Michael Galgano, MD

/in /by

For Upstate Medical University neurosurgical spine specialist Michael Galgano, MD ’10, with each operation he performs comes the opportunity to drastically improve the course of a person’s life.

There was the 40-year-old woman whose adolescent scoliosis had gone untreated. Debilitating back pain prevented her from completing workdays or from playing with her young daughter. A corrective procedure returned her to normal activity level.

Then there was the 17-year-old lacrosse player who suddenly had difficulty walking. It was discovered he had an osteoblastoma that was crushing his spinal cord, slowly paralyzing him. Dr. Galgano and his team removed the tumor and reconstructed his spinal column, allowing him to return to lacrosse a few months later after a remarkable recovery.

It’s that kind of impact that the 2010 St. George’s University graduate set out to make when he entered medical school, and what excites him the most about his role at Upstate.

“I treat a population of patients with a wide array of complex spinal disorders, ranging from tumors of the spinal cord and vertebral column, to scoliosis and other deformities,” Dr. Galgano said. “I am drawn toward these types of surgeries that require a significant amount of pre-surgical planning and strategizing. Each complex case I do has its own unique spin, and requires some degree of creativity to achieve an ideal outcome. Improving the quality of life in my patients is ultimately what drives me. It is difficult to get bored with this job.”

At Upstate, located in Syracuse, NY, his responsibilities are many—assistant professor of neurosurgery, director of spinal oncology and reconstructive spinal deformity surgery, as well as the medical school neurosurgery clerkship program. Although Dr. Galgano sub-specializes in spine surgery, he also treats neuro-trauma, in addition to brain tumors.

Four days a week, Dr. Galgano rounds on his inpatients before logging six- to 10-hour sessions in the operating room on surgical procedures. As a professor, he holds weekly didactic learning sessions for which he lectures to the university’s neurosurgery residents and medical students.

“When I run into the occasional SGU student completing a sub-I at our hospital and they find out I am also an alumni, their eyes light up,” he said. “I tell them all to be proactive, and to outwork everybody they can on their rotations. At the end of the day, it boils down to being nothing short of determined to match into the field you are most passionate about, whether that is family medicine or neurosurgery.”

Dr. Galgano performs his craft and extensive research at the very location where his neurosurgery career began as a resident in 2010, weeks after graduating from SGU. He spent seven years in residency at Upstate, and even earned the Outstanding Neurosurgery Resident of the Year Award. In 2017, he went on to complete a complex and oncological spine surgery fellowship at Brown University in Providence, RI.

Dr. Galgano had always had his mind set on entering neurology, but the surgery element came into focus as a medical student when he rotated with general surgeons at Overlook Hospital in New Jersey—one of SGU’s vast network of clinical training sites. So, for his career, he combined his two passions.

“The rotation centers I went to were fabulous,” he said. “Rotating at a number of different hospitals exposes you to a wide variety of pathology. Instead being at a single institution, you see a diverse case load and patient population, and learn from physicians with different backgrounds. You grow comfortable working with a new set of instructors every few weeks. It keeps you on your A-game.”

Dr. Galgano added: “During neurosurgical training, the more surgeons you get to experience operating with, the better surgeon you become. You take a bit of knowledge from each mentor, and incorporate concepts and techniques you learned from them into your style. That’s kind of the way I look at SGU. We are taught medicine from doctors all around the world, increasing the diversity of our experience. SGU really is an all-star medical school. There is no doubt that our students graduate ready to hit the real world. SGU offers not only a medical education, but a unique and profound life experience. The end product of having received a medical education at SGU is something to be proud of.”

 

Published December 2019

Nana Yaa Baffour-Awuah, MD

/in /by

As she comes to the end of her family medicine residency at Southside Hospital in New York, where she treats area residents as well as people from all over the world, Nana Yaa Baffour-Awuah, MD ’16, looks back fondly on the path she’s taken, and eagerly awaits discovering what the future holds.

Originally from Ghana, Dr. Baffour-Awuah moved to the US for college and, following “four fabulous years” at St. George’s University in Grenada, she is helping a diverse population, of which more than 85 percent of patients are uninsured and many are undocumented immigrants.

“Some patients have been coming to the hospital for years,” she said. “They appreciate the continuity of care and the ability to obtain extra help or reduced fees.”

Dr. Baffour-Awuah also volunteers at local homeless shelters and is working with a telehealth program designed to expedite the admissions process from the emergency room. The program also provides support to patients in areas with limited access to medical care.

Upon completing her residency, she will transition to family medicine to be a primary care doctor, in addition to getting more involved with research.

“I’ve always been keen on family medicine as it covers a bit of everything,” Dr. Baffour-Awuah said. “I like the continuity of knowing a person for years and years.”

Her path to medicine began at Connecticut College, where she studied biochemistry as well as cell and molecular biology, and was also recognized with an Outstanding Student award. During this time, she volunteered in an ER—an experience that helped make up her mind about becoming a doctor.

After studying in the US, she returned to Ghana with the intention to enroll at medical school there, but only one school featured with a four-year medical program mirroring the US system. That’s when she looked abroad.

“St. George’s University appealed to me because it is similar to US schools,” she said. “I had a good feeling about going to SGU, and I wasn’t disappointed.”

In her two years in Grenada, she benefited from small-group settings for teaching and discussion sessions, as well as from the support of SGU’s international faculty. Following two years on the island, Dr. Baffour-Awuah’s clinical rotations—based in New York City—covered hematology, oncology, child and adolescent psychology, surgery, emergency medicine, and family medicine. After earning her Doctor of Medicine, she gave back to her alma mater but serving as a learning strategist, mentoring junior students and helping them with learning and exam strategies.

“I loved my time in Grenada,” she said. “It was just what I was looking for in terms of the coursework, and the island itself was fantastic. It has great weather, beaches, and people from all over the world living and studying there.”

Published October 2019

Orapeleng Phuswane-Katse, MD, BS

/in , /by

A graduate of both the St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine and the School of Arts and Sciences, Orapeleng Phuswane-Katse, MD ’11, BS ’07, is striving to make a difference. Originally from Mochudi, Botswana, Dr. Phuswane-Katse is using her skills and expertise gained from SGU to make a positive impact on public health.

“We don’t have a lot of doctors in Botswana, so there is a lot of opportunity for impacting the health system there,” Dr. Phuswane-Katse said. “I enjoy public health medicine, and I would like to improve policies and strategy planning for better health outcomes.”

After receiving a Bachelor of Science from the University of Botswana, Dr. Phuswane-Katse earned a Bachelor of Science in basic medical sciences from SGU in 2007. She then graduated with her Doctor of Medicine in 2011, also from SGU. She completed a residency in public health medicine at the University of Botswana. Today, she serves as head of preventive programs in the Ministry of Health.

In 2015, Dr. Phuswane-Katse was the first medical doctor from Botswana to become part of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI). YALI is a six-week leadership program started by former US President Barack Obama for excelling young African leaders who have shown exemplary work in the communities they serve.

“I wanted to serve Botswana, and who better to serve them than a Motswana who speaks the language and understands its challenges?” Dr. Phuswane-Katse said. “I want to grow within my country and establish roots.”

She credits her hands-on experience at SGU for preparing her for her chosen field. “SGU taught me accountability, responsibility, and to be able to work hard to achieve my goals,” she said.

Learn more about how Dr. Phuswane-Katse is making a difference in Botswana.

St. George’s University: Why did you decide to pursue medicine?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: My initial passion was always to become a pilot; however, I wasn’t particularly strong in physics. When I began my BSc at the University of Botswana, my plan was to pursue dentistry, but somehow my journey led me to medicine. One thing I was always certain about was my desire to help people.

SGU: As the head of preventive programs, what does your job entail?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: Overall, I manage diseases among the population through public health program planning, implementation, and evaluation at both district and national levels. My responsibilities include:

  • Strategic planning, reviewing programs, amending policies, and introducing new health policies and laws,
  • Providing technical expertise at public health engagements and forums locally and nationally,
  • Coordinating campaigns for child immunization
  • Monitoring well-being of vaccination recipients during and after immunization drives,
  • And overseeing the management of the Occupational Health Program.

I have successfully managed several programs with measurable improvements in performance including the Child Health Program, Antiretroviral Therapy (ARV) Program, Malaria Program, and Tuberculosis Program. I also have collaborated with various stakeholders including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

SGU: How did your education at SGU help you succeed?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: SGU provided a holistic approach to medicine, which allowed me to work in a very diverse environment. I was able to work with people from different academic backgrounds, strengthening my skills even in new ways. To this day, I deeply value diversity in learning.

SGU: Why should aspiring medical students from Botswana consider SGU?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: I believe that SGU is an international school that not only provides high-quality education but also offers valuable support services to help international students adapt. It helps prepare students for the medical field and whichever specialty they wish to pursue.

SGU: How did the Mandela Washington Fellowship help shape your vision for transforming healthcare leadership in Africa?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: The Mandela Washington fellowship shaped my understanding of leadership, and most of the principles I learned in the program are ones I still apply today. I believe that universal health coverage is key to improving healthcare and ensuring access to care everyone in Botswana. As a leader, this is one of the key goals I strongly believe in achieving.

SGU: What are your goals for the healthcare system in Botswana?

Dr. Phuswane-Katse: We should all strive for an inclusive healthcare system, which is a system that reaches everyone regardless of their socioeconomic status or distance from healthcare facilities. One of the ways I am working towards an inclusive health system is by bringing mobile healthcare outreach to rural communities.

 

Updated February 2025 

Su Young Park, MD

/in /by

On any given day, Su Young Park, MD ’14, may be found embracing an infant or young child while at work. As a pediatric inpatient hospitalist at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA, Dr. Park has helped countless children suffering from bronchiolitis, pneumonia, sickle cell anemia, and other ailments, and attended dozens of deliveries to care for newborns until they are discharged.

Just recently, her training came into practice when a baby was admitted to the hospital with intractable vomiting and dehydration, and she was told that the baby was not gaining weight. While initial tests and exams by an outside pediatrician found nothing wrong, the St. George’s University graduate’s gut kept telling her to probe deeper. She ordered an ultrasound, which determined that the baby had pyloric stenosis, a swelling of a muscle between the stomach and intestines.

“I was so happy that I didn’t miss anything,” Dr. Park said. “I could have just sent the baby home.”

Working with worried parents and patients who, in many cases, cannot speak for themselves, the 37-year-old loves her career, finding the work both challenging and gratifying at the same time. “The best thing about being a pediatrician is I get to work with kids,” she said. “I love the work environment. I love working with babies. I love my job.”

Originally from South Korea, Dr. Park said she always wanted to be a doctor but felt the pressure when applying to medical schools. “It’s virtually impossible to get into med school in Korea,” she said, adding that it was as difficult to gain admittance to a US school. While many Koreans opt to obtain their degree in either Poland or the Philippines, Dr. Park decided to go a different route, applying to Caribbean med schools, she said.

“SGU is really well-known among students, especially international students,” she said.

Dr. Park came to the US to learn English and to take pre-med curriculum courses to bolster her application. She graduated from her undergraduate college magna cum laude. Once accepted to medical school, she worked diligently to succeed, relying heavily on SGU’s large support system—including other Korean students, graduates, and faculty—to help her along the way.

“Culturally, we are very soft-spoken people. But once you become committed to become a doctor, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask it. You cannot learn everything from a book,” Dr. Park said.

As an SGU student, she most appreciated the University’s clinical rotation network. SGU’s vast network of clinical training sites allows students to gain valuable experience ranging from family practice to specialized fields. Because of that experience, Dr. Park said she felt very prepared to work in American hospitals—from learning hospital infrastructure to using a variety of software programs. She was so successful during clinical training that she was awarded Medical Student of the Year by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in 2012. The award is given to those students who consistently show excellence in patient care, academic performances, and interaction with the medical team.

In between graduation and starting her residency, Dr. Park was a visiting research scholar at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York where she was able to publish several articles to add to her credentials. In June 2019, Dr. Park completed her residency in pediatrics at Metropolitan Hospital, a program affiliated with New York Medical College, and went on to become an attending physician at Geisinger.

It was a culmination not only of her own dream but that of her family as well.

“They’re really happy,” Dr. Park said. “I made it.”

Published September 2019

Sarah Ackah, MD

/in /by

As an internal medicine/pediatrics resident at the University at Buffalo, Sarah Ackah, MD ’17, sees inpatients and outpatients with a range of complex conditions. Cases run the full gamut and sometimes involve trauma, forcing her and her colleagues to be prepared for any situation that may arise.

Dr. Ackah has thrived during her time in upstate New York, and hopes to take the knowledge and experience she has gained there to Texas, where her fondness was medicine was born.

Like her travels, the fields for which she is enthusiastic are wide ranging.

“My medical interests include primary care, public health, and sociocultural research, and I have a passion for working with both adults and kids,” she said.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Ackah is involved in two major research projects related to palliative care awareness in inpatient settings and pediatric endocrinology in children with thyroid disease.

“Obesity and thyroid disease in children is a serious and growing problem in the US and beyond,” she said. “There is a child obesity clinic at my hospital and it’s a topic I studied and became interested in at SGU. I’d like to research more about the effect of obesity on thyroid function and see if there are ways of helping children and adults in non-surgical ways.”

Dr. Ackah was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in Texas. The eldest of four children, she was inspired to follow a career in medicine during a childhood visit to the emergency room for her younger sister.

“My sister needed stitches following a serious accident and the attending doctors were so kind and caring,” she said. “I was only about 8 years old, but I remember thinking I wanted to be like them one day.”

Dr. Ackah completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. When it came to choosing a medical school, she weighed her options in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean before opting to study at St. George’s University. It proved to be the right decision.

“The whole experience at SGU was terrific,” Dr. Ackah said. “It was such an interesting and family-friendly environment. I come from a big family so this is what I wanted, and my classmates were great. SGU has a way of picking the best students.

“The resources and teaching staff at SGU were also first class. I found the schedule quite rigorous but everyone was extremely supportive. It definitely prepared me for the complexities of life as a doctor. It was the perfect, well-rounded experience.”

 

Published September 2019

Nathan Kwablah, MD, MBA

/in , /by

Nathan Kwablah, MD ’11, MBA ’12, is the very embodiment of individual hard work and dedication, and St. George’s University’s commitment to global medicine.

Born and raised in Ghana, Dr. Kwablah attended SGU on a merit-based scholarship offered to qualified students from Commonwealth countries. He dreamt of becoming a doctor since he was a teenager, inspired by his father, who was a biomedical scientist, as well as the American TV show, ER. When it came time to choosing a medical school, St. George’s University was a highly desirable choice.

“SGU appealed to me because of the learning structure and the opportunities I knew it would give me,” he said. “A family friend had also studied there and highly recommended it. The scholarship offer was the deciding point and I’m delighted at the path I chose.”

The SGU Commonwealth Scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to their chosen discipline. They are primarily granted to students from countries where the need for trained professionals is high.

“I knew I’d want to return to Ghana and practice medicine after I graduated,” Dr. Kwablah said.

After earning his Doctor of Medicine at SGU, he stayed in Grenada to complete a Master of Business Administration in Multi-Sector Health Management. His education prepared him well for his return to Ghana, where he currently serves as medical director at Action Clinic in Accra, with designs on becoming a specialist in family medicine.

“There is so much work to be done in Ghana,” Dr. Kwablah said. “We have very capable doctors but limited resources and the country’s medical services are behind in terms of technological advancements. Most doctors are based in urban areas which means medical support for people living in rural areas is hard for them to access.

To resolve this issue, Dr. Kwablah aims to develop health technology in Ghana. He currently is part of a telemedicine initiative that provides a low-cost medical advice service by phone for people who are unable to visit with a doctor. It has proven to be especially beneficial for low-income individuals and families, particularly those residing in remote areas.

“I’d like to do more research in this field and I feel well equipped to take on its challenges after having the advantage of a global education at SGU. The exposure I had during my clinical placements in New York City and California really helped shape my mindset, and I apply the principles from my learning in my day-to-day work.

“As well as a fantastically well-rounded medical education, SGU taught me skills in clinical research, medical education, data analysis, and public speaking, all of which have helped me get to where I am today.”

 

Published September 2019

Seunghwan Kim, MD

/in /by

Growing up in South Korea, Seunghwan Kim, MD ’15, never dreamed he could become a doctor, but today he is a second-year resident specializing in pediatrics at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. And he loves what he does.

“I feel I found an unlimited source of joy from practicing medicine,” Dr. Kim said. “I can always find something to do for others. Also, being a doctor means a ceaseless dedication to self-learning in addition to always learning from your patients.”

Dr. Kim’s journey to becoming a doctor wasn’t linear, nor was it easy. Living in South Korea, it was “extremely difficult” to get into medical school, Dr. Kim said, yet he always had a desire to help people in need. In addition to traveling a great distance, he had to learn English and acclimate to life abroad.

“Ten years ago, not many people knew about St. George’s University and even fewer people, at least in South Korea, were willing to go to a Caribbean medical school,” Kim said. “I heard SGU was the best one in the Caribbean and I took a chance.”

The move paid off. He quickly fell in love with Grenada and life at SGU and hasn’t looked back.

Going to SGU was “very, very, very wonderful,” Dr. Kim said. “Studying medicine at SGU was exotic and fascinating. There are so many opportunities to explore and take as yours.”

After completing his preclinical requirement at SGU, Dr. Kim entered the School of Medicine in January 2011. During that time, he made sure to immerse himself in campus events and clubs, as well as learning the Grenadian culture. “SGU gave me lifelong friends and unforgettable memories,” he said. “I met so many wonderful staff and friends at SGU and got exposed to various cultures.”

Dr. Kim said his SGU experience helped him become more sensitive to his patients’ needs but also to embrace different personalities and cultures. He credits his involvement in club activities and group learning sessions to making him a better team player.

Following the birth of his eldest daughter, Dr. Kim decided to use his skills in the field of pediatrics. “I originally wanted to do emergency medicine, but when my daughter was born, I began to feel I wanted to work with children and protect them so that they can grow to their fullest potential,” he said. “In addition, pediatric residents almost always appeared to be so happy when I met them during the interview season.”

In addition to earning a Doctor of Medicine degree, Dr. Kim strengthened his residency resume by working as a research and teaching fellow, and by earning a Master of Business Administration.

Dr. Kim is still deciding his exact career path; he is considering starting as a general pediatrician and eventually hopes to do a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine or pediatric urgent care.

“I am the first one in my family who studied abroad and now lives outside Korea,” Dr. Kim said. “My parents are proud of me not because of my MD title but because I am doing what I love.”

 

Published September 2019

Lowell Su, MD

/in /by

From the specialty he’s in to the training that he’s receiving, Lowell Su, MD ’10, cherishes the position that he’s in. As a cardiothoracic surgery fellow at Tufts Medical Center and Lahey Clinic and Medical Center in Boston, MA, he’s learning from some of the world’s foremost leaders in the field, in one of the most competitive fields to gain admittance.

His two-year fellowship in and around Boston is only the latest stop on a journey that has taken the St. George’s University graduate to some of the country’s most renowned institutions—the acclaimed Mayo Clinic and Brigham & Women’s Hospital among them.

“I went to medical school wanting to do CT surgery, so you could say that I’m living my childhood dream,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to be learning from leaders in cardiothoracic surgery, from the people who write the textbooks.”

Dr. Su recently entered his second year at Tufts, where he sees a breadth of cardiac and thoracic cases. In the morning, he rounds in the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU), reviewing patient plans with attendings and working with the department’s residents. From there, he scrubs into the operating room at Tufts’ Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Center, which ranks number one in New England in heart transplant volume, and has produced some of the country’s most favorable transplant outcomes. Dr. Su also practices at the nearby Lahey Clinic, which is at the forefront nationally in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and tops in New England in regards to robotic case volume.

“Operating on the heart and lungs, it’s very rewarding to know that you’re changing the course of people’s lives,” Dr. Su said. “Thoracic surgery has made significant technologic advancements in the past decade; consequently, an increasing number of cases are done minimally invasively. Heart surgery is still primarily performed through an open approach, and I relish the opportunity to literally get my hands inside the chest to operate. It’s amazing to operate in the chest, to feel the heart beating and the lungs breathing, and to know that each operative decision helps determine the course of a patient’s life. Ultimately, to be in a position to help out patients through these operations is why I love this field.”

Becoming a physician was Dr. Su’s goal from a young age. Born in Taiwan, he and his family moved to Minnesota when he was young, his father and mother taking positions at the prestigious Mayo Clinic, him a dermatologist and her a radiologist. It was then that Dr. Su’s interest in medicine began to bloom.

“I remember when I was in elementary school, my dad showed me videos of heart surgery performed at the Mayo Clinic, and I would just watch them all afternoon,” Dr. Su said. “I told myself that one day I would be wearing those surgeon’s gloves.”

Dr. Su earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Northwestern University in 2000 before going on to obtain a master’s degree in intercultural studies from Trinity International University in Chicago. He firmly believed that his grade point average and test scores were strong enough for admission into any American school but instead he was waitlisted.

At an impasse, he evaluated his options, speaking to several of his father’s Mayo Clinic colleagues who had gone the Caribbean route and become successful physicians. Instead of waiting a year to re-apply to American schools, Dr. Su enrolled at SGU because of its high residency match rates and campus accommodations.

“It was unclear to me at the time why the door to matriculating into an American school was closed,” Dr. Su said. “In retrospect, however, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity. That time was meant for me to pursue a master’s degree that would build a foundation of integrating medical care into different cultural settings and delivering this care to different people groups. In the end, SGU effectively gave me the same opportunity while saving me a year of re-taking entrance exams.”

As a student at SGU, he was part of the Iota Epsilon Alpha medical honor society, and tutored for two years through the University’s Department of Educational Services. He also took advantage of the array of intramural sports on campus and recreational opportunities around the island.

“I found it to be a valuable experience because I met people from different countries and backgrounds, many of whom I’m in touch with to this day,” Dr. Su said. “I also enjoyed living in a different culture.”

After graduating from SGU, he did his surgical internship year at the Mayo Clinic, before completing a five-year general surgery residency at Marshfield Clinic with rotations at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Medical College of Wisconsin. From there, Dr. Su joined a two-year minimally invasive thoracic surgery fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in West Roxbury, MA, programs run by Harvard Medical School.

“Brigham is the birthplace of thoracic surgery in the United States and is the largest thoracic program in the United States. Approximately 25 percent of all thoracic surgeons in this country were trained at this hospital,” he said. “There are 18 attending surgeons who are experts in everything thoracic. It was the chance of a lifetime to learn everything I did from them.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Su eagerly anticipates finishing his fellowship and then seeking a position that combines both his clinical and academic background. Looking back, he’s proud of the path he’s taken and thankful for the foundation he built at St. George’s University.

“St. George’s University gave me everything I needed to get where I am,” Dr. Su said. “Without a doubt, I had to put in the work and prove to people that I could handle the workload, and SGU provided me with the medical knowledge and clinical rotations to succeed. At the end of the day, I’m right where I want to be.”

Published July 2019

Annie Le, MD/MPH

/in , /by

When one considers the path that Annie Le, MD ’18, and her family have taken, it’s a marvel to see just how far she’s come—and the places she’s sure to go.

“Coming to the US, we pretty much started from scratch,” said Dr. Le, who started her family medicine residency at Borrego Health in California this summer.

In the 1970s, with Vietnam on the precipice of war, her family immigrated to California, settling in a refugee community in San Diego. She lived with her entire extended family in a single home and in poverty. However, she said the experience “built up a lot of character and grit” that helped shape her work ethic and goals.

That includes in medicine, a field she has eyed from a young age. Now as a physician, she is committed to treating underserved communities.

“Being from a refugee community, I witnessed inequality in healthcare firsthand,” she said. “The cultural barriers took a negative toll on my family.”

Dr. Le’s journey toward becoming a doctor began when she obtained her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), becoming a first-generation college graduate. In addition to her studies, Dr. Le developed a strong research background, first as an undergraduate within UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine’s Department of Hematology and Oncology, and then at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where her responsibilities included coordinating all pediatric brain tumor and central nervous system disease-related clinical trials. As a result, she has been published and mentioned in several research articles.

Still, she felt limited in what she could provide for her patients.

“I knew that a step above, to be able to implement the research and be on the front lines, was to be a practitioner,” she said.

After completing postbaccalaureate courses at UCSF, Dr. Le applied to US medical schools but was waitlisted. Instead of waiting a year to start her journey toward becoming a physician, she applied to St. George’s University at the behest of a UCLA colleague who had taken a similar path.

“Looking back on my clinical years, I really appreciate the fact that I was exposed to so many different communities, different hospitals, and the different ways that they do things. You adapt to each location, and gain knowledge and skills from each experience.”

“I saw how successful she was going through it, and it was an opportunity to start sooner,” Dr. Le said. “Also, during undergrad I had wanted to study abroad but never did, so this was my opportunity to live in a different culture. Even though I went to UCLA and live in California where it’s diverse, SGU gave me a different level of diversity that allowed me to learn from people from different backgrounds from all over the world. It’s something that I really appreciated.”

While at SGU, she was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA), mentored students, and volunteered at several student organization health fairs. She was also appointed by her peers as project coordinator of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), an organization that recognizes students who demonstrate compassionate and patient-centered care.

Dr. Le’s clinical training took her to locations throughout the United States as well as the United Kingdom.

“Looking back on my clinical years, I really appreciate the fact that I was exposed to so many different communities, different hospitals, and the different ways that they do things,” she said. “You adapt to each location, and gain knowledge and skills from each experience.”

Among her stops was Borrego Health, which is part of SGU’s vast network of clinical training sites. Through that experience, she built a rapport with attending physicians and staff, making it an easy decision to rank the facility as a top choice for residency. She joined its inaugural residency class on July 1, 2019 and as the first SGU graduate selected for the program.

“In my fourth year, it felt like I was an intern already,” she said. “The relationships that were developed prior to the match allowed me to foresee what the experience would be like working there. I had such a positive experience, so it really felt like home.”

After earning her Doctor of Medicine from SGU and receiving all four honor cords in leadership/academics/humanism/research, Dr. Le added a Master of Public Health, with a focus on preventive medicine, to her resume, further preparing her for a career in family medicine. She will begin her residency at Hemet Valley Medical Center, one of two residency locations underneath the Borrego Health umbrella. Like she grew comfortable at Borrego, Dr. Le hopes that her patients—from wherever they come—feel welcome coming into her office.

“When I was young, I wanted to change some parts of medicine but didn’t have the capacity to do so. But now I do,” she said. “Seeing how hard my family worked has motivated me to push for equal healthcare access for every individual and community.”

Published July 2019

Akwe Nyabera, MD

/in /by

You left Kenya for Grenada when you were just 19. Who or what influenced your decision to study at St. George’s University?

I’ve always had an interest in traveling, so from a young age I knew I wanted to study abroad. It was actually my school counselor who told me about SGU and the beautiful island of Grenada.

When I was 16, I worked under an engineer at a hospital in Nairobi. I was inspired by the work of the doctors and nurses and the role of the hospital in the community it served. After this, I volunteered at a number of hospitals and made the decision to study medicine.

Where has your SGU degree taken you?

I’m now living in Brooklyn, New York, and I’m working as a surgical intern at a large hospital. I love my job. It’s extremely practical and I enjoy working on surgical procedures. In the future, I hope to specialize in gastroenterology or interventional cardiology. I didn’t plan to move to the United States, but I’m glad I have because the knowledge and experience I’m gaining here can be practiced anywhere in the world. New York City is a terrific place to live and work. It’s extremely diverse and I love the mix of people and cultures.

Apart from academic qualifications, what did you gain from studying at SGU?

A huge amount. My professors taught me how to learn and to improvise during difficult circumstances. The teaching staff were all excellent and they were always there to help if you needed it. Grenada is also the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. It’s a really wonderful setting to live and learn. The people are so friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious, and living there gave me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

Alongside my studies, I got involved with a number of voluntary roles during my spare time. I regularly made volunteer visits to the Bel Air Children’s Home on the island and worked with orphaned children with complex disabilities. I was also an executive board member of the University’s Physicians for Human Rights chapter, community outreach coordinator and president of the Neuroscience Society, and I participated in a four-month American Sign Language selective as well as volunteering at the Dorothy Hopkins Home for the Disabled.

Your education and experience shows you’re keen to live and work in a variety of countries. Is that something you hope will continue throughout your career?

Definitely. I want to work for international organizations and in countries that don’t have a lot of resources. Working for an international non-profit organization would give me so many opportunities to help people who don’t always have access to medical services. One day, I would like to return to Kenya and work there. The world is so big and I have so many opportunities ahead of me. Medicine is unpredictable by nature, but I’m really grateful to SGU for giving me such a good start. I’m incredibly excited about my future.

What has been your career highlight so far?

While studying at SGU, I took a two-week selective in India where I worked at a hospital in Karad. It was really eye-opening and sparked my interest in global health systems. I also recently helped to organize a medical camp in Eldoret, Kenya, with a group of neurosurgeons. I had the opportunity to scrub in on surgeries for people who couldn’t afford medical care. This was extremely rewarding.

But my absolute highlight was my graduation day. My family is very important to me, and it was so special that they were all able to attend. They have always supported me, and my graduation ceremony was the culmination of all my work since I was 16.

 

Published May 2019