Every physician’s journey toward earning their white coat looks a bit different. Students at the St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine come from across the globe, and that diverse, multicultural community is part of why alumni speak so highly of their time there.
More than 19,000 physicians got their start at SGU—but what brought them to this Caribbean medical school in the first place? Read on as three inspiring doctors share their stories of going to medical school abroad.
3 successful doctors who attended medical school abroad
Before you begin applying to medical schools, you know it’s important to do your research. And while things like the esteem of a school’s faculty, its students’ exam pass rates, or its top research initiatives can all be important factors in your decision-making process, learning more about the experiences of its alumni can be just as important.
The following three physicians all came to SGU from very different backgrounds. But they now have at least one thing in common: they credit this Caribbean medical school for helping turn their dreams of becoming a doctor into a reality.
1. From research to direct patient care
As a native of Montreal, Dr. Richard Feldstein spent much of his academic life at prestigious Canadian universities, applying his natural affinity for the sciences toward degrees in research. He received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry before earning a master’s in experimental medicine. And in between all of this, Dr. Feldstein also volunteered at various research labs and local hospitals in the area.
It was as he immersed himself in the field of research that Dr. Feldstein began to realize his talents would be better suited in another area of expertise—something that would allow him to experience the more personal side of medicine. And with that, he began applying to medical schools.
At that point, the application deadlines for Canadian and US schools had passed, but Dr. Feldstein was certain he didn’t want to postpone his aspirations any longer. Eager to embark on his new career path, he began researching medical schools abroad.
Dr. Feldstein began an email correspondence with two students who were attending SGU in Grenada, and he was instantly impressed by their positive feedback. He soon discovered that some of his colleagues had previously served as visiting professors at SGU. The conversations with these alumni and affiliates of the school sealed the deal, and he soon began his medical studies in Grenada.
“When I got to Grenada, I was so impressed—more so than I expected. I couldn’t believe what they had created,” Dr. Feldstein reminisces, adding that the university provided everything a medical student could possibly need.
“When I got to Grenada, I was so impressed—more so than I expected. I couldn’t believe what they had created.”
After obtaining his medical license, he went on to do his residency in internal medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York where he was appointed as one of five chief medical residents. Dr. Feldstein now serves as a senior fellow in the Department of Gastroenterology at North Shore University Hospital, a teaching hospital for New York University Medical School.
“Everything I’ve ever wanted in my career I’ve gotten, and I have SGU to thank for that,” he says.
2. A global journey toward medical practice
Amid a storm in an impoverished area outside of Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Roxanne Graham saw a dream of becoming a doctor materialize right before her eyes. Then just a high school student, she witnessed the true impact a physician can have.
“It was raining and raining, and a family had come to our clinic to tell us that a woman had given birth,” Dr. Graham recalls. “An ambulance couldn’t get close enough, so a doctor, a nurse, and I ran there in the rain to help.” This experience, along with the many others she had while volunteering at the clinic for five months, was life changing.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Graham earned two bachelor’s degrees in the sciences before completing a year of stem cell research. She learned about SGU at an area information session, and she felt compelled to apply.
“I just thought that SGU was such an awesome opportunity. I’m very adventurous and wanted to see another part of the world—plus, I loved that it’s on an island and that I could meet new people,” she recalls.
Dr. Graham made friends quickly and navigated her way through the rigorous medical school course load. On the side, she was a member of SGU’s Pediatrics Club, and she also carved out time to participate in the school’s Thailand selective, during which she and several other students learned about traditional eastern style medicine and modern medical practices in both Bangkok and Krabi.
“… if I’d stayed at home, I would not have been able to do what I’ve done and to experience the world like I have. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.”
Her upbringing in South Africa and international experience at SGU—between Grenada, Thailand, and the US where she completed clinical training and residency—piqued Dr. Graham’s interest in global medicine, something she intends to pursue as she moves forward in her career.
“I’m really glad that I took the opportunity to go to SGU,” she says. “I met amazing people along the way, and I feel that if I’d stayed at home, I would not have been able to do what I’ve done and to experience the world like I have. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.”
3. An inspiring medical career fueled by a first-class education
Now a successful cancer surgeon, Dr. Russell Langan’s path into such a specialized field was anything but easy—in fact, he recalls it being quite arduous. Before pursuing medical school, Dr. Langan earned his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University.
After learning about SGU, he wanted to be absolutely sure it was the right institution to prepare him to become a respected doctor. So not only did Dr. Langan do his fair share of research, but he even flew down to Grenada and spent five days talking to faculty and students to learn more about the entire experience.
The education at SGU is literally top-notch. It’s one of the best places to train in the world…”
“After I did that, I had a sense that it was really going to get me where I wanted to be,” he recalls. “Not only is the island beautiful, but it’s safe and the people are very welcoming.” Outside of the basic sciences curriculum, Dr. Langan appreciated the opportunity to get an early start on patient care by visiting Grenada General Hospital and participating in numerous health fairs and community events.
“The training, the lectureship, and the laboratory mentorship that I had at SGU far surpassed my expectations,” he says. “The education at SGU is literally top-notch. It’s one of the best places to train in the world because it prepares you not only for the objective criteria for board exams, but also for the real-life aspects of practicing medicine.”
The foundation Dr. Langan received at SGU enabled him to match into his top-choice residency program. He’s since authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and seven book chapters dedicated to surgical oncology.
Practicing as a cancer surgeon today, Dr. Langan is able to use everything he learned to make an undeniable impact on his patients’ lives. “I believe that there’s no better job out there,” he notes. “The interpersonal interactions you have as a surgical oncologist far supersede other careers. You can offer hope to patients where others cannot. They put trust in our hands, and it drives me to do better.”
Start on your path to medical school abroad
It’s clear that the St. George’s University School of Medicine is well versed in training dedicated, passionate, and skilled physicians who go on to change the lives of their patients for the better—and it all started by attending medical school abroad.
Now that you know how these successful physicians got their start at SGU, it’s time to continue mapping your own journey toward becoming a doctor. As you consider schools like SGU more seriously, you’ll want to be sure to do your research. Get the answers you need in our article “8 Common Questions About Caribbean Medical Universities.”
