AAMP
Alumni Admission
Mentor Program
Volume 9 | Issue 6 | November/December 2016
SGU Holds Second Commencement in Botswana
Thirty-five Batswana graduates from St.
George’s University celebrated their
achievement at the commencement
ceremony on November 19 at the Botswana
TraveLodge in the country’s capital city.
It marked the second time that such a
graduation ceremony has been held outside
the United States in the 40-year history
of SGU, the first taking place in 2012, also
in Gaborone. The Batswana students
graduated from SGU’s Schools of Medicine,
Veterinary Medicine, and Graduate Studies.
Nearly 100 Batswana doctors have graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine.
“We are very pleased to honor the hard work
of these graduates and now expect them
to make a major contribution to medical
and other professional services In their own
country,” commented Dr. G. Richard Olds,
BOTSWANA, continued on page 3
Help SGU Recruit the Best and Brightest Students.
St. George’s University
c/o University Support Services, LLC
The North American Correspondent
3500 Sunrise Highway, Building 300
Great River, New York 11739-9002
Two Graduates Win
Trips to Grenada
Featured AAMP Volunteers
Nathan Kwablah, MD, MBA
Class of 2011 (MD), 2012 (MBA)
Originally from Ghana, Dr. Kwablah is a medical officer in general
practice with 3M&C Health Systems in the capital city of Accra.
In addition to a Doctor of Medicine, he also earned his Master of
Business Administration from SGU, gaining skills and expertise
he hopes to use when opening his own medical facility in Ghana.
Dr. Kwablah eyes a career in family medicine and looks forward to
being a part of the emerging telemedicine and health information
technology frontiers in Ghana. He recently shared his experience
with students during SGU’s information session in Accra.
From the pool of St. George’s
University graduates who
entered the 40th Anniversary
Celebration Sweepstakes,
physicians Mary Jo Johnstone,
MD SGU ‘08, and Christopher
Cruz, MD SGU ‘09, were
selected as winners of a
four-day, three-night trip for
two to Grenada.
Dr. Johnstone is an emergency
medicine physician at
Winthrop University Hospital
in Brooklyn, NY, while Dr.
Cruz is a hospitalist with Elliot
Health System in Manchester,
NH. Each can travel to the
Spice Isle anytime in the 2017
calendar year, when SGU
celebrates 40 years since it
held its first day of classes—
January 17, 1977.
Kunal Chawla, MD
Class of 2014
Dr. Chawla is a third-year internal medicine resident at SUNY
Upstate Medical University, and he will serve as Chief Resident
for the 2017-2018 year. He came to SGU after earning his
biology degree from Drew University in Madison, NJ, as
well as finishing a research fellowship at the University of
North Carolina. Dr. Chawla hopes to conduct cardiology and
interventional cardiology fellowships after residency. As an
AAMP representative, he has participated in webinars, grad
mentoring, and prospective student interviews.
Fawaaz Nuzeebun
Class of 2014
Dr. Nuzeebun is a first-year trainee in general practice, rotating
in psychiatry as part of the Cwm Taf University Health Board in
Wales, United Kingdom. Originally from Mauritius, he graduated
from SGU’s premedical program before going on to earn his
Doctor of Medicine in 2014. Following his training, Dr. Nuzeebun
would like to join a surgery practice in a small community in the
UK. He assists SGU by meeting with students at UK information
sessions, serving as a grad mentor, and conducting interviews.
Dr. Nuzeebun is an avid traveler, having visited 32 countries.
HELP GUIDE TOMORROW’S DOCTORS AND VETS
AAMP volunteers can help in a variety of ways and on their schedule. Register at sgu.wufoo.com/forms/aamp-sign-up.
1. In person
SGU hosts
information
sessions
and Face to Face programs
in major cities around the
world. Grads can answer
questions about the
University, life at SGU, and
their profession. In addition,
we can arrange for alums
to meet with pre-health
advisors at area universities.
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2. Online
W
ebinars
include a brief
presentation,
as well as
a live chat Q&A with
students, graduates, and
admission counselors.
AAMP volunteers can log
on and provide a valuable
perspective to interested
students.
3. Phone
Graduates
can make
themselves
available to answer
prospective students’
questions over the phone.
They can also serve as grad
mentors, for which they are
paired with prospective and
accepted students.
4. Alumni
Volunteer
Directory
Grads can
submit their
contact information and
biography to this publication
to connect with colleagues
and prospective students in
their area. The AVD indicates
the breadth of area and
expertise of our MD and
DVM graduates.
Interview Course Preps Graduates
In Summer 2016, St. George’s
University launched a program
that prepares AAMP members for
their responsibilities as student
interviewers. More than 100 SGU
graduates have participated in the
course, which includes a 90-minute
presentation from administration,
as well as an optional interview
skills course.
In these interactive sessions,
participants are presented techniques
that will help them engage with
prospective students through asking
them questions and sharing their own
experiences at SGU. In addition,
they can correspond with current
graduates through an online chat
tool to get a firsthand account of the
interview process.
“I know the price of success:
dedication, hard work, and an
unremitting devotion to the things
you want to see happen.”
– Frank Lloyd Wright
SGU conducts more than 4,000
interviews each year, and it is hoping
to at least quadruple its number of
interviewers in the coming months
and years.
AAMP volunteers may conduct as few
or as many interviews as their schedule
permits. To learn more about how to
get involved as a student interviewer,
email [email protected], the general
inbox at [email protected], or fill out
the AAMP questionnaire by visiting
sgu.wufoo.com/forms/aamp-sign-up.
Message from the
AAMP Coordinator
Amid the hustle and bustle of it
all, it’s nice to take a step back to
celebrate—and marvel at—all that
has taken place here over the past
40 years. It deserves more than a
day, a weekend, or even a month.
With the impact the University and
its graduates have made locally,
regionally, and globally, we need a
year to rejoice and reflect.
St. George’s University alumna Orapeleng Phuswane welcomes the graduates and their families.
SGU Holds Second Botswana Commencement
BOTSWANA, continued from page 1
President and Chief Executive Officer
of SGU.
“We have had a long and successful
relationship with the University of
Botswana’s medical school and with
the Ministries of Education and Health.
With four doctors for every 10,000
people in Botswana, it is vital that the
medical doctor graduates in particular
help to redress the brain drain which
has resulted in 800 Batswana doctors
working overseas or outside their
own country.”
Dr. Olds pointed out that Botswana had
graduated more MD students through
St. George’s University than any African
country, apart from Nigeria. “Botswana
and SGU have produced 97 MD
graduates, with 22 students still working
for their degrees at our university,” he
added. “We believe that Botswana has
the potential to become a major medical
hub for the region.”
The commencement ceremony
celebrated the entrance of the Batswana
graduates into the country’s workforce
and honored SGU’s Batswana alumni
who are already working towards better
health care delivery in Botswana. It also
acknowledged the strong relationship
between SGU and the government,
partner institutions, and the people
of Botswana.
Congratulations to our two winners
in the St. George’s University 40th
Anniversary Celebration Sweepstakes.
They each won a four-day, threenight trip for two to Grenada, and
we’re excited to welcome them back
to campus to see how it has grown.
As grads, we strongly encourage
you to take part in the celebration as
well. Visit sgu.edu/beyond40 for a
complete schedule of events.
Your story is so important for those
interested in pursuing medicine,
veterinary medicine, business, or
any of our more than 50 programs
offered. The schedule of information
sessions for this winter and spring can
be found on page 4 of this newsletter,
and the list of all events, including info
sessions, webinars, and more, can be
viewed at sgu.edu/infosession.
We wish you and your family the
happiest of holidays, and nothing but
the best in the new year.
– Joann Vastola
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Spring 2017 Schedule of Events
The schedule for St. George’s University’s Spring 2017 webinars, information sessions, and other events are in the works,
and SGU graduates are important resources for prospective students. Email [email protected] if you would like to help us
attract the best and brightest medical and veterinary medical students to SGU.
2/8
San Antonio, Texas
3/14 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4/4
Scranton, Pennsylvania
2/9
Houston, Texas
3/21 White Plains, New York
4/4
Atlanta, Georgia +
2/13 Gainesville, Florida
3/21 Miami, Florida +
4/8
Irvine, California #
2/18 San Diego, California
3/23 Minneapolis, Minnesota
4/26 Washington, DC +
2/22 Tucson, Arizona
3/23 Berkeley, California +
5/18 Portland, Oregon
2/23 Columbus, Ohio
3/29 Raleigh, North Carolina
+ Face to Face
# Match Tour
3/8
San Juan, Puerto Rico
3/30 Detroit, Michigan +
3/9
Los Angeles, California +
4/4
Stay Connected
with SGU
Madison, Wisconsin
facebook.com/StGeorgesU
instagram.com/StGeorgesU
twitter.com/StGeorgesU
linkedin.com/edu/43078
Prince Harry Swings Through Grenada
For a glass-bottom boat tour in Grand Anse Bay on November
28, Prince Henry of Wales—Prince Harry—was accompanied by
Kerricia Hobson, BSc SGU ’08, Project Manager in the Environment
Division in Grenada’s Ministry of Education, Human Resource
Development, and the Environment. One of few individuals aboard
the charter boat, Ms. Hobson explained the Grenada Coastal
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) Project, which she directs
alongside Leyana Romain, BSc SGU ‘14, is designed to reinforce
deteriorating reef structures in Grenada and Carriacou through
the creation and maintenance of coral nurseries. She and Prince
Harry observed five of the program’s divers, or “gardeners,”
assess and clean the nurseries, tasks that will have many long-term
environmental and sociological benefits to Grenada.
Prince Harry (right) shares a laugh
with former footballer Jason Roberts,
who SGU honored with an Honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2016.
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Prince Harry represented
Queen Elizabeth II in his visit to
Grenada, which was part of a
15-day Caribbean tour. He also
attended sporting events at
Queens Park Grounds, where
he visited with Jason Roberts, a
former Grenada National Team
football player. In May 2016,
Roberts received an Honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters
from SGU’s School of Graduate
Studies for his longtime work
on behalf of children with
disabilities in Grenada.
Anniversary Celebration Set for 2017
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, St. George’s
University will host festivities throughout 2017. It
begins with next month’s Kickoff Weekend, which
will feature a number of events highlighted by
the Investiture of Dr. G. Richard Olds as University
President, as well as a Parade of Nations through
lower campus.
Learn more about what’s on tap at sgu.edu/beyond40.
Jan. 14-1740th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend
March
• Investiture of Dr. G. Richard Olds
as St. George’s University President
• Charity Fun Run
• Charter Class and Super 8s Brunch
• Alumni Health Clinics
• Parade of Nations, featuring
entertainment and barbecue
Medical Mission Inaugural Grants
March 27-31SOM Alumni Association CME:
Updates in Medicine
JuneAlumni 40th Anniversary Party
in New York City
OctoberOne Health, One Medicine Symposium
November
Public Lecture Series