Match Day brought big news for St. George’s University as 16 School of Medicine students and graduates secured residencies in the 2026 Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) R-1 Main Residency Match. The result marks a major milestone, doubling SGU’s matches in Canada compared to last year.
The newly matched doctors will begin residency training across Canada this summer. Their success highlights SGU’s growing presence in the Canadian medical community and the University’s commitment to preparing physicians who will return home to serve patients across the country.
“We are incredibly proud to see the number of SGU students matching into Canadian residencies double this year,” said Jibran Vahidy, SGU’s director of admissions and partnerships—Canada. “These results reflect the dedication of our students and the strength of SGU’s global medical education model. It’s especially meaningful to see so many of them returning to Canada to train and ultimately care for communities that need dedicated physicians.”
Among the 16 matches, 13 students matched into family medicine, two into internal medicine, and one into psychiatry. They will train at institutions including McMaster University, the University of Toronto, the University of Ottawa, the University of Saskatchewan, Queen’s University, Western University, and the University of British Columbia.
Brenna Wilson, MD ’26 (expected), from Ottawa, Ontario, matched into internal medicine at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario.
“I was in complete shock and overwhelmed,” Brenna said. “It was hard to believe I achieved something that I could have never imagined four years ago. I was just so proud of myself.”
Returning to train in her hometown makes the milestone even more special.
“I’m most looking forward to being close to my family and friends and practicing medicine back in my hometown, caring for patients I feel such a connection to,” she said.
During her clinical years, Brenna intentionally built connections by completing elective rotations in Canada and attending SGU student events featuring previously matched CaRMS applicants.
“I’m drawn to the complexity of patient care, problem-solving, and building long-term relationships with patients,” she said. “Training across different healthcare systems during my time at SGU strengthened my clinical reasoning and adaptability and confirmed that internal medicine was the best fit for me.”
Gayathiri Tharmakumaran, MD ’25, a graduate from Markham, Ontario, matched into family medicine at Western University in London, Ontario.
“When I found out that I matched, I was overwhelmed with emotion,” Dr. Tharmakumaran said. “I had invested so much time, energy, and hope into the process, so seeing the result felt incredibly validating.”
She is particularly excited about the continuity of care the specialty offers.
“I’m most looking forward to building long-term relationships with patients and being involved in many aspects of their care,” she said. “Family medicine allows you to support people through different stages of life, which is something I value deeply.”
Dr. Tharmakumaran credited SGU’s clinical training and support from the Office of Career Guidance with helping her navigate the application process.
“They helped with my personal statement, CV, and interview preparation,” she said. “Having that support made the process feel much more manageable.”
Borna Nasseri, MD ’25, of Toronto, Ontario, matched into family medicine at McMaster University in St. Catharines, Ontario.
“I felt incredibly grateful, excited, and relieved,” Dr. Nasseri said. “Matching was the culmination of years of hard work and support from mentors, friends, family, and classmates.”
He looks forward to growing both personally and professionally during residency.
“I’m especially excited about becoming a dependable and confident resident while building long-term relationships with mentors and patients.”
Dr. Nasseri said SGU’s diverse clinical experiences and mentorship opportunities were key to his success.
“SGU provided a robust clinical and academic foundation,” he said. “Mentorship throughout medical school helped me make the necessary decisions to secure residency.”
Areti Tzanetakis, MD ’25, originally from Toronto, Ontario, matched into family medicine at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario.
“Matching was an overwhelming mix of joy and excitement,” Dr. Tzanetakis said. “This moment made all the effort, late nights, and obstacles worth it.”
She said SGU’s international clinical training experiences helped shape her decision to pursue the specialty.
“Through SGU, I had the opportunity to experience three different healthcare systems,” she said. “Seeing how family medicine functions in different settings confirmed that it was the specialty where I could make the greatest impact.”
Karley Patenaude, MD ’26 (expected), from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, matched into family medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“I felt a large sense of relief, happiness, and pride when I opened my successful match result,” Karley said. “I’m so excited to be returning home to Saskatchewan.”
She is particularly eager to take on more responsibility as part of the healthcare team while caring for patients in her home province.
“Getting to care for patients while being close to my friends and family has been a dream of mine since starting at SGU,” she said.
Karley noted that SGU’s Office of Career Guidance played an important role in helping her prepare for the Canadian match.
“They helped me become familiar with the CaRMS requirements and overall process,” she said. “They offered in-person sessions and webinars that were invaluable for staying on track, and SGU connected me with physicians who had successfully matched in Canada. Being able to ask them questions and learn from their experiences was incredibly helpful during the application process.”
Abigail Arenas, MD ’24, a graduate from Vancouver, British Columbia, matched into family medicine at the University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George, British Columbia.
“I felt glad, relieved, and incredibly grateful,” Dr. Arenas said after learning she matched. “After a challenging year personally, matching reminded me that everything has its season. Now it’s time to celebrate.”
Drawn to the variety and continuity of care the specialty offers, Dr. Arenas said family medicine allows her to build lasting relationships with patients while treating a wide range of conditions.
“No two days are ever the same,” she said. “Family medicine gives me the opportunity to care for patients of all ages while building long-term relationships that support prevention, diagnosis, and overall wellness. I’m also passionate about rural medicine, so the chance to serve communities in Northern BC is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Her decision to attend SGU was also influenced by a personal connection.
“My own family physician was an SGU graduate, so I knew it was possible to return to Canada after training there,” she said. “SGU’s global network created so many learning opportunities; and spending my first two years studying on a beautiful island campus was an experience I’ll always value.”
For more residency listings, visit the SGU 2026 residency listing page.
