For St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine graduate Carlon Fitzpatrick, an early interest in human biology and a passion for sport helped shape a longstanding ambition to pursue medicine. Raised in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom, he developed a curiosity about anatomy and physiology at a young age, an interest that continued to evolve throughout his academic journey.
“I had always been interested in how the human body works,” he said. “That curiosity, combined with my interest in sports, naturally led me towards medicine.”
After completing his undergraduate studies in Human Biology at King’s College London, Dr. Fitzpatrick chose to attend SGU. He was drawn to the opportunity to study medicine in an international environment while keeping multiple career pathways open. The option to complete clinical rotations in the UK also gave him added flexibility as he considered where he might ultimately practice.
“SGU offered the chance to experience medicine in a different environment while still maintaining a connection to the UK,” he noted. “It gave me options, both in terms of training and future practice.”
Following his medical degree, Dr. Fitzpatrick’s path to clinical practice in the UK was not entirely conventional. After completing licensing examinations, he spent several years working in the medical devices industry, gaining experience with a global healthcare company before returning to clinical training.
He later entered the UK Foundation Programme in the South Thames Deanery, where he completed rotations across both medical and surgical specialties.
Today, Dr. Fitzpatrick is a Specialist Registrar (SpR) in Trauma and Orthopaedics in the UK, while also leading initiatives at the intersection of medicine, technology, and wellness. He is the co-founder of Encode Health, a cloud-based healthcare records platform that helps healthcare institutions track and trace medical devices while supporting compliance with Medical Device Regulation (MDR) requirements.
He also founded Fitzpatrick Wellness, a performance medicine framework built around seven core health pillars and a proprietary wellness scoring system. Building on this work, he is set to take on a new role as Director of Performance Medicine at Fitzroy Health Clinic in London.
SGU News spoke with Dr. Fitzpatrick about this journey, including his pathway into trauma and orthopaedics and his experience navigating clinical training in the United Kingdom.
SGU: Why did you choose SGU and how did it shape your career path?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: After studying at King’s College London, I was keen to gain an international perspective on medicine. SGU offered that opportunity, along with the flexibility to complete clinical rotations in the UK. It allowed me to keep my options open and explore training pathways in both the UK and the US.
SGU: Can you describe your pathway into the UK Foundation Programme?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: My route was slightly different. After completing my exams, I spent several years working in the medical devices industry before returning to clinical practice. I then entered the Foundation Programme, which gave me structured exposure to both medical and surgical specialties.
SGU: What was your experience during your foundation training?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: It was a very valuable experience. I had the opportunity to rotate across a wide range of specialties, including cardiology, endocrinology, general surgery, emergency medicine, urology, and ENT. This breadth of exposure provided a strong foundation in both medicine and surgery and prepared me well for core surgical training, which I found thoroughly enjoyable.
Some of the most important lessons came from managing ward patients as a junior doctor, caring for acutely unwell patients, and developing the fundamentals of clinical decision making, experiences that you don’t encounter to the same extent as a medical student.
SGU: How did SGU prepare you for working in the UK healthcare system?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: I felt SGU prepared me very well both academically and clinically. The foundation in the Basic Sciences was strong, and my knowledge base compared well with my UK counterparts on returning. While there were differences in the style of clinical practice in the UK, but my final-year rotations provided valuable exposure and helped me adapt to those differences in a hospital setting.
SGU: What stands out most from your SGU experience?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: I have many memorable experiences from my time at SGU. In Grenada, I built strong friendships locally and often stayed on the island during holidays, which gave me the opportunity to experience events such as concerts, the Gouyave Fish Friday, and visits to more remote parts of the island.
During my clinical rotations in New York, I particularly valued my time at Methodist, especially in neurosurgery. I was given meaningful opportunities to assist in procedures and take on a degree of responsibility in patient management, which made it a highly rewarding experience.
SGU: What led you to specialize in trauma and orthopaedics?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: I initially had an interest in neurosurgery, but my time working in the medical devices industry gave me exposure to trauma and orthopaedics. That experience, combined with my clinical training, influenced my decision to pursue the specialty. During my training, I’ve taken time to explore digital health and healthcare innovation. I’ve also been involved in initiatives that focus on broader approaches to patient care, including integrating different aspects of wellness.
SGU: What advice would you give to students hoping to practice in the UK after SGU?
Dr. Fitzpatrick: I would recommend completing clinical rotations in the UK, if possible, to understand how the NHS operates. It’s also important to be familiar with the registration process, as it can differ depending on your background.
