Melissa Koelsch, MD ’24, is a family medicine resident at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, and a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine. She is currently training in family medicine, where she is building a broad clinical foundation focused on patient-centered care.
Dr. Koelsch’s interest in medicine took root at a young age, shaped by her family’s firsthand experience with the healthcare system.
“I was introduced to medicine when I was in middle school,” she said, as she spent considerable time in hospitals and doctors’ offices while her mother underwent treatment for breast cancer.
Seeing the compassion of her mother’s physicians, along with the impact of her advanced treatments, sparked an early fascination with both patient care and medical science. As she explained, “her life-saving treatment was a clinical trial, so I was curious about the science behind medicine.”
SGU News spoke with Dr. Koelsch to learn more about SGU’s impact on her journey and her Match experience.
SGU: Why did you choose SGU?
Dr. Koelsch: I was originally interested in SGU because I had a friend who had gone there, and she told me about her positive experience. I had tried applying to US medical schools, but it was very competitive, and I was interested in an alternative. I was also interested in experiencing going to an island and attending an international medical school.
SGU: What was your experience at SGU?
Dr. Koelsch: SGU was a great experience. The professors are very involved in your learning. They care very much about your growth as a medical student. They’re very accessible if you need any assistance or want to speak to them one-on-one. They’re all very personable, and you have them for multiple classes, so you really develop relationships with the professors.
SGU: What was your experience with clinicals at SGU?
Dr. Koelsch: SGU was very supportive in helping us find clinical placements in the US. SGU was very helpful at getting me set up in New York, as this is where my family is.
Throughout the clinical rotations, SGU arranged everything for us. It was a very seamless process. We still had access to assistance and support, even while off-campus and at different clinical sites.
SGU: How did SGU help you with the Match process?
Dr. Koelsch: The first two years, as well as the clinical years, SGU was instrumental in helping us build great resumes and make sure we’re prepared to succeed in residency. There was extra focus on patient care, keeping us to timelines, and ensuring we had all the materials we needed. They also helped narrow down which programs were a good match for us to apply while considering our geographic preferences. We received prep for interviews and everything in between.
SGU: What was your reaction to discovering you had matched?
Dr. Koelsch: I was very excited when I matched into my residency. I matched into one of my top programs, and it was in the specialty I wanted. So, I was extremely happy. I ended up at my home base where I did clinical rotations, so it was exciting to stay in the same place.
SGU: If you could describe SGU in one word, what would that be?
Dr. Koelsch: If I had to describe SGU in one word, I would definitely say “supportive.”
The community of staff and fellow students were very encouraging and helpful. Everyone was motivated to help each other learn and encouraged each other to be our best selves as medical students and then as residents. I found the professors to be very involved in our learning, which continued in clinical rotations, where everyone was very supportive as well.
SGU: How did SGU help you achieve your dream of becoming a doctor?
Dr. Koelsch: SGU made my dream of becoming a doctor come true. I am where I am today because of St. George’s University. The support I had from SGU was incredible.
