Yat Ching Fung, MD ’24, was born and raised in Hong Kong. His professional trajectory has been diverse, spanning roles in the real estate development industry, navigating the vast landscape of private tutoring. He has also contributed to the education sector as a panel head teacher for STEM and Science. Additionally, he has served as a podiatrist (DPM), delving into the intricacies of foot care. These experiences have granted him a profound appreciation for the richness of human interaction across various spheres of life.

However, after volunteering for a time in Sri Lanka and India, Dr. Fung found that his true calling was in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

“My interest in OB/GYN was sparked there as I gained invaluable insights into reproductive health,” Dr. Fung said. “Many of the women lacked access to maternal and reproductive services due to poverty and cultural norms that discouraged them from seeking healthcare. The experience strengthened my resolve to pursue a field where I could provide excellent reproductive healthcare, advocate for the vulnerable, and do my part to reshape societal paradigms that harm women globally.”

For him, pursuing an MD is not merely an academic pursuit but a lifelong commitment to serving humanity with dedication and compassion. Learn more about Dr. Fung’s medical education at SGU and his advice for aspiring physicians.

SGU: What did it feel like to match into residency?

Dr. Fung: The Match week itself is truly a whirlwind. When I read the much-awaited email, saying “Congratulations! You have matched!” I felt a huge relief. I know I am going to be an OB/GYN!

After four more days of anticipation, I finally learned that I matched into my first choice! It was definitely the best day of my life so far. I could not wipe off my smile for days. All these years of endeavors are finally paying off!

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

Dr. Fung: The OCG has helped me tremendously by providing seminars on the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) timeline and NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) application, assistance with CV and personal statement editing, preparing for the MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation), statistics on SGU students matching into various specialties with their scores in the past, advice on visas for visa-requiring candidates like me. I cannot be more grateful towards the help from my mentors and the OCG staff, which made the daunting and tedious match process a lot easier.

SGU: What are your long-term career aspirations within the field of medicine?

Dr. Fung: My ultimate goal is to become a compassionate and skillful practitioner who serves patients to the best of my ability and supports women at all life stages. My experiences as a podiatrist have taught me to pay close attention to detail to ensure accurate diagnoses and the impact of compassionate care on patient outcomes. I am eager to contribute to the advancement of the field with my enthusiasm, determination, and strong work ethic.

SGU: How do you balance work and your personal life?

Dr. Fung: Medical school is a marathon. Striking a balance between arduous work and my personal life is a combination of effective time management, self-discipline, and efficient study methods. I set goals for the day or week for where I want to be (catching up with lectures, preparing for small group, exams, etc.) and then prioritized personal time when I felt like I was not in the headspace to focus. I would go out for a walk, hang out with friends, or treat myself a nice dinner or a movie before returning to the materials. I usually spent a Friday night off every week to make sure my brain and soul were refreshed, and I had something to look forward to every week. This kept me extremely motivated and got burnt out far less easily.

SGU: How did SGU contribute to your academic success and prepare you for the USMLE exams?

Dr. Fung: SGU has a well-designed curriculum that covers most of the areas covered on USMLE step 1. I am fond of the formative and summative assessments every three to four weeks to make sure I am caught up with the curriculum.

The school provides not only didactic lectures but problem-based learning, small group tutorials, and IMCQs where I learned the materials with my colleagues. All electronic resources are available for student access. These helped me consolidate complex concepts in basic medical science and integrate the materials on clinical application.

SGU: What was it like living in the UK during your first year of medical education?

Dr. Fung: I spent the first year in Newcastle, UK and it was such a fantastic experience. I received a great education from both the in-house faculty and visiting professors from within prestigious schools in the UK.

SGU: What advice would you offer to aspiring medical students from your home country considering a similar path?

Dr. Fung: Going to SGU is a life-changing experience. I have met great friends across the globe. It has so many sites for clinical rotations in multiple US states and in the UK that help you build connections with other doctors.

SGU: Where did you intend to become a doctor? How did the university contribute to your success?

Dr. Fung: I have always dreamed of becoming a doctor in the US since I was a teenager. SGU’s focus on academics and research is second to none. The training in the US prepares me to go anywhere in the world to practice medicine.

The background and upbringing of St. George’s University alum Jacobus Schutte, MD ’23, have been deeply rooted in South Africa where he grew up surrounded by the vibrant culture and landscapes of the country. He was particularly drawn to sports, especially rugby and golf, and at various points, he held aspirations of becoming a professional in those fields.

However, a pivotal event during a holiday trip in South Africa when he was 12 years old altered the course of his goals. Witnessing a tragic accident during that trip profoundly impacted him. It wasn’t just the event itself, but also the response of his father, who is a doctor, that left an indelible mark on his young mind. His father’s ability to remain calm, his unwavering knowledge, and his capacity to make critical decisions in the face of crisis were awe-inspiring, according to Dr. Schutte, who recently graduated from SGU.

In the aftermath of that event, Dr. Schutte’s focus shifted entirely towards medicine. The desire to be able to help people in their most vulnerable moments, like his father did, became his driving force. It was a shift from a dream of sports glory to a more profound calling to serve humanity through the field of medicine. That experience shaped his aspirations and ultimately led him on the path to pursuing a career in medicine.

This summer, Dr. Schutte will begin a surgery residency at WellSpan Health/York Hospital Program. He shared his SGU experience and advice for aspiring physicians.

SGU: Describe what it felt like when you matched for residency.

Dr. Schutte: Matching for residency was an exhilarating and humbling experience, the culmination of years of hard work. Knowing I’d have the chance to train in surgery was fulfilling. Sharing the moment with my fiancé, whom I met in medical school and also matched at the same hospital, added immense joy and significance to the occasion. It was a realization of achieving personal goals and embracing the journey ahead together.

SGU: What drew you to your chosen field of specialty? How do you envision making an impact in this area?

Dr.  Schutte: My fascination with the intricacies of the human body and the art of healing drew me towards a lifelong aspiration to become a surgeon. From a young age, I would accompany my father’s colleagues, who are orthopedic and general surgeons, to the operating room, where I witnessed firsthand their dedication, skill, and compassion. These experiences solidified my desire to pursue a career in surgery. Witnessing the remarkable surgeons in action further fueled my passion for the field.

I envision making an impact by providing expert surgical care to patients, ensuring their well-being and recovery. Moreover, I am committed to contributing to advancements in surgical techniques and patient outcomes, striving to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of surgery.

SGU: How do you balance work and your personal life?

Dr. Schutte: Balancing work and personal life in the medical field is undoubtedly challenging. My advice to students is to prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and seek support when needed. Cultivating hobbies, maintaining relationships outside of work, and practicing mindfulness are essential for maintaining a healthy mental well-being.

SGU: What are your ultimate career aspirations within the field of medicine?

Dr. Schutte: My long-term career aspirations within the field of medicine include becoming a leader in my specialty, conducting research to advance surgical knowledge, and advocating for improved healthcare access and quality for underserved populations. Additionally, my experiences volunteering in South Africa’s rural areas have inspired me to one day establish a non-governmental organization (NGO) aimed at providing essential surgeries to underserved communities. Through this initiative, I hope to address the healthcare disparities and ensure that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to the surgical care they need.

SGU: How did SGU contribute to your academic success and prepare you for the USMLE exams?

Dr. Schutte: Self-directed study and personal motivation were pivotal in mastering the material and achieving success in the exams. While SGU provided substantial support –including a rigorous curriculum, dedicated faculty, and robust support services such as study materials, review courses, and practice exams—yet the ultimate responsibility for academic success lies with the individual. It’s crucial to recognize that self-discipline and personal drive are essential components of mastering the material and excelling in the USMLE exams.

SGU: What was the highlight of your experience living in Grenada during your medical education?

Dr. Schutte: Living in Grenada was an enriching experience filled with memorable moments. Among my favorites were the catamaran trips after exams, the relaxing beach hangouts with friends, and the thrilling scuba diving adventures. These activities provided much-needed relaxation and created unforgettable memories against the backdrop of Grenada’s stunning Caribbean surroundings. Additionally, I cherished the opportunity during my medical education to immerse myself in a vibrant multicultural community. Interacting with students from diverse backgrounds, exploring the island’s natural beauty, and participating in community outreach initiatives all contributed to enriching my educational experience and broadening my perspective.

SGU: What advice would you offer to aspiring medical students considering a similar path?

Dr. Schutte: SGU offered me a clear path to achieving my dream of becoming a doctor. Stay resilient, seize opportunities for growth, and remain focused on the impact you can make as a future healthcare professional.

SGU: How did SGU contribute to your success?

Dr. Schutte: SGU has been instrumental in enabling my wife and I to practice medicine in various countries such as Grenada, the US, UK, and South Africa. While relocating presents challenges, we’re grateful that SGU’s accreditation is recognized in multiple countries, which allows us to pursue opportunities in a bunch of different countries. Only time will tell where we end up, but for now, we’re focused on starting residency and will factor in our future work aspirations when the time comes.

Hrant Gevorgian, MD ’21, MPH, is no stranger to hard work. As chief resident in the emergency room at Rutgers Health – Community Medical Center, Dr. Gevorgian loves working in the ER’s fast-paced environment and being exposed to a multitude of pathologies.

But there are many reasons why he loves being a doctor.

“My favorite aspect of being a doctor is the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of my patients. Whether it’s providing essential medication or stabilizing a critically ill individual, knowing that I’ve positively impacted someone’s life is incredibly rewarding,” he said.

Dr. Gevorgian acknowledges that his training at St. George’s University School of Medicine prepared him well for the doctor he is today.

This summer the California native will return home to continue his medical training as an addiction medicine fellow at Loma Linda University Medical Center. While completing his fellowship, Dr. Gevorgian also plans to work as an overnight emergency medicine physician at two community emergency rooms in San Bernardino, CA.

Dr. Gevorgian shared what he has been up to since graduating med school and his advice for aspiring physicians considering SGU.

SGU: What appeals to you about emergency medicine and addiction medicine?

Dr. Gevorgian: My journey towards these fields began early on thanks to formative experiences such as shadowing at LA General and engaging in harm reduction efforts during my undergraduate years. Witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by individuals struggling with substance abuse, including barriers to treatment and pervasive stigma, led me to practice emergency and addiction medicine.

Additionally, in the fast-paced environment of the ER, I find fulfillment in the variety of pathology, procedural work, and the opportunity to provide critical care. Moreover, I recognized the ER as a pivotal setting for addressing addiction issues, as many patients with substance abuse disorders seek treatment there. My aim is to combat stigma, implement harm reduction strategies, and establish treatment protocols within emergency settings to better serve individuals battling substance abuse.

SGU: How did SGU prepare you for your career and specialty?

Dr. Gevorgian: SGU well prepared me for my specialty and career, both academically and clinically. The integrated basic sciences curriculum provided a solid foundation for my medical knowledge and helped prepare me for my board exams. Early on, SGU provided me with hands-on exposure during my (Basic Sciences) selectives and while working in the Grenada General Hospital. Additionally, by being involved in multiple student clubs and organizations, I had the opportunity to participate in health clinics where I could interact with the community.

My clinical rotations also helped me excel as a resident by exposing me to a variety of rigorous rotations and procedures. Most importantly, the SGU alumni network and social capital I gained have been invaluable throughout my medical journey by connecting me with the right mentors and guiding me in the right direction.

SGU: Do you have a recent professional accomplishment that you are especially proud of?

Dr. Gevorgian: During residency, I was fortunate enough to be part of an awesome team that created a program to initiate Buprenorphine treatment in the emergency department for individuals experiencing opioid use disorder. My mentor, program director, and best friend, Dr. Nicole J. Maguire, is the current principal investigator who spearheaded this project. What started as a small pilot study eventually became a huge success. We won multiple local and national awards, decreased overdoses in the community, and educated the community on harm reduction. Most importantly, we have patients who now actively come to our ED to begin Buprenorphine treatment due to its positive impact on the community.

SGU: Have you received any notable awards, recognition, or honors in your field since graduating that you would like to share? 

Dr. Gevorgian: Since graduation, I have received multiple awards and nominations that wouldn’t be possible without SGU and my residency program, Rutger’s Health – Community Medical Center. As an intern, I was nominated Resident of the Year by the American College of Physicians. In my final year of residency, I was elected the inaugural chief resident of my program. Most recently, I was chosen to be part of the REACH scholar program, Recognizing and Eliminating Disparities in Addiction through Culturally Informed Healthcare, where I was granted $104,000 to develop an overdose training program to teach adolescents in low socioeconomic demographics how to respond to overdoses.

SGU: What are your ultimate career plans?

Dr. Gevorgian: My ultimate career plans involve working in community-based emergency rooms in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. In the realm of addiction medicine, I intend to develop and implement substance abuse treatment protocols within emergency departments, advocating for comprehensive care and harm reduction strategies. By returning home to California, I hope to contribute to the well-being of my community and continue fostering positive change.

SGU: Why did you choose SGU?

Dr. Gevorgian: I chose to apply to SGU for many reasons. In addition to the sciences, I had an interest in public health, specifically global health, during my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I wanted to attend a medical school that would not only prepare me to succeed academically, but also clinically, and to become a culturally competent physician.

SGU is extremely diverse and offers medical students training so that they can practice medicine in different countries and settings that focus on public and global health, if they choose to. Specifically, SGU offered me a variety of training sites, which appealed to me. I sought the opportunity to train at various hospitals during my third- and fourth-year rotations, with many sites available in my hometown of Los Angeles, CA.

Another reason I chose to study in Grenada is because I heard nothing but good things about the beautiful island itself. Looking back, I am grateful I attended SGU and wouldn’t want to study medicine anywhere else.

SGU: What advice would you offer to students who are considering SGU?

Dr. Gevorgian: The best advice I can offer anyone coming to SGU is simple: work hard but have (a lot of) fun along the way. Medicine is a lifelong commitment that requires an enormous amount of discipline, but it’s important to take care of yourself and ensure you’re happy and enjoying yourself throughout the process.

Ifeatu Egwuatu, MD ’23, from the Anambra state of Nigeria, was determined to become a doctor following a tragic incident of his beloved cousin who passed away at a young age. He chose to pursue medicine because he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

Dr. Egwuatu completed his first year of basic sciences in the UK through a partnership between St. George’s University School of Medicine and Northumbria University. He then traveled briefly to Grenada for his second year, and eventually to New York to complete his clinical rotations there.

His experience at SGU led him to successfully match into an internal medicine residency at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ—his first choice for residency.

Dr. Egwuatu shared more details about his medical school experience and why he thinks international medical students should consider SGU.

SGU: Describe what it felt like when you matched for residency? 

Dr. Egwuatu: While it’s a feeling I still think about a lot, I would struggle to recreate it even if I tried. My journey from starting my bachelor’s degree in the UK to studying medicine at SGU to finally matching lasted close to a decade and unsurprisingly came with challenges along the way. To match felt like going against the odds and getting rewarded for staying focused on my end goal.

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

Dr. Egwuatu: Overall, I enjoyed the interview process as it provided the perfect opportunity to see whether I would fit into a particular program.  The OCG team had virtual seminars to give us helpful pointers and keep us aware of certain deadlines during the match process. My clinical advisor (who was also part of the OCG team), advised me on approaches to take while I was waiting for my first interview.

SGU: Why did you pursue internal medicine?  

Dr. Egwuatu: I chose internal medicine because the maintenance of good health through preventive medical care, the diagnostic and therapeutic processes of identifying and treating ill health, and the vast opportunities to advance medical care through research—all combining seamlessly to improve patient health—greatly appealed to me.

Additionally, my experiences during my core rotations at high patient volume hospitals strengthened my patient interaction skills, exposed me to the art of making diagnoses that do not present in a textbook manner, and gave me firsthand exposure into the tangible improvements in patient health resulting from medical interventions. These experiences essentially reaffirmed the veracity of my desire to pursue a career in internal medicine.

SGU “was an excellent decision as they provided me the opportunity to study medicine, form lifelong relationships and connections with people from various countries worldwide, and ultimately match into my first-choice program in internal medicine.” — Ifeatu Egwuatu, MD ’23

SGU: How do you balance work and your personal life?   

Dr. Egwuatu: Having been on the board of the SGU’s Student Government Association, I had the opportunity to hone the skill of time management by combining my responsibilities with the SGA with that of medical school in such a manner that I was able to maintain a high standard in both areas effectively.

SGU: What are your ultimate career aspirations?  

Dr. Egwuatu: I want to pursue a career in gastroenterology. Nevertheless, my experiences during residency could still lead me to consider other subspecialties like cardiology or pulmonology/critical care, so I will keep all options open at this stage.

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

Dr. Egwuatu: SGU gave me a solid foundation during my basic sciences and USMLE Step 1 exam preparation, because the style of learning and assessments during my bachelor’s was very different to the learning style in medical school, which was naturally fast paced. As I progressed further, my clinical academic advisor supported me during my clinical years by giving me pointers on how to approach the shelf exams, Step 2 CK, and the match process.

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

Dr. Egwuatu: I did my bachelor’s in the UK at the University of Surrey, so the opportunity to continue my basic sciences through the partnership program in the UK made a lot of sense, as I had made many friends during my bachelor’s degree studies.

SGU: What were basic sciences like in the UK? Where did you do your clinical rotations?  

Dr. Egwuatu: Doing my basic sciences in the UK played a part in helping me get comfortable with the culture of being a medical student, as the smaller class sizes provided a solid foundation for a close-knit working relationship between the faculty and students. For my clinical rotations, I spent both years in New York, as I wanted a new experience having previously spent most of my time in the UK.

SGU: What was your favorite part about living in Grenada? 

Dr. Egwuatu: Although I was on the island very briefly due to the COVID pandemic during my second year, I was thrilled to enjoy the modern facilities and study spaces on the school campus, amazing local food, as well as the beaches and numerous tourist attractions that Grenada offers.

SGU: Why should students in Africa consider going to SGU for medical school?   

Dr. Egwuatu: The pathway to getting into medical school in either the UK or the US can be challenging, and despite doing well on both the MCAT and UKKAT (now UCAT), I was unable to secure admission into any UK/US-based medical school.This is where the SGU came in, and in hindsight, it was an excellent decision as they provided me the opportunity to study medicine, form lifelong relationships and connections with people from various countries worldwide, and ultimately match into my first-choice program in internal medicine.