The graduates from the schools of medicine, veterinary medicine and the graduate studies programme were awarded their degrees at the fi rst commencement ceremony to be held by the University outside Grenada or the United States.

The ceremony also marked the 21st anniversary of SGU’s strong and long-standing relationship with the Government of Botswana.

Chancellor Charles R. Modica said: “We’re delighted to be able to celebrate the hard work of our Batswana graduates and to be able to honour our alumni here”.

The Chancellor also reaffi rmed the St George’s

commitment to Botswana and the rest of Africa as SGU helps reverse the damaging medical brain drain that affects the continent. Two agreements between the Government of Botswana and SGU were signed to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their relationship. The agreements pledged SGU to broadening access to Batswana students and supporting the development of medical education in Botswana.

SGU has had 359 graduates from 27 African countries – including 108 from Botswana – and these numbers are setto increase as 181 students from 15 African countries are currently studying at the University.

St George’s celebrated the graduation in May of more than two dozen Batswana students at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Botswana.

First Botswana commencement ceremony

•Issue15•

November2012

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Commonwealth Secretary-General to launch Commonwealth Jubilee Scholarships

This has been a very special year in the recent historyof the United Kingdom. In February, 60 years ago, Princess Elizabeth returned to our shores from Treetops in Kenya as the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states and their territories and dependencies as well as the head of what has developed into the 54 member Commonwealth of Nations.

It is therefore highly appropriate that St George’s University, Grenada, should offer 60 scholarships across a range of disciplines – one for each year of Her Majesty’s reign – and that this will be announced by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma, at a reception hosted by Baroness Howells of St Davids, at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association this month.

The student body at St George’s University has become highly representative of our multi-cultural Commonwealth in recent years, having accepted just over 5,000 students from Commonwealth countries. Indeed, at this very time, we have strong student representation from Commonwealth countries – including developing countries – taking part in the UK’s clinical programme as part of their medical degree course. These include students from our University’s homeland Grenada and also from Barbados, St Vincent – as well as Botswana, where St George’s University has a special relationship (see main story).

Our UK clinical programme continues to grow – with record numbers of student weeks.

In order to accommodate the growing medical student body, we have expanded the number of NHS affi liated hospitals in our programme.

Very soon, we look forward to receiving a new wave of Jubilee Commonwealth scholars – who will never forget the opportunity afforded to them by St George’s University.

Rodney J Croft MA MChir FRCS FACS

Dean of Clinical Studies UK

Editorial

true blueNewsletter of the Friends of St George’s

Batswana graduates from SGU celebrate the awarding of their degrees in Gaborone.

Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General

Now in its 36th year, St George’s University is a centre of international education and draws its students and faculty from 140 countries. The University has graduated nearly 12,000 physicians, veterinarians, scientists, public health and business professionals. It also has a strong relationship with the Commonwealth. Currently, 2,139 students from Commonwealth countries are studying at the University with 3,233 having graduated.

This is the second occasion on which St George’s University has offered Commonwealth scholarships – the fi rst in 2006 to commemorate the University’s 30th anniversary.

Now 60 scholarships (with an estimated total value of $3.5 million) will be awarded – one for each year of the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. These break down into 10 studying at the School of Medicine; 10 for veterinary medicine; 10 for Masters of Public Health; and 15 each for arts and sciences and Masters of Business Administration (MBAs).

The 60 scholarships – with preference being given to developing countries and small states of the Commonwealth – will be full tuition scholarships.

Those who apply for the scholarships must agree to return to work in, and contribute to, their country of origin.

True Blue no 15.indd 1 12/11/2012 08:59

Friends of St George’s Dr Peter Bourne • Mrs Vanessa Bourne • Sir Kenneth Calman • Mr Rodney Croft • Mr David Jessop OBE

Baroness Hanham CBE • Baroness Howells of St Davids OBE • Sir Jim Lester DL • Professor Sir Malcolm MacnaughtonLord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior • Sir Kenneth Stuart • Mr Jonathan Taylor • Lord Walton of Detchant

Mr Bowen Wells • Professor Ian McConnell • Lord Sheikh of Cornhill in the City of London

Patrick Orr Executive Director, UK Trust Raitt Orr and Associates Ground Floor, CAN Mezzanine 49-51 East Road, Old Street London N1 6AH

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 8288 e-mail: patrick@raittorr.co.uk

Sallyanne George Executive Assistant to the UK DeanSt George’s International Schoolof Medicine, GrenadaUK Head OfficeKingdon’s Yard, Parchment StreetWinchesterHampshire, SO23 8AT

Tel: +44 (0) 1962 850 650 Fax: +44 (0) 1962 850 567e-mail: SGeorge1@sgu.edu

For further information please contact:

Published by Raitt Orr and Associates on behalf of the Friends of St George’s.

Two SGU alumni have established a unique exchange programme in which visits to each other’s practice provides perspective on their facilities’ effectiveness in treating patients.

Dr Heather Douglas, a 2006 graduate of SGU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and Austin P. Kirwan, who is Assistant Dean for UK Clinical Affairs, met as they completed their MBA residency in Grenada in 2011. They continued their collaboration by organising visits to their respective veterinary practices in the USA and UK.

Dr Douglas visited Mr Kirwan’s Barn Lodge Veterinary Hospital, which has four locations in North West England, and spoke of her experience: “I think this exchange has given me a more global view of veterinary medicine, and the ability to integrate more than one point of view into my practice is priceless”.

Dr Douglas was particularly impressed by Mr Kirwan’s fluid system from check-in to the appointment’s completion that enhanced the clients’ experience and left ample time to meet with patients who required longer visits. “I couldn’t believe he had five-minute appointments, but he was able to provide great patient care in five minutes,” she said.

The exchange programme then saw one of Kirwan’s veterinary nurses visit the Douglas Animal Hospital in Osseo, Minnesota. Exchanges are planned every six months and they both recommend that similar schemes be encouraged for other SGUMBA students.

Dr Arla Ogilvie was appointed the new Associate Chair of Medicine UK from 1st July 2012.

Dr Ogilvie is a Consultant Physician specialising in Diabetes and Endocrinology based at Watford General Hospital and has been the undergraduate tutor there since 2002.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Edinburgh University and swam the Channel to raise money for two charitable organisations which help finance treatments for pets whose owners cannot afford the treatment.

“I’ve loved the career path I’ve been on from the moment I started at St. George’s,” Brittany said. “I love veterinary medicine and I love that the animals we treat give so much love to their owners on a daily basis”.

... says Dr Brittany King, who graduated from SGU’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. “The professors are incredible and so supportive, and it doesn’t matter what your dreams are – SGU supports them. SGU set me up for life”.

It is this positive outlook, imbued by her experience at SGU, that helped Brittany swim the English Channel. Taking a more than impressive 13 hours and 48 minutes, Brittany swam ashore in France on 4 September 2012 having

braved the 21 miles of open water that separate Britain and France. Only 1,400 people have ever managed the feat – more than twice as many people have climbed Mount Everest.

Dr King is no stranger to pushing herself to the limit. She’s run five marathons, completed an Ironman triathlon, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, all before, during, or after successfully navigating her way through veterinary school.

Brittany spent a year of her course studying at

SGU veterinarian swims the English Channel

New Associate Chair of Medicine UK

Dalai Lama Fellow promotes public health in Uganda

Joseph graduated with a Masters in Public Health from SGU in 2009 before going on to complete his DLF in June 2012.

In a move that SGU is keen to support in its commitment to the Commonwealth, Joseph chose to work in his home country of Uganda and launch the Compassion in Action Youth Project which targeted primary school children around the Bwindi National Park

The new intake of the Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Programme at the White Coat ceremony at Northumbria University in August give their professional commitment, acknowledging their “responsibility to continue the pursuit of knowledge and understanding until that day when I will cease to be a practicing physician”. Some 120 students have registered for the current programme, which teaches first year sciences at Northumbria before the students move to Grenada to complete their pre-clinical training.

Veterinary exchange programme

“ SGU is the best thing that ever happened to me”

The Dalai Lama Fellowship (DLF) is a unique global programme to guide social entrepreneurs and deepen their effectiveness with yearlong Fellowships and a project grant of up to $10,000. One of the pioneering fellows in this highly competitive programme is Joseph Byonanebye.

to promote sustainable environmental conservation in the country.

He now works for the grassroots NGO Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) which promotes learning on family planning, sanitation and hygiene, environmental health, nutrition and wildlife conservation.

Joseph dedicates his award to CTPH, the Dalai Lama Fellows and to his

home Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at St George’s University.

Joseph Byonanebye

Dr Brittany King

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