History of St. George’s University
The Beginning
It began on July 23, 1976, when Charles Modica, Louis Modica, Edward McGowan, and Patrick F. Adams witnessed the birth of their dream through an act of Grenada’s Parliament, establishing St. George’s University School of Medicine. It opened its doors in January 1977, welcoming a modest group of students to Grand Anse as part of its charter class. They were the first of many, with the University contributing over 23K physicians to the global physician workforce, having drawn medical school students, alumni, and faculty from over 150 countries to the island of Grenada. They have practiced in every state in the United States, as well as in more than 50 countries.
Medical School
What was an opportunity for the charter class has developed into the opportunity for many. The Doctor of Medicine program at St. George’s University School of Medicine is accredited and approved by many external bodies. SGU students now have access to clinical training opportunities at over 85+ affiliated hospitals and clinical centers in the United States, Canada, Grenada, and United Kingdom. Annually, it secures highly competitive US-based residencies, serving as the number one provider of doctors into first-year positions in the US over the last 10 years, including over 940+ in 2024 alone.
Growth in Research and International Presence
St. George’s University expanded its medical program even further in 2005, this time overseas, establishing the St. George’s University School of Medicine/Northumbria University program, which allows School of Medicine students to spend their first year of basic sciences at Northumbria University in Newcastle, United Kingdom. With it, these students obtain unprecedented international experience in medicine, gaining exposure to models of medicine in three different countries by the time they graduate.
Besides basic science training, students have been able to carry out short- and long-term, multidisciplinary research and education programs with the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), which the University established in True Blue in 1994.
Medicine and Beyond
Beyond medicine, SGU has created a wide range of programs for students of all interests. In 1996, the newly founded School of Arts and Sciences welcomed its first student class, and in 1999, the University established the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and owns clinical affiliations with 30+ veterinary medical schools. More than 2,700 SGU veterinarians have entered the workforce since then. Also in 1999, the Master of Public Health program launched. It has since gained accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been distinguished as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHO CC) for Environmental and Occupational Health, the first of its kind in the Caribbean. SGU has also created a School of Graduate Studies, which offers more than 30 distinct programs across a wide variety of professional fields.

University Milestones
Grenadian Parliament Signs St. George’s University Charter – 1976
1976School of Medicine First Class Arrives
1977US Medical Clinical Affiliations Established
1979UK Medical Clinical Affiliations Established
1980School of Medicine Charter Class Graduation
SGU Receives Approval by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners
1981US Military Intervention in Grenada
1983US President Ronald Reagan Visits Campus Memorial
SGU Receives Approval by the Medicine Board of California
1984SGU Receives Approval by the New York State Education Department
1987$250 Million USD Campus Expansion
1991First White Coat Ceremony Featuring Ben Carson as Speaker
1992Major Campus Building Program Completed
1993WINDREF Research Institute Founded
School of Graduate Studies Founded
MD/MSc Program First Offered
1994School of Arts and Sciences Founded
There was an immediate and overwhelming response from the Grenadian people, as well as people in the Caribbean region, who were anxious to take advantage of this opportunity for tertiary education. The School began offering night courses in the Fall of 1996, and baccalaureate degree programs in January 1997.
Dr. Swaminathan Visited Campus – Time Magazine's Top 3 Indian Docs of Century
“We badly need on our planet education centers like St. George’s University which can help to highlight the value of diversity and pluralism in human societies.”
1996Anthony S. Fauci, MD, is the Geoffrey H. Bourne speaker
1996School of Veterinary Medicine Founded
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Established
1999Department of Educational Services Begins Offering Let’s Talk Teaching Seminars
2000Number of Grads Surpasses 5,000
2003Master of Public Health Offered Through School of Veterinary Medicine
2005St. George’s Partners with Northumbria
2006Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program Launched in Northumbria
2007Master of Public Health Degree Accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
MBA Program Established
SGU Grads Tops US/Canadian Student Scores on USMLE
2010DVM Program Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE)
Graduates Surpass 10,000
Partnership Established with Grenada Hospital
2011St. George’s Receives Equity Investment from a Group Led by Altas Partners
2014Dr. G. Richard Olds Appointed as First University President and Chief Executive Officer
2015St. George’s University Small Animal Clinic Receives American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Accreditation
2016
From Dr.eam To Doctor
Learn more about our MD program and tracks
Every aspect of our MD program and tracks are intentionally designed to support you on your path to becoming a physician.
Flexible Start Dates: Choose from multiple entry terms in January, April, or August to begin your medical education at your convenience.
Average of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 residency placement rates. Residency placement rate is defined as the total number of students/ graduates who obtained a US residency divided by the total number of students / graduates who applied to a US residency program in a given year as of October 2024.
Program and Track Highlights
- Global Recognition: SGU’s School of Medicine has been continuously accredited for decades, enabling our students to be eligible to practice in the US.
- Clinical Training: 85+ hospitals and health systems in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom offer clinical and ambulatory training and support
- Legacy of Excellence: Join the network of over 25,000 graduates* who have impacted healthcare worldwide.
*Based on the number of students who have completed the Doctor of Medicine program from 1981-2025.

Connect With Us.
- Learn more about our MD program and tracks
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We will be in touch soon, but if you have questions now, email us at admissions@sgu.edu