When Dr. C.V. Rao arrived in Grenada in January 1977, St. George’s University was embarking on an ambitious journey to educate the next generation of physicians. As one of the University’s earliest faculty members, Dr. Rao has had a front-row seat to SGU’s remarkable transformation over nearly five decades—from teaching the charter class to helping prepare thousands of students to practice medicine around the world.
Today, Dr. Rao serves as dean of alumni relations and professor of anatomical sciences, continuing a relationship with SGU students that has defined much of his career. He previously served as dean of students for more than four decades, where he became a trusted mentor and advocate for countless students as they navigated their academic and professional journeys.
From his early work teaching anatomy and histology to his role in establishing the Dean of Students Office and Student Government Association, Dr. Rao has contributed to many chapters of SGU’s history. He has also remained deeply connected to the Grenadian community, helping more than 300 Grenadians earn their MDs and contributing to the Orphans and Elderly fund, which he helped establish in 1991 to provide financial assistance for local caregivers. In 2021, the Office of the Honorary Consul of India to Grenada recognized him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to medicine and medical education.
As SGU celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Dr. Rao’s story remains woven into the University’s global legacy. The students he welcomed to Grenada in the early years have gone on to become physicians, educators, and leaders around the world. Today, SGU has evolved into a globally recognized university encompassing four schools, with a School of Medicine that has graduated more than 25,000 physicians and a clinical network spanning more than 85 affiliated hospitals and health systems.
Yet for Dr. Rao, the most meaningful part of that legacy has always been the students.
“My students’ hopes and dreams, their struggles, all became part of my life,” Dr. Rao said. “That is why, when I look back, I feel I have had the most beautiful life here in Grenada for 50 years.”
In an interview with SGU News, Dr. Rao reflected on his journey to Grenada, SGU’s evolution over five decades, the importance of preparing students for clinical training around the world, and the lasting relationships he has built with alumni throughout his career.
SGU: What first brought you to St. George’s University?
Dr. Rao: My journey to SGU began when I received a phone call from Dr. Charles Modica, who invited me to meet him at the United Nations in New York. He told me about his vision for creating a medical school in Grenada and offered me a position. I remember asking him, “Where is Grenada?” I had never heard of the country before.
A few days later, I arrived in Grenada in January 1977 and joined the faculty to teach anatomy and biochemistry. SGU was still in its early stages, and there was a strong sense of possibility among the faculty. We believed that, with the right vision and commitment, we could create an environment where students would receive an excellent medical education and go on to make a difference around the world.
SGU: What do you remember most about those early days of teaching at SGU?
Dr. Rao: What stands out most is the enthusiasm of the students and faculty. Everyone understood that we were part of something new, and that shared excitement made the early years especially meaningful. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to give the University and its students my best.
The students themselves were incredibly motivating. They were eager to learn, and I quickly developed a deep affection for them. When they asked for additional materials to accompany my anatomy lectures, I began creating illustrations that helped bring the material to life. Those illustrations became popular with students and eventually formed the basis of what I understand was SGU’s first publication, created from my lectures in the summer of 1977.
SGU: Anatomy is one of the first major milestones in medical school. Why is it such an important foundation for future physicians?
Dr. Rao: Anatomy teaches students respect for the human body. It gives them the foundation they need to understand how the body is structured and, ultimately, where to look when something goes wrong.
This becomes especially important as students progress through their medical education. At SGU, the basic sciences in Grenada prepare students to take the knowledge they have developed and apply it during clinical training in different healthcare environments around the world.
SGU: How did you prepare students in Grenada for clinical training, and what qualities should they develop before leaving?
Dr. Rao: I always come back to the three essentials: attitude, skills, and knowledge—A.S.K. Future physicians need the right attitude to conduct themselves professionally, the skills to apply what they have learned, and the knowledge to understand medicine.
That emphasis on attitude and professionalism became an important part of SGU’s culture. SGU was among the early medical schools to embrace the White Coat Ceremony alongside its counterparts in the United States. Beginning in the 1990s, SGU held its own White Coat Ceremony to emphasize professionalism and mark an important step in students’ journey toward becoming physicians.
Those qualities help students approach their clinical years with confidence, humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
SGU: How important is it for students to experience different healthcare systems, patient populations, and clinical environments?
Dr. Rao: It is extremely important because patients come from all over the world, and our student body is international. Students have the opportunity to learn about different healthcare systems and understand how medicine is practiced in different environments.
That international perspective is one of SGU’s great strengths. Students bring their own experiences and cultural backgrounds to the University, and they take those experiences with them when they enter clinical training and eventually practice medicine. It gives them an appreciation for the diversity of patients and healthcare systems they will encounter throughout their careers.
SGU: You’ve taught thousands of students throughout your career. What has been the most rewarding part of watching them grow into physicians?
Dr. Rao: As dean of students, I had the privilege of seeing students from their very first day on campus. I would see them arrive at orientation, often unsure of what the next four years would bring and then watch them grow from novices into confident and capable medical students.
Watching them develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve their goal of becoming doctors was the most exciting part for me. They came with the motivation to become doctors and seeing that growth was incredibly rewarding.
SGU: You’ve stayed connected with many of your former students. Is there one story that has stayed with you?
Dr. Rao: Many of my students eventually got married and had children, and I always dreamed of one day teaching the child of one of my former students. We now call those students legacy students.
One of the first legacy students came to Grenada with his two sons. Years later, his oldest son decided he wanted to study medicine and contacted SGU. I had the great pleasure of meeting him on campus, bringing him to my office, and helping him get started at SGU. Today, the father and son practice medicine together in Pennsylvania. I’m still waiting for the grandson to finish college and come to SGU to become a doctor, too.
That is the best feeling. Even now, I receive calls from former students to tell me how they are doing. Those relationships are one of the greatest rewards of spending so many years at SGU.
SGU: How has medical education and SGU evolved over nearly 50 years?
Dr. Rao: Both have evolved tremendously. When I think back to 1977, the tools we used to teach were very different. There were no computers, internet, cell phones, or PowerPoint presentations. Today, technology has transformed the way students learn and the way faculty teach.
But while the means of education have changed, the fundamental mission of SGU has remained the same. Whether they are studying medicine, veterinary medicine, arts and sciences, or graduate studies, students come to SGU highly motivated to succeed. They come here to accomplish something, and SGU continues to provide an environment that helps them achieve that goal.
SGU: What has kept you passionate about teaching and working with students for so many years?
Dr. Rao: I became a professor and then was given the opportunity to serve as dean. When I became dean of students, I helped establish the Dean of Students Office and later the Student Government Association, which has grown into a vibrant community of more than 70 student organizations.
But ultimately, it has always been the students who kept me going. Their hopes and dreams, and the challenges they faced along the way, became part of my life. I have always liked the students, and they became a part of me.
SGU: You were recognized by the Office of the Honorary Consul of India to Grenada for your contributions to medicine and medical education. What did that recognition mean to you?
Dr. Rao: It made me very proud. When I left India for the United States, I wanted to contribute to the new country I was going to. When I later moved to Grenada, I never imagined that I would become such a resource for the Indian students who came to SGU.
At the height of Indian student enrollment, many parents would tell their children, “There’s an Indian professor there. If you’re having any issues, go to him.” My office would be filled with students, and their parents would ask me to keep an eye on them. Knowing that I had helped those students succeed and that the Indian government recognized that contribution was very meaningful to me.
SGU: What legacy do you hope to leave for future generations of SGU students?
Dr. Rao: I always tell students that from the beginning, you have to be caring, compassionate, and kind. That is the legacy I want to leave with them.
Those values are part of SGU’s foundation. The University’s growth and reputation have been built over many years by thousands of people, but at the heart of its success is the basic concept of care, compassion, and kindness.
SGU: What advice would you give students as they begin their journey through medical school and eventually clinical training and residency?
Dr. Rao: Studying medicine at SGU is a unique opportunity because students come from countries all over the world. Each person brings their own cultural experiences to Grenada, contributing to the truly international character of the University.
Once you leave SGU, be conscious that you are an ambassador for your country and your community. Develop the right attitude and professional desire to become what you want to be and dedicate yourself to learning about human life.
That way, you become the very best you can be. I’ve had the most beautiful life here in Grenada—50 years. I can’t wait for January 17, 2027, when the SGU community comes together to celebrate 50 years of this University.
