-year MD program this January.

“We’re pleased to offer this scholarship to these 12 outstanding individuals, who demonstrate great promise and are committed to making an impact on healthcare in the communities in which they will practice,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “We launched the CityDoctors Scholarship program 10 years ago to support high-achieving students from metropolitan New York whose dream it is to become a highly skilled and compassionate physician. I look forward to seeing what our newest class of CityDoctors accomplishes.”

The CityDoctors Scholarship program is a partnership between St. George’s University and four hospital systems in the New York metropolitan area: NYC Health + Hospitals in New York and Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in New Jersey.

 

Learn more about the CityDoctors scholarship

 

To be eligible, applicants must be residents of the communities served by these hospitals or otherwise have an affiliation with them. Winners of the scholarships sponsored by NYC Health + Hospitals must commit to working in the hospital system after graduation. Those honored by the three New Jersey hospital systems are not required to make a postgraduate commitment.

More than 150 graduates of St. George’s University have received CityDoctors Scholarships since the program’s creation in 2012. It is part of a robust financial aid program at SGU that resulted in 75 percent of all entering four-year MD students receiving a scholarship in the 2020-21 academic year. *

“The CityDoctors Scholarship program is a fantastic way for aspiring physicians from New York and New Jersey to accelerate their careers in medicine,” said Lynn Kuhl, vice president and senior associate dean of scholarships at SGU. “This year’s winners will be tremendous assets to the hospitals and communities they serve.”

*Data as of April 2021.

 

 

Related Reading

SGU Announces Direct Admissions Partnership with George Brown College 

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St. George’s University is pleased to announce a new direct admissions partnership with George Brown College. The program offers two pathways for qualified George Brown graduates to gain immediate entry into the St. George’s University Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

“Both Canada and the United States are facing acute shortages of doctors and veterinarians,” said Dr. G Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “This partnership will provide aspiring doctors and vets the education and skills they need to serve their communities.”

“SGU is very proud of this new Canadian partnership, and we are looking forward to a strong and productive relationship for many years to come,” said Chuck Furey, director of admissions for Canada at SGU. “Our students will benefit greatly from the wonderful expertise across both institutions.”

George Brown students who finish the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway, submit two letters of recommendation, complete an interview, and meet all necessary admissions and grade requirements will progress into one of two pathways at St. George’s.

Students with at least a 3.2 grade point average may enroll in the five-year Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Those with a grade point average of at least 3.4 and a competitive MCAT or GRE score will be eligible to enter the four-year Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

Qualified medical students will have the opportunity to spend their first year at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom or on the St. George’s University campus in Grenada. All medical students spend their second year in Grenada and their third- and fourth-year clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the United States or the United Kingdom, with elective opportunities available in locations across Canada.

Qualified veterinary students will spend their first three years on the St. George’s campus in Grenada before undertaking their final clinical year at affiliated hospitals in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, or the Netherlands.

“At St. George’s, we offer our students the opportunity to pursue a truly international education,” Dr. Olds said.

“We are excited to partner with St. George’s to help our students to pursue their career goals,” said Alex Irwin, director of transitional education at George Brown. “The direct admissions program provides a valuable pathway to medical school for our students, and offers one more compelling reason for promising students to consider George Brown College.”

Related Reading

Marine, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Degree Gains Accreditation from Royal Society of Biology

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St. George’s University School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) is pleased to announce that the Bachelor of Science Honors (BSc Hons) in Marine, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (MWC) has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). It becomes the first program in the Western Hemisphere to obtain this distinction, further establishing SAS as a premier higher learning institution in the Caribbean. 

The degree program is housed within the SAS’s Department of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation (BEC). It is only the 11th program outside of the United Kingdom to earn RSB accreditation, which will last through the end of 2026.  

“We are very enthusiastic not only about the breadth of opportunities available in this program but also about its potential for current and future students,” said Dr. Lucy Eugene, dean of the SAS. “There is nowhere quite like Grenada for studying marine and terrestrial biology, and we’re so proud of what this program has become, and of all the incredible faculty and staff members who helped us attain this accreditation.”  

This marks another accreditation by an international body joining other SGU programs: 

  • School of Medicine: Grenada Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) 
  • School of Veterinary Medicine: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) 
  • SAS BSc Nursing degree: Grenada Nursing and Midwifery Council (GNMC) and the Caribbean’s Nursing Board
  • Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Master of Public Health (MPH) degree: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

“With this accreditation, our students can be confident that their program is consistent with internationally recognized standards and that they are prepared to undertake graduate programs,” said Dr. Cristofre Martin, chair of the Department of Biology, Ecology, and Conservation. “It also gives future employers and advisors confidence that their employees have been well trained in marine and terrestrial biology,” 

To graduate, students are required to complete 121 hours of coursework in lectures, the laboratory, and in the field, where they develop skills required to conduct ecological surveys, measure abiotic parameters, and manage and analyze data, while implementing a research design.  

“Grenada is ideal to study marine, wildlife, and conservation biology,” said Dr. Patricia Rosa, BEC deputy chair and MWC program director. “It offers a unique learning environment considering our classrooms are rainforest, dry forest, mangroves, estuaries, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems. This diversity of ecosystems is also readily accessible; one can go from the beach to a mountain peak in the same day.”  

 

“We’re so proud of what this program has become, and of all the incredible faculty and staff members who helped us attain this accreditation.”

 

All students must also complete an independent research project and a capstone thesis in their final year to graduate. Upon doing so, graduates receive an accredited honors degree and a certificate outlining the mastery of 75 technical skills related to marine biology, as well as transferrable job skills such as leadership, communications, and project management. 

“This accreditation will lead to more opportunities and recognition for our students and graduates,” said Dr. Rosa. “It will also enable our department to enhance research capacity and train more highly qualified personnel for conservation in the Caribbean.” 

What graduates are saying about the MWC program

Farihah Khan (Trinidad and Tobago), Class of 2019: 

“I can confidently say that my time at SGU as a MWC student was well spent.  The program’s high academic standards allowed me to develop a solid foundation in science and instilled in me a strong work ethic and sense of professionalism. Its Environment Conservation Outreach (ECO) student organization also encouraged me to balance academic work with extracurricular club activities. The rapport between students and educators was excellent and the teaching is unparalleled. It sets you on a positive trajectory as you enter the working world or continued studies.” 

Saiyana Baksh (Guyana), Class of 2021: 

“My experience at SGU has been no less than exceptional and enlightening. The University overall is challenging, and being an international student had additional challenges. SGU’s commitment to providing students with high academic and professional skills is constant and reliable. It has made me capable of handling anything that’s thrown my way. Their commitment to quality education allowed me to reach a level of maturity and wisdom that may not have been possible under different circumstances.” 

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SGU Announces Partnership with University of North Alabama

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St. George’s University has announced a new direct-admission partnership with the University of North Alabama. The program establishes a pathway for qualified North Alabama graduates to gain immediate entry to the St. George’s Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

“We’re excited to team up with the University of North Alabama to educate a new generation of doctors and vets,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “Our program offers students a seamless transition along the way to these vital professions, both of which are currently facing extreme shortages.”

The partnership establishes a “4+4” program, in which students spend four years at each institution. Those who wish to qualify must express their interest at the time they apply to the University of North Alabama. To ensure they can proceed to St. George’s, students must complete all undergraduate coursework, meet minimum grade point averages, and score competitively on the Medical College Admission Test or the Graduate Record Examination. St. George’s University will waive application fees and fast-track students in the program for application review, interviews, and admission decisions.

All students in the program offered medical school admission are guaranteed a $10,000 scholarship.

UNA graduation

Those who enter St. George’s University School of Medicine will be eligible to complete their first two years of study in Grenada, or they can complete their first year at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and second year in Grenada. The following two years of clinical rotations will take place at St. George’s-affiliated hospitals in the United States or United Kingdom, with elective opportunities available in Canada. Veterinary students will be eligible to complete three years of study in Grenada and their final clinical year within SGU’s network of 30-plus affiliates located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

“At St. George’s, we make it possible for our students to pursue a truly international education,” Dr. Olds said. “We’re eager to welcome students from the University of North Alabama to our community.”

“We are pleased to offer our students this opportunity to accelerate their careers,” said Dr. Chunsheng Zhang, senior vice provost for international affairs at UNA. “The direct admissions program will dramatically simplify the graduate school admissions process at a time when new veterinarians and doctors are desperately needed.”

Related Reading

New DNA sequencing ability at WINDREF aids Grenada in identifying new COVID variants

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Drawing on the strong partnership between St. George’s University and the Government of Grenada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, new DNA sequencing capabilities at the campus-based Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) will help to identify new variants of the virus in Grenada—and be a resource for the country and other Caribbean nations to identify additional infectious disease variants.

“The potential public health impacts of having this research tool available to Grenada and potentially for the Caribbean region is significant,” said Dr. Calum Macpherson, director of WINDREF and dean of SGU’s School of Graduate Studies. “Being able to provide findings on the variants that are circulating in Grenada, as well as those that have circulated in the past and any new variants that arise, is critical information that can be referred to when creating policies and responses to the virus as a country and region.”

With funding from SGU, WINDREF acquired two DNA sequencing machines in early December to identify pathogen variants. The process, which entails testing infected individuals’ RNA samples for viral load, and then comparing the results to global databases, was used to confirm that the Omicron variant was detected in patients in Grenada as of the end of December.

The research team at WINDREF underwent an intense six-hour online training session in order to learn how to use the sequencer. The training was provided by Dr. Nikita Shadeo, Mr. Vernie Ramkisson, and Mr. Soren Nicholls from the PAHO-WHO Reference Sequencing Lab at the UWI St. Augustine Campus located in Trinidad, which is headed by Professor Christine Carrington.

 

“The potential public health impacts of having this research tool available to Grenada and potentially for the Caribbean region is significant.”

 

Among those who are now qualified to work on the sequencing data is Vanessa Matthew-Belmar, MSc ’16, who is going to use this technique to study the evolution of the variants found in Grenada over time as part of her research work towards her PhD. Ms. Matthew-Belmar is also a member of the COVID-19 testing team that assisted in the nation’s PCR testing program. In the early stages of the pandemic, the testing program was based on the SGU campus.

“I will use the potential of the sequencing equipment to investigate important epidemiological, viral, and public health issues raised by the circulating variants over time,” said Ms. Matthew-Belmar.

Other members of the sequencing team include: Dr. Trevor Noel, deputy director of WINDREF; Clarkson University MSc student, Nandy Noel, WINDREF lab technician, Elsa Chitan, an SGU MPH graduate, and Nikita Cudjoe, WINDREF’S COVID-19 testing team manager.

Going forward, Dr. Macpherson said that any patients admitted to the Grenada General Hospital or who pass away with a diagnosis of COVID-19 will have their samples sequenced to determine the variant.

The sequencing equipment is not only available to analyze the SARS-CoV-2 variants seen in Grenada since the start of the outbreak, but it also will provide a valuable resource for regional requests for disease sequencing to be conducted for other Caribbean countries, said Minister of Health, the Hon. Nickolas Steele.

“We are proud to be able to offer this service, which reflects the close partnership between the Ministry of Health, SGU, WINDREF, UWI, CARPHA, and PAHO-WHO,” said Minister Steele. “As one of only two labs in the English-speaking Caribbean region that can conduct sequencing, we are adding to the global body of knowledge, which is important for PAHO and WHO.”

Beyond COVID, the new equipment also provides “enormous potential” for understanding the further evolution of viral, bacterial, and other infectious diseases, such as dengue and the zoonotic potential of the canine hookworm species, Dr. Macpherson noted.

“Going forward, not only can we use this equipment to sequence any SARs-CoV-2, but we can also use it to sequence all other diseases,” he said. “It’s an incredibly powerful technique that can be an important diagnostic addition in Grenada’s toolbox as we continue to fight this pandemic.”

 

-Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

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SGU and Grenada: A strong partnership to address the COVID-19 pandemic

World Health Organization redesignates Collaborating Center at SGU

The laboratory personnel behind SGU’s COVID testing site

SGU Announces Direct-Admission Partnership with Beal University

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Today, St. George’s University announced a new direct-admission partnership with Beal University in Bangor, Maine. The new program establishes a pathway for qualified Beal graduates to gain immediate entry into the St. George’s Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

“We’re excited to team up with Beal University to educate new doctors and veterinarians at a time when these professions are in such high demand,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University.

The partnership establishes a “3+4” program that enables students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in just seven years. Students who wish to qualify must express their interest when they apply to Beal University, where they will complete a three-year bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences.

To ensure they can proceed to St. George’s, students must complete all undergraduate coursework, meet minimum grade point averages, and score competitively on requisite graduate entrance exams. Veterinary students should also have completed the recommended 500 hours of animal experience. St. George’s University will waive application fees and fast-track students in the combined degree program for application review, interviews, and admission decisions.

Those who enter St. George’s University School of Medicine will be eligible to complete their first two years of study in Grenada, or they can complete their first year at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and second year in Grenada. The following two years of clinical rotations will take place at St. George’s-affiliated hospitals in the United States or United Kingdom, with elective opportunities available in Canada. Veterinary students will be eligible to complete three years of study in Grenada and their final clinical year within SGU’s network of 30-plus affiliates located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, or the Netherlands.

“We take pride in preparing students for both US-based and international careers,” Olds said.

“Our new partnership with St. George’s gives Beal students a tremendous opportunity,” said Sheryl DeWalt, president of Beal University. “It puts them on an accelerated career path and ensures a smooth transition from undergraduate work to medical training.”