From Grenada to Uganda: Dr. Nabeta’s Journey to Transform Healthcare

Driven by a strong desire to transform the healthcare system in her home country of Uganda, Geraldine Nabeta embarked on her journey to study medicine at St. George’s University (SGU), School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She believed that a career in medicine would best enable her to make a meaningful contribution to the world, combining her passion for science with her commitment to serving humanity.

Geraldine’s academic journey at SGU was marked by rigorous training, as she specialized in internal medicine to gain broad exposure to diverse pathologies and set herself up for a positive impact in her career. “I pursued internal medicine because of the diverse pathologies I would encounter and the variety of specialties available after training,” she remarked, highlighting the benefits of specializing in internal medicine at SGU. “Starting my career as an internist is an invaluable way for me to build confidence in my medical knowledge and abilities. I also appreciate the flexibility and the opportunity to engage in medical education.”

SGU’s transnational educational partnership with Northumbria University in the United Kingdom allowed Geraldine to complete her first year of basic sciences there. This experience enriched her medical education and exposed her to a different healthcare system. She noted that the quality of teaching at Northumbria University was thorough. The faculty focused on providing students with a solid foundation of content, which greatly aided her throughout medical school.

One of Geraldine’s fondest memories was the immense support she and her peers received from the faculty. According to her, “The faculty went above and beyond to ensure students appreciated the subjects. They even extended office hours to accommodate more students. I truly loved my time at Northumbria!”

When it was time to prepare for her USMLE exams, Geraldine relied on the comprehensive training she received at SGU in both basic science and clinical knowledge. She organized SGU’s exam materials according to the topics covered in the USMLE exams to study effectively. Additionally, her strategic studying approach during her basic science years provided her with a solid foundation for the exams. Geraldine acknowledged that she had worries and concerns at the initial stage of the match process, but SGU’s Office of Career Guidance (OCG) greatly eased her anxiety by providing webinars and essential guidance throughout the process.

Dr. Geraldine is now pursuing her career as an internal medicine resident at the University of Connecticut in the United States.

In terms of her long-term career aspirations, Dr. Geraldine seeks to focus on health and human rights for underserved populations, particularly in Uganda. While she prioritizes practicing medicine and engaging in academic medicine, she also aims to empower communities through medical journalism.

Dr. Geraldine appreciates her time at SGU, especially the support she and other students from Africa received. She stated, “SGU was a great choice because of all the support available to international students. As an African student, I can also say that there is an opportunity to build a community with fellow African students, which has been a very joyful part of my time at SGU.”

Dr. Geraldine’s story offers valuable guidance and encouragement for African students exploring a future in medicine at SGU.For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU’s website.