SOM Student Check-In: Carley Greco, Third-Year Clinical Student

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Quick Stats:
Hometown: Kings Park, NY
Expected graduation: May 2023
Career aspirations: Emergency medicine
Current hospital: O’Connor Hospital

St. George’s University medical student Carley Greco is taking in all the opportunities that the University has to offer.

A third-year student with aspirations to go into emergency medicine, Ms. Greco, who is originally from New York, is currently completing her core clinical rotations in California. She has so far finished three clerkships—internal medicine, surgery, and OB/GYN—and is currently completing her pediatrics rotation at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose.

SGU News spoke with Ms. Greco about her experience in clinicals so far and how it is helping her to solidify her chosen specialty leading up to residency applications for the 2023 NRMP Match.

SGU: You are not from California, yet you requested to be placed there for your core rotations, why is that?

Carley Greco: I was interested in completing rotations in California to see hospitals in different parts of the country and with different patient populations. I also wanted to see if I enjoyed living and working in California prior to residency applications to determine if I would want to apply to positions on the West Coast.

SGU: How would you describe your experience at O’Connor Hospital?

Carley Greco: The experience has been positive. The hospital does not have residents in every specialty, only in family medicine, which gives students a chance to work directly with the attending physicians and see their clinical decision making firsthand. Throughout each rotation we switch doctors every three to four weeks, so I’ve gotten to see a mix of the sub-specialties within each specialty.

For example, during my IM rotation I rotated through nephrology, pulmonary, and interventional cardiology, in addition to seeing patients on the hospitalist service. It was very interesting for me to see all the different paths available to those who go into internal medicine.

SGU: What has been your favorite rotation so far and why?

Carley Greco: I’d have to say my favorite rotation thus far would be surgery! I worked with cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and orthopedic surgery, and was able to scrub in on multiple procedures including a lung resection, hip replacements, shoulder replacements, knee replacements, ACL and meniscus repairs, and multiple revascularization procedures! My favorite experience was learning hands on how to whip stitch an ACL allograft.

SGU: What did it feel like that first time you scrubbed in for a surgery?

Carley Greco: The first surgery I scrubbed in for was a partial lung resection on a young man with a lung nodule. I was both extremely excited and extremely nervous. I made sure to eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of water the night before, so I was ready to go. It was the coolest experience to be a part of the surgical team, scrubbing at the same sink with the surgeon, holding retractors, suctioning, and aiming the laparoscope camera so the surgeon could see.

The surgery ended up being more complicated than expected, she ended up converting to open surgery rather than laparoscopic, and it took over six hours! I was so impressed by the surgeon and her ability to remain totally focused on the task at hand for the entire surgery.

SGU: How would you describe the faculty as it pertains to your training?

Carley Greco: It is nice to be able to see the various styles and strengths of each physician, and to benefit from each of their teaching styles. All of the doctors enjoy teaching and giving us hands-on experience where applicable.

SGU: What are your career aspirations/Match specialty hopes?

Carley Greco: I plan on applying to both emergency medicine/internal medicine combo programs, as well as purely emergency medicine. I think EM/IM would give me excellent insight to all sides of patient care from the ER through to admission and help me provide better care for my patients on either the EM or IM side. This would also give me a path to the ICU if I chose to go that route.

I know I would be equally as happy in an EM residency. I love the fast-paced environment and variety of medical knowledge needed in the emergency room and think I will end up in the ER either way!

SGU: What topics/issues are you passionate about in medicine?

Carley Greco: I did my masters in compassionate care, medical ethics, and medical humanities. Something that I found myself very invested in was end-of-life care. We typically think that these end-of-life decisions are only relevant in the sick and elderly, however tragedies can happen at any age and leave people unable to make decision for themselves. As a physician I hope to encourage and empower patients to educate themselves on measures they may or may not want taken when their quality of life is no longer what they wish it were.

SGU: What piece of advice do you have for med students just beginning their clerkships?

Carley Greco: Take a deep breath and relax! It’s okay if you feel like you know nothing and don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing. Everyone had to start somewhere, and the majority of doctors are very understanding that you are just starting out with clinical experience.

Listen to what you are being taught so you get it right next time.

Be on time, be flexible, and offer to help wherever and however you can, and they will see that you are eager to learn and be a part of the team.

 

 

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

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SGU grad secures ultrasound units to aid Grenada’s fight against breast cancer

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In the fight against breast cancer, access to resources is key; specifically, resources that contribute to early detection. Dr. Randy Becker, MD ’00, and current medical director at Crossroads Imaging Center of Advanced Radiology, in Ellicott City, MD, and clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, knows firsthand how important early detection is.

This is particularly the case on the island of Grenada, where during his visits through St. George’s University’s Physician Humanitarian Network (PHuN), he noticed a higher-than-normal percentage of patients with more advanced disease, oftentimes an indirect result of limited breast screening programs and access. To help alleviate this shortage, Dr. Becker worked with his imaging partner Hologic, to secure two portable breast ultrasound units. The donated imaging units will be used at Grenada General Hospital and Princess Alice Hospital.

“Improving access to women’s healthcare and screening services in Grenada is an important health initiative for the country. As a radiologist, I know that early detection often means better long-term outcomes for the country’s mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts. That is why making this donation means so much to me,” said Dr. Becker.

These handheld units are particularly useful for patients with dense breast tissue, which makes it more difficult to detect suspicious abnormalities and is more commonly seen in Black women. The units, which come complete with the latest software, will aid breast surgeons and interventional radiologists in real-time management of complex breast lesions.

“We continue to work collaboratively with our alumni to strengthen the delivery of healthcare in Grenada,” said Brendon LaGrenade, vice provost of institutional advancement at SGU. “Through Dr. Becker’s unceasing efforts, he has secured this donation as we continue to work on acquiring a mammography machine. We do believe these machines can be a vital interim resource in our fight against breast cancer.”

Hologic’s multiyear partnership with the nonprofit organization, Black Women’s Health Imperative, prompted Dr. Becker to submit a grant proposal for a comprehensive women’s imaging service package last year.

“One of the goals of the initiative was to increase screening and access to African American women in the United States, often in underserved areas,” Dr. Becker said. “I also learned that one of the more lethal forms of breast cancer, Triple Negative (TNBC), is most prevalent in West Africa, which is the founder population of not just most African Americans, but also of almost all Grenadians. However, with equal and appropriate screening programs we can reduce race- or ethnicity-associated breast cancer disparities such as what we see with TNBC.”

He views this donation as only the first step in delivering better women’s imaging care and services for the patients in Grenada. Said Dr. Becker: “Our goal of securing a mammography unit with biopsy capabilities to complete a comprehensive radiology service for the entire Grenadian community is what we hope will be the next step.”

—Sarah Stoss

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Cardiologist from Grenada Pioneers Robotic Procedure in Outpatient Setting

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Grenadian national Adam Bierzynski, MD ’11, is making waves in the field of interventional cardiology through the use of robotics in outpatient settings.

As an interventional cardiologist on staff at several hospitals in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area, Dr. Bierzynski performs complex heart procedures on patients in need. In 2020, he was among the team who performed the first-ever outpatient robotic percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at an ambulatory surgery center.

Dr. Bierzynski spoke to SGU News about why the procedure was groundbreaking, the potential life-saving capabilities of robotics within the field of cardiology, his experience at St. George’s University, and how his medical training set him up for success.

SGU: Did you always want to become a doctor?

Dr. Bierzynski: I wanted to be a doctor for most of my life. My grandfather was the chief medical officer of Grenada for a time, and I was always interested in the sciences and being able to apply knowledge to helping and healing.

SGU: What appealed to you about the field of interventional cardiology?  

Dr. Bierzynski: Cardiology piqued my interest most throughout my clinical rotations. Once within cardiology training, the allure of interventional cardiology was too much to ignore. The ability to place a stent in someone’s artery who is having a heart attack and have them walk out as early as the next day with almost no damage done is truly one of the most rewarding feelings in medicine. The field is also always evolving with new techniques and procedures, so it is difficult for it to ever become mundane.

SGU: Where did you do your training?

Dr. Bierzynski: After being raised and completing high school in Grenada, I attended the University of Ottawa for my undergraduate studies before returning to Grenada to attend SGU. I graduated in 2011 and was fortunate enough to start my internship and residency in internal medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. I was accepted into the general cardiology fellowship program at Lenox Hill Hospital Heart and Vascular, then did a further subspecialty in interventional cardiology at the same institution, completing my long haul of training in June 2018.

 

“Being able to do something that hasn’t been done before was definitely the highlight of my career. My training really helped me to be confident in my ability to execute the procedure safely and address any complications that may arise.”

 

SGU: In 2020, you performed the first-ever outpatient robotic percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at an ambulatory surgery center. Could you explain what this is and why a patient would need this?

Dr. Bierzynski: The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. A “heart attack” is when those arteries are blocked and blood flow to the heart muscle stops and that muscle dies. A PCI is the placement of a stent into the coronary artery that opens the blockage and allows for blood to flow through the artery once again. Typically, this is done in a hospital and the performing doctor is standing at the operating table wearing heavy lead shielding to protect from radiation that is used to perform the imaging. A robotic PCI utilizes a mechanical arm that advances the wires, balloons, and stents that we use during the procedure in order to open the blocked arteries. I am able to sit in the adjacent control room and control the robot to perform the procedure instead of having to stand at the procedure table next to the radiation generator.  This has only ever been done inside a hospital until recently.

SGU: What was that experience like for you?

Dr. Bierzynski: Being able to do something that hasn’t been done before was definitely the highlight of my career. My training really helped me to be confident in my ability to execute the procedure safely and address any complications that may arise. Fortunately, that first procedure couldn’t have gone better, and the patient was discharged home hours later. I have continued to perform this procedure robotically whenever feasible.

It is likely that robotic PCI will become more and more commonplace and performing it in the outpatient setting will also become routine, and it will always be awesome for me to look back and think, “but I did it first!”

Adam Bierzynski, MD ’11, is making waves in the field of interventional cardiology through the use of robotics in outpatient settings.

SGU: Why is this an important advancement in cardiac medicine, especially during the COVID pandemic?

Dr. Bierzynski: Cardiology is a fast, ever-changing field. The things we routinely do now were considered impossible or impractical 10-15 years ago.

This was a timely innovation during the pandemic. By performing it as an outpatient at a surgical center, patients could be assured that there were no COVID patients at the facility so that they were at minimal risk. This was important as people were postponing life-saving care, especially early on in the pandemic, due to their desire to avoid exposure to a potentially life-threatening disease. Also, it allowed the performing doctor to minimize his exposure to the patient as well.

SGU: Looking forward, what is the potential for this technology within cardiology?

Dr. Bierzynski: There are many areas within the US that do not have interventional cardiologists nearby. When someone is having a heart attack they are losing heart muscle with every second. Being able to open their artery as quickly as possible makes all the difference to that individual’s life and also their quality of life. In those places where there is no access to providers capable of these interventions, it is possible that there can be staff trained in setting up and initiating the robot, while an interventional cardiologist performs the required intervention from a remote workstation.

On a global level, there are many countries that do not have an interventional cardiologist present to perform the required procedure in those suffering from an acute heart attack. Potentially, one operator could provide coverage to multiple hospitals, or different countries remotely without having to leave his own room.

In addition, interventional cardiologists have high rates of disability from orthopedic injuries due to long careers wearing heavy lead shielding while performing complex procedures.  Using the robot allows the operator to perform the same procedure while sitting down, relieving all the strain on the back and neck that interventional cardiologists have to suffer daily. It also reduces the radiation that we expose ourselves to by an estimated 50 percent and allows for more accurate measurement and stent placement which is better for the patient.

SGU: Describe your SGU experience, especially as someone from Grenada?

Dr. Bierzynski: Attending SGU was a fantastic experience. The campus is state-of-the-art, and uniquely breathtaking in its location. Coupled with a diverse student body and accessible faculty, I can truly say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time at SGU and would recommend it to anyone considering applying.

As a Grenadian, it was surprising how even though you felt at home, it was simultaneously like being in a different country. I had attended university overseas so I was comfortable with the change, but I was aware of the difference you feel when on campus. So even for those who feel they want to have a university experience elsewhere, I can assure you that you are exposed enough to different experiences that you do not feel stifled.

SGU: What insights do you have for other Caribbean students who may be considering medical school?  

Dr. Bierzynski: I sat in the lecture halls at SGU like everyone else, and heard from professors about when we will be doing residency or fellowship, and eventually practice as physicians, and I think everyone at some point has the same thought: “Can and will this really happen for me?” Rest assured, SGU graduates—including those from the Caribbean—can get the residency they want, the specialty they want, and become excellent physicians in their chosen field—if you work hard enough.

 

 

— Ray-Donna Peters and Laurie Chartorynsky

 

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SGU Physician Humanitarian Network Returns to Grenada

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Eager to once again be able to give back to the school and island that gave him his start in medicine, cardiologist Anthony Tramontano, MD ’99, recently returned to the island to help restart the St. George’s University Physician Humanitarian Network (SGU PHuN) Adult Cardiology Program—offering essential cardiovascular services to the people of Grenada free of charge.

“Knowing the great need for cardiology services on the island, I was anxious to return to my regular visits to the clinic,” said Dr. Tramontano, chair of medicine and medical director of cardiology at Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake, NY. “My start in medicine was here at SGU and Grenada will always hold a special place in my heart. It is an honor to serve the patients here and offer what care I can, whether it be a one-time appointment in the Cardiology Clinic or continued care each time I return.”

As the first visiting cardiologist to return since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tramontano’s days were filled with attending to patients at both the clinic in Grand Anse and the Grenada General Hospital, in addition to providing medical education to the physician population.

 

“My start in medicine was here at SGU and Grenada will always hold a special place in my heart. It is an honor to serve the patients here and offer what care I can, whether it be a one-time appointment in the Cardiology Clinic or continued care each time I return.”

 

“Dr. Tramontano’s visit was not only timely for patients, but his lectures and ward rounds at the hospital were extremely well-received by the physicians and staff,” praised Dr. Dolland Noel, associate dean of clinical studies at SGU, director of medical education and head of internal medicine at the General Hospital. “He saw the many cases we have here in Grenada that need specialist attention, and he was ready and prepared to provide cost-free cardiology care to the island’s citizens.”

Now in its 15th year, the adult cardiology program, originally coordinated by Johansen Sylvester, MD ’00, continues to provide much-needed heart care services to the Grenadian people. Visiting alumni—many of whom have traveled to the island multiple times to offer their services through the program—administer patient consultations, cardiac testing, pacemaker implantations, angioplasties, echocardiograms, and referrals for those needing advanced care. SGU PHuN has provided millions of dollars in service to the Grenadian community, resulting in countless lives saved.

Other School of Medicine alumni who have also pledged their time and expertise to the SGU PHuN program include OB/GYN Philip Lahrmann, MD ’81, nephrologist Dr. Lisa Radix, MD ’97, Grenadian-born endocrinologist Dwight Matthias, MD ’92, and associate alumni and ophthalmologist Dr. Fred Lambrou.

“We at SGU are always happy to have our graduates return to assist our island home,” stated Brendon La Grenade, vice provost for institutional advancement. “The importance of our alumni was always evident, and the pandemic has only made it more apparent. I am grateful to Dr. Tramontano, and all of our alums, who give back to Grenada in so many ways.”

Dr. Anthony Tramontano, MD ’99, returns to Grenada to help restart the SGU Physician Humanitarian Network adult cardiology program, where he offered essential cardiovascular services to the people of Grenada, free of charge.

 

– Ray-Donna Peters

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SGU Featured in Forbes.com Article on High-Demand Medical Specialties

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The United States is facing demand for more doctors across dozens of specialties. As a new article in Forbes.com outlines — “Five Medical Specialties That Need More Doctors” — internationally trained physicians will play an outsized role in meeting that growing need.

As author and admissions counselor Kristen Moon of Moon Prep writes, “Interestingly, graduates of international medical schools, including St. George’s, make up a disproportionate share of the doctors practicing in some of the specialties where demand will be greatest in the years to come. About one-fourth of doctors practicing in the United States today graduated from an international medical school..

As Dr. G. Richard Olds, the president of St. George’s University on the Caribbean island of Grenada, told Moon Prep, “Future doctors want to know where they can do the most good … We love helping students find their passion — and meet critical medical needs.”

Some specialties that face particularly concerning shortages are critical care, geriatrics, endocrinology, infectious disease, and psychiatry. This spring, SGU graduates matched into residencies in these specialties across the country.

For a full list of SGU’s 2022 residency matches, visit our website here.

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SVM Celebrates Excellence at Spring Term Awards Ceremony 

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The School of Veterinary Medicine celebrated its Spring 2022 Term Awards on April 23 during a virtual event that included students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Tara Paterson, SVM awards committee chair, opened the ceremony by remarking on the significance of the night: “Even though we are not all together celebrating in the same room or space, it doesn’t take away from the magnitude of the occasion. We hope that you enjoy spending the next hour with us celebrating your colleagues, your faculty, the staff, and all the wonderful things that contribute to making SGU such an amazing institution.”

Vice Provost of Institutional Advancement Brendan LaGrenade also addressed the virtual crowd. He shared his thoughts on continuing the ceremony virtually, and how it “is a testament to how important these awards are” to showcase students’ and faculty’s achievements. “I also feel compelled to add that you vets know how to make academia interesting and fun,” he added.

Over 20 sets of awards were presented during the event, including the first for SVM’s Surgery Club—the Sharpest Scalpel Award. Also of note was the Award for Outstanding Service to SGU honoring Dr. Rolf Larsen who will retire at the end of this term, and the induction of 26 students into the Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta.

“We at the School of Veterinary Medicine are proud to recognize the success and achievements of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Neil Olson, dean of the SVM, in the final welcoming remarks to kick off the night and begin the presentation of awards.

This semester’s awards are as follows:

Outstanding Colleague Awards 

Term 1 : Stephanie West

Term 2: Andrew Richterkessing

Term 3: Treg Brown

Term 4: Maureen Kruhlak

Term 5: Madison Kucinick

Term 6: Yvonne White

Dean Olson’s Award for Academic Excellence 

Joshua Fornengo, Jennifer Maguire, Emily Schafsteck, Paige Coughlin, Jacob Dempsey, Brenda Ruiz Anaya, Ericah Roncone

Adrienne Lotton Memorial Award 

Sheriden Nicholes

Zoetis Revolution Awards of Excellence

Small Animal Internal Medicine: Ida Yates-Lavery

Small Animal Surgery: Sheriden Nicholes

Equine Medicine and Surgery: Chloe Eaton

Food Animal Medicine and Surgery: Thomas Ramsey

Scholarship of Service: Tyler Epes

Surgery Team: Alexa Cameron, Acacia Johnson, Andrew Yacoub, Stephanie Smick

Student Research Award: Sara Schectman

SVM Alumni Scholarship Award

Madison Whitney

Giant Paws Giant Hearts Foundation “Hercules” Award

Sheriden Nicholes

PAWS Recognition Sixth Term Facilitators

Patrick Donegan, Ireny Barsoum, Brittany Riddick, Parveen Hothi, Michelle Mordukhaev

Feral Cat Project

Most Valuable Trapper: Emily Shin

Most Valuable Faculty/Staff: Dr. Wayne Sylvester

Veterinary Public Health Committee

One Health One Medicine Community Leader Award: Mallory Peak

SGUSVM Large Animal Society

Ace of Initiative Award: Melitsa Iaonnou

Most Valuable E-Board Member: Megan Gilmore

Student Chapter of the Society for Theriogenology

Therio-Hero: Ashley Emmett

Top Dam: Amanda Rottman Torres

AAARF: Angels in Armor Animal Rescue Fund

Friends of AAARF Award: Tyler Epes

SCACVIM: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine MVP Award: Madison Whitney

SVECCS: Student Chapter of the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society

Outstanding 6th Termer: Shelby Morales

Outstanding Member: Richard Joyce and Taryn Willamson

SNP: Spay Neuter Pothound

Pothound Faculty/Staff Hero Award: Dr. Marta Lanza Perea

Pothound Student Hero Award: Brooke Bray

SCACVP: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

The MVP (Most Valuable Pathologist): Glenna Maur

EWS: Exotics & Wildlife Society

The Tenacious Turtle Award: Rayner LeBlanc

EWS Wildest Faculty Award: Dr. Sophie Moittie

VBMA: Veterinary Business Management Association

Outstanding E-Board Member: Letty Bonilla

Impact Award: Meena Khoram Pierce

AWB: Animal Welfare and Behavior Committee

AWB Excellence Award: Jasmine Simmons

SVM Surgery Club

The Sharpest Scalpel Award: Maricella Medina

 SGA: Student Government Association

SGU SVM Outstanding Faculty Term 1-3: Dr. Hector Zerpa

SGU SVM Outstanding Faculty Term 4-6: Dr. Thomas Hanson

SGA SGU Awards of Excellence Term 1-3: Dr. Peter Slinger

SGA SGU Awards of Excellence Term 4-6: Ms. Elizabeth Peach

George B. Daniel Award: Sheridan Nicholes

The Pinckney Parasitology Award

Logan Bernstein

DES Recognition Awards

Amanda Via, Amanda Rottman, Cobi Guilbeau, Courtney Manly, Kira Rasmussen, Taylor Stanton

Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta

Spring 2022 Inductees

Term 5: Caitlyn Coartney, Lauren Fleming, Alexandra Garrett, Stephanie Ho, Samantha Hoover, Acacia Johnson, Jennifer Memleb, Madeline Muntean, Teylor Nealy, Samuel Ruch, Valerie Savino

Term 6: Madeleine Christen, Zachary Collette, Rachel Gray, Ida Yates-Lavery, Jenny Liu, Jenna McCartin, Jacob Moise, Brittany Murray, Jacqueline Nunnelley, Kyle Pinney, Brittany Riddick, Johana Maldonado-Ross, Rachel Uvaydov, Madison Whitney, Marielis Guzman-Sanchez

Faculty Inductees

Veterinary Faculty: Dr. Hector Zerpa and Dr. Mercedes Velazquez de Zerpa

Honorary Faculty: Ms. Janella Edwards

Spring 2022 Phi Zeta Scholarship: Jennifer Memleb

SGUSVM Award for Outstanding Service

Dr. Rolf Larsen

 SGUSVM Outstanding Staff Awards

Technical Staff: Renata Mandbodh-Mitchell

Administrative Staff: Cherry-Ann Lumpriss

Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award

Dr. Stacey Byers

– Sarah Stoss

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St. George’s University Awards 110 Incoming Students with Scholarships

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This spring, St. George’s University announced it has awarded merit-based scholarships to 110 incoming medical school students. 

Fourteen new students earned the Chancellor’s Circle Legacy of Excellence Scholarship, which provides $94,500 in tuition assistance. The recipients hail from several U.S. states and Canadian provinces as well as Jamaica. 

Another 96 students received the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship. They also come from a variety of U.S. states and countries, including Canada, South Korea, Australia, and more. They’ll each receive a minimum of $65,000 in assistance. 

All the recipients demonstrated academic excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate studies.  

“We’re excited to see what the future holds for our Legacy of Excellence Scholars,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “At SGU, we strive to make medical school affordable and accessible, so that we can help educate the doctors the United States needs to address its looming physician shortage.” 

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could face a shortage of as many as 124,000 physicians by 2034. St. George’s University is committed to enabling its students to begin post-residency careers in the United States and Canada, particularly in underserved communities.  

Since St. George’s University launched the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship program, hundreds of scholarship recipients have gone on to become successful physicians. Seventy-five percent of all entering four-year medical students received SGU scholarships in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the latest available data.  

“It fills me with pride to see our former students practicing medicine where they’re needed most,” Olds said. 

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Promoting Environmental Awareness Year-Round: Here’s Why You Should Join the ECO Student Club

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Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on the impact that all humans have on our planet, but the School of Arts and Sciences’ Education, Conservation, Outreach (ECO) student organization strives to do this year-round by raising awareness about the environment to the St. George’s University community and to the wider Grenadian population.

As one of SGU’s more than 60 student organizations, all students—regardless of school—are welcome to join the ECO club. The group’s main activities center on curating visiting lecturers and scientists to speak with students about issues affecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They also host movie nights, environmental cleanups, and collaborate on events with other student clubs. These and other activities organized by the group create a genuine connection between students and Grenada’s natural environment, leading to a greater appreciation of all the island has to offer.

There is also a strong tie to the Grenadian community as the group strives to highlight environmental issues, through methods like guest lectures, impacting the country, such as pollution, poaching, overharvesting of local species, and climate change.

SGU News spoke with ECO’s current president, Rachael Steele, a third year Marine, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology student in the School of Arts and Sciences who is aspiring to be a marine biologist, to learn more about the organization’s mission and why students should get involved.

St. George’s University: What is the mission of ECO and what does it mean to you? 

Ms. Steele: ECO’s mission is to spread awareness of pressing environmental issues we are facing today caused by human activities. We hope this leads to a change in the values, morals, and, ideally, the behavior of society toward nature. Environmental awareness is so important because we all inhabit the same planet, so we want to encourage more environmentally friendly behaviors.

SGU: Why should students get involved? 

Ms. Steele: “Saving the Planet, Saves Lives.” ECO clubs are important at all levels of education because they foster more sustainable and environmentally friendly actions by their members—and communities at large.

Knowing more about the earth should be an essential part of our lives, just like how we learned to walk, write, speak, cook, etc.  That’s why it’s our mission to promote environmental awareness throughout the student body and general public. A healthy environment improves overall human health.

SGU: What are your goals for the organization as president?

Ms. Steele: My goal for ECO continues to be to increase the care and respect our members have for the environment. We’ll do this through education, outreach programs, and participating in conservation activities.

SGU: If you could convey one message surrounding Earth Day and environmental conservation, what would it be? 

Ms. Steele: We often think being healthy involves only taking care of our physical and mental health. However, living in an unhealthy environment will undo all the work you have done to stay healthy. Beginning in the industrial era, there have been more cases of cancer and reported sicknesses/diseases due to the degradation of our planet.

I wish to convey the overall message to “take care of mother nature and she will take care of you.” Planet earth is our home, the only known habitable planet to support life as we know it, and its health needs to be a priority for us all.

SGU: How can students become members of the club?

Ms. Steele: Students can join our organization through the University Portal.

When in the portal, they should follow the following steps:

    1. Hover your mouse over student resource
    2. In the drop-down menu, select student organizations.
    3. Find ECO listed under the School of Arts and Sciences.
    4. On the ECO page, there is a ‘join here’ button under the welcome section.
    5. Complete and submit the form.

 

—Sarah Stoss

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St. George’s University Announces Admission Partnership with Essex County College and Caldwell University

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St. George’s University has announced a new partnership that will provide eligible students from Essex County College and Caldwell University streamlined admission to St. George’s University School of Medicine.

Accepted students will complete two years at Essex County College and one year at Caldwell University before pursuing a four-year medical degree at St. George’s.

“We are thrilled to establish the first-ever 2+1+4 partnership for high-achieving students at Essex County College and Caldwell University,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University. “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the depth of the U.S. doctor shortage. Partnerships like this one will help close that gap by making the path to medicine more accessible for aspiring physicians.”

Students in the 2+1+4 program must successfully complete their first two years of undergraduate study at Essex County College with an associate’s degree in biology. Then they must complete one year of undergraduate study at Caldwell University. After that, they’ll move on to the four-year medical degree program at St. George’s University. They’ll also have the opportunity to spend their first year of medicine at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom, which maintains a special partnership with St. George’s University.

Caldwell University

In order to remain eligible for the program, students must maintain a 3.4 grade point average while enrolled at Essex County College and at Caldwell. They must also register a competitive score on the MCAT.

Students accepted to the 2+1+4 program will receive a $10,000 scholarship upon matriculating at St. George’s University. They will receive their Bachelor of Science degree from Caldwell upon successfully completing the first year of the SGU’s MD program.

“We’re extremely excited about this new partnership,” said Dr. Augustine A. Boakye, president of Essex County College. “We’re pleased to be able to help our students who aspire to careers in medicine make their dreams a reality at St. George’s University. Essex County College’s curriculum will help ensure students receive a solid foundation as they continue on the path toward becoming medical doctors.”

“Caldwell University is thrilled to partner with St. George’s University and Essex County College to offer students the opportunity to pursue medicine with exposure to medical professionals from around the world,” said Caldwell President Matthew Whelan, Ed.D. “This collaboration will provide our high achieving students who are passionate about making a difference in healthcare, and who may face economic challenges, with the chance to earn both their undergraduate and medical degrees through a global lens.”

Related Reading

Op-Ed: How International Medical Graduates Ease the Doctor Shortage

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St. George’s University President Dr. G. Richard Olds was recently featured in the Naples Daily News.

In the op-ed, “International medical graduates ease the U.S. doctor shortage,” Dr. Olds shed light on the pressing doctor shortage facing America. He also highlighed how international medical graduates, like the thousands who graduate from SGU, can help close that gap.

“The United States desperately needs doctors,” Dr. Olds wrote. “According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, we could face a deficit of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. The shortfall could cost as many as 7,000 lives a year.”

In addition, “zip codes with disproportionate shares of racial and ethnic minorities also tend to lack adequate access to doctors,” he added. “Black and Latino Americans are roughly twice as likely as their white peers to live in areas with few or no primary care providers.”

The statistics are daunting. But a solution lies in SGU’s own hallways: International medical graduates (IMGs) “tend to be the ones who head to high-need communities like these,”  accounting for more than two-thirds of doctors in areas of the US with high populations of ethnic and racial minorities, according to Dr. Olds.

“International medical graduates also gravitate to specialties in high demand. They account for more than half of doctors in geriatrics, where the shortage is yawning as the population ages. IMGs likewise account for outsized shares of the endocrinology, oncology, and cardiology workforces,” he wrote.

 

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