st george medical research foundation

New home for St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation

The St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMFR) has entered a new chapter after securing office space in the grounds of St George Hospital.

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The foundation was formed in 2007 by a group of passionate St George Hospital doctors as an independent body, but works closely with South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and University of New South Wales (UNSW) to raise funds to support groundbreaking medical research in the area.

It has since awarded medical research grants totalling more than $7.8 million to researchers based at St George and Sutherland hospitals.

By securing office space within the hospital grounds, free of charge, it will now be able to continue its quest to improve the health and well-being of the community, now and in the future.

St George Hospital general manager Paul Darcy welcomed the foundation to the hospital grounds.

"We are very happy to be able to facilitate the foundation moving onto the St George Hospital campus, and hope this location will help raise the profile of the foundation and the amazing work done by our talented medical researchers here at St George Hospital," he said.

This foundation's chairwoman Cathy Yuncken said the move was an exciting development.

"[It is] allowing us to increase our profile and work more closely with the St George Hospital community to support medical research in our hospitals," she said.

"From grants provided to medical practitioners and scientists in our hospitals, to the nationally-significant Microbiome Research Centre at Kogarah, our goal is to enable globally-recognised medical research in our hospitals, and secure their position as great centres of biomedical science and medical care."

The foundation's chief executive Leanne Dib thanked the hospital for its support.

"After a challenging year, we turn towards this new year committed to working even more closely with our hospitals to turn scientific discovery into the best possible treatment, care and outcomes for patients and our broader community," she said.

The foundation recently awards its 2020 research grants.

Three researchers from St George and Sutherland hospitals received funding for research projects that focus on improving care for medical conditions and diseases that impact many in the community. The grants were awarded to:

• Dr Kevin (Jie) Ni, $46,000, for a novel liquid biopsy assay of blood exosomal microRNA profiles to improve prostate cancer
• Professor Georgina Hold, $50,000, to facilitate translational research studies into Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Dr Bill Giannakopoulos, $50,000, for quantification of redox forms of plasma ApoJ, ApoH and PDI to identify patients at-risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

One of the foundation's founding members, Professor Kate Moore said: "Having watched the foundation grow from a start-up enterprise in 2007 to the impactful research organisation, it is a proud moment to witness St George Hospital officially recognising the importance of the foundation's contribution to research activity within the hospital and the health benefits this provides to the community".

Details: ssmrf.com.au.

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St George's University's Medical Student Research Institute: A Novel, Virtual Programme for Medical Research Collaboration

Instituto de investigación médica estudiantil de la universidad de saint george: un programa virtual novedoso para la colaboración en la investigación médica, rs chamberlain.

1 St George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies

2 Department of Surgery, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey, USA

3 Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA

4 Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, USA

Medical student research involvement has evolved to be a core component of medical education and is becoming increasingly vital to success in the United States residency match. We sought to develop a research website allowing students and research faculty to collaborate and complete projects online.

The Medical Student Research Institute (MSRI) was developed by the St George's University School of Medicine in 2009 to encourage, support, facilitate and centralize medical student research.

There are 63 active students in the MSRI (22 students in basic science and 41 students in clinical rotations). The mean GPA for basic science student members was 3.81 ± 0.27 and was 3.80 ± 0.20 for clinical student members. The mean United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score was 241.6 ± 17.5. Since 2009, MSRI students have published 87 manuscripts in 33 different journals and have presented at 14 different national and international conferences.

Conclusion:

A web-based MSRI provides a virtual, entirely online resource for coordinating remote research collaboration between medical students and faculty whose opportunities would be otherwise limited. Initial experiences with the programme have been positive and the framework and concept of the MSRI provides a platform for university and medical schools to provide research opportunities to students who may not have face-to-face access to research faculty.

La participación estudiantil en la investigación médica ha evolucionado hasta llegar a ser un componente esencial de la educación médica, y se está convirtiendo cada vez más en un elemento vital para el éxito en obtener una plaza en los programas de residencia de medicina en los Estados Unidos. Buscamos desarrollar un sitio web de investigación que permita a los estudiantes y profesores de investigación colaborar y realizar proyectos online.

Métodos:

El Instituto de Investigación Médica Estudiantil (MSRI por sus siglas en inglés) fue desarrollado por la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Saint George en 2009 para estimular, apoyar, facilitar y centralizar la investigación médica estudiantil.

Resultados:

Hay 63 estudiantes activos en el MSRI (22 estudiantes en ciencias básicas y 41 estudiantes en rotaciones clínicas). El promedio general de calificaciones (PGC) de los miembros estudiantes de ciencias básicas fue 3.81 ± 0.27, y el de los miembros estudiantes clínicos fue 3.80 ± 0.20. La puntuación promedio obtenida en el primer paso del Examen de Licencia Médica de los Estados Unidos (USMLE, en inglés) fue 241.6 ± 17.5. Desde 2009, los estudiantes del MSRI han publicado 87 manuscritos en 33 diferentes revistas, y han presentado trabajos en 14 conferencias nacionales e internacionales.

Conclusión:

Un MSRI basado en la red de la Internet proporciona un recurso virtual, totalmente online, que permite coordinar la colaboración a distancia entre estudiantes y profesores de medicina, quienes de lo contrario verían limitadas sus oportunidades. Las experiencias iniciales con el programa han sido positivas. El marco y los conceptos del MSRI proporciona una plataforma para que la Universidad y las escuelas de medicina puedan brindar oportunidades de investigación a los estudiantes que no tengan acceso presencial a la Facultad de investigación.

INTRODUCTION

Medical student involvement in research prior to applying for residency is becoming increasingly important for success in the United States (US) National Residency Matching Programme [NRMP] ( 1 – 2 ). For example, from 2007 to 2009, the mean number of publications, abstracts and/or presentations for graduates in the United States of America (USA) applying to Family Medicine residency programmes increased from 1.0 to 1.4, and from 1.1 to 1.4 for international medical graduates [IMG] ( 3 ). Over the same time period, the most competitive specialties ( ie integrated plastic surgery) continued to demand scholarly aptitude for success in the residency match [US graduates: mean 8.2 publications, abstracts and/or presentations in 2009; IMGs: mean 16.8 publications, abstracts and/or presentations in 2009] ( 3 ).

St George's University (SGU) School of Medicine, established in 1976 on the island of Grenada, is the oldest, most established international medical school in the Caribbean. It provides the largest number of foreign-trained physicians to the healthcare workforce in the USA annually. Academically, the School of Medicine has major clinical training sites in the northeast (primarily New Jersey and New York), midwest (primarily Michigan and Ohio), southeast (primarily Florida) and southwest (primarily California), providing students with many clinical opportunities across the USA. However, given SGU's numerous clinical sites, the University sought novel means to develop programmes that would coordinate research across all clinical centres.

Recognizing that research is an integral part of a university, the School of Medicine at SGU established the Medical Student Research Institute (MSRI) in 2009 to encourage, support, facilitate and centralize medical student research. By identifying the evolving needs of today's medical students, SGU sought to: (i) identify students interested in research during the basic science and clinical years of medical school with a track record of excellent academic achievement, (ii) identify SGU-affiliated faculty with a track record of published research and an active interest in student research and education, and (iii) create a virtual website to coordinate SGU-affiliated faculty with selected students interested in research.

We present the initial experience with the MSRI, including website development and navigation, applicability of a virtual research programme to other medical schools and universities, and the potential challenges the MSRI and all virtual research programmes may face in the future.

MSRI programmes

The MSRI offers two programmes: MD degree with Distinction in Research and MSRI Research Membership. The MD with Distinction in Research programme provides exceptional SGU School of Medicine students with an opportunity to be involved in sustained work in either basic, clinical, translational or social sciences, as part of their medical school training. Students enrolling in the first two years of medical school must fulfil the following criteria for acceptance: (i) minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.70, (ii) curriculum vitae, (iii) personal statement explaining how the MSRI would benefit the student, (iv) letter of recommendation, (v) interview, and for students in clinical rotations (vi) United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score. To be issued the MD degree with Distinction in Research, students must: (i) complete a minimum of two projects (original report or review article), in which the student is the 1 st or 2 nd author and (ii) maintain a grade point average (GPA) of > 3.70 throughout the duration of medical school.

Students in the MSRI Research Membership programme have similar acceptance criteria as the MD with Distinction in Research programme with the exception of a minimum GPA of 3.50. This programme allows students with a strong academic record to be involved in research projects during their clinical years.

Website development and testing

The MSRI was designed on two separate but digitally interlinked systems. A required password protects access to the site hosted on SGU's intranet server. The MSRI main page is a central management system (CMS) database driven website tool from Centralpoint-Oxycon ® (Middleburg Heights, Ohio). This asp.net CMS allows the website to be maintained without hypertext markup language (HTML) and allows administrators to upload documents to the website. The second MSRI inter-linked system is the Project Portal, a third party licensed active server page (ASP) CMS (Centralpoint-Oxycon ® , Middleburg Heights, Ohio). This system provides the capacity to manage the MSRI projects, allows faculty members to assign specific tasks to student members and generates extensive project progress reports. The MSRI Console (Centralpoint-Oxycon ® , Middleburg Heights, Ohio) is a third, front and back ended programme providing access control over the MSRI main page to MSRI administrators.

The MSRI main page was extensively alpha and beta tested to ensure all website links were operational prior to the website launch. Test projects were created and uploaded via the console to the MSRI main page to ensure accuracy and interplay between the two systems. Furthermore, the project portal was also tested extensively with test projects, allowing us to identify software built-in functions that were necessary to faculty and student members. This process permitted streamlining the ability to assign and receive/complete tasks by designing user levels based on user status (administration, faculty or student).

Website navigation

Accessing the website.

The MSRI website is only accessible to SGU students and registered SGU faculty members. Both students and faculty access the SGU homepage ( www.sgu.edu ) and subsequent log-in brings the user to the MSRI homepage ( Fig. 1a ).

Becoming a member, proposing projects, project selection

To become a member of the MSRI, the user selects 'Become a Member' at the top of the homepage and selects 'Faculty Investigators' ( Fig. 1b ) or 'Students' and completes the appropriate form. Faculty members are then able to propose a project ('Research Projects') and specify 'Propose a Project – Basic Science' or 'Propose a Project – Clinical Science'. The faculty member then selects the ideal candidate(s) for the project and completes a form in order to activate the project ('Profile Manager' and selecting 'Add Students to Project'). Students are able to search for approved research projects under 'Available Project List' and 'Research Projects' on the main MSRI website ( Fig. 1a ). The 'Available Project List' option shows the student every proposed project currently available and allows the student the option to contact the faculty investigator for a particular project to express interest by clicking the 'Contact Now' button next to the project. The 'Advanced Search' option allows the student to search available projects based on their specific specialty of interest.

Project portal

Once a registered project has been approved and activated on the Project Portal ( Fig. 1c ) by the MSRI, the user receives an e-mail from the MSRI administration with a username and password for the project portal, which is designated "Project Log In" on the MSRI homepage ( Fig. 1a ). The project portal provides access to the tasks for the project (outline, abstract, manuscript) and allows personalized e-mail communication between the faculty investigator and the student directly. When the student is ready to upload a completed draft to the project portal, the student accesses the 'File Attachment(s)' tab at the top of the appropriate task page. Any previous draft that the student or faculty investigator has uploaded can be downloaded at any time.

Website administration console

The MSRI console allows the website administrator to conveniently update and manage the website. When a faculty investigator, student or project is proposed, an e-mail is generated to an MSRI Gmail ® account, alerting the MSRI administration of the appropriate activity on the MSRI website. Separate directories in the MSRI console created for research projects, student research members and faculty members allow convenient activation following appropriate completion of these forms on the MSRI website. A second directory entitled 'Publishing' allows the administrator to update the published articles and presented abstracts for viewing on the MSRI homepage.

Additional features of the website

From the homepage, the user has the option of accessing a list of the latest published manuscripts and presented abstracts. In addition, there are direct links for the student selection process, a step-by-step tutorial for website navigation specific for faculty members and students, guidelines on preparing a research outline, student guidelines, frequently asked questions, and site feedback. A 'Guidelines and Resources' tab on the homepage allows the user to access tutorials including: grant-writing tips, extramural funding opportunities, sample submission guides for authors and medical statistical support.

MSRI student demographics, peer-reviewed journals and conferences

Sixty-three students are currently active in the MSRI, including 22 students (34.9%) in the basic sciences (1 st and 2 nd year of medical school) and 41 students (65.1%) in clinical rotations [3 rd and 4 th year of medical school] ( Table 1 ). Students in the basic sciences had a mean GPA of 3.81 ± 0.27 and students in clinical rotations had a mean GPA of 3.80 ± 0.20. Clinical students had a mean USMLE Step 1 score of 241.6±17.5.

MSRI – Medical Student Research Institute, GPA – grade point average (out of 4.00), USMLE – United States Medical Licensing Examination

Since 2009, MSRI students have published manuscripts in 33 peer-reviewed journals, including journals pertaining to surgery ( eg Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Journal of Neurosurgery, American Journal of Surgery), anatomy ( eg Clinical Anatomy, Journal of Anatomy), medicine ( eg International Journal of Cardiology, Gastroenterology), oncology ( eg Cancer) and pathology ( eg Journal of Cutaneous Pathology). Up to March 2011, students in the MSRI have published 87 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, including 32 original articles (36.8%), 30 review articles (34.5%), 16 historical/educational articles (18.4%) and nine case reports (10.3%) ( Table 2 ). Concurrently, MSRI students have presented at 14 national or regional academic conferences.

MSRI – Medical Student Research Institute

Implementation of research into a medical student's academic profile fosters critical thinking skills, promotion of life-long learning and creativity and prepares students to be physician-investigators ( 4 – 5 ). Scholarly activity among medical students has become increasingly common in medical schools in both USA and Canada ( 5 ), and several institutions have used such scholarly pursuits to develop leaders in medicine. Duke University School of Medicine represents the cornerstone of scholarly programmes, dating back to 1959 when the third year of medical school was designated as dedicated time for scholarly activity. Stanford University School of Medicine's tradition of encouraging medical student research also dates back to 1959, becoming a required component of the medical student curriculum in 2003 ( 6 ). Both Duke and Stanford evaluate the effectiveness of their programmes by surveying students' intentions to pursue a career in academic medicine and by the number of peer-reviewed publications produced during medical school ( 6 ). The Duke class of 2010 reported that they were more interested in an academic career after their research experience (81%) compared to before (71%). Furthermore, 28% of students reported having a manuscript accepted for publication during their research year and 92% of students had a manuscript in preparation or under review ( 6 ).

In 1995, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) created the Office of Student Research Opportunities to offer and encourage students to be involved with basic science or clinical outcomes research ( 7 ). Moreover, MSSM formally recognized student involvement in research with a Distinction in Research Programme. Similar to SGU's recognition (MD with Distinction in Research), MSSM does not accept case reports as fulfilling the research requirement and students must undertake the majority of the writing of the manuscript ( 7 ). An additional requirement that MSRI students must have is to maintain a 3.70 GPA, which the school administration believes supports the notion that students graduating with this honour have a track-record of both strong academic and scholarly achievement.

The concept of the MSR, which allows geographically separated students and faculty to interact, share ideas and ultimately complete all scholarly research in a virtual environment, is not only applicable to other foreign medical schools who have students rotating across the USA but also to American universities and medical schools with campuses overseas. The last few years have seen a surge in American universities rushing to establish campuses overseas, including New York University, Michigan State University and Rochester Institute of Technology ( 8 ). Furthermore, the Weill Cornell Medical School has established the first overseas American medical school campus in Qatar, graduating their first class in 2008 with a US Medical Degree ( 9 ). A fully functional virtual research website would provide students at these satellite campuses an opportunity to collaborate with faculty in the USA, particularly if the overseas campuses are not equipped to offer equivalent research opportunities.

An additional component of the MSRI that has evolved over the past two years is the concept of having research fellows work with MSRI students and research faculty. Several MSRI faculty members, who work extensively with students, have employed research fellows to work with and mentor six to eight students. The research fellow serves two purposes: (i) working extensively with students in order to assist with literature searches, project design and outlines, manuscript writing, and thus, (ii) reducing the time required for faculty to go through initial drafts of the manuscript. In these functions, the research fellows serve as "gatekeepers", forming a hierarchy among the student, research fellow and research faculty member and ensuring that faculty and student interactions are maximized. Research fellows are typically students who either failed to match into a competitive residency or elected to take a year to do research before applying to competitive specialties. Mentoring medical students allows research fellows to hone their interest in academic medicine, expand their curriculum vitae, improve their residency application and, most importantly, allows them to establish a solid research and teaching foundation going into residency. All research fellows associated with the MSRI have successfully matched into residency positions of their choice, including categorical general surgery, internal medicine and urology.

The MSRI was initially designed to identify the top 15% of SGU medical students, work with them extensively to develop superb analytical and writing skills, mentor them through the medical publishing process and ultimately assist them with getting into a competitive residency programme or institution. Ultimately, the 10-year goal of the MSRI is to encourage up to 50% of all medical students to be actively engaged in research. Thus, the success of the MSRI is graded on objective (number of publications/manuscripts accepted) and subjective evaluation (success of MSRI members in the annual residency match). The ratio of students to the number of papers published over the past two years shows that 63 members have published 87 manuscripts for a ratio of 1.4 manuscripts/member. To date, all students who have completed more than one year in the MSRI have a minimum of one published manuscript with several members publishing more than three manuscripts. Furthermore, analysis of residency placement for the inaugural members of the MSRI has seen individuals matched into urology, ophthalmology, categorical general surgery, emergency medicine and integrated vascular surgery, all specialties that have been traditionally difficult for international medical graduates to attain residency positions.

A number of challenges facing the MSRI need to be addressed as we move forward. Firstly, faculty recruitment is vital to ensuring a wide breadth of available projects across all medical specialties. The challenge is recruiting faculty to the MSRI with a track record of scholarly activity and medical student education experience. Faculty members volunteer their time to work with the student thus, there is no compensation in addition to "loss of opportunity costs", particularly for private physicians. Secondly, keeping student motivation at a high level is vital to the success of both the student and the MSRI. All projects are reviewed by the MSRI administration every four weeks to ensure that ongoing and timely progress is occurring between the student and faculty member. That said, we realize that a certain degree of leniency is necessary when working with both students and busy faculty; at certain times, third and fourth year students have more ( ie research elective) and less ( ie surgery rotation, studying for USMLE Step 2) time to work on assigned projects.

We believe that a web-based MSRI has the opportunity to alter student and faculty attitudes toward publishing research and change the career paths and opportunities for all involved. After our initial experience with the programme, we remain enthusiastic that the framework and concept of an MSRI can provide a platform for universities and medical schools to broaden research opportunities available to students, who may not have frequent or any face-to-face access to research faculty.

– Medical School Blog

10 Surprising Facts About the SGU School of Medicine

You’ve decided you’re ready to start applying to medical school, but that’s just the first of many decisions you’ll have to make on your path to becoming a doctor. One of the most significant of those is  which medical school you’ll choose  to attend.

There are a lot of programs out there, so it’s important to choose one that provides the education and support you need to thrive as a physician. You’ll want to do your research to evaluate graduate success and residency placement rates.

If you’re considering  St. George’s University  (SGU), you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to discover some helpful information you may not be aware of.

10 things you might not know about the SGU School of Medicine

Even if you’ve done some basic research, there’s a lot you may not know about SGU. There’s only so much that you can glean from reading St. George’s University School of Medicine reviews. Consider the following facts as you compare schools.

1. SGU has contributed 20,000+ physicians into the global workforce

You may be surprised to hear that SGU has more than 20,000 graduates who have gone on to practice medicine across the world. Our alumni have practiced in all 50 US states , as well as more than 50 countries worldwide. 1

We value these global contributions and are proud to be the number one source of actively licensed physicians in the US. 2 This means by graduating from SGU, you will be joining a vast network of alumni.

2. SGU students have achieved a first-time pass rate of 92% on the USMLE Step 1

Passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) series is a crucial milestone for medical students who want to practice in the US. Assessing how students at a particular school perform on this exam is a strong indicator of the quality of the curriculum and support being offered.

SGU students achieved a 92 percent USMLE Step 1 pass rate for first-time test takers over the last three years. 3

So why do SGU students perform so well on this essential test? Many credit the fact that SGU’s  Department of Educational Services  conducts hundreds of workshops a week to assist students in time management skills, test taking, and learning strategies, as well as subject-specific workshops

3. SGU is the largest provider of doctors into first-year US residencies

After gaining acceptance into medical school, arguably the next most important accomplishment for aspiring MDs is to obtain a residency. Many would agree that residency match data is one of the most important criteria for evaluating a medical school.

For the eighth year in a row, the SGU School of Medicine is the  largest provider  of doctors into first-year US residencies. 4  More than  990 SGU graduates  landed US residencies in 2022, spanning all sorts of different specialties. 4

This graduate success can be partially attributed to the efforts of the  Office of Career Guidance and Student Development , which offers support to students on their quest to secure a residency.

4. SGU has a variety of academic programs—even within the medical school

Prospective students from the US and Canada typically pursue medical school after attaining a four-year bachelor’s degree. But students from other countries may come from significantly different education systems.

For SGU, allowing flexibility for international students just makes sense. Medical education around the world can vary from four to seven years, and the School of Medicine accommodates this by offering four-, five-, six-, and seven-year  MD pathways at SGU . These different points of entry allow you to pick up your education where it left off, and you also have the option to complete some of the required coursework at a  partner program  before departing for Grenada.

In addition, students have the option to complete part of their basic sciences requirements through the  St. George’s University of Grenada School of Medicine/Northumbria University MD Program  in the United Kingdom. Students who begin their MD through the UK-based program receive the same intensive medical education as students who start on the Grenada campus, with the additional benefits of learning a new healthcare system and gaining access to the rich history and culture that the UK and Europe offers.

5. There are a surprising number of research opportunities

You might know you want to tackle research projects before ever donning a white coat. While you may face limitations at some schools, SGU students have  options in a variety of topics . The  Medical Student Research Institute  (MSRI) pairs you with a faculty mentor who has expertise that aligns with your interests.

Students who maintain a weighted mean percentage grade of 85 percent and have at least one co-authored, peer-reviewed research paper published by the beginning of their fourth year are eligible to graduate with a “Distinction in Research” honor.

6. MPH and MSc degrees can augment the MD

Perhaps you have a particular interest in  global health  or advanced medical research. It’s often necessary to earn a graduate degree in public health or science separately. At SGU, you can roll those interests into your MD program with a CEPH-accredited  Master of Public Health (MPH) program .

Choosing to attain multiple degrees may set you up for success in the future. The  MD/MPH option  teaches students how to implement healthcare at the patient level and on a much larger scale. The  MD/MSc program  is designed to prepare you for a career involving original research in specific areas of medicine. You’ll gain first-hand experience conducting studies—possibly within the  Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation  (WINDREF).

7. SGU’s clinical program covers a range of patient populations and healthcare systems

Clinical rotations can vary significantly depending on your location because every healthcare system and patient population is slightly different. We recognize these differences matter to students, which is why SGU has affiliations with more than 70 hospitals and clinical centers in the US and UK.

8. SGU School of Medicine offers three different start dates throughout the year

One of the most stressful parts of  applying to medical school  is hitting application deadlines. If you’re late during any step of the process, you typically have to wait until the following year to continue your application. Unexpected challenges can make it difficult to complete everything in such quick succession.

Students applying to SGU are in luck because the School of Medicine admits  three classes each year . You can choose to start your medical school journey in August, January, or April. Some students may even find  beginning in January  or  April  is a better fit.

9. There are several ways SGU students can make tuition more affordable

While the cost of attending medical school can seem intimidating, it’s one of the most important investments a future doctor can make. SGU students can help ease their financial obligation through federal student loans and scholarships.

SGU is one of a handful of  international medical schools that are approved  by the US Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office. This means students who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for federal financial aid. SGU also offers several need- or merit-based  scholarships for students . Any questions about tuition and  financing your education  can be directed to a Financial Aid Counselor.

10. Grenada is a great place to learn and live

Every student needs a break now and again, and SGU is a great place to be when you need to unwind. There are many reasons to fall in love with the island . The Caribbean Journal has even named Grenada as a past  Caribbean Destination of the Year , calling the Spice Isle “one of the region’s hottest places to visit.”

SGU provides several opportunities for you to have an enriching life outside the classroom . Enjoy the great outdoors, get involved with  organized sports , or join one of the many  student organizations . You’ll get to know your fellow students and enjoy a culturally diverse environment.

Start your medical journey at SGU

As you can see, the SGU School of Medicine has a lot to offer. The program provides real-world medical experience and extends opportunities to students of all backgrounds.

We’ve only scratched the surface of what you can expect at St. George’s University. To learn more about how you can pursue your dream of becoming a doctor, visit our  request information page .

1 Based on the number of students who have completed the Doctor of Medicine program from 1981-2022.

2 According to FSMB physician licensure data, 2021

3 Average of 2019, 2020, 2021 scores. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of students passing USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time. In order to be certified to take USMLE Step 1, students are required to pass all basic sciences courses.

4 As the medical school graduating the largest number of students annually, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate and residency placement data as of July 2022.

*This article has been updated from a previous version to include current facts and figures.

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US residencies in 2024 1

US residency placement rate for graduates over the last five years​ 2

USMLE Step 1 pass rate for first-time test-takers over the last three years 3

USMLE Step 2CK pass rate for first-time test-takers over the last three years 4

1 Data as of March 2024.

2 As the medical school graduating the largest number of students per year, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate/expected graduate and residency placement data as of March 2024.

4 Average of academic years 2019, 2020, 2021 scores. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of students passing USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time. USMLE Step 2 CK is typically taken upon completion of third-year core clinical rotations.

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US Residencies in 2024 1

US residency placement rate for graduates over the last five years 2

USMLE Step 2CK pass rate for first-time test takers over the last three years 4

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Research and conferences

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s cardiothoracic department is part of the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Sciences at St. George’s, University of London. The department is made up of over 100 personnel dedicated to first class research on heart valve disease, atrial fibrillation and diseases of the aorta, especially Marfan syndrome. The department publishes research extensively in national and international medical journals ( www.pubmed.org )

Transoesophageal Echo course

This annual conference is held at St George’s Hospital in the spring. The course features information and demonstrations of the most recent and innovative techniques in trans-oesophageal echocardiography and opportunities for discussions and review.

Marfan syndrome course

This is a symposium held once a year, providing the latest information on the management of cardiovascular manifestations of patients with Marfan syndrome. It is aimed at both health professionals and patients.

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Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Honoring Service with Science ®

Every Veteran will receive the finest research-based care.

Welcome to VMRF

The Veterans Medical Research Foundation and its researchers are addressing the unique health concerns experienced by our fine men and women who voluntarily risk their lives to serve our country and to defend our values. The Veterans Medical Research Foundation is here to help ensure that the conditions which disproportionately affect the veteran population benefit from highest standard scientific inquiry and discovery.

Those who courageously serve in our nation's military deserve exceptional care. The Veterans Medical Research Foundation's mission is to enhance the health of veterans of all generations through research and education.

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Interested in finding a career with the Veterans Medical Research Foundation?

Primary research: Neurosurgery

Our Aim: To help provide funding for research into the diagnosis and treatment of neurosurgical conditions predominantly at Atkinson Morley, based at St George's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s, University of London.

Charity number : 288438,   amrc member

2022 St George and Sutherland Hospital Medical Research Symposium

Read The Leader’s article “Medical research on show for 2022 St George and Sutherland Hospital Medical Research Symposium”

The annual St George and Sutherland Hospital Medical Research Symposium, held on Thursday 20th October, has been heralded a huge success.

The Symposium has been running for over 30 years and showcases some of the research that is currently being produced within our hospitals and offers an opportunity for postgraduate and undergraduate students to present findings; build on networks; and hear about other research on their doorstep.

Health professionals and students submitted abstracts for consideration of Best Clinical Research and Basic Science Oral Presentations, Best Hot Topics, Best Oral Presentation by an Undergraduate Student and Best Poster People’s Choice.

The Symposium was opened this year by Associate Professor Amany Zekry, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, and a lead researcher at the UNSW Microbiome Research Centre (MRC). The audience also heard from St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation CEO Pam Brown, and South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Mr Tobi Wilson.

The Acknowledgement Of Country was performed by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Hon Linda Burney, Member for Barton.

In addition to the Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations the Symposium featured three keynote lectures from invited speakers.

Professor Emad El-Omar, Editor in Chief of the “Gut” journal, delivered the first lecture, “ How to publish and get your research seen ”, which was The Hastings Memorial Lecture, supported by the Lions Club Kogarah.

The Christopher Stewart Memorial Lecture, supported by St George Private Hospital, was delivered by Professor Peter Gonski, Geriatrician. His lecture was titled “ Avoiding hospitalisation, everyone’s a winner! ”

The third lecture was delivered by Southern Eastern Sydney Local Health District Director of Research, Medical Co-Director of the ESCM program of Medicine at the Prince of Wales Hospital and Conjoint Professor of Medicine at the University of NSW, Professor Chris White, the lecture was titled “ Implementing the SESLHD Research Strategy ”.

The Alberto Albani Healing Narrative Award was won by Dr Jordan Maxton.

SSMRF CEO Pam Brown said, “I congratulate the award winners, the grant recipients and all who presented at the Symposium. The extremely high level of research and results really stood out during the course of the day. We should be proud to showcase this immense research capability at our local St George and Sutherland Hospitals.

I thank everyone who participated in the Symposium and look forward to another successful event next year.”

Best Clinical Research and Basic Science Oral Presentations  1st Place (Sponsored by Lions Club of Kogarah) Dr SJ Shen Title: Effect of gut influence on the immune environment in pre-clinical hepatocellular carcinoma

2nd Place (Sponsored by SSMRF) Ms Mary Anderson Title: Anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder six months postpartum following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and normotensive pregnancy: A P4 and BP2 sub-study

3rd Place (Sponsored by SSMRF) Ms Camilla Hirsch Title: Blood Pressure Postpartum (BP2) randomised control trial: Women’s nutritional and physical activity outcomes six-months following a hypertensive pregnancy

Best Presentation by an undergraduate (Sponsored by St George Hospital Medical Staff Council) Ms Emily Stevenson Title: The role of maternal antenatal lifestyle in predicting infant growth outcomes

Hot topic/Best Poster – Judges’ Choice (Sponsored by St George Hospital Medical Staff Council) Dr Ke Sun Title: JMO-led Morbidity and Mortality meeting – an innovative quality improvement initiative

Best Poster – People’s Choice Award (Sponsored by St George Hospital Medical Staff Council) Dr Halina Leung Title: Anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies activate platelets and neutrophils and are responsible for the clinical features of vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)

Intern /RMO of the year Intern of the Year: Dr Jessica Lloyd RMO of the year: Dr Fay Huang

We would also like to acknowledge and thank Symposium Organising Committee, Abstract Reviewers, and this year’s sponsors.

2022 Symposium Organising Committee

• Prof Georgina Hold
• A/Prof Greg Davis
• Prof Emad El-Omar
• Ms Lauren Sturgess
• Ms Pam Brown
• Dr Jason Behary
• Dr Alex Farrell
• Dr Yalinna Yang
• A/Prof Julia McLean
• Chloe Hicks
• Ms Deborah Broder
• Ms Muslima Rahman

2022 Symposium Abstract Reviewers

• Dr Michal Szczesniak
• A/Prof. Ivor Katz
• Dr Bill Giannakopoulos
• Dr Julia Beretov
• Dr Jose Perdomo
• Dr Chris Weatherall
• A/Prof. Julia Maclean
• Dr Fei Chen
• Dr Zhouran Chen
• St George Hospital Medical Staff Council
• St George Private Hospital
• The Kogarah Lions Club

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SSMRF acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the Sydney region and pays their respects to the Elders both past and present.

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