St. George's University

St. George’s University School of Medicine was established by an act of Grenada's parliament on July 23, 1976. Classes in the school of medicine began January 17, 1977. In 1993, the University added graduate and undergraduate programs. In 1996, it was granted a charter for the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Graduate Studies. In 1997, undergraduate courses in international business, life sciences, medical sciences, premedical and preveterinary medicine were added. The School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1999.

St. George's University
Medical education at St. George's University begins on the island of Grenada, continues at the university's affiliated Kingstown Medical College on the island of St. Vincent and is completed with clinical training primarily conducted in clinical centers and affiliated teaching hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom. The School of Medicine is listed with the World Health Organization, as well as the ECFMG IMED/FAIMER database , and is fully recognized and approved by the government of Grenada to confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine upon students who fulfill the school's admissions requirements and complete the prescribed curriculum.

In 1996, the US Department of Education reviewed the standards of medical education in 30 countries for the purpose of student loans. Grenada was one of four countries approved during the initial review; the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada being the other three. Other countries have subsequently been approved. The medical program has been approved by the states of New York, New Jersey, California , Florida and Texas for clinical training of St. George's students in clinical centers and affiliated hospitals. The school additionally has affiliation agreements with hospitals in other states and in the United Kingdom. The school has been site-visited and approved for limited registration status by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. St. George's University graduates have been licensed to practice medicine in at least 35 countries, as well as in all 50 states in the United States. As with all educational institutions, periodic reviews of the appropriate agencies determine continuation of such approvals.

On July 27, 2007, St. George's University was selected as the exclusive international medical school to utilize the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation system for training its third and fourth year medical students. Under the terms of the agreement and over the course of the intended 10 years of the contract, St. George’s University will pay HHC an estimated $100 million, and will be guaranteed a minimum of 600 training positions. This is the largest single affiliation agreement for the clinical training of SGU’s clinical students in the University’s history. Most notably, students of other foreign medical schools are now ineligible to participate in any clinical training at any of the HHC hospitals.

Medical curriculum
The Medical Sciences training program is delivered over four calendar years. During the first two years, which cover the basic sciences, students study on St. George's University campuses in Grenada and St. Vincent. During the last two years, which cover the clinical sciences, students move on to study at the university's clinical centers and affiliated hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The following subjects are taught in each term:

Year 1: Basic Sciences
 * Term 1: Gross and Developmental Anatomy, Histology, Biochemistry, Clinical Skills
 * Term 2: Neuroscience, Genetics, Immunology, Physiology, Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Parasitology

Year 2: Basic Sciences
 * Term 3: Behavioral Science, Jurisprudence and Medical Ethics, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (6 week interim term)
 * Term 4: Microbiology, Advanced Clinical Skills, Pathology, Medical Nutrition
 * Term 5: Pathophysiology I, Pharmacology I, Advanced Clinical Skills
 * Term 6: Pathophysiology II, Pharmacology II, Advanced Clinical Skills

The first two years of Medical Sciences study concentrate on the traditional basic sciences disciplines. Laboratory experiences are an integral part of these first two years, along with small group discussions designed for problem-based learning and early integration of basic science into the clinical experience.

The basic science courses use didactic lectures, laboratory instruction, supplemental instruction, case-based learning, question-based reviews, small-group tutorials, peer teaching and computer-assisted instruction.

The School's curriculum emphasizes the international aspects of medical education by providing students with opportunities to visit local hospitals and clinics on the islands of Grenada and St. Vincent. Student participation in community health research projects is also encouraged.

Students must sit the Basic Science Comprehensive Examination (BSCE) I at the end of their first academic year and the BSCE II near the completion of the basic sciences.

The St. George's University approach to clinical sciences education provides students with the opportunity to learn medicine in some of the best and best-known hospitals in the world. Located in the United States and the United Kingdom, some of these hospitals have been designated by the University as clinical centers. A clinical center is a hospital or group of hospitals able to provide at least four of the five core rotations, train 80-100 students at all times, and additionally offer subinternships, primary care and elective rotations. These clinical centers allow students to complete all of their clinical training at one site if they wish.

Veterinary medicine
SGU also has a School of Veterinary Medicine. This program offers students the chance to experience intensive hands-on surgical training that may not be possible in the US due to state animal welfare regulations. Three years of core curriculum in the form of lectures and labs are completed in Grenada, and the fourth clinical year is completed in the US or UK at AVMA-accredited veterinary schools. Students apply to these schools in their third year and are accepted based on academics and professionalism.

The veterinary teaching hospital has been renovated since Hurricane Ivan struck the island in 2004. Its renovation will have a tremendously positive impact on the education of future students. Eight surgery tables are in the hospital, allowing students to perform surgery on pets and stray dogs under the close supervision of hospital clinicians. The treatment area is fully equipped to handle emergency situations and critical care patients. The hospital has also invested in a new X-ray machine to aid in diagnostics and student learning.

Student Government Association
The students of St. George's University are represented by the Student Government Association (SGA) as well as the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA). The governments are active not only on-campus, but also in the local Grenadian community donating hundreds of student work hours per term and tens of thousands of dollars per year to local causes.