School of Medicine Dean Wins Award for Co-Authoring Medical Textbook

St. George’s University School of Medicine Dean Dr. Marios Loukas was among a group of experts who won an award from the British Medical Association (BMA) for their medical imaging textbook, “Weir & Abrahams’ Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy.”

The textbook, which offers a “complete and three-dimensional understanding of applied human anatomy,” won in the category of Basic and Clinical Sciences and Research. Dr. Loukas was one of six co-authors who provided their expertise.

“It is an honor to receive this award by the British Medical Association,” Dr. Loukas said. “I can’t think of a better resource in which to offer my knowledge of human anatomy than medical literature used by doctors-in-training—here at SGU and around the world.”

Published by Elsevier Ltd., the textbook is available on ClinicalKey Student, an online resource for students to access over 100 top medical textbooks, USMLE style practice questions, personalized study toolkits, and more. ClinicalKey is in a phased rollout for all School of Medicine students.

“Digital imaging is integral to anatomy education and throughout modern medicine,” Dr. Loukas said. “The textbook provides a solid understanding of applied human anatomy and uses the latest imaging techniques to offer a comprehensive view of the structures and relationships throughout the body—knowledge that is crucial for students who are studying to become doctors to master.”

Dr. Loukas was appointed dean of the School of Medicine in early 2021, after having spent the six previous years as the school’s dean of basic sciences. He started his tenure at SGU in 2007 as a course director and served as chair and professor of SOM’s Department of Anatomical Sciences from 2008 to 2015.

The BMA medical book awards take place annually to recognize outstanding contributions in medical literature across more than a dozen categories.

 

–  Laurie Chartorynsky

Related Reading

 

Recognizing World Mental Health Day: October 10

The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on many people’s mental health, Dr. Laurence Dopkin, MD, FAPA, DFAACAP, assistant dean of students, US-Clinical, shared tips on how School of Medicine students can manage stress and anxiety.

Dr. Laurence Dopkin, assistant dean of students, US-Clinical.

Stress and anxiety are emotions that we all experience, and they tend to worsen in times of uncertainty. For those of us who already grapple with stress and anxiety:

  • Recognize the sources of your stress.
  • Focus on the things you can control. Keep using the mitigation measures such as masking, social distancing, handwashing, and vaccination. We know these reduce transmission, and these are things we can all control.
  • Stay connected to others especially when feeling isolated or alone.
  • Schedule regular “me time” to do things you enjoy in a safe way. Stay on top of your medical care. Avoid self-medicating.
  • Ask for help if you are struggling. Many people have a tough time with this but think about the satisfaction you get from helping others—it might be your turn to let someone else be a “helper” and experience that same satisfaction.

What resources are available for students to seek additional help?

  • Counseling services are available for all students via the Psychological Services Center. Telehealth counseling is also available for School of Medicine students via the BCS Group.
  • There are also multiple smartphone apps that can help with meditation, breathing, mood monitoring, and other stress-reduction techniques.

 

– Laurie Chartorynsky

SGU alumni rally around Grenada amid COVID pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic put Grenada back on its heels, St. George’s University alumni put their best foot forward, bringing hope to their one-time home and setting the country on a promising path.

In the span of mere weeks, more than 200 School of Medicine alumni have volunteered their medical services, helped to procure all-important supplies, and contributed more than $70,000 through its newly created Grenada Medical Assistance GoFundMe page.

The Grenada COVID Crisis Group (GCCG), led by SGU graduates Michele Friday, MD ’88, Dwight Matthias, MD ’92, and Lisa Radix, MD ’97, has spearheaded the campaign—facilitating in-person and online patient care and crowdsourcing both funds and supplies that will help healthcare workers on the ground treat those who have contracted the virus. In addition, they aspire to educate the Grenadian community about the benefits of adhering to health protocols and, above all else, they support the COVID-19 vaccine in the population to flatten the curve, lessen the effects of recurring COVID infections, and lessen the burden of long COVID syndrome in recovering patients.

While addressing COVID-19, Dr. Friday hopes that the support received in recent weeks is the start of a long-term healthcare solution in Grenada.

“This pandemic has given us an opportunity to impact the healthcare of our fellowmen and families on the island and has imparted in us the vision to continue with the existing momentum to grow a stellar medical environment in Grenada,” said Dr. Friday, an interventional cardiologist based in Kentucky. “We hope that this medical ideal that we are striving towards, is something that each and every one of our Grenada-trained doctors—who have been educated at SGU, live in Grenada, or who work off island but are Grenadian in heart—would be proud of.”

Raised in Richmond Hill, St. George’s, Dr. Friday is one of more than 60 Grenada-born physicians who have rallied to support their home country. Three grads—Philip Bonaparte, MD ’89, Molara Alexis, MD ’05, and Carina David, MD ’16—arrived on island last week to begin working with local doctors, nurses, and staff.

VIDEO: Dr. Alexis and Dr. David speak about COVID-19 vaccines in Grenada

“I felt that it was important to help in a meaningful way, with the reduction in the workforce as some members contacted COVID-19, the likely possibility of fatigue due to an increased volume of work related to the surge, and the opportunity to provide moral support to frontline workers,” said Dr. Alexis. “As an infectious disease physician, I was keen to share any knowledge and experience with my colleagues in Grenada and to continue to educate the general population regarding the importance of vaccination.”

They’ll also work on building up the telemedicine infrastructure so that hundreds of SGU graduates can provide personal care from afar. The network of volunteers spans a variety of specialties, including infectious disease, pulmonology, pediatrics, cardiology, and emergency medicine.

Supplies in demand

The wide alumni network has procured hospital supplies that specifically address needs in Grenada General Hospital and other clinics. These supplies—which began arriving in late September—include much-needed personal protection equipment (PPE) and oxygenation equipment, as well as pharmaceutical support such as monoclonal antibodies, antibiotics, and steroids.

The GCCG GoFundMe page has secured donations from more than 400 alumni and friends of SGU. These funds will be used to secure additional medications, supplies, and equipment to be sent to Grenada. GCCG is working closely with the Ministry of Health to monitor existing supply levels and secure fortifications as needed.

“You feel like you’re connected to a bigger thing that’s about to surround Grenada with all the love and help they can think of providing,” said Dr. Radix, a nephrologist who was born and raised in St. George and attended Anglican High School. “It’s great to be part of a group that has such an innate love for Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique.”

 

“As an infectious disease physician, I was keen to share any knowledge and experience with my colleagues in Grenada and to continue to educate the general population regarding the importance of vaccination.”

Dr. Matthias, who was raised in Belmont, St. George’s, added: “My colleagues, Dr. Friday and Dr. Radix, clearly epitomize the SGU alumni and have illuminated the spirit of Grenada national anthem—’we pledge ourselves… heads, hearts, and hands in unity…  As one people, one family.’ I’m so appreciative of the fellow alumni who have extended helping hands and made generous donations.”

Graduate contributions are part of a larger effort from the entire SGU community to provide care, spread information, and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Working with the Government of Grenada, SGU faculty members have stepped up to volunteer in the Government’s most recent initiative—hosting mobile testing and vaccination clinics throughout the island. Students have also mobilized in response to the call for help, volunteering at testing and vaccination sites hosted by the Ministry of Health.

– Brett Mauser

 

Related Reading

 

Dr. Carina David

SOM students mobilize to assist with COVID crisis in Grenada

Over the past several weeks, SGU students heeded the call to help those in need by volunteering at mobile testing and vaccination clinics organized by Grenada’s Ministry of Health (MOH) across the island. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Health.

The increase in COVID-19 cases in Grenada has mobilized St. George’s University School of Medicine students to use their passion for medicine and acquired skills toward helping their beloved host country and its communities. Over the past several weeks, many aspiring physicians heeded the call to help those in need by volunteering at mobile testing and vaccination clinics organized by Grenada’s Ministry of Health (MOH) across the island.

“I could not have leaped up fast enough at the opportunity to assist in combatting COVID-19 in Grenada, not only to act in my capacity as an epidemiologist and medical student, but to give back to the community that gives me and the broader SGU community so much and allows us to call their home, our home,” said Term 4 SOM student Cameron Rattray, MPH. “We are one people, one community, and we all must band together in these turbulent times to fight COVID-19 and win this war.”

Under the direction of Dr. Carol McIntosh, the Ministry of Health’s director of hospital services, students traveled in teams across the island to serve in the MOH’s pop-up clinics. Students ranged from Term 1 through Term 5, with School of Medicine faculty advisors also onsite to oversee them.

 

 

“We are so proud of these students who selflessly gave their time to give back to the Grenadian community,” said Dr. Marios Loukas, dean of the School of Medicine. “Offering to assist Grenada’s healthcare workers during this time of need is the sign of a true calling as a physician. These experiences will become invaluable as they continue their training.”

Among the student volunteer responsibilities—vaccination and COVID-19 testing registration and site setup, assisting the physicians administer tests and vaccinations, providing results and educational material, monitoring patients who received the vaccine for any adverse reactions to the injection, and helping clinic attendees maintain social distancing while waiting for the vaccine.

 

“Offering to assist Grenada’s healthcare workers during this time of need is the sign of a true calling as a physician.”

 

Members of SGU’s Emergency Medicine Club (EMC) were among the student volunteers eager to help. According to EMC President Arya Hawkins-Zafarnia, the lessons learned by students were innumerable and invaluable, falling into two camps: disaster response/emergency preparedness/management and compassionate community engagement.

While everyone’s roles varied, volunteers learned the importance remaining flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of each community’s situation, maintaining direct lines of communication to the physicians onsite, and working as a cohesive unit with a common purpose. They also learned the importance of extending compassion and respect to the Grenadians in need, Mr. Hawkins-Zafarina noted.

“Many students were exposed firsthand to communities that harbor mixed levels of skepticism in the available vaccines,” he said. “During our Friday evening briefing, Dr. McIntosh shared with the group of volunteers some wise words, and I think they were apparent in their relevance all weekend long: ‘Compassion cannot be taught, but it can be learned.’”

That said, “the Grenadians we encountered were incredibly kind and grateful,” Mr. Hawkins-Zafarnia added. “We encountered many that were vaccine-hesitant for both themselves and their families, and we tried our best to inform them of the benefits of getting vaccinated, if eligible. Health literacy is a challenge around the world, but there can be success when you approach people at their level and explain concepts in a culturally sensitive manner.”

Photo courtesy of Ministry of Health.

As attempts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 continues, SGU remains a trusted ally to the Government of Grenada. SGU faculty members have stepped up to volunteer their skills and expertise at the mobile vaccination sites. In addition, students in the School of Arts and Sciences nursing program have been volunteering at health centers across the country, providing Grenada’s healthcare professionals with much-needed assistance, a chance for a break, and camaraderie.

Crucial in the organization and planning of SGU student volunteer activities was the Student Government Association in collaboration with the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences within the SAS, which has become the official liaison between the MOH to coordinate gathering student volunteers for the clinics.

This past weekend, more than 100 students—both School of Medicine and School of Arts and Sciences—volunteered in the communities, with many more asking how they could help. As the Ministry of Health organizes more vaccination events throughout the island, there will be additional opportunities for students to volunteer, according to Dr. Jennifer Solomon, chair and director of Department of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.

“Altruism is in the DNA of any healthcare worker,” Dr. Solomon said. “It’s wonderful to see students across schools working together to learn about each other’s roles. These are the doctors and nurses of tomorrow.”

 

– Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

Related Reading

Want to Ace Your Residency Application? Get Help from SGU’s Office of Career Guidance

St. George’s University School of Medicine students preparing for residency have a valuable resource to help them on their journey—the Office of Career Guidance and Student Development. Known for short as OCG, the department assists students with tasks like USMLE prep, clinical rotation scheduling, the residency application process, and counseling in specialty and residency program selection.

“If the admissions team has decided the student has what it takes to become a physician, the OCG is there to support the student and help get them to the finish line—residency,” according to Dr. John Madden, associate dean of students and director of the OCG.

“Starting in Term 1, the OCG introduces the pathway toward residency to students—be it in the US or another country—explains the examinations needed, and focuses on the importance of learning the basic sciences to become a great clinician,” said Dr. Madden, a 1981 SGU graduate himself. “At the end of basic sciences, the OCG offers an important talk that helps students prepare for the clinical years, and then during years three and four, there is a series of talks providing up-to-date information about the next steps that must be taken to secure a residency.”

Dr. Maddens shares additional tips on how students can obtain the residency of their dreams.

St. George’s University: How does OCG support students in their journey to residency? 

Dr. Madden: All students are assigned a “primary advisor” when they start clinicals. This advisor is an SGU-faculty member who will act as a sounding board for students as they go through their clinical journey.

Students discuss with their primary advisor the specialty they are interested in, what would be considered an appropriate number of programs to apply to, and the importance of including a parallel specialty. Depending on the specialty of choice and Step scores, the number of applications will vary depending on the student.

All of this information is covered during the “OCG talks,” which are live webinars that are recorded and posted on the OCG website. They’re valuable resources for clinical students who have questions about the residency application process.

 

“The OCG is there to support the student and help get them to the finish line—residency.”

 

SGU: What are the top three qualities residency directors look for in a candidate?

Dr. Madden: Competitive Step scores, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement. However, a program director may look twice at a student showing a keen interest in a specialty. Students should consider doing more than the med school requirement rotation in that specialty, joining a student club or organization related to the specialty, and attending a local, regional, or national meeting of that specialty’s professional organization.

SGU: When do students start preparing their residency applications?

Dr. Madden: Students who are applying to US residency programs begin submitting their ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) application in mid-September of the year prior to graduation. Canada and the UK post-graduate training programs are on a different schedule and require different examinations.

SGU: What’s one thing students should prioritize during the residency application process?

Dr. Madden: The most important thing for students is getting their ERAS application submitted on time, even if there is a letter of recommendation that won’t be uploaded until October or a CK score that is delayed.

SGU: How can students ace residency interviews?

Dr. Madden: Practice, practice, practice. Even if a residency interview is virtual, you need to prepare ahead of time.

  • Use the OCG’s Interview Stream program for sample questions.
  • Look over the residency program’s website to become knowledgeable about the specific program and ask questions related to that information.
  • In addition, learn more about the program’s residency directors and assistant directors, such as their research interests so that you can speak intelligently about the topics and ask appropriate questions.

SGU: What other postgraduate opportunities are available through the School of Medicine?

Dr. Madden: SGUSOM has tuition-free programs available to enhance students’ applications next year, such as an online MPH, the MBA program, MScBR, and additional rotations. Our support staff is available to discuss these with students after the Match if a student is unmatched to determine which pathway is best suited for them.

SGU: What is the best way to contact OCG if a student has questions? 

Dr. Madden: With any questions, it is best to start with your primary advisor.  If they cannot answer your query, they’ll refer you to someone who does know. However, students can always reach out to careerguidance@sgu.edu for help.

 

 

– Laurie Chartorynsky

 

Related Reading

New Student Government President Thriving After Career Change

Born in Queens, NY, to Taiwanese parents, Term 5 SOM student Stephanie Chen’s journey into medicine was not at all a predictable one. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics from New York University, Ms. Chen pursued several jobs in the financial industry—switching back and forth between for-profit and the non-profit sector.

Yet it soon became clear to her that being an economist wasn’t the right fit. She decided instead to wave goodbye to the East Coast and went off to pursue her graduate degree in physiology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. It was in this high-energy, healthcare-driven community she found her passion for medicine, prompting her to enter St. George’s University to further explore the intricacies of how socioeconomic factors intertwined with the clinical practice of medicine.

Since joining SGU, Ms. Chen has held several positions on the Student Government Association executive board. Now as she begins her tenure as president, she shared why she chose medicine and what she hopes to accomplish in her new role with the SGA.

St. George’s University: What made you switch your career from economist to doctor?

Stephanie Chen: I quickly realized after quitting my third job in finance that my real passion involved helping people in our healthcare system. While in Cleveland, being at one of the largest healthcare hubs in the nation allowed me to see firsthand the physical, emotional, and social repercussions of the systemic challenges our healthcare industry inflicts on patients. It instilled in me the desire to make a change for those who cannot speak up.

Now, as I pursue my medical degree at SGU, I hope I can continue to think about how the clinical presentation relates to the actual person sitting in front of me, their families, and their background. My prior experience in economics has given me a broader perspective on the effect of the physician in the provision of healthcare and allowed me to appreciate the physician’s role. Every day I am learning more about the importance of advocating for my patients not just inside the doctor’s office.

 

“I aspire to not only be a physician who uses medical knowledge to treat the ailments of my patients but also a leader who advocates for her patients beyond the doctor’s office.”

 

SGU: How does it feel to be elected as SGA president for the August 2021 term? 

SC: It is an incredible honor to get the chance to serve as the president of our SGU student body and to be in a leadership role where I can spark change and make a lasting difference. I couldn’t be prouder of the vision SGA holds, and I am continually inspired by all the brilliant minds I’ve met within the organization.

Being a part of the SGA has taught me that my love for humanity and advocacy can drive me even further. I aspire to not only be a physician who uses medical knowledge to treat the ailments of my patients but also a leader who advocates for her patients beyond the doctor’s office.

SGU: What prompted you to pursue this position, and what influence do you hope to have? 

SC: When I first came to SGU, I knew I wanted to join an organization focused on serving others and paying it forward to the community. I saw SGA as the place I would be able to make a true impact and advocate for the entire student body. Growing up, I never saw Asian-Americans adequately represented in student councils or positions of leadership at this level. My hope is that I can influence other women of Asian descent to also strive to hold positions of power.

SGU: How did your prior SGA experience prepare you for this role?  

SC: Since I first started my medical journey at SGU, I have been a member of the SGA. Following my first term, I was elected to the executive board and have served in all subsequent terms in roles such as, vice president of financial affairs, vice president of communications, president of SOM affairs, and now president of SGA.

Having exposure to a variety of roles throughout the SGA has strengthened my ability to effectively advocate for student concerns to the University administration. Over the years, I have learned so much through collaborating with my peers. Through the partnerships on many projects, I have come to foster very strong relationships with department heads, school deans, and the SGU administration.

SGU: What are some of your top priorities?

SC: As part of this year’s priorities, I aim to advocate for more effective communication, a stronger school community, and greater diversity and inclusion for the entire student body. Our plan is to utilize well-established resources to help make these priorities a reality.

Throughout the term, our executive board will be holding weekly office hours via Zoom, continuing the SGA Virtual Study Hall to promote community, and re-opening the SGA Study Buddies Locator to allow for better engagement amongst our students. We will also be holding various virtual events to promote student wellness and mental health such as the SGU Student Organization Fair and SGU Mental Health Day.

SGU: How do you plan to incorporate the concerns and issues of students from all schools? 

SC: As SGA president, I check in with my executive board daily to ensure all concerns are being addressed in an effective manner. SGA also holds biweekly meetings—open to the general student body—every Monday at 7pm AST from September to November to allow for all student concerns to be raised to the executive board. As we enter this new term, I will continue to work with my team to use these established lines of communication to advocate for student concerns from all four schools at SGU.

SGU: What are the qualities of a successful leader?

SC: Being an effective communicator, having good judgment, and knowing how to delegate are essential traits for a successful leader. Besides these core attributes, I believe timing is also paramount. Knowing not only how to step in but when to step in has been crucial in unlocking some of the greatest opportunities in my life.

SGU: What are your career goals?

SC: Next spring, I will be entering into my clinical year and expect to graduate with my MD in 2024. Beyond medical school, I plan to take on the daunting task of addressing our broken healthcare system and advocating for a systems-level change in healthcare delivery to provide high quality and equitable healthcare for all.

– Ray-Donna Peters

Forbes: More med school candidates turning to Caribbean

Even though medical school applications have skyrocketed, the number of seats in US schools hasn’t kept pace. It’s led more and more qualified MD candidates to choose the Caribbean to continue their studies, this according to a recent story on Forbes.com.

“For decades, medical schools weren’t meeting the needs of an increasingly older U.S. population. Now, they’re forced to play a game of catch-up,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of St. George’s University.

Read more about how SGU is helping to provide a foundation for aspiring physicians to enter medicine in the United States, in the places where healthcare is needed most.

SGU welcomes two hospitals to clinical training network

The breadth of clinical training opportunities at St. George’s University just got bigger.

In the coming months, SGU students will be able to complete rotations and electives at two new hospitals—West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, IL, and Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue, NY.

The additions bring SGU’s network to more than 75 clinical centers and affiliated hospitals in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Grenada.

“Clinical training is the final step before our students graduate, and these new opportunities will only enhance their development into skillful and compassionate physicians,” said Dr. Richard Liebowitz, vice chancellor of St. George’s University. “We have full faith that the doctors and healthcare staff at these institutions will help equip our students with the tools they need to be successful MDs.”

West Suburban Medical Center

At West Suburban Medical Center, SGU students will be able to do rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. It becomes the fourth clinical center or affiliated hospital based in Illinois, joining Humboldt Park Health, Loyola MacNeal Hospital, and Saint Anthony Hospital.

Long Island Community Hospital, or LICH, joins SGU’s network of more than 15 clinical training sites in New York, and the easternmost location on Long Island. SGU clinical students can currently complete electives at LICH, and core rotations will become available in the coming months.

– Brett Mauser

Related Reading

 

America Needs More Doctors: SGU President Writes Op/Ed for The Hill

 

The Hill has published an op/ed by St. George’s University President Dr. G. Richard Olds titled “To get the doctors we need, expand their opportunities to train,” which focuses on the need to increase postgraduate opportunities in the US.

In the published piece, Dr. Olds stated that America will face a shortfall of up to 124,000 doctors by 2034, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“This physician shortage will disproportionately hurt historically marginalized communities, where many people already struggle to find care,” Dr. Olds wrote. “Funding more residencies — so that more newly minted MDs can actually join the physician workforce — is the most straightforward solution to the doctor shortage.”

While the number of residency positions has been growing in recent years, “given the scale of the doctor shortage, we need even more,” he wrote.

 

India consulate recognizes SGU faculty members for excellence in medicine and medical education

In honor of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, the Office of the Honorary Consul of India to Grenada honored two longtime St. George’s University faculty members—Drs. Vishnu Rao and Narasimhan Prabhakar—for their commitment to medicine and medical education.

Each was feted at a ceremony at the Botanical Gardens in Tanteen, St. George’s, on August 15. Awardees received the accolades from the Honorary Consul of India to Grenada Shadel Nyack Compton, as well as the Honorable Minister Oliver Joseph.

“An honor like this would have been unimaginable to me as a little boy growing up in India,” said Dr. Rao, who recently was appointed dean of university alumni affairs. “To end up in a beautiful country such as Grenada and have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many students and so many Grenadians is just wonderful. All the while, I have made lifelong friendships with Grenadian people and families, who are so kind and intelligent, and I thoroughly enjoy the everyday living and beauty here on the island.”

Dr. Rao has taught and mentored SGU students for more than 40 years, having joined as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine in January 1977. He is the embodiment of SGU’s commitment to student support, serving as assistant dean of students from 1977 to 1997 before assuming the role of dean of students from 1997 to April 2021. With his help, more than 300 Grenadians have earned their MDs from SGU, and thousands more have graduated from the Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Arts and Sciences, and Graduate Studies.

Dr. Rao and colleagues at the 2015 Orphans and Elderly Gala

“You cannot measure the positive impact that Dr. Rao has had on this university, our students, and people all around the world who have indirectly benefited from the wisdom, values, and commitment to educational excellence,” said Dr. Charles Modica, chancellor of St. George’s University. “SGU would not be where it is today without Dr. Rao, and I’m forever grateful for all he’s done for the island of Grenada and for our students.”

Additionally, Dr. Rao was instrumental in establishing the Orphans and Elderly Fund, which has raised more than $1.8 million to support caregiver programs throughout Grenada since 1991. He also helped build the Grenada Association of Retired Persons (GARP).

As dean of university alumni affairs, Dr. Rao is supporting the Alumni Association by staying connected with SGU’s more than 24,000 graduates. “I have greatly enjoyed speaking with our alumni, finding out how they’re doing, how they can stay involved, and how they can promote the spirit of SGU,” he said.

 

“To end up in a beautiful country such as Grenada and have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many students and so many Grenadians is just wonderful.”

 

The Consul also recognized Dr. Narasimhan Prabhakar, a psychiatrist who has been affiliated with SGU for more than 30 years, including presently as a professor in the clinical teaching unit at Grenada General Hospital and in a clinic within SGU’s Health Services department. He also teaches SGU’s Term 5 students as a psychiatrist at Mount Gay Psychiatric Hospital, and meets with patients the Richmond Home for the Elderly. Dr. Prabhakar was honored for his contributions to mental health, psychiatry, and medicine in Grenada and sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

“I am very humbled by this honor bestowed upon me by the Consul of India,” Dr. Prabhakar said. “I am also indebted to the administration of SGU, the Ministry of Health, and the Government of Grenada for making the person I am today. Teaching communication skills and psychiatric interviewing skills to young and enthusiastic students gives me great pleasure, as does keeping in touch with my patients in the community, which I have been involved in for 40 years. I am proud to be an Indian and an adopted Grenadian.”

Dr. Marios Loukas, dean of the School of Medicine, praised Dr. Prabhakar’s contributions to SGU. “We are thankful for the invaluable contributions that Dr. Prabhakar has made to the University and our student body,” he said. “He has played a crucial role in their growth and well-being, both on campus and in the field, and has long been a pillar of psychiatric care for the wider Grenadian community.”

– Brett Mauser

Related Reading