As a Canadian native, Dr. Abhishiek Setia had some specific goals in mind when it came time to complete his medical training. While he was interested in pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program abroad, he knew he wanted to eventually wanted to come back and practice in his home country of Canada.
Upon learning about St. George’s University (SGU), Dr. Setia immediately felt that earning his MD there would be the perfect first step in his journey toward becoming a physician. Keep reading to learn more about his pathway to medical practice in Canada.
Pursuing a cross-cultural medical education
When Dr. Setia envisioned his future with the SGU School of Medicine, he was drawn to the opportunity the institution may afford him to study medicine in a foreign country, complete postgraduate training in the United States, and then establish his medical career back in Canada.
Dr. Setia recognized the benefits of attending an international med school. He could see that, in addition to experiencing a new culture, students who attend MD programs abroad have the opportunity to learn about different healthcare systems and see a wider variety of illnesses as they earn their medical degrees.
Located on the Caribbean island of Grenada, SGU provides students with an immersive, cross-cultural medical training experience, while offering plenty of student support and a robust alumni network. SGU med students are able to amplify their expertise with a global perspective, learning about different styles of medicine and completing hands-on training with patients from different cultures.
“I think SGU is an amazing school and I felt very supported as a Canadian student,” Dr. Setia says. “My time there prepared me really well for residency. The clinical rotations were incredible and having a wide network of SGU alumni helped me get the residency of my dreams.”
Completing high-impact postgraduate training
SGU graduates can participate in the US Residency Match with the expectation that they will complete their core rotations at an SGU-affiliated hospital or center, but that’s not the only option for Canadians studying medicine abroad (CSAs).
“There are opportunities to return to Canada for elective rotations,” Dr. Setia explains.
MDs from SGU are permitted 12 weeks of nonaffiliated rotations. Many CSAs use this as an opportunity to gain additional Canadian experience to help boost their chances of matching into post-graduate training in Canada.
Dr. Setia, however, had his sights set on achieving as much as he could through competitive American programs. After graduating from the SGU School of Medicine in 2018, he landed an internal medicine residency position at the Jersey City Medical Center, a top teaching hospital located in New Jersey. He was eventually named Chief Resident.
He later completed an infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Toledo in Ohio, during which Dr. Setia was recognized as the top fellow.
“I chose to do residency and fellowship in the United States to get more experience at higher centers,” he explains. “I was then able to take the skills I gained back to my medical practice in Canada.”
Returning home to practice medicine in Canada
It’s common for Canadian medical students who complete their training abroad to remain in countries like the United States when it comes time to establish their careers as licensed physicians. But that was never the plan for Dr. Setia. “I was always interested in coming back to Canada and practicing here,” he recounts.
Not only does he have family in his home country, but he also felt compelled to provide much-needed medical care to a nation experiencing a severe shortage of physicians. After completing his postgraduate training, Dr. Setia fulfilled his goal of returning to Canada. “I currently work as an internal medicine and infectious disease doctor at Stratford Hospital in London, Ontario,” he says. “I also run the ICU and serve as the medical director for the Antibiotic Stewardship program.”
Additionally, Dr. Setia runs his own clinic with his own staff, and he maintains an adjunct professor position at the Schulich School of Medicine at Western University.
Achieve your medical career goals with SGU
Dr. Setia is just one of several Canadian graduates who have earned an MD at SGU before returning home to practice medicine in Canada — and he wouldn’t have done it any other way. “My SGU experience was phenomenal,” he notes. “I would recommend it to all.”
If your medical career goals look similar to Dr. Setia’s, you could find the support, resources, and hands-on experiences you’ll need at the St. George’s University School of Medicine. If you’d like to know more, you can reach out to an SGU graduate. They’re happy to tell you what their experiences were like.
If you feel like SGU could be the right medical school for you, take the next step. Continue your research by visiting our request information page.
