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.”

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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.

 

Read the full article

Chance encounter leads alum to plastic surgery fellowship

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Before Jeremy Bosworth, MD ’13, enrolled at St. George’s University, he was considering a career in law or the FBI. But it was a chance encounter with an old friend who had recently graduated from SGU’s School of Medicine that changed his course forever.

With the encouragement of his friend, Dr. Bosworth applied and was accepted to SGU—and he never looked back. It was while he was on campus in Grenada that he discovered his true passion in life—medicine, particularly surgery, and eventually a love for the very specialized field of plastic surgery.

Dr. Bosworth is currently the chief resident of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Recently, he was awarded an aesthetic fellowship at North Texas Plastic Surgery (NTPS) in Southlake, TX, which he will begin this summer.

SGU News spoke with Dr. Bosworth to learn what appeals to him about the field of plastic surgery, his path to fellowship, and his advice for students on how to land a competitive residency position.

St. George’s University: What is aesthetic surgery?

Dr. Jeremy Bosworth: There are two parts to plastic surgery training: reconstructive plastic surgery and aesthetic plastic surgery. Reconstructive surgery is a big part of plastic surgery training and involves things like craniofacial surgery, breast reconstruction, and reconstruction after trauma. Aesthetic surgery involves many types of elective procedures to enhance the appearance such as face lifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, and even body contouring after weight loss.  It also includes non-surgical treatments such as Botox and laser treatments.

SGU: What is a typical day like for a chief resident?

Dr. Bosworth: My typical day at UAB—where I am now—will vary from a full day in the operating room to a full day of in-clinic seeing patients or some combination. We work at a major university hospital, a children’s hospital, a VA, some smaller hospitals, as well as with private practice surgeons in the community so the experience is quite broad and varied. At my fellowship next year, most of the training will be at the main office of a private practice with operating rooms right in the office as well as a medical spa.

 

“When applying for plastic surgery, I knew it would be tough to get a spot as it is a very competitive specialty. I also knew that it was truly what I wanted to do so I was not going to let a challenge deter me.”

 

 

SGU: Congratulations on your new fellowship at NTPS. What will you be learning during this time?

Dr. Bosworth: Thank you! The fellowship, which is endorsed by The Aesthetics Society, includes advanced training in facial surgery, body enhancement and contouring, and non-surgical treatments, as well as learning some of the business side of private practice plastic surgery. I’ll be working with a number of highly trained plastic surgeons which will enable me to broaden and master my skills. I feel that I owe it to my patients to be as well trained as possible, so the fellowship just made sense to me. I’m very excited.

SGU: Why did you choose a career in medicine?

Dr. Bosworth: I went to undergraduate college at the University of Arizona where I was a political science major. My plan was to apply to the FBI or CIA or even law school. But I slowly realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do. A friend at SGU told me about his wonderful experience studying medicine there and said, “Why don’t you apply?” I quickly discovered that medicine was my passion. And the rest is history.

SGU: What was your path after graduating from SGU?

Dr. Bosworth: I first did a general surgery residency at Nassau University Medical Center in New York. I then went on to start a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency here at UAB. I am graduating this July. This was a three-year residency that required completion of a prior surgical residency to be eligible. UAB was my first choice for plastic surgery because of the amazing medical center and the unrivaled clinical experience and volume in all aspects of plastic surgery that we see here. There are only about 30 one-year fellowships in aesthetic surgery like the one at NTPS. I knew it would be competitive. It required going through an application process, interviews, and then finally a match process.

SGU: How has SGU helped shape your career aspirations? 

Dr. Bosworth: Going to medical school at SGU was an amazing and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The students there had such a family-like mentality. Everyone works to lift each other up. Medical school is hard! I could not have got through it without that encouragement from my peers. And living in Grenada was fantastic. It wasn’t even until I got off the island that I realized how SGU shaped my professional outlook. I did most of my clinical rotations in New Jersey. That’s when it became apparent the SGU students were far-and-above better prepared than the other medical students. We worked harder, were reliable, and motivated, and also grateful for the opportunities. This is all something that SGU engrains in you. I carry that with me today.

SGU: Have you ever encountered any bias or skepticism of your abilities because you had gone to a medical school outside the US?  

Dr. Bosworth: I think that old school bias is slowly disappearing in the field of medicine as a whole, especially for SGU grads. I have always been of the mindset that I am not owed or guaranteed anything, and I always try to just prove myself, regardless of whether I find bias or not. The right mindset, hard work, and of course a little luck always helps.

SGU: What advice would you give to SGU students who want to pursue a specialized area of medicine?

Dr. Bosworth: I think it’s important to really be passionate about the field that you choose. When I was applying for residency, I knew I wanted to do a general surgery residency which is not easy! It requires long hours and lots of information and skills to master. And then there is plastic surgery, which is even more challenging. I always remind medical students who rotate with us that surgery is an amazing field if you love it!

In addition, no matter how hard the day before was, I always come to work the next day with a smile on my face. I believe that attitude is part of what helped me excel. When applying for plastic surgery, I knew it would be a tough road to get a spot as it is a very competitive specialty. I also knew that it was truly what I wanted to do so I was not going to let a challenge deter me.

My final piece of advice is don’t rush into making a decision on your specialty. If you don’t already know, keep an open mind. But when you do find that passion, go after it with everything you’ve got.

 

 

— Paul Burch

 

 

 

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SVM grad helps refugees and their pets at Ukraine-Poland border

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Andrew Kushnir, DVM ’19, traveled to Poland in late March to provide on-the-ground support for refugees—and their pets—who have evacuated from war-torn Ukraine.

Andrew Kushnir, DVM ’19, felt a greater calling to help those in need. Dr. Kushnir, a graduate of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, traveled to Poland in late March to provide on-the-ground support for refugees—and their pets—who have evacuated from war-torn Ukraine.

Dr. Kushnir, a staff veterinarian at San Diego, CA-based Project Wildlife, teamed with nonprofit organization International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAWglobal) to assist shelters, sanctuaries, and zoos as they handle the influx of animals needing care. He shared why he felt the need to contribute to the relief efforts in the region.

St. George’s University: Where are you located and how did you get involved with IFAWglobal?

Dr. Kushnir: I am currently deployed with IFAW at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Medyka, Poland. When the war in Ukraine started, I immediately started reaching out to every organization I could find that was providing support for animals in conflict.

SGU: Was it a difficult decision to make this commitment?

Dr. Kushnir: My father and his family were once refugees fleeing Ukraine during World War II, and I knew that I had to step up in whatever capacity I could to help support people fleeing conflict. We veterinarians don’t just help animals; we also help people through animals.

Being here on the border providing food, water, pet carriers, food bowls, fresh bedding, and warm clothes to pets really makes a huge impact on refugees. Along with getting the peace of mind of a vet looking over their animals, these displaced people have a little bit less to have to worry about as they move onwards to their next destination.

SGU: How will your training as a veterinarian translate to field medicine like this and on people?

Dr. Kushnir: Veterinarians are used to working in scenarios where one has to get creative with the tools available to achieve the most optimal outcome. So triaging stressed, injured, and sick animals out of a tent approximately 100 feet from the border of a war-ravaged country isn’t totally out of the scope of what I and other veterinarians are trained to do.

SGU: How would you describe your emotions now that you’re seeing the strife firsthand?

Dr. Kushnir: Since being here at the refugee camp, I have felt the full kaleidoscope of human emotions. Every moment here, I am surrounded by an endless stream of people seeking shelter and safety from war, who have had to pack their entire lives into a few suitcases and grocery bags. When they reach the refugee camp, volunteers of humanitarian organizations from all over the world greet them with smiles, warm food and drink, and the assurance that they are safe. For many folks, their pet is family and a great comfort at this time so being able to provide veterinary and supportive care to their critters is an exceptionally profound service to offer.

SGU: Have you done any sort of field medicine like this before?

Dr. Kushnir: Working at animal shelters and wildlife centers, I have a lot of experience treating a variety of animals in field conditions, but working in a refugee camp is a first for me.

SGU: What characteristics does a doctor—of any type—need to have to be able to handle field medicine like this?

Dr. Kushnir: There are many qualities I think a veterinarian/doctor needs to have if they want to feel comfortable working in field/disaster relief settings.

  • Being exceptionally resourceful is important because you’ll need to adapt to a potentially ever-changing environment. For example, the tent you’re examining a scared cat inside of suddenly collapses under the weight of pouring rain and strong winds!
  • Being OK with not having the best tools or medicines available but still being able to tackle the problem as best as you can.
  • Knowing that limitations will surely arise, but nevertheless staying positive and focused on getting the job done.

SGU: How has your training at SGU prepared you for this type of front line aid?

Dr. Kushnir: Studying at SGU and living in Grenada definitely helped me build up not just my foundation of knowledge and comfort in a clinical setting, but it also fostered a passion for wanting to work with the most vulnerable animal populations in whatever environment they’re found. The investment is great, and the rewards are greater!

 

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Apply now to SGU