Pediatric cancer patients are met with an inconceivable challenge at an early age, and it will have been a long journey by the time they meet Dr. Kris Mahadeo. The 2003 St. George’s University graduate is the Section Chief and Medical Director of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

In many cases, he said, it’s the patients’ “last hope.” It’s also their best hope—MD Anderson is the leading cancer center in the United States.

“A lot of times, patients were admitted and have stayed for a long period of time,” said Dr. Mahadeo, who also serves as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. “It’s a process, but when children can go home, which they never imagined in their lifetime, their reaction is priceless. It’s very fulfilling.”

Dr. Mahadeo has been on a long journey of his own, but has found a home in Houston. He grew up in Trinidad and Tobago before he and his family moved to New York City when he was 8. He went on to graduate cum laude from Adelphi University in New York with a Bachelor of Science in biology.

With an eye on studying medicine, he applied to 10 medical schools, with St. George’s University as the only international school. Through current students and graduates, he learned that SGU had “all the elements of education” for students to be successful, as well as a track record of placing graduates in highly competitive residency programs.

“There are so many graduates throughout the country who are quite successful,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t even realize your doctor is an SGU graduate.”

From day one, Dr. Mahadeo focused on obtaining a competitive residency, committing himself to his studies during his basic science years in Grenada and then two clinical years in the United States. He entered SGU with primary care as his likely career path, but was drawn to immunology over time, particularly as it relates to cancer care.

Dr. Mahadeo’s road to a career in hematology and oncology continued as he completed his pediatric internship year at Maimonides Children’s Hospital in New York City, and finished his residency at the Children’s Hospital at St. Peter’s in New Jersey. He opted to broaden his knowledge—and strengthen his resume—by earning a Master of Public Health from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Dr. Mahadeo then advanced to a pediatric hematology oncology fellowship at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a pediatric blood and marrow transplantation fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.

His exposure to an international student body, faculty, and patient pool along the way has prepared him for his career in pediatrics.

“To meet people from across the world in Grenada, and then to work alongside classmates from other schools in the US, I think it shapes your perspective on health care,” Dr. Mahadeo said. “The global experience is really helpful for me because in this specialized field, we’re taking care of patients from all over, and we have to understand what’s endemic in those areas and treat patients in alignment with their values.”

Before joining MD Anderson, he spent three years as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein Cancer Center and an Attending Physician and Director of Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City. He served a similar role at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as Director of Quality Management and Attending Physician in Los Angeles. Dr. Mahadeo’s extensive research has focused on allogeneic stem cell transplantation and immunotherapy for solid tumors and genetic diseases, as well as critical care outcomes for children undergoing therapy. He currently serves as co-chair of the HSCT sub-group of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI).

The success stories are reminders of why he has gone down this career path. There’s the high school student whose transplant gave her a second life, the patient from Angola who messages him every year, the time a child who, after his third transplant, met his unrelated donor at halftime of a celebrity soccer game.

And the times when his pediatric patients can go home.

“We do a discharge parade, the staff and patients come out, and there’s confetti,” he said. “It’s very rewarding.”

Published November 2017 

Flanked by her parents on graduation day, Dr. Boonyanuth Maturostrakul was overjoyed not only about what she had accomplished but the direction she was headed. In the summer of 2017, Dr. Boonyanuth began an internal medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City—her top-choice program.

A product of Mahidol University International College, Dr. Boonyanuth enrolled in St. George’s University’s Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program on a partial scholarship. The program allowed her to complete her first year of studies at Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom, before continuing on to Grenada and then the United States for her clinical training.

“I liked the adventure,” she said. “I really wanted to travel, and to come to the States, to Grenada, and to have spent my first year in England, it was such a dream.”

Dr. Boonyanuth remained dedicated throughout her tenure as a student at SGU, graduating cum laude in 2016. She said that SGU provided her with a “good basic science background,” which allowed her to pass her board exams and practice in the United States.

Grenada was the perfect backdrop for her to strive toward and reach her goal of becoming a physician.

“Grenada is so beautiful,” she said. “I liked exploring the island, going to the waterfalls, and going to the beach. The campus is so pretty. In your free time, you can just watch the ocean and relax your mind.”

For Thai students who are considering their next step, Dr. Boonyanuth said, “If you try hard enough, your dreams will come true.”

Published October 2017

From a young age, Shivantha Amarnath, MD ’17, dreamed of becoming a physician who treated the citizens of New York City. Now, fostered by the hard work and dedication he put into achieving his goal, his dreams are coming true. In early 2021, Dr. Amarnath will begin a gastroenterology fellowship at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Staten Island University,

It was during his internal medicine residency at the same institution that Dr. Amaranth said he fell in love with gastroenterology. “I fell in love with procedures and would spend countless hours in the endoscopy suite seeing back-to-back procedures which affirmed my interest in GI. My hard work culminated in getting the fellowship I’ve always dreamed of,” he said.

Dr. Amarnath was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and as the son of an ophthalmologist, he gained early exposure to the medical profession. His drive to become a physician was evident even in his early years. Dr. Amarnath was a member of the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society for Humanitarian Efforts, organizing youth camps, serving as a youth first aid trainer, and assisting with tsunami relief efforts.

Dr. Amarnath traveled to the United Kingdom, where he earned his Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in biology from Manchester Metropolitan University and also obtained an honorary degree in the Royal Society of Biology, UK. He is a Trinity College of Music qualified pianist and cellist as well.

He chose to study medicine at St. George’s University because it offered “the same level of education” as US medical colleges while also functioning as a gateway to practicing medicine in the US for many international students.

Watch Dr. Amarnath’s interview on graduation day

While Grenada was halfway around the world from Sri Lanka, the setting was very similar. “The island felt close to home considering my home country is also a tropical island,” Dr. Amarnath said. “The people, the food, and even the culture made me feel close to home. Adjusting to Grenada was a breeze.”

A high achiever at MMU, Dr. Amarnath came to SGU on an International Student scholarship. He admits that it took time to adjust to American style of teaching and examination system, particularly with MCQ questions, but worked closely with University staff to thrive. He gained admittance to the Iota Epsilon Alpha International Medical Honor Society. He ultimately gave back to his fellow students as a tutor for biochemistry, anatomy, and pathology as part of SGU’s Department of Educational Services. Upon graduating, Dr. Amarnath was inducted into the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Gold Humanism Honor Society, reserved for students, residents and faculty who exemplify a gold standard of compassionate patient care.

As an internal medicine resident, Dr. Amarnath received several accolades, winning several research awards and competitions including Outstanding Poster Presenter for two consecutive years at the annual international gastroenterology conference organized by American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Amarnath was also awarded Resident Teacher of the Year and offered the position of chief resident of internal medicine at SIUH.

As chief resident, he spearheaded the initiation of a dedicated sub-internship in internal medicine for fourth-year medical students. The new change means that he (and future chief residents) “dedicate weekly sessions with the students where we teach and guide them on how to prepare for intern year, what resources to use, how to present patients to attending physicians, and take notes,,” he said. “This was well-received by the students and the medical schools that we have relationships with.”

Dr. Amarnath credits SGU for reinforcing his desire to pursue medicine, and the community of lecturers, colleagues, and staff who were inspirational and supportive in helping him reach that goal.

“I honestly have to thank SGU to the fullest extent for preparing me so well for my future in medicine,” Dr. Amarnath said. “I honed my skills of teaching and guidance, hard work, dedication, and leadership at SGU. The years in Grenada, along with my rotations in New York, prepared me extremely well for day 1 of residency where I did not feel any different in terms of overall standard, and knowledge from any other American medical school grad. I am extremely grateful to SGU.”

He added: “For anyone from Sri Lanka who wanted to pursue to become a doctor and get trained either in the States, UK, or Canada, St. George’s University is, without a doubt, the best choice.”

Updated January 2021 

For four years of medical school and well before that, Seth Iskowitz had his sights on returning to his native South Florida. Specifically, he hoped to practice at the prestigious Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s).

On Match Day, his vision became a reality.

“When I received the email, I was filled with emotion because everything I had ever dreamed of was in that one email,” Dr. Iskowitz said. “I’ve wanted to go to this hospital for as long as I can remember.”

SGU came onto his radar while he was pursuing his Bachelor of Science in psychology at the University of Central Florida. His father, a pediatric cardiologist, had hired an SGU graduate who he called “one of the best doctors he had ever met.” Dr. Iskowitz joined SGU’s Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program, for which students spend their first year of basic sciences at Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom.

“I loved the small classes in Newcastle, and we really got to know our classmates, our professors, and the administration,” Dr. Iskowitz said. “Also, the town has so much culture and so much to do.”

In Grenada and through his clinical rotations, Dr. Iskowitz participated in the Student Government Association, including as Executive Vice President of New York Hospitals for 2016-17. His all-around experience, which included healthcare training in three different countries, helped him obtain 20 residency interviews. Dr. Iskowitz looks forward to continuing his career in a familiar community, just like he always hoped he could.

“I’ve been pushing all this time to have an opportunity to return home, and that I now am has made all the hard work worth it,” he said.

Published July 2017 

Namrita Prasad, MD SGU ’16, never imagined that she would leave her home or her family, never mind come this far. She grew up in the Fiji Islands, her family had limited resources, and no family member on either side had graduated college. Yet in March, after raising the bar with each year gone by, she celebrated yet another remarkable achievement in her journey, having secured an internal medicine residency at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York.

“It’s unreal to me that I’m even here,” she said, joining fellow St. George’s University graduates at the annual Match Day luncheon. “It was all a dream that seemed unattainable when I was at a community college while working full time. The one thing that led me here was perseverance. I wasn’t the smartest student but I knew how to work hard and ask for help whenever I needed it. I was blessed with wonderful mentors that guided me to where I am today and I am just so extremely humbled.”

She comes from modest beginnings. At age 16, a military coup forced her family to relocate from Fiji to San Bruno, CA, in South San Francisco. Money was tight and her career options, she thought, minimal. However, Dr. Prasad volunteered at several hospitals in the area and joined a summer youth program through Kaiser Permanente, through which she discovered a deep passion for medicine. Dr. Prasad kept pressing forward, enrolling at American River Community College before moving on to the University of California, Davis, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biological science, with an emphasis on neurology, physiology, and behavioral science. She did this all while working long hours to put herself through school.

Although her family thought it might, Dr. Prasad’s journey didn’t stop there. A UC Davis friend turned her on to SGU, citing its prowess not only in the region but globally. After researching SGU and learning of its wide network of physicians practicing in the United States, Dr. Prasad scored well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), applied, and soon found herself on her way to Grenada, first as part of SGU’s Master of Public Health program. She also served as public relations officer in the Public Health Students Association.

“It was the most amazing experience that I could have ever asked for,” Dr. Prasad said. “The MPH program taught us to think about community health – not just individual health – and to promote healthy living to prevent diseases and empower individuals through education to become active participants in their own health. The health promotions and disease prevention theories and models that I learned in MPH program are still very applicable in everyday interaction that I have with patients to limit the number of readmissions.”

That included during Dr. Prasad’s research, which she conducted while obtaining a Master of Medical Research through SGU. She has created and submitted several manuscripts to peer-reviewed publications, bolstering her residency resume in the process.

Dr. Armand Asarian, Vice Chairman for the Department of Surgery at Brooklyn Hospital and Assistant Dean of Students at SGU, served as a mentor for Dr. Prasad while and after she trained as a clinical student in New York City, a new frontier for her. His protégé’s unique skills were evident to him early.

“She didn’t have an easy trip to this point, but she came early every day, worked hard, she asked for help, she listened to that advice, and did everything she could to better her future,” Dr. Asarian said. “I’m really excited to see her succeed.”

Dr. Prasad shared similar praise for her mentor, Brooklyn Hospital Medical Student Coordinator Karine Camacho, as well as Daniel Ricciardi, MD SGU ’81, Dean of Clinical Studies at SGU and Director of Undergraduate Medical Education at TBHC. All of those she has met along the way have shaped her into the physician – and the individual – that she has become.

“I feel like SGU creates a family for you,” Dr. Prasad said. “I’m grateful that I have encountered such wonderful people because I know I couldn’t have done this without their help and guidance. It wasn’t easy being an immigrant with no idea on how to go about making my dream a reality. The only way I can think of showing my gratitude is to pay it forward and guide students to keep their dream alive and just keep swimming.”

Published June 2017