Since graduating from St. George’s University School of Medicine in 2003, Dr. Peter Orton Beaumont has built a career shaped by determination, adaptability, and a passion for acute medicine. Growing up in a family with no history of higher education, he was determined to break new ground. At age 11, he joined a youth group with a first aid focus, sparking a passion for helping others that never faded.
“I was always grateful to SGU for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor,” he reflected. “From the moment I arrived, I was determined to make the most of that opportunity.”
That dedication led to top USMLE scores, excellent grades, and a career built on both skill and service.
Today, Dr. Beaumont is a consultant in critical care and anesthesia at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Awarded a joint UK Certificate of Completion of Training in 2014, he is dual licensed by the General Medical Council (GMC) and brings broad expertise spanning anesthesia, intensive care, and transfer medicine, the specialized care involved in safely moving critically ill patients between hospitals or care settings. He has worked across the UK, Australia, Kurdistan, the US, and Canada, gaining a unique perspective on global healthcare systems and best practices.
He credits SGU for seeing “the whole applicant, not just grades” and for offering the perfect combination of “opportunity and rigor” that helped him thrive.
From proving himself in the classroom and in UK clinical rotations, to securing his dream role at one of the country’s top hospitals, Dr. Beaumont’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of making the most of every opportunity.
SGU News spoke with Dr. Beaumont to learn more about the path that took him to the front lines of critical care in London.
SGU: What led you to choose SGU for your medical education?
Dr. Beaumont: While I initially explored options closer to home, SGU stood out for its ability to see the whole applicant, not just grades. They recognized my potential and offered me the opportunity to prove myself in a challenging, supportive environment. I’ve always described SGU as a place that opens doors for determined students while maintaining the highest academic standards, ensuring that only those who meet them progress. That combination of opportunity and rigor was exactly what I needed to thrive.
SGU: How did you transition from SGU to medical training in the UK?
Dr. Beaumont: After graduation, I had options in Canada, the US, and the UK. Opportunities in Canada for foreign-trained physicians were limited, and US postgraduate training didn’t align with my values around universal healthcare. I’d enjoyed my UK clinical rotations and, as a Canadian with a UK-born parent, the move was a natural fit.
I completed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam which, thanks to my SGU training and USMLE preparation, I found straightforward. I then began work at York District Hospital, where I had completed many of my clinical rotations.
SGU: How did SGU prepare you for your career in the UK?
Dr. Beaumont: SGU prepared me well, both academically and clinically. Completing a significant portion of my clinical rotations in the UK meant I was already familiar with the healthcare system, the clinical environment, and the patient population. While I noticed some differences in training compared to UK graduates, I quickly adapted, and those early adjustments ultimately strengthened my skills and confidence.
SGU: What drew you to your specialties?
Dr. Beaumont: My background in pharmacology, toxicology, and work as a paramedic naturally pulled me toward acute specialties like anesthesia, critical care, and transfer medicine. Initially, I considered emergency medicine, but I quickly saw that in the UK, anesthetists and intensivists are the ones caring for the sickest patients both in the ICU and in the emergency department. I enjoy what I call “physiology and pharmacology in action” when caring for patients in theatre or intensive care.
SGU: What advice would you give SGU graduates considering the UK?
Dr. Beaumont: The UK medical landscape has evolved since I began my career, and specialty training is now more competitive. While there are challenges, the rewards remain significant. Working in the NHS offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, to collaborate with talented colleagues from across the globe. For those who are committed, adaptable, and passionate about patient care, a medical career in the UK can be incredibly fulfilling and a source of great professional pride.
SGU: What stands out most from your SGU experience?
Dr. Beaumont: I will always be grateful to SGU for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. From the moment I arrived, I was determined to make the most of that opportunity. I worked hard every day, and that commitment paid off with top USMLE scores, excellent grades, and the training that prepared me for the career I had always envisioned. That dedication ultimately led me to King’s College Hospital, one of the UK’s leading centers, where I now have the privilege of working as an intensivist in my dream role.
